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Old Yesterday, 13:25
Soundbox
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Yesterday evening about 7 PM I took a walk out over the local common and through the woods. About a mile. The moon was just lighting it up with a silvery light, and frost was sparkling on the grass. I thought that it was quite magical - like an 1800's line drawing with shade and light.

I thought also that in all the times I have walked out at night, I have never seen a woman out on her own just to enjoy the evening and go a walk for exercise whilst I have seen quite a few men - walking the dog or just out for a solo walk. I initially thought it may be the fear of men attacking, but that had me wondering - women, if you knew you could go out without being attacked, would you - or is it just the lack of interest in going out alone 'just for the sake of it' in the evening that stops you?
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Old Yesterday, 13:27
Hugh Jboobs
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My wife won't go out alone after dark and I wouldn't be happy if she did. And we live in a nice area.
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Old Yesterday, 13:29
FingersAndToes
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It's hard to imagine, because the small amount of fear, at least for me, is always there. Personally I love lone walks, but never at night.
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Old Yesterday, 13:31
FearFactor
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I'd love to go out alone. Unfortunately I always seem to have 2 poxy kids chained to my legs!

Until 2 years ago (when he shuffled off this mortal coil) I regularly walked my dog at all hours of the day and night. Almost always alone, as they kids were smaller and easier to escape from then

I love walking alone, especially at night or early in the morning.

Just seen the festive smileys so have to use them all before they go again:

ETA - I am a woman. Personally have no fear-factor in walking alone at night, in my village or anywhere else. But I did do an awful lot of it as a teenager, often off my head, so see it as a normal activity.

Last edited by FearFactor : Yesterday at 13:34. Reason: added
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Old Yesterday, 13:33
Harvey_Specter
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Yesterday evening about 7 PM I took a walk out over the local common and through the woods. About a mile. The moon was just lighting it up with a silvery light, and frost was sparkling on the grass. I thought that it was quite magical - like an 1800's line drawing with shade and light.

I thought also that in all the times I have walked out at night, I have never seen a woman out on her own just to enjoy the evening and go a walk for exercise whilst I have seen quite a few men - walking the dog or just out for a solo walk. I initially thought it may be the fear of men attacking, but that had me wondering - women, if you knew you could go out without being attacked, would you - or is it just the lack of interest in going out alone 'just for the sake of it' in the evening that stops you?
I would assume it's the fear of crime in the main not a lack of interest.
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Old Yesterday, 13:33
anais32
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I have always walked out alone at night - since I was a teenager. I frequently walk across the common at night near my house and take in the night air. My husband thinks it's weird - not because it's unsafe but because he thinks evenings are for vegging in front of the box watching crap TV. I think it's because he's a former public school boy and was probably denied it at boarding school.
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Old Yesterday, 13:34
dee123
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As the years go on, the crimes rates have been decreasing, i think. The invention of the 24 hour news cycle has a lot to answer for.

Rapists, muggers and pedos are not around every corner.

And even though i wrote the above, no, i would want any female i know walking around alone late at night.
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Old Yesterday, 13:37
Harvey_Specter
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As the years go on, the crimes rates have been decreasing, i think. The invention of the 24 hour news cycle has a lot to answer for.

Rapists, muggers and pedos are not around every corner.

And even though i wrote the above, no, i would want any female i know walking around alone late at night.
Depends what you mean when you say rapists and peados are not around every corner. No they're not literally waiting there to kidnap or assault you, but they're probably around closer than you think for sure.
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Old Yesterday, 13:38
FearFactor
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My wife won't go out alone after dark and I wouldn't be happy if she did. And we live in a nice area.
So she's house-bound from about 4pm at this time of year?! :O

Why wouldn't you be happy if she did?


(I'm kind of surprised at you - not that I know you at all obviously - but from your general persona on here I wouldn't have expected your response )
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Old Yesterday, 13:42
Hugh Jboobs
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So she's house-bound from about 4pm at this time of year?! :O

Why wouldn't you be happy if she did?


