There’s a viral debate swirling around social media, prompting curious responses and outraged reactions from social media users. The debate centers around a simple question: If you were a woman in the woods, would you rather encounter a man or a bear?
There are some strong reactions to the question, and even stronger reactions to the answers.
The surprising twist: many women respond they’d rather encounter a bear in the woods than a man, arguing that the worst a bear can do is kill them. But a male stranger is an unknown, and capable of so much more – including inflicting emotional and sexual violence.
For their part, men were shocked to hear that so many women would choose a bear, an apex predator that would strike fear in the heart of just about anyone if encountered in the wild.
Responses ranged from offense to dismay across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X. And though this is the latest social media trend of the week, it’s actually a debate some 2,000 years in the making. Believe it or not, the world's most famous book touches on the issue.
When it comes to man vs. bear, what does the Bible say? We'll explore that question further on.
But first, a quick recap of how we got here.
The Origins of Man vs. Bear
The origins of the debate seems to be a viral video on TikTok, where eight women on the street are asked the question, “would you rather be stuck in the forest with a man or a bear?” Of the eight women, only one chooses a man; the rest say they’d rather be stuck with a bear.
“Man is scary,” says one woman. “100% a bear, which is terrifying to say,” says another.
Comments on this video and others elaborate on the position most of these women seem to have. “Worst case scenario, a bear just kills me,” reads one comment. “A bear wouldn’t attack me and then tell his friends that I liked it,” says another. “A bear,” says another woman. “People aren’t gonna ask me what I was wearing when the bear attacked me.”
That video alone has been viewed more than two million likes and 70,000 comments, and there are many more like it. The obvious takeaway is that a bear might kill them, but a mysterious male stranger is capable of so much more.
This has upset some men, who accuse the women choosing "bear" of a privileged lack of perspective.
Many women have shot back at videos like that one, arguing that they’re simultaneously missing and proving the point.
The debate over man vs bear will undoubtedly continue, but surprisingly, this is not a new topic of discussion: did you know the Holy Bible actually weighed in on this debate 2,000 years ago?
What Does the Bible Say About Man vs. Bear?
So whose side is the Bible on when it comes to man vs. bear? Is the holy text on the side of men, who say a bear is far more dangerous to encounter in the woods, or the side of women, who say they’ll take bear over man any day of the week?
Interestingly, according to some interpretations, the Bible agrees with the women. Man is more dangerous than bear, and one only has to look to Proverbs 17:12 as proof.
The passage reads: “Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.”
Though this passage lacks the 21st-century gendered nuance going around on social media right now, it reinforces the idea that a male stranger (a fool in his folly) is more dangerous an encounter than a bear at its most violent and aggressive (a she-bear robbed of her cubs).
“Foolish” men are defined in the Bible as "corrupt" and "abominable" (Psalm 14:1), making them the exact type of dangerous and potentially sexually violent man that women fear running into in isolation.
A bear, by contrast, is simply an animal trying to survive. Its motivations are far less evil. Even 2,000 years ago, the difference in intent between base animal instinct and the sinister proclivities of some men was understood.
During King David's rebellion, he is quoted in 2 Samuel 24:14, saying: "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man." King David's preference for God's judgment over the actions of man highlights the very real fear of what evil men may do if presented the opportunity.
Of course, there are many ways to interpret holy texts. But it says something that even in biblical times, we can find evidence that many women (and men, for that matter) would take their chances with the bear.
What is your reaction? If you’re in the woods, would you rather encounter a man or a bear? Do you think your gender influences your answer?
