Meeting naturists when hill walking - would you be worried?

[JGACC]

Hi all, I'm interested to gather women's thoughts on this. I read a Facebook post by Macclesfield police this morning asking people to report if they see a male naturist in the Peak District (screenshot attached) as there has been a lot of reports over the last few weeks. I was really surprised that the vast majority of the comments are saying it's legal (which yes it is) and to leave him alone. As a young female who often walks in the Peaks on my own my first thought was...I'd be worried and extremely uncomfortable if I came across him and would probably hide behind a tree or rock and try to call someone. Am I paranoid or is this actually fine and something I should take as lightly as the majority of the (mostly, but not all male) commenting public seem to?

I'll admit I was surprised to learn that it is entirely legal to wander round anywhere nude. It does seem a lot of naturists have no sexual intent and are more interested in being at one with nature. The man in question doesn't seem to have been reported as carrying out threatening behaviour and is probably harmless but it still makes me worried and I don't know if I'm ridiculous or not. (I would rather be ridiculous than not in this case!)

Well not knowing he was a naturist (after all how on earth would I know if he was a naturist, a predator, a loon, or a flasher/exhibitionist who gets off on making women uncomfortable - we know these men exist) I would be uncomfortable about it and if alone in the middle of nowhere I would be very wary.

He may be harmless and if so it's a shame that would be my reaction as he isn't seeking to hurt anyone just enjoying nature but the truth is we live in a world where violence is committed mostly by men and porn and attitudes towards women are increasingly violent. Who can blame women for being concerned, anxious or even scared in a situation like this?

Many years ago, a male friend was mountain biking in a forest and rounded a corner and was greeted by a naked man (apart from shoes of course) carrying an axe. He was young, fit and an experienced mountain biker, so he was out of there like a shot and recounted it as story of a funny thing that happened to him.

There were never any reports of any assaults in the area, and mercifully no one was murdered. So presumably this man just thought it was an amusing thing to do, presumably to see people's reactions. I honestly can't imagine the terror I would have felt as a lone female if I had run into him. I wouldn't have a hope of outrunning a man.

Many men just do not understand, or more accurately they don't want to understand, how something that can be a bit of a laugh to them can be so terrifying for a woman that it could be life changing.

Thank you everyone, for your interesting and helpful responses.

@Pertella

There genuinely is a pleasure in just feeling the air all around you, never having cloth pressing your sweat into your skin.

Such a lame excuse when you consider a backpack is more likely to stop you "feeling the air" and will definitely "press more sweat into skin" than a t-shirt.

Not to mention chafing of rucksack on bare skin.

@testing987654321

your dangly, wrinkled genitals as I have

Oh now, that is very unfair. One thing naturists don't do is attack other people for the way their bodies look!

What is it with men being such delicate little flowers when it comes to words?

Women don't want to see naked men because of it being a display of male dominance in a world where male violence and rape is common. Told to get over it by a man, doesn't give a shit that his naked presence would alarm women.

Man considers describing his genitals as wrinkly as an "attack".

Fucking male fucking entitlement.

Actually I don't want to someone's dangly, wrinkled genitals because they are ugly. My husband doesn’t want to see them either for the same reason. We both thought The Naked Rambler deserved to be arrested.

Societal norms usually keep genitals covered up unless in a situation where all participants are happy to see dangly, wrinkled genitals. I don't have to be put in a state of fear or alarm to ask for those norms to be adhered to.

Sorry, I'm back for another kick at the hornets' nest. I just saw this posting on a naturist site, and thought you might be interested in a message from the man who caused the trouble in the Peak District. Note that he has been to talk to the police, so his identity is completely known to them. (BN is "British Naturism". I assume the initial Y would be for "Young".)
---------
Hi all - I thought I'd just give a proper introduction here, as I only joined the group the other day.

I live near Macclesfield but (before coronavirus!) work down in London. Keen adventure sportman and runner, and currently the cause of the media and police storm as the 'peak district nude jogger' (it's odd as I used to live in Sevenoaks which is a more built up and I would assume conservative area, and I never ran into problems there!).
I attended a couple of YBN events about 10 years ago when I was at uni, but haven't engaged with BN (despite being a member) much otherwise.

I'm not posting publically at the moment as I think making my name known to locals would just be asking for trouble. I've also been arrested once before (in Scotland with more restrictive rules) for a nudity related offence - it was a stupid dare, non sexual but not exactly naturism - so I don't really want that blowing up again.

