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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the RSPB shouldn’t say if you don’t want to see naked men stay away from the woods/public footpaths?

269 replies

CovidCorvid · 07/08/2021 14:26

So 2 years ago I visited Sherwood forest and was by myself in the forest when I came across 3 naked men. Which was a little unsettling for a woman by herself. It was in a quieter part of the forest so at that moment nobody else about and I hadn’t seen anyone for a while. On a public footpath.

I spoke to some (clothed) men about it further along the path and they said it’s a common occurrence and that the police are frequently getting called and tell them to get dressed.

It’s in the news currently as larger groups of naked men have been seen again. Seems the main areas they stick to are managed by the RSPB who seem to be encouraging it. The land may be managed by the rspb but they’re public footpaths, not a pay as you enter nature reserve. The bit I actually saw the men in wasn’t the rspb bit but there’s no fence/demarcation between them.

RSPB say if you don’t want to see naked men then stay away! Ffs. Why is it the naked men get to ruin things for other people? The police say it’s illegal if someone is offended. 🤷‍♀️

www.visitsherwood.co.uk/plan-your-visit/naturism-on-rspb-reserves/

OP posts:
Emilyontmoor · 08/08/2021 13:42

I should add I am very uncomfortable when I am alone and encounter a man on his own because I have managed to live in the vicinity of a serial racist / killer for my whole life. One of the things that sickened me after the Sarah Everard murder was that women were still being told to stay home at night. I badly want the police to step up to the plate to stop men sexually harassing and attacking women but I don’t extend that to naturists who in my experience are usually rather Ernest and very nice people who as others have commented have become adjusted to the naked body not being remotely sexual. I would actually feel safer in a naturist area than I would in a lonely woodland.

ilovesooty · 08/08/2021 13:45

Sadly I think some women do view just about every male they encounter as a potential rapist.

Blossomtoes · 08/08/2021 13:48

I've been sexually assaulted twice, and both of the perpetrators appeared completely harmless

Crucially, for the purposes of this thread, were they naked? Otherwise your experience is entirely irrelevant.

I’m very sorry that happened to you. 💐

lilmishap · 08/08/2021 13:58

The only alternative advice they could give is 'shut your eyes or keep eyes up' which is appropriateness advice so I don't really see they have any choice

lilmishap · 08/08/2021 14:03

*Innapropriate

Balgoresboy · 08/08/2021 14:04

I have seen far more naked women out in public spaces like beaches with their boobs out than men with their willies out. Are these spaces then 'female spaces' or are they sexual predators? I have even seen groups of women in their 20s bathing topless at pools when young children were in their presence-doesn't make me think the women were trying to abuse the kids there or dominate the place. It is nudity-who bloody cares?

Mrssmithscrisps · 08/08/2021 14:06

@Emilyontmoor

I should add I am very uncomfortable when I am alone and encounter a man on his own because I have managed to live in the vicinity of a serial racist / killer for my whole life. One of the things that sickened me after the Sarah Everard murder was that women were still being told to stay home at night. I badly want the police to step up to the plate to stop men sexually harassing and attacking women but I don’t extend that to naturists who in my experience are usually rather Ernest and very nice people who as others have commented have become adjusted to the naked body not being remotely sexual. I would actually feel safer in a naturist area than I would in a lonely woodland.
But you don't know that they are naturists. There are no signs and some of them are wondering outside the designated areas. I'm not offended by the sight of a naked body and couldn't care less if someone is in to naturism, but I would feel threated if I encountered a naked man with no context, in a secluded area of a forest. As a female you are programmed from a young age to be alert to unusual male behaviour, for your safety. A man wondering naked around a forest is unusual behaviour, if there are no signs alerting me to the fact I am in a naturist area and it would worry me. Why should someone's need to get naked, trump my need to feel safe when I am enjoying a nice walk.
Balgoresboy · 08/08/2021 14:08

''I actually think that naked men are so bloody horrible to look at, it would scar me for life (let along my kids). (And yes, Im not overly keen on my dh naked body either.........................)''

Would love to see the reaction here if a man came on saying that about women and his own wife. If you feel like that why did you even get married or sleep with your husband? I also feel pity for your sons if you have them, they will likely grow up with severe body issues and most of all I feel sorry for your husband.

GCAcademic · 08/08/2021 14:25

@Balgoresboy

I have seen far more naked women out in public spaces like beaches with their boobs out than men with their willies out. Are these spaces then 'female spaces' or are they sexual predators? I have even seen groups of women in their 20s bathing topless at pools when young children were in their presence-doesn't make me think the women were trying to abuse the kids there or dominate the place. It is nudity-who bloody cares?
Boobs aren't a weapon. There aren't lots of people of the opposite sex (or same) out there who've been assaulted violently by women using their boobs. Though I can imagine you're one of those men that think that women rape and carry out sexual assaults just as often as men, aren't you?
Emilyontmoor · 08/08/2021 14:26

*As a female you are programmed from a young age to be alert to unusual male behaviour, for your safety. A man wondering naked around a forest is unusual behaviour, if there are no signs alerting me to the fact I am in a naturist area and it would worry me.” Well apparently there are signs and it is a traditionally naturist area, and now it has been in the papers. From many encounters in Studland, also a traditional naturist area, and other places abroad I have been deprogrammed to see a naked man in a naturist area as any sort of threat, indeed quite the opposite since they are very quick to act if anyone does go against their norms. I am sure they are pretty pissed of by people who stare and make a huge fuss about a flaccid penis.

