to find this man creepy on my walk?

OP, ignore the (thankfully) few smarty pants women on here. We have instincts for a reason and I always, always trust mine. Besides, walking as a lone woman in a deserted forest with tales of dog knapping is not in my book sensible. If I found myself in that position and saw a lone man who was obviously not a fellow dog walker I would also turn tail. Unfortunately men can be predators and there is no point taking risks. I'm sorry your husband thinks you are being daft but maybe he should try being a woman for a while!

Maybe those of us who like walking and don't have a dog shouldn't be allowed out in case we frighten the dog walkers.

I went for a walk in the woods near my house on Saturday with my friend and her dog. We met lots of people walking. I'd say the majority didn't have dogs.

I did notice one couple who were about to climb over a stile to get to the area we were in, look at us and turn round and go back the way they came.

I put it down to them being wary of my friend's dog rather than them being creepy fuckers, but there you go.

I have to say if I'm ever out walking in a forest now by myself, if I meet a man walking by himself, I get scared.

For every single man.

It's hard

He didn't follow her, he turned around and walked away ahead of her.

Trust your instincts. I often bump into a guy who walks on his own through our local woods. He's perfectly pleasant. Just nods and smiles. I never get any bad vibes off him, even though he's on his own without a dog. But there have been other occasions when my radar has gone loopy.

Dotjones · Today 15:54

My first thought was that he's some bloke out for a walk, realises he's about to encounter a lone woman and having had it drummed into him that lone women are more likely to be intimidated by bumping into a lone man in the woods decides the best thing is to get out of the situation.

Turning round and following her is the exact opposite of what you suggest.

OP, you did the best thing, he sounds like a proper weirdo and your partner is too dim to understand why you were frightened.

Based on what you have written it sounds like a massive overreaction. But if that’s how you felt at the time that’s how you felt. Impossible for anyone who wasn’t there to give you an objective opinion.

Always trust your instinct. He behaved unusually, your subconscious, evolved over a millennia to keep you safe, sent you into fight or flight. You legged it and got yourself out of the situation.

But men don’t see risk in the same way as women because they don’t face the same
risks. So it seems dramatic to him.

Always trust your gut...

You were right to trust your instincts OP, and in future, listen to what local have to say about dody areas! They exisit in the pretty countryside too and we have some very nasty people in the sticks as well. And your DP can fuck right off with calling you dramatic. When men start having to view the world and the people they encounter with the same caution women do, then he can call you dramatic.

Obviously you should keep yourself safe and if you feel uncomfortable then divert, but you are being a bit unfair to call this guy creepy.

No one has been harmed by the OP describing the man as creepy so why is it unfair? He seemed creepy in her opinion, she entitled to that. If she'd photographed him and uploaded it to SM with the caption, "creepy man in forest", you'd have a point.

The man's behaviour and intentions are irrelevant, you felt uncomfortable and left. It's isn't necessary for you to find or offer an explanation for why you felt as you. We have no idea what would have happened if you had continued your walk but we do know that your decision to turn around means you are safely at home now.

Turning around was the right thing to do in the circumstances, you don't have to ignore your instincts to avoid looking paranoid or dramatic.

If the man had no bad intentions then hopefully he enjoyed his walk.

It is not compulsory to have a dog when you go for a walk.

A reasonable reaction and a sensible action.

If you felt uncomfortable then you felt uncomfortable but I don't understand how someone going for a walk alone is highly unusual.

For goodness sake. Men can’t even go on a walk without a dog? This is crazy.

yes there are nutters about, but vast majority of men walking without a dog are just men going for a walk.

Blimey, I walk our two dogs in the woods by myself most days. I go in some very isolated spots, and have come across many men on their own with dogs and without. Not once have I thought anything other than someone out for a walk.

My DH walks alone without a dog. He does it for pleasure and fitness and to take photos. He likes to be in the "proper" countryside but sometimes time means he will use footpaths on nearby agricultural land where it is less common to see hikers and more just dog walkers and people taking the scenic route to the pub.

He finds people often treat him as suspicious just because he's walking without a dog.

He might even divert to avoid someone with an off lead or extendable lead dog. He might also make an abrupt change of direction to get the photo he wants, especially to avoid having people in it.

Obviously you should keep yourself safe and if you feel uncomfortable then divert, but you are being a bit unfair to call this guy creepy.

@Lovemusic82 I am easy to spot. I wear a lot of purple and carry a purple Osprey bag full of --chocolate-- healthy snacks.

The woods is where I feel at home and comfortable. The city is where I feel lost and alone.

If you get a funny/bad or a strange feeling about someone no matter who they are/where you are then you should get yourself out of that situation pdq, or if you can't be prepared to defend yourself.

Always trust your gut in that sort of situation.

Many years ago I was walking along a suburban London street in broad daylight, round the corner from a busy tube station. I saw a man walking towards me, didn't look obviously odd in any way but I got that feeling. It must have been something my gut picked up subconsciously. Fortunately that meant I was primed to fight back when he sexually assaulted me and attempted to wrestle me to the ground.

You did the right thing. Probably fine but why take the risk? I carry an alarm now, although TBH I don't go to very isolated places.

If I walk our dog alone, I stick to urban/populated areas. I only go in fields and forests if dh is with us. It isn't dramatic, it's just sensible. My dog is small and would try to protect me, but would have no chance.

I now want to bump into PurpleMonkeys in the woods. That’s exactly what I do (sit in the woods on my own, often with a snack or a flask of soup). I did have someone ask me if i was lost last year because I was walking alone. Walking alone stops me from killing people 😉, it keeps me sane.

You're not being dramatic.
You have instincts for a reason, you need to trust them.
Don't let anyone tell you that you overreacted, were dramatic or just plain silly.
Something felt "off" and you took the safe option to protect yourself.
Personally I'm proud of you, you did the right thing.
You shouldn't have to but stay out of the woods ❤️