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Entitled dickhead in beauty spot

296 replies

grizzlyoldbear · 29/07/2025 20:44

I was sat on a bench at a beauty spot in a nature reserve I’d never been to before, really peaceful, very quiet, no one else around. A man turned up with his dog and just stood there, it was very unnerving and I think he was waiting for me to move. “Lovely view, isn’t it?” he said in a pointed, hovering way.
As soon as I scrambled away from the bench (couldn't get out of there fast enough), he sat straight down. It was obvious he’d been waiting for me to f* off so he could have the bench to himself.
I found it really intimidating and creepy, especially as it was so secluded. It completely ruined the moment , I just wanted a quiet sit in nature, not to be silently pressured off the only bench.
Am I overreacting or would others have felt the same?

OP posts:
Starlight1984 · 30/07/2025 12:25

flipent · 29/07/2025 22:11

I’d have taken this as a man trying not to make you feel uncomfortable.

He wanted to sit, but didn’t sit next to you while you were there. That feels like he was trying to be respectful.
He tried to engage in conversation, possibly hoping for an invitation to share the bench.

I’m not sure what he could have reasonably been expected to do, other than not be there… where he has as much right as anyone to be.

This!!! A man dares to be out enjoying the same views and countryside as the OP and now he's an "entitled dickhead" because he sat down on the bench when she moved?!

Nice.

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 12:12

JMSA · 30/07/2025 12:07

This is such socially awkward behaviour.
You, not him.

This!

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 12:12

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:47

Now who is trivialising? You are conveniently not addressing my experience in the CoOp.

But you've said women being leered at doesn't matter or warrant your 'sympathy' because it only matters when it is physical.

What a shocking attitude to have.

No I think what is shocking is likening being looked at in a queue to rape, using the expression “eye rape” and thinking that’s ok. It isn’t. Neither is the ridiculous posts inflating a man waiting for a bench and commenting on the view.

JMSA · 30/07/2025 12:07

This is such socially awkward behaviour.
You, not him.

nomas · 30/07/2025 12:02

LifesTooShortForBadSex · 30/07/2025 11:55

OP i don't blame you one bit.

That was distinctly odd behaviour from that man. I'm in my 50s & i would have left too. Wtf was he thinking!

About 2 years ago myself & dh were at a beautiful nature reserve & I was wearing new walking boots & one started rubbing my heel badly & gave me a blister. We were about 10mins from the car park & dh remembered we had plasters in the glove compartment & v kindly offered to go back for them while I waited.

We were in a loosely forested area with a path so we stepped just off the pathway where there was a tree stump & I sat down to wait.

It was early winter, midweek & v few people around. An older couple went by & said hello. No problems. About 10mins later a lone man in his 40s came along tje path. He was not dressed for walking the trail which is def easier in walking boots etc as its a mountain reserve but with gravel / mud in lots of areas.

I noticed his ordinary shoes. Anyway didn't spot me at first as I was to one side of the path & he was walking at a normal pace. As he got closer he saw me & he stared continously as he came level to my tree stump. I'm not a panicker at all. But it was weird how he openly stared. He didn't speak as he went by but I watched him - he walked onwards to a bend in uhe path. His pace had def slowed down once he went past me. Then he stopped & turned & started walking back in my direction. I saw this & can't describe how uneasy it made me. I stood up & (despite huge blister) stepped into the path & walked away from him towards the carpark to see my dh coming along towards me. When he saw me walking that way he knew something was up. He spotted the man behind me who immediately turned on his heel & headed back into the forest - dh was looking at him. I put the plaster on & we kept going for a bit but took a shorter route than we'd intended.

It was odd as fuck & i was def on edge & v glad to see dh come along when he did. But seeing that guy stare, slow down & then turn & come back my way was utterly unnerving. The fact that he scarpered when dh showed up made it feel worse to me.

Men really need to be more aware of themselves expecially in secluded, isolated areas

Sounds scary.

I apologised to a woman for startling her last night in the dark. I was a short woman in flip flops and pyjamas and still stayed on the opposite side of the road.

It took no effort from me to put her at ease.

Tia247 · 30/07/2025 12:01

You should have said 'yes it is' and got out your phone and started using that while ignoring him beyond that point. He'd soon have got bored. He probably just wanted a rest after walking his dog and knew that bench was there.

