All men should be aware of this

Genuine answer, if it was another woman, not at all. If I thought she was deliberately coming towards me I'd assume she was approaching to ask me for help, directions, if I'd seen her dog or something. If it was a man I might think that too tbf, but there would also be a second of wariness that I'd not feel if it were another women.
The feeling of fear PP imagines the man felt doesn't resonate with me at all when encountering unknown women.

You've also posted repeatedly your fantasy scenario where the man in the woods was in fear of the OP

Genuine question, do you not think someone walking in the opposite direction, then suddenly changing directions to follow a few feet behind you is suspicious?

As a man or a woman, I'd nope out of there in any way I could if someone did that to me, inventing a reason to stop and let her go past without making eye contact or inviting any sort of interaction was a really sensible move IMO.

I've actually done it myself on occasion when a bit spooked, I don't want to stop and look at my phone in case my phone is snatched out of my hand, so pretending to look for something in my bag is perfect cover.

Wherever she was heading, she initially put herself far closer to the man whom she suspected could harm her than she needed to.

I completely agree that women and girls - or anybody for that matter - shouldn't dismiss their natural instincts... which is why it's even odder to deliberately put yourself nearer to the source of believed danger.

If OP was frightened when she realised that men walk in public places as well - and she believes that all/some of them represent a great danger to her - why wouldn't she wait a couple of minutes to let the one(s) she's particularly scared of pass by first (like this chap who was walking in the opposite direction) before evacuating the area of perceived danger?

Well said 👏

Man here.

A few years back was walking home from work late in the evening. Through a park. Not a lot of lamps. Just little circles of light and a bit of a wlk to the next one. Approaching a woman walking the same direction as me, and see her look over her shoulder. So cross the road to walk past her on the other side. She notices and speeds up again. So stopped till she had plenty of distance, recrossed the road to get on the path again.She must have been aware of that because she started running. Stood still, rolled a fag, and smoked it standing under the lamplight. Leaving her, running away, scared out of her mind. Probably would have been safer to have been nearer her. In case she was assaulted by another male. And I could have intervened to help.

Totally get what she felt. And what you, OP, felt. I try to be aware and respectful.

But sometimes, as a man, it's hard to know what to do. And we are not always hyper vigilant about the world around us. Can't always place myself inside the mind of every person in the neighbourhood.

Or and gap. Stop twisting people's words.

I've told my son's to get out of the situation if anyone is following regardless of gender. That's the right thing to tell my son's. The world isn't a magical place where men don't get into dangerous situations. The man in the OP did nothing wrong except remove himself from the situation. That's what everyone should do regardless of gender. You just don't like the fact that men also have the right to do what's best for them in a situation. No I don't make my son's feR women , how ridiculous, but I have instilled into them if they fear danger they should remove themselves, exactly the same advice I give my daughter

You are being ridiculous. Normal women dont feel intimidated by a man going into their bag in some woods. I think you need help not men.

"You've also posted repeatedly your fantasy scenario where the man in the woods was in fear of the OP,"

To be fair, if some random person decided to start following him when he was out on a walk the man may also have had a "gut instinct" and behaved defensively and been a bit wary. Multiple players have suggested this is why he stopped to check his bag.

Granted he may not have lectured his wife about it when he got home then gone onto Mumsnet and suggested the entire female sex should be more considerate when running into solo walkers.

I’d expect my sons to be fearful of somebody changing direction and following them. He has no idea if she has a knife or is working with somebody else.

Everyone should be aware of situational awareness and behaviour conscious of their past personal experiences.

Being conscious of what you are doing and likelihood /risks would reduce a lot of bad situations - if your pho e is open and you are on it, a thief will have access to your apps and data.

"Dear men, think like an attacker would think and Don't" does sound ...... iffy.

You've already posted what you've told your sons. You've also posted repeatedly your fantasy scenario where the man in the woods was in fear of the OP, laying it on thicker each time as though its fact rather than something youve invented and projected on to him (the irony of you accusing me of projection!)
I don't think its a stretch to imagine you encourage your sons to see women as a source of danger they should fear. You've spent the best part of two days on the thread encouraging everyone else to think it after all.

Women can be sent as decoys, some women do make false accusations, commit crimes and some women do attack. I’m not teaching my sons to be never fear women or situations they feel uncomfortable in.

What a ridiculous post.

Indeed. I never suggested otherwise. The person I was replying to has over several posts informed us how frightened this man must have been and how understandable that was. My point was that a responsible parent would not encourage this type of thinking in her sons, but would instead provide them with evidence that they had no need to fear women. Why would any reasonable person want their child unnecessarily frightened when the evidence is so reassuring?

Exactly this!

TheSunjustcameout
"The women who tell other women this are either in denial or good little girls who do what men say."

Or they are strong, independent women who go about their day to day lives without being in a state of constant fear of the opposite sex .

She was heading back towards the village/town/other people instead of continuing on to a more remote place because this man set off alarm bells.

OP did the right thing.
No-one should be shaming her or dismissing her reaction.

Girls and women are constantly told to dismiss their natural instinct.
There is no good reason to do that.
The men who tell women this are usually predators themselves.
The women who tell other women this are either in denial or good little girls who do what men say.

You have no idea what I've told my son's. I've told them to be respectfull of women as long as they show he same respect back. I've said if a women is following them they should let her pass to safeguard themselves. Why are women allowed to safeguard themselves but not men. My boys are in stable loving relationships and respect the women they love. Don't try to tell me what I've said to my boys because you weren't there. You are projecting your own thoughts which are not true

Who's saying that a man who's discomfited by a woman changing direction to deliberately follow him, can't also have empathy for women and their safety? The two things can exist side by side in the same man. In fact a man who's experienced discomfort from being followed, is likely to have even more empathy for women in the same situation.

No. Women with your attitude are contributing to damaging the next generation of men.
If you've encouraged your sons to be frightened of women rather than showing them the stats that clearly demonstrate its men they should be scared of, you're irresponsible.
If you've brought them up to think that women will make false accusations against them then you're encouraging misogynist paranoia and rape apology.
If you go round telling them that women are entitled and demanding when they ask for consideration and that they should ignore them because their rights are what matter, you've raised the next generation of whinging MRA, who will find their dating pool significantly reduced as a result and will struggle socially in more enlightened spaces.
No man is damaged by empathising and being considerate of women. On the contrary, he will stand out for his decency.

Exactly, women with that attitude are damaging the next generation of men.

Yes.

Those who are saying the OP was right to be alarmed/scared etc, please tell us what this man could have done differently.

Just to be clear - he was walking along a path near a school in broad daylight and while other people were close by although out of sight at the the OP saw him.

I know!!!

Agree, not sure why a path through woods would be more dangerous than any other footpath. I walk in the woods most days on my own, I see men, women and children in there.