Disappointed with myself still thinking I need to be polite

Went to the Goodwill outlet with my daughter yesterday. There was a man with a cart standing against the wall next to the last bin. I assumed he was probably waiting for his wife with their cart. As I looked through the bin he said something about one of the items i was considering. I told him what is was but language gap got in the way and the coversation felt awkward so I moved on. Few minutes later I was at a different bin on the other side and he was next to me again. He slowly started looking through things too while asking me something about if I had a boyfriend, if I lived alone, etc. I told him I'm married and hoped that would end his interest in me. He came around me a few more times after that and tried talking with me more. I ignored him and would move away.
I stayed alert and watched for him as i left. He obviously wasnt there with anyone and he wasnt seriously shopping for anything, but only made it look like he was.
I was being polite and that was wrong in this situation. I should have looked him in the eye and told him I dont like him talking to me and he will leave me alone or I will get the manager. I missed a good chance for my 13 year old daughter to see a valuable lesson on how to protect her personal safety. It would have stayed with her and helped her in the future.
Am I ever going to get away from this belief of the need to be polite in all situations? Its more ingrained in my brain than I thought.

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val70 · 51-55

Yes, you're right. Personally, I don't dare to complain at times and I'm lesbian. If one looks at it with Darwinian eyes I'd say that every opportunity is grained in us not to complain but to accept. I'm more than sure that your daughter will be alright like you are now. But yes, some of us do have to experience some things to be much more aware of evil. Plenty of much more polite and dangerous weirdoes out there, I'm afraid

morrgin · F

@val70 the number of them out there increased with the use of the internet. They were pretty isolated before with all their predator inclinations and ideas. Now they easily find others like themselves online who agree and support their dark impulses. They have their own network servers and use encryption to protect their conversations and file transfers. The FBI is so overloaded they will usually omly investigate crimes against infants. As if anyone hurting an infant isnt bad enough! Its scary out there and I rambled off topic. Thx for your reply.

val70 · 51-55

@morrgin Thanks for the ramble. I've been assaulted by females when I was a teenager, plus up to almost recently I do hear the same thing from other females too. That's never so much talked about. Some people want to hurt. Nothing to do with anything else. I remind them politely that childhood is sacred and walk away