125 comments
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Marion Sowerby
Quite hilarious having you boys tell us how we should or shouldn't feel. How many times do you need it explained? We mostly choose bear because we KNOW it's dangerous, and therefore can behave accordingly. If we meet a strange man - indeed, it doesn't even need to someone we don't know - we NEVER KNOW for 100% sure that today might be a bad day to meet him. It's not hating men, or even disliking, it's just the fact that every female has, at some point or another, had some male either assault or threaten to assault her, either physically or mentally. Every single one of us has had a hand touch us without our wanting it, had some sexual comment made - even as young children. All the arguments around being able to run or fight are specious and missing the point. All the comments about feminism are also missing the point - we couldn't even have our own bank accounts until the 1970s: that's within many of our lifetimes. The fact is that up until very recently, females were indeed "belonging" to men for the most part, and absolutely had no rights. Many men clearly resent this ( comments above seem to bear this out), and have fought back, often physically. Until all our thought processes clear - and I include all of us - it is always going to be muddled. As a society, we need to address why women feel unsafe - and we need to address why many men think that it's ok to inflict themselves on others with such complete disregard.
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David Arthur Lewis
Nailed it!
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Rob
Absolutely perfect response. Well done!
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Robert James Ruhnke
Bravo, Madame, bravo.
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ServantOfJudgement
I believe everything you said. Whycome you let men in your locker rooms I wonder.
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
soj, We don't, you're just delusional! You're an example of what this article is all about. But, I'm sure reality has never been a friend of yours.
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Russel A. Kester
Wow, Marion, you sure do sound as if you know what men, which I point out is a universal term meaning all men, think and feel. Unless you are all men, you don't know. Lots of emotional rhetoric, but nothing that can result in actionable information.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
is every bear going to attack, injure or kill? no. is every man you run into in the wilderness going to attack, injure or kill you? no. but a bear attacks out of fear or defense, not for the thrill or sexual rush. a man on the other, if he is given to treating women as targets of opportunity then of course, he is the more dangerous predator. so I don't blame women for preferring to deal with a bear to a man in the wilderness. if a bear attacks a woman there's a good chance it will be euthanized. if a man attacks a woman there's a good chance he'll go free
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Chrystal Lacroix
Why would the bear be euthanized if it’s in its own territory doing its own thing and is more often than not seeing you are a threat to attack you in the first place? Most bear attacks, happen out in the wild, not in your back yard. So the chances of the bear actually being found and caught to be euthanized isn’t that high.
Most assault attacks on wome by men happen more so by those they know, like domestic abuse cases by a spouse. Men attacking other men, mostly happen by someone outside of the home/his close circle of close contacts. The majority of the majority of most men don’t just attack women just because they are there. That’s a proven fact we can see since men and women work together and live together and in the majority of the majority of most cases, men know and do behave in respectful and caring manners towards women around them all over society with little regard towards wanting to assault or harm a woman just because they can. There are obviously exceptions to this, but they do not make up the majority of men. Women claiming that they do or more scared of men that much, have little faith in our society to believe that men are that bad. Do they not date men or sleep with them, work with them or procreate with men or have them as fathers, brothers, sons or fathers of their own children they created with them?! Surely they can’t really believe they are all THAT bad to their core or nature!?!
And while a man CAN attack a woman with his bear hands and win, that’s nothing compared to if a bear wanted to do so with the god given natural born ability to do so much more easily and with less effort of its long razor shape claws and can do so much faster since most bears who are more aggressive in nature, are also much bigger and have that muscular strength advantage to be able to do so far more than any man could.
To add to your comment, not all men who attack women do so because of a sexual urge to do so.
But if men are as bad as we claim, it’s a societal issue that caused it to be this way. Do women-just as much as men, have an impact of how these boys are raised to turn out to be men that are ‘unleashed’ into society to have them believe they are such horrid creatures in the first place?!
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Colleen McAllister
The bear might be cute and cuddly as opposed to the man who might be a sadist. I live where bears come into backyards all the time. With and without cubs. Most of the time they are simply curious and unless provoked are harmless. Men on the other hand are rarely so.
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Reverend Marika
I grew up in a hunting family. When I enter the forest, I carry bear spray AND a gun.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
What I find interesting is how many men, though the ones that throw these fits I call INCELS, are throwing absolute temper-tantrums over this hypothetical situation. They're acting as if they were being physically attacked.
