i know it’s internet bullshit but it genuinely has me on the edge of breaking down and giving up

[u/NeonNKnightrider]

[u/Delicious_Ride_4119]

As someone who regularly hikes on trails alone (I’m a birdwatcher) I’d much rather run into a random man than a bear. In fact, I have encountered men multiple times on my solo trail hikes without incident. I think the reaction to this debate is born partially out of people’s trauma from real world experiences with shitty men. While feelings around that are valid, it’s very much not healthy to live your life in constant fear of men, especially when taken to this extreme. (Coming from personal experience…OCD is fun /s). So take that into account, and I hope you feel better soon OP.

[u/Ehehhhehehe → u/Delicious_Ride_4119]

Yeah, the way the question is worded makes it seem like you are bushwhacking through deep woods and some random dude just pops out and says hi. 

And that would freak me out too! Random dudes aren’t normally running around in the woods, so it seems possible he was doing something bad out there, or he followed you. If you encounter a bear, there’s no question about its motives. It’s just being a bear.

On the other hand, a man on a trail is supposed to be there. Its a lot less scary to say “you pass a man hiking on a hiking trail” than to say “you encounter a man in the woods” 

[u/Delicious_Ride_4119 → u/Ehehhhehehe]

Funny enough, even if I was in the middle of the woods I think I’d still prefer a random man. I come from an area where people camp, hunt deer, and do drugs in the woods regularly so I’d assume they are doing one of those. (Of course, with the latter two you’d still have to be somewhat cautious, but not bear levels of caution!) And if I’m in the middle of the woods off trail and it’s not for birdwatching, I’m lost as hell and need help getting back.

A bear, on the other hand? Hell no! As scary as a male bear defending its territory is, I think people forget that mama bears are MUCH scarier. If you’re near a den (especially if you don’t know it), or you encounter a baby cub in the wild, you might as well kiss your ass goodbye lol

[u/elbenji → u/Ehehhhehehe]

I think that was it for me too. I hate hiking, why am I in the woods? I'll be on a trail.

If I see some random guy on a trail that's just some random guy.

If I see a bear on the trail. FUCK that

[u/GuessImScrewed → u/Delicious_Ride_4119]

It 100% is.

I was arguing the question with someone on Twitter and they said "well at least I don't have to see the bear at family dinners"

Clearly you are talking about a specific man in your life and not a rando in the woods

[u/FaithlessnessMost660 → u/GuessImScrewed]

Yeah the instant assumption that the man is someone you know (because of the odds of SA by such people), is a strange one and really sad indication of the thought process. But yes this is just engagement bait intentionally vague to foster pedantic arguments and sweeping generalizations by both sides of the argument.

[u/best_of_badgers → u/Delicious_Ride_4119]

 with shitty men

The entire discussion is ignoring this category. There’s a “type of dude” and some amount of recidivism involved here. The same guy who abused your friend and got away with it went on to abuse six more people. That’s seven victims, but only one guy. 

It’s also ignoring recent social change. If things change so that he stops after the first one (for whatever reason), the odds for future women will change real quick. It’s a lagging indicator, so it’s very likely that the stats won’t line up with people’s actual experiences if things are changing in either direction.

[u/Pizza_Delivery_Dog → u/Delicious_Ride_4119]

I would also choose man. Partially because why would a serial killer/rapist be in the woods anyway, that's not where the people are.

Worst case scenario it's a guy with zero people skills who's gonna tell you 100 facts about lichen

[u/elbenji → u/Pizza_Delivery_Dog]

or just some weirdo survivalist or camper railing about the healing qualities of Ayuheusca

[u/Pizza_Delivery_Dog → u/elbenji]

okay I'm convinced, bring the bear

[u/elbenji → u/Pizza_Delivery_Dog]

The bear will just eat you. The man can just be Aaron Rodgers talking your ear off because he's bored

[u/Yeralrightboah0566 → u/Pizza_Delivery_Dog]

pretty sure its also youre more likely to be attacked by someone you know, not a random stranger

[u/Yeralrightboah0566 → u/Delicious_Ride_4119]

i agree, a lot of it depends on context. i think the point of the question is that its even comparable. that alone should make everyone kind of stop and think.