Discussion
I tend to see every male as a threat when out walking alone.
I also sadly realise that every woman sees me as a threat and do my best not to end up walking behind one, especially late at night.
I'll cross the road, walk slower, stop and look at my phone, all of which probably makes me look even more suspicious.
I also sadly realise that every woman sees me as a threat and do my best not to end up walking behind one, especially late at night.
I'll cross the road, walk slower, stop and look at my phone, all of which probably makes me look even more suspicious.
skinnyman said:
We have a 10yr old son & a 7yr old daughter, we're concerned for them both navigating their teenage years, for different but related reasons. We're worried our son will be "tarred with the same brush" as others, simply for being male, on the other hand we're worried our daughter could fall victim to one of these males.
Fun times as a parent.
17 & 11 year old daughters.Fun times as a parent.
My wife described it as modern teenagers are socialising online talking about the sex they aren’t having.
At the same age her & her mates were socialising in real life not talking about the sex they were having.
Each generation has it’s own challenges, and one of the things I find is that underage drinking is much less of a thing.
It evens itself out.
Wills2 said:
captain_cynic said:
Wills2 said:
It's a pretty good insight into just how bizarre things have become, if nothing else.
Or people are clutching pearls over a "social media" survey that the OP didn't even link to... I mean it's not like the entire thing could have been fabricated.I just think some people are too quick to believe dubious things because it pleases them. A bit of skepticism is healthy.
I suspect the figures are skewed somewhat by the American responses. Let's face it, I've watched enough low budget horror/suspense movies over the years to know even as a bloke if I was hiking alone in the woods in the US and came across a random stranger I'd probably be more than a little wary, not wanting to end up as some sort of hunting trophy or being made to play squeak piggy squeak. And likewise I've watched enough Bear Grylls to know (in theory) what to do if I saw a bear. So I can see why they would choose bear.
Whereas in the UK it's perhaps harder to relate to, we don't really have big areas of wilderness and in terms of animal attacks the worst that could happen is getting stung by a wasp. So maybe Colin and Beryl in his and her's matching anoraks are less threatening...?
It would be interesting to see the responses broken down by country? I'll have to ask Mrs ZS later.
(and for the avoidance of doubt, I am aware it is not to be taken literally, I fully understand and can see the point being made)
Whereas in the UK it's perhaps harder to relate to, we don't really have big areas of wilderness and in terms of animal attacks the worst that could happen is getting stung by a wasp. So maybe Colin and Beryl in his and her's matching anoraks are less threatening...?
It would be interesting to see the responses broken down by country? I'll have to ask Mrs ZS later.
(and for the avoidance of doubt, I am aware it is not to be taken literally, I fully understand and can see the point being made)
Stick Legs said:
skinnyman said:
We have a 10yr old son & a 7yr old daughter, we're concerned for them both navigating their teenage years, for different but related reasons. We're worried our son will be "tarred with the same brush" as others, simply for being male, on the other hand we're worried our daughter could fall victim to one of these males.
Fun times as a parent.
17 & 11 year old daughters.Fun times as a parent.
My wife described it as modern teenagers are socialising online talking about the sex they aren’t having.
At the same age her & her mates were socialising in real life not talking about the sex they were having.
Each generation has it’s own challenges, and one of the things I find is that underage drinking is much less of a thing.
It evens itself out.
J4CKO said:
Made me think of this,
Bob, a hunter, went on camping trip with his wife, kids, and mother-in-law.
One evening, while still deep in the forest, the Mrs awoke to find her mother gone.
Rushing to her husband, she insisted on them both trying to find her mother.
Bob picked up his rifle, took a swig of whiskey, and started to look for her.
In a clearing not far from the camp, they came upon a chilling sight. The mother-in-law was backed up against a thick, impenetrable bush, and a large bear stood facing her.
The wife cried, "What are we going to do?"
"Nothing," said the hunter husband. "The bear got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it
Saw this one recited in a movie I watched recently - https://unijokes.com/joke-7661/Bob, a hunter, went on camping trip with his wife, kids, and mother-in-law.
One evening, while still deep in the forest, the Mrs awoke to find her mother gone.
Rushing to her husband, she insisted on them both trying to find her mother.
Bob picked up his rifle, took a swig of whiskey, and started to look for her.
In a clearing not far from the camp, they came upon a chilling sight. The mother-in-law was backed up against a thick, impenetrable bush, and a large bear stood facing her.
The wife cried, "What are we going to do?"
"Nothing," said the hunter husband. "The bear got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it
Won't name it in case it's considered a spoiler but made me laugh in an otherwise (in my view) overrated film.
Stick Legs said:
Each generation has it’s own challenges, and one of the things I find is that underage drinking is much less of a thing.
it's interesting I think, I made friends with an 18yr old couple started coming in regularly to a bar I drink in and they gave a lot of insight into how different things are at school now (concidentially went to the same high school as I did years ago) and said that drugs were fairly common and it wasn't unusual for people to be doing ecstacy/ket in school (which blew my mind!) but alcohol was generally less popularcaptain_cynic said:
Wills2 said:
captain_cynic said:
Wills2 said:
It's a pretty good insight into just how bizarre things have become, if nothing else.