To be candid? To quote a comedian on twitter, "Even in the hypothetical man vs bear, the fact the woman is rejecting him even hypothetically, a man cannot accept the word No."
And it's true. Men, in general, seem to be completely UNABLE to understand that when a woman says no, she MEANS no and he needs to accept it. Not "try harder to get her affections" or "be more persuasive" or any of that. If she says no, that's it, it's done, period. And men need to accept that and keep their hands to themselves.
And yes, btw, that also goes for if a man says NO to a woman. SHE needs to accept it and keep HER hands off of him as well.
In that respect, I'd think the guy would rather see a bear than her.
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Barbara Harris
I have lived in bear country for over 40 years and have had a couple of encounters with bears. Because I know the rules and guidelines there was never an attack. But animals operate on instinct - humans operate on urges.
I remember as a 19 year old my parents and opened their home to a very polite young man who was a "Jesus Freak". He was a friend of my brother's and for what ever reason his family had thrown him out. One evening I had stopped by my parent's home on my way home from work. I needed to pick up some mail and ran in to grab it. He was there on their patio and I stepped out to just say hi. The next thing I knew he had grabbed me and thrown me to the ground. He was trying to rape me and all the time he was saying "God had told him to do it". I was screaming and a neighbor heard it and came to my rescue. So of course I will take a bear encounter then an encounter with a man. This jerk was one in a thousand and the vast majority of men are nothing like this.
But guys , all it takes is one. Rather then berating women for feeling this way, help to weed out the ones who act on these impulses and urges. Remember Ted Bundy and what a charming, charismatic man he was and the death and destruction he left in his journey across the country.
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James Riggle-Johnson
I’m so sorry for your experience with this monster. Yes, bears are far more predictable that a man. It says something that these women feel this way, and the fact that men are being rude in their responses prove these women’s fear.
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Bond Wright
Ms. Harris: FBI Statistics: One (1) in four (4) women will have been sexually molested by 18 years old.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
I live in bear country. Several have come harmlessly through my yard. But I've been: bullied, assaulted, mocked, and almost raped by men.
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Patricia Law
this is why i quit the main religions because of the anti-women ideas that permeate the teachings Women are often killed by lovers or husbands that is 3 a day in the USA .a women is raped every 6 seconds in this country and yes most are not reported why when less than 10% are tried in court, Please men if you are so great help reform the men who are making you look bad rather than attacking more women about it!
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Jacen
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Joseph Walter Kasper
When you meet a rabbit, you expect it to act like a rabbit. When you meet a bear, you expect it to act like a bear. When you meet a snake, you expect it to act like a snake. But when you meet a man, you don't know if he's a rabbit, a bear, or a snake.
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Kevin James Bogan
A bear will just kill me & eat me. A man will rape, torture & then kill me leaving my corpse for the bear to eat. Skip that. I’ll take the bear.
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Naomi S Lam
According to the UN, there were 89,000 fatal attacks on women from men in 2022, Meanwhile, fatal bear attacks, including both genders, average out to less than 2 per year in the US. The odds seem obviously clear.
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H. James Spahr
I do think gender matters. As a man, I would feel safer encountering a man in the woods than a bear. As a frequent solo hiker I have encountered many men in the woods with no negative outcomes. That said, I would love to see a bear on one of my hikes... provided it is not "a she-bear robbed of her cubs".
Also, I do take actions to make the female hikers I encounter feel safe.
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He Who Breathes
Let them have the bear...
I am over all of this.
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SueW
Thank you. We will do just that.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
lot of men here feeling the heat, the blame and of course are trying to turn it back onto women. no surprise because according to these 'men', the women ask to be raped and do so by what they wear, how they look, talk, walk. it's not the man's fault he rapes woman, he's just being a man being manipulated by a woman and then being blamed by society. poor poor men, bearing the brunt of all the world's ills
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Russel A. Kester
JJ, no one in the above comments suggested that woman asked to be raped. The very question itself was most likely insincere and designed to have woman choose the bear because some would think it a humorous response to say men because deep down inside each one of us when faced with an actual bear growling and roaring at us or just seeing a guy and exchanging a 'hi' and going about our business would choose the man. But at the time the question was asked neither was a real option and neither were the questions.