I have however messaged a thank you to everyone who showed support on the Macclesfield police post, many of whom are in this group. Some of those who showed support aren't naturists, but have also agreed to do a walk/ramble with us as well - I know this won't be to everyone's taste but I'll share details once organised as it would be nice to show solidarity and 'co-existence'.

I'm working with BN and taking steps to try and resolve the current noise from Macclesfield (i.e. Cheshire) police, the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and various news outlets. I went to Macclesfield police station on Sunday, they were very surprised to see me and told me I could go after 5 minutes - I tried to exert some (polite) pressure to have the Facebook post removed and/or corrected but at that point the officer became very aggressive, swearing at me and saying she could find witnesses who would state they were alarmed/distressed if needed. Clearly more work to be done...

Many thanks to those of you who have already shown support. There are a few other local groups which would benefit from educating (and in some cases have asked for clarification) - again, I don't want to post directly but if you would be willing to please let me know and I'll send details.

I'm still intending to go out walking and running nude (though weather is bad this week and I'm away next week), as I think letting this die down and then restart next spring/summer won't help - hopefully the weather will hold out!

If anyone is local or visiting and fancies a walk do let me know! Although Macclesfield police have taken an unenforceable stance, the neighbouring constabularies (Staffordshire and Derbyshire) have both reacted professionally.

Most of you will already have seen a photo or two of me in the papers, but thought I'd add one here anyway!

Thanks,
[name removed]

Just another bloke, more interested in getting what he wants, while not giving a flying fuck about the distress he causes to others. Misogyny waving its dick at us.

Ananec

What are your intentions? Is this more kicks for you? It’s already been said we find this unpleasant behaviour and you’ve posted this horrible man is going to carry on doing it despite causing a distress to others. You’re both trying to normalise a fetish. This is not what the feminism board is for.

What's the point in copying and pasting another mansplaing pervert's little rant. Do you think that will convince us? Just another sad bloke with no regard for peoples feelings. He knows he upsets people but does it anyway. Hope he's arrested (again).

Won't there be chaffing??

I'd be a bit taken aback if I saw a naked man out for a walk, but as long as he wasn't behaving otherwise suspiciously, I don't think I'd consider him any more likely to attack me etc than a clothed man tbh. I mean... I doubt there have been many cases of attacks by random naturists.

Not naturists. Fetishists.

@MillyMollyFarmer

Not naturists. Fetishists.

I agree. Naturists would be interested in sticking to areas designated naturist areas. Anyone, that insists on walking in areas that they might run into people who they could offend or upset, are fetishists, at the very least.

My grandmother was a naturist and wouldn’t dream of exposing outside of designated areas she shared with fellow naturists. It’s very different to what these guys are doing

Yup!

And of course one man has now found he can get some thrills posting at women on a site mainly for and by women.

He doesn't need to explain himself, we can see far too much of him from here!

Self absorbed and unpleasant!

More work to be done on the listening and comprehension skills for the nudey boys methinks. They don't want to hear dissent. It's all good. Ignore all the naysayers. Silly conservatives. Etc etc etc.
They are fetishists not naturists. And yes, no doubt enjoying riling people on this board too. Very tiresome.
Insisting on pursuing this despite repeatedly being told it causes offence is red flag waving ignoring of boundaries.

And now I've spent a few minutes more than I intended looking at the fully open naturist website to see where they walk (not round here it seems, maybe they are scared or the boars) and also at MGTOW, resolutely closed to the outside world. Wondering if there is any crossover!

It's convenient for our resident nudist that he won't actually answer the questions being put to him. He can't quite bring himself to say 'I'm selfish and I don't give a damn that it upsets you', so he just sidesteps it.

There genuinely is a pleasure in just feeling the air all around you, never having cloth pressing your sweat into your skin.

You can get that in your garden, or even your house.

The sense of male entitlement is there for all to see, it’s what they want to do, so they will. The mention of educating people, remind anyone of other males who like to push against societal norms?

Upset women are just to be laughed at.

More work to be done on the listening and comprehension skills for the nudey boys methinks.

Absolutely.

Actually, I want to thank you Ananec. By coming on here to explain why you do it and how you get a thrill out of it, you’ve actually proven why women should be wary of naked men, who insist on exposing themselves to none consenting members of the public. It just shows that the posters who feel that it’s about getting a kick out of flashing are actually right.