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:57

fuck the fuck off and find your own fuckety fuck fucking bench !!!

This should be on a t-shirt

Wolfpinkola · 30/07/2025 11:56

lunaswand · 30/07/2025 11:22

I probably would have started chatting with him but wouldn't have moved if I was happy there. Some people have very interesting stories

Fgs

yes, we can all chit chat about the view and the weather when it’s not a totally weird fucking scenario !!

imagine, you’re on a double decker bus which is totally empty, yet a random man stands next to you, when the whole bus is available. Weird, but at least the driver is there. Now transpose that to the top of a cliff and there is nobody there and a fucking ton of other benches….fuck the fuck off and find your own fuckety fuck fucking bench !!!

LifesTooShortForBadSex · 30/07/2025 11:55

OP i don't blame you one bit.

That was distinctly odd behaviour from that man. I'm in my 50s & i would have left too. Wtf was he thinking!

About 2 years ago myself & dh were at a beautiful nature reserve & I was wearing new walking boots & one started rubbing my heel badly & gave me a blister. We were about 10mins from the car park & dh remembered we had plasters in the glove compartment & v kindly offered to go back for them while I waited.

We were in a loosely forested area with a path so we stepped just off the pathway where there was a tree stump & I sat down to wait.

It was early winter, midweek & v few people around. An older couple went by & said hello. No problems. About 10mins later a lone man in his 40s came along tje path. He was not dressed for walking the trail which is def easier in walking boots etc as its a mountain reserve but with gravel / mud in lots of areas.

I noticed his ordinary shoes. Anyway didn't spot me at first as I was to one side of the path & he was walking at a normal pace. As he got closer he saw me & he stared continously as he came level to my tree stump. I'm not a panicker at all. But it was weird how he openly stared. He didn't speak as he went by but I watched him - he walked onwards to a bend in uhe path. His pace had def slowed down once he went past me. Then he stopped & turned & started walking back in my direction. I saw this & can't describe how uneasy it made me. I stood up & (despite huge blister) stepped into the path & walked away from him towards the carpark to see my dh coming along towards me. When he saw me walking that way he knew something was up. He spotted the man behind me who immediately turned on his heel & headed back into the forest - dh was looking at him. I put the plaster on & we kept going for a bit but took a shorter route than we'd intended.

It was odd as fuck & i was def on edge & v glad to see dh come along when he did. But seeing that guy stare, slow down & then turn & come back my way was utterly unnerving. The fact that he scarpered when dh showed up made it feel worse to me.

Men really need to be more aware of themselves expecially in secluded, isolated areas

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:55

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:43

Nothing I can’t stand more than those hanging on the shirt tails of those who have experienced real abuse and rape demonising and crying poor me over very little. It’s revolting and trivialising.

Who is hanging on the shirt tails? And who cried 'poor me'

This thread isn't about sexual abuse. I think you are in the wrong spot if that is what you want to talk about. It is about how men in public can make women feel uneasy through their actions either knowingly or not. I shared a few of my recent experiences that are relevant to the topic at hand.

If you have a problem with women calling out lecherous behaviour simply because other women have had it worse you are a massive part of the problem. Are you actually listening to yourself?

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:47

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:37

Targeted! She was spoken to in a B&Q queue. If that is all she has to “recover” from she is very lucky. Some of us have lived experience worthy of complaining about. The guy was waiting for a bench in a beauty spot, maybe op should have chalked an acceptable chalk line around her.

Edited

Now who is trivialising? You are conveniently not addressing my experience in the CoOp.

But you've said women being leered at doesn't matter or warrant your 'sympathy' because it only matters when it is physical.

What a shocking attitude to have.

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:46

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:43

Nothing I can’t stand more than those hanging on the shirt tails of those who have experienced real abuse and rape demonising and crying poor me over very little. It’s revolting and trivialising.

This sounds like code for trying to demonise women as hysterical complainers under the guise of standing up for ‘real abuse and rape’.

You do not get to speak for women.

We can gather and share our experiences using our own words.

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:43

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:41

Why do you keep ignoring that he was staring at OP and looming over her?

And that the man Falk refers to was staring at her?

You're ignoring it because you know staring is red flag behaviour.

Edited

Nothing I can’t stand more than those hanging on the shirt tails of those who have experienced real abuse and rape demonising and crying poor me over very little. It’s revolting and trivialising.