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ServantOfJudgement
It's interesting that those who would choose a a chance encounter with a bear over a man are amongst the same that say it's ok for a man to compete against a women in all women sports. If men are so dangerous, more than a blood thirsty bear, how can one's logic say a bear is safer than a man and then say it's safe for a man and woman to kickbox as long as the man says he's a woman? Does a man waking up as a woman one morning suddenly make him safer than a brown bear? I'd like to see those metrics put on paper, it'd be a fun read.
The woke hive mind exists in a condition of continual madness. It's drones must remain confused to remain captured. Logic must terrify it.
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Christine Gladhill
Completely untrue! I would rather run into a bear then a man if I was alone in the woods but I completely disagree with allowing gender transformed people to compete in sports where their gender of origin gives them a distinct advantage! I am 68 now but I was raped when I was 30 and never reported it. I didn't even tell anybody about it except for my best friend until the me too movement... My sister was molested when we were in our teens and attacked and almost raped when she was in college. My granddaughter was molested when she was a preteen. I know so many women who have been attacked by men and I also know a lot of people who have encountered bears and come out unscathed. I'll take my chance with the bear thanks
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ServantOfJudgement
Well said Christine. We all have our experiences to pull from and ourselves to measure against. If you ran into me in the woods, I'd pull from the water, carry you to safety, give you food, put gas in your car or protect you from a bear or evil man. When evil men attack for pleasure the punishment should be quick, now, public and final. They seem to making more that we need anyway.
If you read Roberts reply, you'll see my angle.
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Robert James Ruhnke
lol logic terries you so you cling to the safety of your silly superstitions and nonsense, SOJ. Trans women aren’t men, so it’s safe to say they don’t typically behave like men. Bears don’t degrade, denigrate, or try to blame their victim for their behavior. The whole Insult upon injury is a big part of this metaphor. You’re missing the point as I’m sure you miss a lot of reality based phenomena.
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ServantOfJudgement
You should watch a few woman on man kickboxing matches Robert. If I didn't know any better I'd think I was watching a sanctioned wife beating +1. Find out if the woke operating system your running will let you see what I see. If you don't get sick from watching, your operating system has all the latest updates, all the bells and whistles. If you cringe or get nauseous you may need a new operating system.
Nothing entertaining or fair when a man knocks a woman's teeth out, fractures her skull and ends her career with one giant blood splattering crunch.
I know the question is a metaphor but the answers aren't. They're quite real and heartfelt. I too would be concerned if I ran into a man I didn't expect to see in the woods. I get it. Try hunting morel mushrooms or ginseng on state land when the dudes that think they own it see you in their spot. Not very pleasant at all.
That's why Ruger makes firearms. You might run into a hungry bear or an evil man, maybe both.
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Robert James Ruhnke
I have, I’ve seen women get their ***es kicked, it’s a contact sport. I have seen bad match ups, and that’s on the people pushing the fight. I have also seen fights where women dominate the man they’re fighting in too. I’ve seen fights where trans men kick cis men’s ***es. Blood sports are about spilling blood, not about fairness, that’s something the wishy washy came up with for safety and insurance purposes.
I don’t have the same romantic illusions you do, a person getting their teeth knocked out in the wrong is what they signed up for regardless of sex. It’s brutal, but it’s not mandatory. If a man chooses to “show a woman a lesson,” as she gets into the ring, and uses it as an opportunity to unleash his anger or frustration, then that man has a problem. I see that a lot. The idea of women competing against men drives them angry or scared into mindless frenzies. Like the one now where you’re trying to illicit some silly emotional response.
I’m not woke, SOJ, I am a fan of blood sports, and I believe in equal opportunity blood shed for everyone and anyone who thinks they can take or give a punch or kick.
