"... most men, even good caring men, have no clue what we go through on a daily basis..."

[LadyHawkAZ]

135. No. The writer seems to be permanently frightened

and that attracts bullies. I do think she needs more aggression than she's got. It seems like she's just lashing out from fear rather than getting aggressive out of anger,

The most common approach is to walk up to where I am sitting with body language that practically screams LEAVE ME ALONE and sit down next to me or as close to me as possible

I went through my usual routine. I told them loudly and firmly that I wanted to be left alone to read my book.

I tell them to leave me the fuck alone, stand up, and move to the front of the car near the three other people on the train

They spend the next two stops shouting at me from the back of the car, alternating between trying to sound flirtatious and making fun of me, shouting “I bet she’s reading Stephanie Meyer! I bet she’s reading Twilight or some shit! You reading Twilight or some shit?”

What all this says to me (and this is just what I'm getting from one article so it's not gospel): young, not incredibly self-confident, afraid of men and not experienced enough to know how to repel them, is bothered when they think badly of her rejection, lets her fear show in her body language. I'd bet that "body language that screams leave me alone" equals scrunched up in her seat and visibly tense.

Admittedly not much can be done about people like Bicycle Guy short of committing them, but for the rest, how much better does this sound-

The one with his arm draped over onto the back of my seat asked me—surprise— “what are you reading?” I went through my usual routine. I told them loudly and firmly that I was studying ways to amputate hands, and asked if they'd like to be a test subject. They got angry. I tell them I'll leave their girlfriends attached to their arms since I'm such a nice person, stand up, and move to the front of the car near the three other people on the train. They yelled stuff. I wasn't listening. Then they left the train.

Done it. Don't put your hands on me uninvited. I will shrivel you right up like a bucket of ice to the lap. I used her words but mine didn't yell afterward, just called me a bitch.

I think Sea's right. This girl's not yet got out of the habit of being polite, nonthreatening and concerned with how she's thought of. Hopefully she will grow out of it fairly soon.