Would go out on your own on a Saturday evening?

[CVVFan]

I’m completely on my own on Saturday and would like to go out for a cocktail, but I don’t know how odd it would look to sit at a bar/restaurant sipping cocktails by myself.

I could ask the two friends I have and see if they’re free but I at the same time, I don’t mind being on my own, it’s more if the restaurant/bar would have a problem because I’m taking a table just for one.

@Vvbs I live ten minutes from Bethnal Green, and I've just spent a bloody fortune on blackout blinds because it never even gets close to dark let alone pitch black, wtf are you on about.

I feel safer here than I do in the sleepy village my parents live in, there is always someone around to help. But there's no reasoning with you anyway.

OP I go out by myself with my book (in Bethnal Green shock horror!) and it's lovely. Do it.

@Vvbs

no, but we don’t live in Johannesburg

I’ve lived in Mexico City (and Sydney, and Paris!) and I’ve never thought of NOT walking alone

@CVVFan

right! I can’t bear the idea of women having to lead these restricted, shackled lives.

Why not? It's cocktails, not strutting round the red light area or taking a stroll in a deserted forest.

Which part of walking along a main road at night is unsafe?

I went to the pub and had a pint by myself last Friday evening. I enjoyed the hum, buzz, and an excellent novel - with a great view to boot!

Same here.

100% I’d do anything by myself. I like being with me.

I would be bored after one, hopefully someone can join you.

I'm sure there was a thread about this but for that one woman there would be thousands of women out on their own on that same night that had no trouble at all. But we wouldn't mention that because it's part of everyday life and very ordinary. Sadly you're just focusing on the 1 incident

Oh for goodness sake.

This poster @Vvbs probably feels going round ASDA is too dangerous to do alone

I've done that many times, both in the UK and abroad. I've lived to tell the tale. 😉

I know that is ridiculous, I used to walk everywhere day and night. Traveling to work 10 pm by bus, I am not comfortable doing it anymore, I have had a few weird experiences that makes me cautious.
A lot of people are nuts these days, drugs are rampant too, give me the 90's heroin addicts over crack addicts any day, random men who like to stare too, because they can. Weird people.

Even a deserted forest is fine - love a late night walk in the forest, alone with my thoughts.

But what about the lions and tigers and bears? 🤣

Yes I would, but I'd take a book with me and choose where I went carefully. I wouldn't go anywhere raucous for a start.

I do this. If anyone around me thinks it's weird they need to get a life and be less interested in mine 🤷🏼‍♀️

For real, there are bears in the forests in my country, one has been seen very recently in my area, but never been seen in the forest I usually walk in, so I'll take my chances!

I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing this

I wish I would, but I don't

I have done it in the US but I was there for work and I think it's different when you're able to say that. When people start talking to you, it can be quite awkward, I think, to just say yeah I'm here on my own.

I'm glad other people feel able to do it

I was away last week and I did sit in the outside bit of the hotel bar, but I think because it was sunny outside that was easier. And I was reading as well. I didn't particularly want to read, but it's part of the armour of going out alone.

Maybe it's because I'm always on my own, it wouldn't feel like a treat to go out for dinner or drinks on my own. I think if you're in a hotel that's known for people working, it's a bit different.

editing to add, I had a colleague who lives with her parents and she does this a lot. But she really feels the need to get out of the house.

Do you carry bear spray?

No. I'm extremely unlikely to come across a bear where I usually walk, and if I ever do walk somewhere in the vicinity of a bear, its going to keep away from me because they don't want to go near people either.

Someone from my town did come face to face with one, but that's because he was trying to scare the bear away from his dog (who was loose in the forest and not near him when the bear found it) but the bear left him alone in the end (and the dog thankfully recovered from its injuries)

I assume you're from America. My friends said though that all you need to do is act big and make loud sounds if it's a black bear

I'm in Finland, we have brown bears. And wolves, but with them you just need to go up high, they can't climb.