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Robin Murray
It is a poor comparison using the Bible verse which is comparing a wild animal deprived of its young, driven by primal urges and a "fool" in his folly, with asking a modern, civilized feminist who has no experience with wild animals and is extremely prejudiced towards men this question. Anyone who has outdoor experience will answer a man. Bears are ferocious predators and with 6 inch claws coupled with one of the strongest bite strength in the wild kingdom. This example is why people are so confused about many things; they allow prejudice and dogma to overpower common sense....which by the way is not so common anymore. Next they will ask men whether they would rather meet a feminist or a cougar and watch the men say cougar.
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ServantOfJudgement
Great observation Robin. I was a young man when I met my first feminist. I'd opened the door for her as we entered a convention center in Chicago.
I said good morning and she said pig. Sometimes you just can't win.
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Gregory Ingram
Sigh... another one completely misses the metaphor and the point.
Anyone who has a woman's experience outdoor or otherwise is going to choose the bear.
Patricia Van Tighem said she would still choose the bear ... "Yet I STILL choose bear"
She wrote "The Bear's Embrace: A Story of Survival"
An astonishing memoir about how one woman survived a brutal attack by a grizzly bear, and how she recovered—as a survivor, a wife and a mother.
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Russel A. Kester
Gregory, sigh... another lefty who misses factual information and the point.
What's with the constant woman's experience stuff? Men too have survived bear attacks. A woman's outdoor experience or otherwise has nothing to do with survival of a bear attack any more than a man's outdoor experience.
Way too serious about an unrealistic and non serious question.
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Gregory Ingram
No one was talking to you Russel kindly mind your own business you nasty little troll.
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Russel A. Kester
Gregory, you don't have such authority, but clearly feel entitled. Anyone may comment on any post. Also name calling is so childish. It's understandable that you might feel upset and experience an unpleasant cognitive dissonance when your statements are called out or challenged, but some decorum is appropriate.
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Lance Ronald Parker
At least the bears won't go hungry.
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Joe R Day
As a human male, who has lived a long life and encountered many honorable men, it is always a mistake to say, "All men are this way" or "All women think like this." Generalizations always miss a huge segment of the issue, whatever it is. There are 165.28 million males in the US and I would wager that the majority are good humans. "How is a woman to know the difference?" I don't have an easy answer to that question... To deny all men because of what 'might happen' is a sad commentary.
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CJC
What about Man-Bear-Pig? Al Gore is afraid of them. On a serious note- Why is there an assumption that ALL men WILL rape, kill, or question what you are wearing? ps. YOU CAN'T OUTRUN A BEAR.
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Russel A. Kester
Those nine woman are out of touch with reality and think themselves too cute by half in their answers. Part of my childhood was spent in bear country and one does not want to encounter it in the woods. They are big and terrifying. Such remarks as these women's are caused by a destructive form of feminism that thinks all men are oppressors and part of some mythical hierarchy. Time to return to reality ladies. Men are no better or worse than women and each needs the other. I believe it was Shakespeare who said that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Today he would have to revise that to hell hath no fury like a feminist.
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Rev. BH
"Out of touch" "Too cute by half" "Destructive feminism" "Return to reality" "Hell hath no fury like a feminist" I have never seen so much blatant misogyny.
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Rev. BH
I watched that video a second time to see if I missed what Russel A Kester saw in these young women that set him off. All I saw was some polite, smiling, pleasant young ladies offering a reply to a surprising man-on-the-street question. I am at a loss as to how he interpreted their attitudes. Sorry if I double down, but this really bugged me.
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SueW
Most of the men who are angry about the bear actually validate the choice of the bear.
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Russel A. Kester
Sue, your statement is nonsensical. If men rightly perceive that the statements were yet another swipe at men, then they have a right to their feelings. Your statement seems to invalidate their feelings. Shame.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Men are not rightly percieving that. They are making something about themselves instead of examining the basis for the thought exercise and the resulting answers.