(I'm kind of surprised at you - not that I know you at all obviously - but from your general persona on here I wouldn't have expected your response )
I mean go out walking alone, obviously. Not going out in the car, or with friends etc - which she does reasonably regularly.

I wouldn't be keen on her going out walking alone for any length of time purely from a safety point of view. She hates the idea of doing that anyway, so it's never led to any kind of disagreement between us. We sing from the same song sheet on that issue.

(To be honest, we're both pretty house bound in the evenings these days anyway. Combination of having young kids, having plenty of jobs to do on/in the house and being knackered after work! )
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Old Yesterday, 13:45
johnF1971
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I wonder whether the fear that many women have about walking alone at night are justified or not? Anyone have any stats?

Are women more likely to be attacked outdoors at night-time rather than day-time?
Are women more likely to be attacked at night than men?
Are women more likely to be attacked than run over by a car when out walking etc?

I mean the chances that some rapist is going to be hanging around a deserted common or wood in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold, just on the off-chance that some random women is going to take a stroll are probably pretty remote aren't they? Probably far more likely that a woman gets attacked indoors by someone they know I would think.
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Old Yesterday, 13:58
TrollHunter
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I see lots of females out jogging after dark, often alone, sometimes in small groups, and they're often wearing headphones so if said rapist/attacker was lurking, they'd be less likely to notice/hear them.

As for females out walking by themselves at night, well, I see this all the time too. I guess I just live in an area which isn't fraught with peril (or paranoia).
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Old Yesterday, 13:58
jp761
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So she's house-bound from about 4pm at this time of year?! :O

Why wouldn't you be happy if she did?


(I'm kind of surprised at you - not that I know you at all obviously - but from your general persona on here I wouldn't have expected your response )
The poster said he wouldn't be happy, he didn't say he would literally try to stop her, all very different. Not being "happy" because you care deeply about someones safety and well-being, that is obviously a nice thing.

It does actually depend on the area, there are some areas of the country where even some guys would think sod that, i'm not walking around these streets alone at night. Ultimately though if an adult wants to go for a walk at night, it's their choice.
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Old Yesterday, 14:01
juliancarswell
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Men are far more likely than women to be attacked by a stranger while out of a night.
Whether that is due to more men being out and about alone or if it's proportionate to the numbers I don't know.
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Old Yesterday, 14:03
An Thropologist
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Yesterday evening about 7 PM I took a walk out over the local common and through the woods. About a mile. The moon was just lighting it up with a silvery light, and frost was sparkling on the grass. I thought that it was quite magical - like an 1800's line drawing with shade and light.

I thought also that in all the times I have walked out at night, I have never seen a woman out on her own just to enjoy the evening and go a walk for exercise whilst I have seen quite a few men - walking the dog or just out for a solo walk. I initially thought it may be the fear of men attacking, but that had me wondering - women, if you knew you could go out without being attacked, would you - or is it just the lack of interest in going out alone 'just for the sake of it' in the evening that stops you?
I walk after dark for pleasure or just to get places. Being alone doesn't deter me. The chances f being attacked are so infinitesimally small and completely overshadowed by the risks associated with inactivity, obesity and being socially deprived that I am more than happy to take my chances. I speak to other strangers too!
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Old Yesterday, 14:03
Harvey_Specter
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Men are far more likely than women to be attacked by a stranger while out of a night.
Whether that is due to more men being out and about alone or if it's proportionate to the numbers I don't know.
So what are you actually saying? More men are attacked in statistics but you have no idea if that's proportionate to the number of men out? So likelihood of men or women being attacked actually isn't known rather than what you said?

