i really want to be left alone in parks. i go there to chill, not to have some awkward dude sit down next to me and try to strike up a conversation with an obvious ulterior motive.

Just to point out how subjective the whole time-and-place thing is. Not saying someone with a lot of tact couldnt pull it off. But thats not the target demography of a post like this.

Getting to know someone through shared interests/common activities is definitely the safer route, not just for the guys.

you repurpose old fabric. same as with rags. as for what they’d do with it: likely wash and reuse them. same as with cloth diapers nowadays.

the alternatives would be leaves from certain plants or water and a hand.