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:43

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:32

Ah, so a man staring at a woman in an isolated area and looming over her is perfectly fine but you find time to criticise a woman who has detailed 3 different occasions where men targeted her.

Your agenda is clear now.

This in spades.

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:41

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:37

Targeted! She was spoken to in a B&Q queue. If that is all she has to “recover” from she is very lucky. Some of us have lived experience worthy of complaining about. The guy was waiting for a bench in a beauty spot, maybe op should have chalked an acceptable chalk line around her.

Edited

Why do you keep ignoring that he was staring at OP and looming over her?

And that the man Falk refers to was staring at her?

You're ignoring it because you know staring is red flag behaviour.

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:40

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:25

I’m sorry that happened to you. Women need to keep sharing their experiences.

Thanks.

I can see why so many women don't share when you are met with the reception I have had on here over a few choice words! Let's ignore the entire contents of my comment and cherry pick my use of language to start an argument that has nothing to do with anything. Such an odd place at times.

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:37

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:32

Ah, so a man staring at a woman in an isolated area and looming over her is perfectly fine but you find time to criticise a woman who has detailed 3 different occasions where men targeted her.

Your agenda is clear now.

Targeted! She was spoken to in a B&Q queue. If that is all she has to “recover” from she is very lucky. Some of us have lived experience worthy of complaining about. The guy was waiting for a bench in a beauty spot, maybe op should have chalked an acceptable chalk line around her.

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:34

The MRA have clearly sent their Bat Signal to this thread. Or should that be the Joker Signal.

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:34

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:29

I keep my sympathy for those that have experienced sexual assault and rape. Said poster was allegedly looked at in a queue and subjected to mansplaining in a B&Q queue. 🙄Some of us have experience of real abuse.

For staters I don't believe I asked for your sympathy.

Secondly, just because other women have suffered physical abuse that means I can't complain about being leered at? And you have the audacity to question my use of language.

Your comment is actually revolting!

MyQuirkyTraybake · 30/07/2025 11:32

YANBU.

I spend a lot of time outdoors. Used to own 3 dogs. In the last couple of years I've been attacked by more than 10 dogs.

The pandemic lead to a whole new group of dog owners and brought a lot of people outdoors who are completely oblivious to the norms. They have changed outside etiquette and culture. In my experience men are worst for this, having never or rarely felt threatened.

I'm looking forward to autumn and winter when everyone fucks off back inside! Buy yourself a down coat OP and try again in October.

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:32

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:25

No I won’t when it very much trivialises rape and also very much illustrates what a skewed opinion said poster has as regards behaviour. The guy did nothing wrong and does not need social awareness training.

Ah, so a man staring at a woman in an isolated area and looming over her is perfectly fine but you find time to criticise a woman who has detailed 3 different occasions where men targeted her.

Your agenda is clear now.

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:31

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:25

It was an appalling thing to say, posters can comment on that.

By all means comment. What you don't get to do is assume my meaning or intention nor do you get to police my language or say that I'm comparing when I am not. It's really that simple. Do you wish to continue this non argument? It's rather boring and came to it's conclusion a while back.

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:29

nomas · 30/07/2025 11:25

I’m sorry that happened to you. Women need to keep sharing their experiences.

I keep my sympathy for those that have experienced sexual assault and rape. Said poster was allegedly looked at in a queue and subjected to mansplaining in a B&Q queue. 🙄Some of us have experience of real abuse.

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:28

ItsBouqeeeet · 30/07/2025 11:27

Who said anything about severe punishments? The fact is, if a man retaliated, there would be uproar from people. You've assumed my meaning - like the OP assumed the man's intentions were sinister.

What makes you think there would be an uproar in relation to a man defending himself? And how is this relevant to the topic. Like I said, you have gone off on a tangent. Maybe create a new thread?

FalkorFluff · 30/07/2025 11:27

Trad3rB3n · 30/07/2025 11:16

Not really. Not speaking or commenting on the view. Either way it is likely to be misconstrued as predatory behaviour by the op who seems to think she owns the beauty spot.

Also anybody who thinks somebody looking at her is the same as rape really can’t dictate to others how they should think about the situation.

I literally never said it was the same though did I. Hang off that if you think it strengthens your argument. It doesn't.

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