Am i supposed to be afraid?

When I lived in London I wasn't too worried about late at night - it was busy and well-lit

It was 5-6am at the weekend that was scary when I was on my way to work, even though in the summer it was daylight - I was approached and threatened several times and there were not many people around

Cows kill 20 people a year in the US!

I don't feel safe walking at night in some neighbourhoods, but I worry about being mugged more than assaulted. And it isn't the dark so much as the lack of people around

Cows don't bother me in the slightest. Footsteps behind me at night on a dark street have me hyperventilating. Lived in town and village and both the same. Most of my horrible encounters have been in the dark by random men being opportunistic. Come the light of day and I suddenly have my brave pants on.

And if you're in a field with cows and feel the need to run, run AT them, not away from. Wonder if that works with men ?

74 people killed by cows in 15 years? Bloody hell. Didn't know it was that many.

Cows officially the most deadly large animals in Britain. nuff said

I'm so sorry OP, I've derailed the thread somewhat

Don't come between cows and calves. In fact, don't even go near if there are calves around.

I think don't make any noise and try walk away slowly without any sudden movements. Don't go into a corner or you could get boxed in. If you have a dog, let it go. It will find the best exit in a nanosecond, leaving you cursing the fucker.

I suspect most people would forget all advice, scream like a banshee and try to run for it though. Terrifying.

I once lived in a very dodgy area which was a red light district. At night abut the only women who were outside were the hookers. once had to park a car on the street and it was vandalized within 15 minutes. So, there I never walked alone.

Everywhere else I've been has been pretty safe. Definitely the least safe thing to do is to know any men. Sadly, it is far more likely to be your family member or an acquaintance who rapes you.

Marble "I don't know Lorelei, I'm a townie. Apparently running townies antagonise them, they get angry and run faster."

If this was the original subject matter, you'd have won the thread

Style? Stile.

Now it is entirely reasonable to be afraid of cows.

Cows are curious animals that like to come and have a look at you up close.

Our dog (brave in all other matters) is utterly terrified of them. She won't even contemplate going into a field of cows. If she hears a moo on TV she tries to run out the back door.

Was out walking a while back with the dog when we passed an older gentleman who said that a herd of cows were gathering behind him and that they might not like the dog. I said I'd take his advice and walk back the way I'd just come, back towards the style. A minute later, the man, the dog and I were belting towards the style at breakneck speed with the dog clearing the style first, me second and the old bloke gasping behind.

What is the best course of action if you get attacked by cows ?

Not running. Check.

Freezing ? Takes nerves of steel I don't have

Going at 'em with a big stick ? Shouting loudly ? Hiding behind your bemused husband ?

I don't know Lorelei, I'm a townie. Apparently running townies antagonise them, they get angry and run faster.

I am petrified of cows after getting cornered in a field and then one fucking reared up at me 😨

I love a country walk and do many measured rambles of 6/7/8 miles that end up being 9/10/11 because I have to give fields with cows in the swerve

I don't feel scared.

I run early mornings and late evenings quite a bit. I don't tend to tell people that a lot because you encounter a lot of "Ooooh, you really shouldn't" kind of stuff from people. I don't take a phone with me either. Shrug.

I live in the country now but used to do the same in the city. I don't lock house doors either if I am in the house overnight on my own. Never have, no matter where I've lived (urban, suburban, country).

I used to do a female fitness class at night and I used to jog there and jog back afterwards (a couple of miles each way). Most of the class were uncomfortable at the idea of me running home afterwards and I kept having to fend off insistent offers of lifts home every week. It was like I was doing something wrong, letting the side down or something. I would never tell someone that they should stop using their car at night and walk or run instead, but plenty of people are happy to tell me that I really shouldn't be out walking or running alone. I stopped going to the class in the end because it was all a bit of a fuss that I didn't want.

I know I've just been lucky never to have a problem but I don't want to stop doing things that I enjoy. Me staying at home isn't going to make the world a safer place.

I certainly don't mean to sound unsympathetic to those who have had bad experiences in the past and are now quite understandably more fearful than they used to be.

Marble, why is that the worst thing?
Do I need to apologise to my friend, do cows do evil eye before they gave chase?!
Sorry OP.

Women: don't walk alone in fields. The cows will get you!

I never knew cows could run until I was 26. I was nearly in tears. And of course I ran, which is the worst thing to do.

I've been chased by cows (not in the dark). Tis pretty scary stuff. They're quite big and surprisingly fast once they get going!

AF, I was on a country walk with a friend, just thinking it was time we headed back to the station when she said "I think we need to go, the cows are looking at us funny". I was so busy holding my sides with laughter, I never got her to expand on that!

Cows ? Now they really are evil bastards....

Ophelia when you say unofficial, I'm curious, you mean an informal course or something?

I don't feel very afraid. I used to, but now I don't unless something happens to make me feel scared. I understand why people do though.

I live in London and will walk a ten minute walk down a surburban road at 1am and feel ok about it, I figured that statistically it's less dangerous than it thinks and feels. I read a book about it which helped me iron out my thoughts. I can't remember exactly what it said about personal safety, but there was another section which was talking about aviation security, and there was a tale about a pilot who, exasperated at all the security hoops he was having to jump through said "why are you bothering with this? If I wanted to do any damage I would just crash the plane". That's the same kind of thing in my book - being raped is, more often than not by a country mile, out of your hands.

I have been raped at various points in my life. Always in my own bed, always by someone I knew. I kind of feel like "well the only worst thing that could happen now is being murdered so...", which is a bit of a gung-ho/stupid approach but it's how I feel these days. So yes, personal safety is very important and you should be vigilant, but there is no point in stopping living your life if avoiding rape is your aim. Not getting drunk and not walking alone at night is statistically unlikely to make much of a dent in your chances of being raped or murdered.

I'd actually feel much less safe walking alone in a more rural place - more isolated, less chance of getting help, more cars driving fast through unlit roads, cows....

Not sure what the point of this post is.

You don't feel afraid. Some women do. Why would you equate that with you should feel afraid? It's like setting up one persons feelings on a situation up against another's. Both feelings are valid or do you not think that?