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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

OH loves to walk...but worries mums might think he's a paedo

285 replies

Dowser · 15/04/2015 09:06

I can't or don't always want to go with him.

So, he's been on his morning constitutional avoiding schools and parks ( probably crossing over the road if he sees a woman on her own approaching him).

He came in wearing some new shorts. I said they look like baggy shorts, have you lost weight.

No, he said, these are my walking shorts. They look like I'm out for a walk and I'm not a paedo.

I'm sniggering here at his logic. I wouldn't even say it was short wearing weather but I feel quite sad for him.

He's misses not having dogs any more. He had dogs for 30 years , and he felt a dog gave him a legitimate reason to walk and not look like a paedo in the park.

Anyone else got a male walk loving OH and how do they overcome this problem.

I think to be fair OH feels more sensitive about it since Jimmy Savile.

OP posts:
Missmonkeypenny · 15/04/2015 09:10

It's such a sad state of affairs that a man can't even go for a walk without worrying what other people might think about him.

Lavenderice · 15/04/2015 09:11

Ok, I'm killing time before a meeting, I'll bite...WTAF!?!?

Nolim · 15/04/2015 09:12

Whaaaat?

CoffeeBucks · 15/04/2015 09:12

I don't think wearing shorts is going to make any difference, is it - certainly not seeing the logic there!

I think he's worrying unnecessarily.

Is getting a dog not an option though?

Floopledoop · 15/04/2015 09:12

If I saw a man out walking on his own near a school or in a park or anywhere it would never even cross my mind he was a paedophile!

If I even thought anything about it (unlikely) it would just be that he was going to the shops/town/work/just out for a walk because it's good exercise/a nice thing to do.

ahbollocks · 15/04/2015 09:12

My FIL said the same! Get the poor man a pooch

Sanch1 · 15/04/2015 09:12

It would never cross my mind that a man just walking might be a peado! It's a sad sad sign of our times that he is worried about this.

TwirlyCat · 15/04/2015 09:13

He is wierdly over worrying about this. Maybe listen to some music if he really is concerned.

WilsonWilsonWoman · 15/04/2015 09:13

I think he's being paranoid and irrational. Tell him to hold his head up high and keep on walking! What's he doing on these walks, stopping to stand outside school gates and rub his thighs? Hmm

Seeline · 15/04/2015 09:14

So every man out walking on their own is a paedo?
Even going to the shops, or walking to the station, or walking to pick a child up from school?
The world has gone mad Sad

LittleMissIntrovert · 15/04/2015 09:14

If I saw a man in shorts I would just think ooh he must be cold! Nothing more sinister than that.

paxtecum · 15/04/2015 09:15

YABU. I know this attitude does exist because I know dog owners who look with suspicion at lone males they may see on their dog walks.
We do live in a sad world.

I walk in the countryside on my own without a dog and would hate to think people thought I was a wierdo - though I'm female so less chance of that.

If he misses having a dog, could he borrow one for his walks?

LaurieFairyCake · 15/04/2015 09:16

Yes this attitude exists. Not paedo though, cottager.

I'd get another dog.

Houseworkavoider · 15/04/2015 09:18

Sad for him that this is worrying him.
I can't see that people would assume that he's out looking for a victim Confused
Do you think that what people think?

NerrSnerr · 15/04/2015 09:19

What?

Please tell us what paedo shorts look like- would save the police a lot of time.

OrlandoWoolf · 15/04/2015 09:22

No, he said, these are my walking shorts. They look like I'm out for a walk and I'm not a paedo

Baggy shorts =paedo Confused

Idontseeanydragons · 15/04/2015 09:23

DH loves hiking and this has never crossed his mind! His other hobby is photography and he usually has a camera bag with him on his walks - still never thought he looked odd in any way!
Your DH needs to relax a bit, nobody will think he's up to anything Grin

OrlandoWoolf · 15/04/2015 09:25

The reality is - that most abuse takes place in the home with people who are trusted adults. Not from strangers.

Children are very rarely kidnapped by strangers. Kids in shopping centres are very rarely approached by paedophiles.

It is the abuse at home that is the issue. Not a lone man in shorts.

shitebag · 15/04/2015 09:26

I'd suggest a visit to the Doctor tbh, that level of irrational paranoia isn't normal.

Sootgremlin · 15/04/2015 09:26

How would other people know he wasn't going somewhere in particular? I never notice if people's walking is destination driven, or purely leisure walking.

Perhaps I should look more closely at their shorts Confused

jonicomelately · 15/04/2015 09:27

We used to have a neighbour who borrowed our dog to go on walks. He said he felt people looked at him suspiciously when he was walking by himself but everybody said hello when he was with the dog.

Branleuse · 15/04/2015 09:27

just get a dog?

Justusemyname · 15/04/2015 09:28

Hmm. How odd.

softlysoftly · 15/04/2015 09:28

Wtf? Who ever sees a bloke walking and thinks that Confused

SaucyJack · 15/04/2015 09:28

How short were his previous shorts?