What is a much bigger issue is that all my life I have had to live in places where serial rapists / killers were in the loose for years at a time, an ever present fully clothed threat, and often misogyny in the police force was a reason that they weren’t caught sooner and quite clearly from the Sarah Everard and other cases and the events around that those issues persist to the current day. There are much bigger issues than a bunch of naturists enjoying nature in one of very few places where they can.

nancydroo · 08/08/2021 14:28

@SoundBar

If it was clearly marked like a nudist beach would be then I could say they had the right to be naked.

But if there's no clear warning signs then I would have to say it's inappropriate.

The nudists have to give people who do not want to see them, a fighting chance to stay away!

Yup agree with this. I would want to make an informed choice. It should have clear signs
Balgoresboy · 08/08/2021 14:34

I am a women and please stop putting words into my mouth.

GCAcademic · 08/08/2021 14:36

Agreed. No problem with naturists in designated, adequately signed areas where you have the choice to partake or avoid. It sounds like this is not the case here.

GCAcademic · 08/08/2021 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

MonsignorMirth · 08/08/2021 14:56

There are much bigger issues than a bunch of naturists enjoying nature in one of very few places where they can.

Just to save time, what single issue would you say is the biggest issue in the world? Just to ensure we don't waste time thinking about or trying to solve any other ones.

Emilyontmoor · 08/08/2021 15:11

Just to save time, what single issue would you say is the biggest issue in the world? Just to ensure we don't waste time thinking about or trying to solve any other ones.

I am not commenting on all the issues in the world. I am commenting on a non issue, naturists in a naturist area.

MonsignorMirth · 08/08/2021 16:10

It's a naturist area purely because naturists are in there being naked. There aren't any signs informing people about this - just a webpage and rumours/local news reports etc.

Would you class any public area as a "naturist area" if a man took his clothes off in it?

Emilyontmoor · 08/08/2021 17:28

There aren't any signs informing people about this - just a webpage and rumours/local news reports etc. There is a sign apparently plus it is well known and has been for a long time hence the RSPB addressing it on their webpage.

Unlike our local dogging spot….. which most definitely should not be tolerated just because everyone goes there to dog or whatever the verb is, with little or no clothing, but it is.

Naturists in a traditional naturist area recognised by the RSPB not an issue. Doggers engaging in explicit sexual acts in an area of riverside should be an issue but isn’t……

MiddlesexGirl · 08/08/2021 21:31

@Blossomtoes

So how do you explain flashers then ?

Flashers aren’t usually naked, are they? They tend only to expose their penis, the clue’s in the name. The flasher I experienced was fully dressed with open trousers.

But it's open season for flashers in areas where naturists are permitted ..... and close by ....
callmeadoctor · 08/08/2021 22:01

@Balgoresboy

''I actually think that naked men are so bloody horrible to look at, it would scar me for life (let along my kids). (And yes, Im not overly keen on my dh naked body either.........................)''

Would love to see the reaction here if a man came on saying that about women and his own wife. If you feel like that why did you even get married or sleep with your husband? I also feel pity for your sons if you have them, they will likely grow up with severe body issues and most of all I feel sorry for your husband.

Ha Ha, whatever you say, women naked bodies are so much more attractive than mens. (Willies are particularly horrible, especially strange mens). We should have a poll on here as to whether women find naked men attractive or not Grin
fourminutestosavetheworld · 09/08/2021 08:23

I don't know if it's already been linked, but the thread has been picked up by the press here

fourminutestosavetheworld · 09/08/2021 08:49

I seem to be getting lots of related stories pushed at me now. Another article about naturism on RSPB land at Sherwood Forest here

It seems it is not possible to ban it, hence tolerated.

Balgoresboy · 09/08/2021 09:32

''Ha Ha, whatever you say, women naked bodies are so much more attractive than mens. (Willies are particularly horrible, especially strange mens). ''

Naked bodies look better when they are looked after and generally younger adults-though not always. It is not based on gender. There are as many bad looking females with saggy boobs and cellulite with post pregnant stomach as there are unattractive men.

Yesitsbess · 09/08/2021 09:57

I now have questions:

Are all the naturists in this forest men?

Are women 'allowed' out of the designated area but not men?

Should we perhaps cage them, a la Jurassic Park?

LemonKitten · 09/08/2021 09:59

So where EXACTLY would one find these naked people naturists? Asking for a friend...