Or people are clutching pearls over a "social media" survey that the OP didn't even link to... I mean it's not like the entire thing could have been fabricated.I just think some people are too quick to believe dubious things because it pleases them. A bit of skepticism is healthy.
croyde said:
I tend to see every male as a threat when out walking alone.
I also sadly realise that every woman sees me as a threat and do my best not to end up walking behind one, especially late at night.
I'll cross the road, walk slower, stop and look at my phone, all of which probably makes me look even more suspicious.
I wouldn't go quite that far on your third sentence but as mentioned earlier in the thread I do find I'm aware that I could look intimidating and make efforts not to if I see a woman out alone.I also sadly realise that every woman sees me as a threat and do my best not to end up walking behind one, especially late at night.
I'll cross the road, walk slower, stop and look at my phone, all of which probably makes me look even more suspicious.
On the first sentence. Not really unless it's a group of drunk teenagers or something. Some bloke walking on his own would have to do something suspicious to make me start worrying. My wife will comment that I can walk past people without even seeing them, even when they're trying to say hello. So there is that.
I've ignored the which would I prefer to attack me part. I'd take the man, I'd have a chance, against the bear I'd have none. But I'd fancy my chances of avoiding a bear attack vs a man who wanted to attack me. It's all situational and no correct answer without additional context.
captain_cynic said:
This is a very odd and incorrect assumption that some people make.
Bear attacks are quite rare, encounters not so much. Bears don't ordinarily attack humans unless threatened. Bears will generally try to avoid humans.
The best thing you can do if you encounter a bear is try to identify yourself as human (make yourself bigger, wave your arms) according the the US National Parks Service (who might know a thing or two about bears).
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm
This made me laugh, probably way too much Bear attacks are quite rare, encounters not so much. Bears don't ordinarily attack humans unless threatened. Bears will generally try to avoid humans.
The best thing you can do if you encounter a bear is try to identify yourself as human (make yourself bigger, wave your arms) according the the US National Parks Service (who might know a thing or two about bears).
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm
"I identify as human, begone large bear"TX.
croyde said:
I tend to see every male as a threat when out walking alone.
I also sadly realise that every woman sees me as a threat and do my best not to end up walking behind one, especially late at night.
I'll cross the road, walk slower, stop and look at my phone, all of which probably makes me look even more suspicious.
Me too. This came up on PH a year or two ago and one or two people said that men shouldn't do the above as it makes the problem worse. I dont agree though and with regards the final point there's no way I would walk down an alleyway if a women had just gone down there. I would simply be concerned she might be frightened. I also sadly realise that every woman sees me as a threat and do my best not to end up walking behind one, especially late at night.
I'll cross the road, walk slower, stop and look at my phone, all of which probably makes me look even more suspicious.
TroubledSoul said:
I must say, I am quite shocked by some of the responses here. Why do some of you not understand that women view EVERY man as a potential threat, because they have to? You or I know we aren't going to attack a woman we pass in the street, that woman does not. And when men do attack, it rarely ends well for females.
Come on guys, it's not rocket science. Have a bit of empathy. Not all men WILL, but any man COULD.
Everyone understands all that. Some also understand that bears are capable of attacking women too.Come on guys, it's not rocket science. Have a bit of empathy. Not all men WILL, but any man COULD.
It's nuts to pick the bear, it's a result of the continued demonisation of men rather than any rational choice.
So in a zoo, I should climb into the bear compound to get away from the hundreds of men who are freely walking around. Why have a compound at all? Just let the bears walk around the Zoo.
I thought maybe I'd misunderstood the question but checking the mumsnet thread it is literally as reported and there's a near 100% agreement.
I thought maybe I'd misunderstood the question but checking the mumsnet thread it is literally as reported and there's a near 100% agreement.
BikeBikeBIke said:
So in a zoo, I should climb into the bear compound to get away from the hundreds of men who are freely walking around. Why have a compound at all? Just let the bears walk around the Zoo.
I thought maybe I'd misunderstood the question but checking the mumsnet thread it is literally as reported and there's a near 100% agreement.
The question is if you are walking in the woods, not in a zoo. So you have misunderstood the question.I thought maybe I'd misunderstood the question but checking the mumsnet thread it is literally as reported and there's a near 100% agreement.
Zetec-S said:
BikeBikeBIke said:
So in a zoo, I should climb into the bear compound to get away from the hundreds of men who are freely walking around. Why have a compound at all? Just let the bears walk around the Zoo.
I thought maybe I'd misunderstood the question but checking the mumsnet thread it is literally as reported and there's a near 100% agreement.
The question is if you are walking in the woods, not in a zoo. So you have misunderstood the question.I thought maybe I'd misunderstood the question but checking the mumsnet thread it is literally as reported and there's a near 100% agreement.
Are bears less dangerous in a zoo? Or are men more dangerous in a wood? Or something else?
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Thursday 9th May 11:54
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