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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:
ilovesooty · 07/08/2021 19:26

I don't propose any particular way to stop them.

I don't care about their boundaries

That's not the impression you've given.

Couchbettato · 07/08/2021 19:33

@FreeBritnee

Is Naturism protected by law? It seems very odd for them to ‘tolerate it’ unless they were legally obliged to. They are again I suppose they’d rather not pay someone to manage it so would rather you just tolerated seeing naked people abd not cause a fuss 🙄🙄
In short, it's legal to be naked in the UK unless someone takes offence.

In long, it's a bit more complex and depends on location and intent.

Jorrris · 07/08/2021 19:35

You missed the second bit. As long as they don't impact on safeguards and basic decency.

ilovesooty · 07/08/2021 19:39

I didn't miss the second bit. Whether a particular situation has that impact obviously seems to be open to varying levels of interpretation. You seem to be insisting that your interpretation is the only correct one.

Blossomtoes · 07/08/2021 19:48

You seem to be insisting that your interpretation is the only correct one.

She (I assume they’re a she) is doing exactly that. Thank goodness I don’t know anyone like that offline.

Muddydoor · 07/08/2021 19:50

Penises are well known weapons. As are knives. A lot of people like to innocently whittle wood. If I saw an unexpected knife, at no time am I going to think, ooh look its a whittler. I apply the same common sense to s penis.

Emilyontmoor · 07/08/2021 20:17

Muddydoor What if the whittler is in a woodshed (or wherever Whittlers whittle)?

Nudists in a nudist area in a quiet forest are equally unsurprising.

Where are these supposed universal boundaries drawn?

For instance a minority of gay people are paedophiles (as are some straight people of course) so do you keep your children away from all gay people? Have I got poor boundaries by thinking that would be homophobic and disgustingly discriminatory? Or is it the people who do have homophobic and discriminatory attitudes who are the ones whose boundaries are wrong?

Naturism has a long history of being embraced by harmless and often very staid and boring people who just enjoy being free of clothes, they have no time for people who use their cocks as a weapon either so why judge them as potentially guilty until proven innocent.

All this indignation is just odd. It doesn’t hurt to apply some common sense. If I didn’t want my children to see a nude body then I would not take them near a nudist area. I especially would not take them to a dogging area which in spite of it being even in beyond the limit of my poor boundaries persists around here.

SuperSecretSquirrels · 07/08/2021 20:18

@Muddydoor

Penises are well known weapons. As are knives. A lot of people like to innocently whittle wood. If I saw an unexpected knife, at no time am I going to think, ooh look its a whittler. I apply the same common sense to s penis.
How odd. I walked into my mum’s kitchen yesterday. She was chopping veg. I did not assume she was going to stab me. My bad!
badpuma · 07/08/2021 20:22

Presumably the knife in your mums kitchen which she was using to chop vegetables wasn't an unexpected knife. A person wandering around woods waving a knife around might make you a little nervous.

GCAcademic · 07/08/2021 20:24

How odd. I walked into my mum’s kitchen yesterday. She was chopping veg. I did not assume she was going to stab me. My bad!

Can you not see a difference between seeing your mother chopping vegetables with a knife in her kitchen and coming across a stranger with a knife in the forest?

Lordamighty · 07/08/2021 20:28

They are never naked though, these naturist ramblers, they always manage to put on socks, boots & hats. It’s just their genitals they like to leave uncovered, I wonder why that might be?

Jorrris · 07/08/2021 20:41

I didn't miss the second bit. Whether a particular situation has that impact obviously seems to be open to varying levels of interpretation. You seem to be insisting that your interpretation is the only correct one.

I think it's generally accepted amongst most people that males exposing themselves in public places (that are not designated naturist areas) is not ok. Even if you spectacularly fail to see that.

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 07/08/2021 20:43

Nudists in a nudist area in a quiet forest are equally unsurprising

It isn’t a nudist area. It’s a public forest. The rspb say they’re tolerating it in certain areas. But I haven’t seen any signs up warning people of a nudist area. If it wasn’t for the news article yesterday I wouldn’t know the rspb were tolerating it.

The area I saw them in wasn’t the tolerated area. It was on a minor path but probably a ten min walk from the major oak…..big tourist attraction with lots of kids visiting. I’m sure 90% of people probably do stick to the main trail but others will use the smaller paths.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 07/08/2021 20:45

Tbh, fully clothed men scare me more than naked sunbathing ones. They’re hardly going to run after you with their bits all exposed and vulnerable and in bare feet.

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 07/08/2021 20:49

I’ve marked with yellow where I saw them …they were originally on a minor path in the yellow blob but then turned and followed me up the bridleway which is the green dot track. So that was a major type path and a long way from the Budby area.

To think the RSPB shouldn’t say if you don’t want to see naked men stay away from the woods/public footpaths?
OP posts:
ohthatbloodycat · 07/08/2021 20:49

They are absolute weirdos.
YANBU.

gingganggooleywotsit · 07/08/2021 20:57

How interesting! Never knew there were designated ‘naturist’ parts of forests 😆 I would certainly be happy to avoid it. However you have given them a massive promotion by posting this and there will probably be more in the future! I would be worried it will turn into a dogging site or something foul like that!

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 07/08/2021 21:00

@gingganggooleywotsit

How interesting! Never knew there were designated ‘naturist’ parts of forests 😆 I would certainly be happy to avoid it. However you have given them a massive promotion by posting this and there will probably be more in the future! I would be worried it will turn into a dogging site or something foul like that!
It was front page of The Times yesterday so I think more men will have discovered it from there, also in the mirror and Mail and local papers. I can’t imagine many male naturists or doggers read MN.
OP posts:
bluebeach · 07/08/2021 21:05

I love a good old cock spotting, reason to go I think

gooseygoosey12345 · 07/08/2021 21:07

So the only sensible thing to do here is start a rumour that there's a penis burrowing insect/parasite that's been reported in these areas Grin

LadyDanburysCane · 07/08/2021 21:49

@Lordamighty

They are never naked though, these naturist ramblers, they always manage to put on socks, boots & hats. It’s just their genitals they like to leave uncovered, I wonder why that might be?
If they were somewhere where they would not be at risk of injuring their feet then they probably would not wear shoes and socks. It’s not “just their genitals” that are uncovered it’s every part of their body EXCEPT their feet (which are protected from injury) and head (protected from sunstroke).
QueenofDestruction · 07/08/2021 22:26

To the previous poster re if my teenage daughters3eing naked people.. I would not have an issue with it, its just a naked body. My German grandmother and het husband have always been naturalists, so if course women do it. I am not one but have no issues with it at all. Just because people are naked doesn't mean they are perverts.

Muddydoor · 07/08/2021 22:39

As I tried to explain, there are places where you expect to see knives or penises. Where you do not expect to see them, its a whole different matter.

TheGumption · 07/08/2021 22:51

Pervs being pandered to as per usual. If you like the idea of getting naked in the woods and risking lone women or families seeing your dick, you're a predator in my opinion.

Els1e · 07/08/2021 23:14

RSPB shocked me today when they said it was £7 to park for the day. I only planned on staying about an hour. Yes, have missed point of thread.