Hmmm, trippy.
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Old Yesterday, 14:05
Soundbox
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Thanks for the thoughts. I personally feel that if the thought of being attacked if you go out alone stops you from doing something you would like to do like waling back from a friends house or just enjoying the outside that is actually quite depressing and telling that we have a way to go. As a bloke, and not even a tough one, I love just going out where I please without ever thinking twice. Saying that, I would not go to the town centre alone in the early hours though - too much knife crime - and I am not strong enough to fight off a gang
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Old Yesterday, 14:09
An Thropologist
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Depends what you mean when you say rapists and peados are not around every corner. No they're not literally waiting there to kidnap or assault you, but they're probably around closer than you think for sure.
True. Which is why our fear of being attacked while walking after dark and of stranger danger in general, is so iirational. A woman is at far more risk from men she knows than from strangers. You are more likely to be assulted by someone you know whether male or female than by a stranger and statistically men are at far more risk or violent assult etc than women.
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Old Yesterday, 14:12
johnF1971
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It does actually depend on the area, there are some areas of the country where even some guys would think sod that, i'm not walking around these streets alone at night. Ultimately though if an adult wants to go for a walk at night, it's their choice.
I agree that there are some areas of cities and towns which aren't safe for anyone at night.

The OP was talking about a night-time walk in the woods and common though. I reckon its highly unlikely that anyone would get attacked in a rural setting like that at night. Many people would probably be more fearful of walking in the woods at night rather than down a lit city street. Its probably due to an instinctive fear of the dark and ideas from horror movies rather than being based on any facts or evidence though. Biggest risk is probably tripping over a log or rock and banging your head.
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Old Yesterday, 14:15
Harvey_Specter
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True. Which is why our fear of being attacked while walking after dark and of stranger danger in general, is so iirational. A woman is at far more risk from men she knows than from strangers. You are more likely to be assulted by someone you know whether male or female than by a stranger and statistically men are at far more risk or violent assult etc than women.
All very true.

Unfortunately, that irrationality seems a lot more real when you or someone you know is a victim (or survivor as some prefer) of such attacks.
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Old Yesterday, 14:23
An Thropologist
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Thanks for the thoughts. I personally feel that if the thought of being attacked if you go out alone stops you from doing something you would like to do like waling back from a friends house or just enjoying the outside that is actually quite depressing and telling that we have a way to go. As a bloke, and not even a tough one, I love just going out where I please without ever thinking twice. Saying that, I would not go to the town centre alone in the early hours though - too much knife crime - and I am not strong enough to fight off a gang
You remind me of a conversation I had with another student when I was a first year at university. We lived in the same halls of residence. She was unhappy one night because she couldn't get onto campus for some event or another. I asked why she didn't walk. The journey onto campus was only about a mile and I walked it regularly.

She looked horrified that I would suggest doing anything so risky. She said "It only takes a minute and your life is ruined, changed for ever". This is true but it immediately flashed into my mind that she had voluntarily changed her life, to the extent that it was spoiling her enjoyment and not in the aftermath of a terrible misfortune but in anticipation of something that might not happen. I kept the thought to myself though.
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Old Yesterday, 14:30
An Thropologist
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All very true.

Unfortunately, that irrationality seems a lot more real when you or someone you know is a victim (or survivor as some prefer) of such attacks.
I have been attacked. And guess what - it was someone I knew - well a friend of a friend who came to our house for a party she was having. He came into my room (uninvited) in the middle of the night. So if I were to avoid dangerous places my own bedroom would have to top the list.
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Old Yesterday, 14:34
PoppySeed
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As the years go on, the crimes rates have been decreasing, i think. The invention of the 24 hour news cycle has a lot to answer for.

Rapists, muggers and pedos are not around every corner.

And even though i wrote the above, no, i would want any female i know walking around alone late at night.
The trouble is we don't know which corner they are at do we.
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Old Yesterday, 14:37
Harvey_Specter
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I have been attacked. And guess what - it was someone I knew - well a friend of a friend who came to our house for a party she was having. He came into my room (uninvited) in the middle of the night. So if I were to avoid dangerous places my own bedroom would have to top the list.
I did say 'such attacks' for a reason as I did think that this different attack was a possibility from your posts.

This thread is about women walking alone at night, hence the 'such attacks' part, although I do take your point. Your personal experience unfortuantely doesn't change those experiences of people who were attacked whilst out, alone.
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Old Yesterday, 14:50
kittles
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I cant drive and I walk around alone in the dark all the time. Its never occurred to me not too. why would I curtail my life to that extent on the basis of a very small risk i.e. being attacked by a random stranger especially at this time of year when its dark at around 4.30pm?
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