Would I choose a bear?

There’s been an interesting tweet on Twitter where some bloke asked women would they prefer to be stranded in the woods with some random man they don’t know or a bear…

Almost all women that answered the question said the bear.

The bloke who asked the question and several others have been saying that that’s an insane decision.

I’m rare amongst women in that I don’t think twice about walking where I want when I want for the most part… my hometown and its surroundings are pretty safe…

Most women don’t feel safe walking alone after dark, in a wood, etc because of their experiences with men in crowded spaces in daylight.

The fact that I seem blasé about where I walk doesn’t mean I haven’t had the same experiences as almost all other women with men who are strangers, it actually means I’m in tune with my surroundings. Before losing my sight I was aware of the people I could see around me and since I now rely on my hearing I’m aware in a different way… but I’ve always been aware of my “intuition” when I feel that frisson of being uncomfortable with a person or place… if I feel something is “off” I don’t question it but change my route, or guard what I say to the person who makes me uncomfortable.

So yes I too would choose the bear… statistically speaking a woman in the woods is safer as so long as they aren’t creeping along and the bear still will avoid humans they are unlikely to surprise a bear and be attacked by it.

Personally when I’ve been in jeopardy from men it’s been in my own home (violent ex), or when I’ve encountered drunks when out with my sisters/ friends and they couldn’t take no for an answer.

If you’re a bloke feeling threatened that we’d choose a bear in the woods think what that says about our experiences with random men and change your behaviour if you need to, and don’t let your mates brush it off as a joke if they are making women feel uncomfortable.

Until next time.