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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

On edge about jogging

99 replies

snarplesgettingnosey · 12/02/2022 14:12

I'm more than prepared to be called a nosey neighbour but I'm starting to get a bit on edge about men walking down the road I live on.
About eight months ago I moved to a new area. Small town/large village vibe, small enough that strangers say hello if passing in street. Lots of dog walkers. I WFH and can see the road outside while I'm working. The first time I noticed a man in his sixties walk by it just struck me that he wasn't carrying anything but he was walking purposefully. Nothing unusual as I assumed it was someone who lived past where I live and was going to the shop. Then I noticed it more often again and again - not the same man - walking by, carrying nothing, often looking purposefully. I haven't noticed any of them returning back up the road although I'm not constantly looking out so they might have done. There are approximately no more than twenty houses past me before fields start and I now know some of the neighbours so I'd say it's unlikely that all these men can be coming from their own houses.
Yesterday was the first time I noticed a man come from the same direction but rather than walk past he got in his car which was parked outside my neighbours. He turned the car around to drive back in the direction he had driven from. Again, he'd not been carrying anything and I've never seen him before. With the exception of one man who looks to be in his thirties that I've seen twice, they're all in their sixties/seventies.
I'm starting to get paranoid because I go jogging in this area. Should I stop?

OP posts:
Hercisback · 12/02/2022 15:24

What?

My dad goes for a walk every day carrying nothing. Lots of people walk for their health.

GirlInACountrySong · 12/02/2022 15:24

Would it be better if they were carrying something? A shovel, axe, dog lead??

veganmayo · 12/02/2022 15:29

What would you prefer them to be carrying?

Original poster
snarplesgettingnosey · 12/02/2022 15:42

I know it sounds unhinged but I promise I'm not! They're all bar one in the same age group and there's just something about their body language. My thought was that there must be a prostitute living up the road and they have come from visiting her and maybe they're told to park further down the road. That's why I'm getting a bit concerned about jogging in the area.

OP posts:
BotterMon · 12/02/2022 15:44

Oh dear OP. Shall I tell my 63 yo DH to stop going out for a walk every day because he may be frightening local women?

FFS get a grip.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 12/02/2022 15:46

There's far too much of this 'purposefully walking about' going on.

It's the last thing we need at a time like this, coming on top of Brexit, covid and rocketing energy prices.

I think the Government should be stamping this sort of thing out, I would suggest bringing back National Service if people really want to walk about purposefully.

FourChimneys · 12/02/2022 15:46

Good grief.

VeronicaBeccabunga · 12/02/2022 15:47

Here's an idea!
Why not follow them?? Suss out where they're going.

If they're all older men and you're a jogger I'm sure you could out-run them if it turns out they're having a satanic ritual orgy in the fields, or signalling to their UFO, or whatever it is they're up to.

I'm all agog to know now.

Original poster
snarplesgettingnosey · 12/02/2022 15:48

I can tell the difference between a retired man going for a daily walk and something that's a bit 'off'. I see the same gentleman most days walk past and it's obvious he's going for his daily slow saunter along the same route.

OP posts:
FluffyBooBoo · 12/02/2022 15:53

@snarplesgettingnosey

I can tell the difference between a retired man going for a daily walk and something that's a bit 'off'. I see the same gentleman most days walk past and it's obvious he's going for his daily slow saunter along the same route.
Not every person wants to 'slow saunter' when they go for a walk, and most people don't want to do the same walk every day.

What is 'off' about them?

onedayoranother · 12/02/2022 16:02

So what if they are going to a prostitute? What has that got to do with you jogging? And I'm sure if there is someone open for that kind of business in your small village everyone would know about it.
I walk my dogs in a couple local parks which have: other dog walkers, people cutting through on way to work, joggers, people out striding 'with purpose' not carrying anything snd random people just sauntering along getting some fresh air. There's even the odd person sitting on a bench staring into space! Not one of these people is suspicious in any way.
You are being completely paranoid and unless there are reports of people being attacked out jogging go ahead.

Meandthesky · 12/02/2022 16:02

I really don’t think you are as a good judge of what’s “off” as you think you are!

Walking purposefully does not mean they’re dodgy! You probably seem dodgy peering out of your window like a loon!

NoneOfYour32Potatoes · 12/02/2022 16:05

Ok, so maybe your spidey senses are telling you something is wrong - why not follow one of the suspects and see where they go as @VeronicaBeccabunga suggested. You could probably outrun them if needed.

Please update us if you do follow one.

Leilala · 12/02/2022 16:05

You are either extremely paranoid or live near a brothel? Confused

Original poster
snarplesgettingnosey · 12/02/2022 16:06

OK I'll try to explain it a bit better. When I first moved here I didn't know anyone local but after a while you get to know local people in a smallish community by sight. Both genders, all ages, the same dog walkers, the same people on bikes, the same teenagers returning from school, the same elderly people out for their daily walk. What stands out then after a while is the pattern of random men of similar ages that I've seen only once. I'm not seeing random women once only.

OP posts:
lololololollll · 12/02/2022 16:06

Lol

Original poster
snarplesgettingnosey · 12/02/2022 16:07

@Leilala

You are either extremely paranoid or live near a brothel? Confused
I think it might be the latter.
OP posts:
Shiningpath · 12/02/2022 16:08

Is it not possible to jog while there’s a sex worker in the vicinity?

Original poster
snarplesgettingnosey · 12/02/2022 16:10

@Shiningpath

Is it not possible to jog while there’s a sex worker in the vicinity?
Just thought it might be attracting potentially dangerous men.
OP posts:
NoneOfYour32Potatoes · 12/02/2022 16:13

But right now you don’t know what’s going on. What if they are going to an Occupational Therapist or a Physio or for some other currently unknown totally benign but preferably kept private appointment.

Follow one and find out.

Notbeinfunnehbut · 12/02/2022 16:17

playing devil's advocate a minute, any wierd pervy man will be be tapping the SWs
in the area so if anything makes your jogging safer!!

jokes aside I do think you need to calm down a bit.

Regularsizedrudy · 12/02/2022 16:31

..what would you like them to be carrying?

Men usually put things in their pockets btw.

ohhooh · 12/02/2022 16:34

@snarplesgettingnosey

OK I'll try to explain it a bit better. When I first moved here I didn't know anyone local but after a while you get to know local people in a smallish community by sight. Both genders, all ages, the same dog walkers, the same people on bikes, the same teenagers returning from school, the same elderly people out for their daily walk. What stands out then after a while is the pattern of random men of similar ages that I've seen only once. I'm not seeing random women once only.
Whoever they're seeing can't be a very good prostitute if you're only seeing them go by once and never return!

Or maybe there's a hooker turned serial killer?!

FlowerArranger · 12/02/2022 16:42

Can you tell us what in your upbringing and/or previous life has made you so paranoid?

Thewindwhispers · 12/02/2022 17:12

Sorry people are mocking you so much OP.

I too live near a wood and I too often see single men walking around those woods looking shifty. Local gossip (and the parish council) say there’s a drug dealing problem in that wood. So I jog elsewhere.

I dunno if it’s the same near you, the men I see are more 30s-40s than 60s-70s, but if you’re getting a weird vibe maybe jog somewhere else.