To see that all of a group of women would rather encounter a potentially dangerous, but predictable, animal in the woods instead of a potentially dangerous man should cause a thinking man to ponder the reasons that these women felt that way. A thinking man would attempt to understand where these women are coming from, instead of having a knee-jerk emotional response and prioritizing his feelings over an analysis of the discussion.
When women say that men who react this way are confirming their choice of the bear, they mean that the men making such statements are demonstrating the very sense of entitlement, lack of understanding, lack of any desire to understand, and indulgence of their own short-tempeted offense that make them dangerous to women. By communicating a hostile, angry, self-centered response, one puts himself on the same level as the worst case scenario with the bear.
Reacting to these women's expressed feeling instead of attempting to understand their point of view does not make a good case for man's superiority over the animal. And that is what makes us look bad, not any desire of women to live in fear of us. If we want women to feel safer encountering us than a bear, we need to do better proving we are safer.
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Russel A. Kester
Ari, no men should not spend their time naval gazing about why these silly women gave silly answers to a silly question.
Women say a lot of things and many of them are contradictory. You're taking this far too seriously. If women, in general, actually feared men this much we'd live in a very different world. Instead we live in a world where women have the same rights as men, far more privileges, and walk around wearing the skimpiest of attire without worrying they will be raped.
You're simply engaging in more male bashing and not looking at both sides and reality.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Rev. BH, Kester is telling on himself again about how badly out of touch he is with reality, his disparaging remarks are hidden behind honey’d grammar and seeming good intentions. He’ll gladly gaslight people but then get mad when you call him out on it.
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Truebluebethy
As I read through these posts, I recognize how many times RK has been impulsed to react. Is this normal and regular for them, or are they triggered by something deeper.
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Robert James Ruhnke
RK is a duplicitous snake oil peddler who has many deeper issues im studying to understand the depths of human folly. I simply treat him as he treats others and he doesn’t like it. He hides it behind superficialities and platitudes. Like many of the others who embody no love like Christian hate.
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Russel A. Kester
Truebluebethy, this blog asks for our thoughts and so we respond with them to the best of our understanding and abilities. Perhaps you could do that instead of attacking people. And you used the pronouns 'them' and 'they' without first identifying about whom you're speaking.
Robert, again engaging in personal attacks against a person and using inflammatory language but no argument related to the topic in the article.
Perhaps you could cite some empirical studies on women's perceptions of safety in the United States based on a longitudinal study or find other related facts. These would be of greater value to our fellow ULC ministers.
Your final swipe at Christianity is just sad. I understand your sociological theories require that Christianity as well as many other good things in society must be denigrated at all costs, but it doesn't make it right. But what else can followers of such theories do as the only directives given by their cult leaders is one of destruction: destroy males, destroy family, destroy language, destroy society, and at all costs ignore science which might give actual facts and knowledge and destroy any faith, like Christianity, that would provide values opposed to the cult's.
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Russel A. Kester
Robert, I really don't know if your upset that I keep most of my remarks grounded in reality, science, or a given religion's logic,. beliefs, or reasonings or if you are frustrated that I don't get mad at you or anyone else, but simply point out when what one says is silly, unrealistic, wrong, deluded, or nonsensical. But mad? No. Too many comments are grounded in bad ideologies or bad reasoning to get mad. Again, you're projecting as you have already admitted on several occasions how 'emotional' you get. Aside from seeking another opportunity to attack me, did you have a reasonable perspective on bears versus your every day Joe walking in the woods?
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Robert James Ruhnke
I’m not upset, nor am I emotional, that is however you making a gas lit comment, again. I’ve admitted my writing style is bombastic, but never have I admitted to being emotional. I may be passionate, but I’m treating you how you treat others. I’ve been sexually assaulted by a man, Kester, so I know precisely why women choose the bear. Your sense of false confidence in your propaganda is nothing new, Dunning Kruger. You attack anyone who doesn’t hold your stances on existence, you may hide it behind a polite facade, your tone gives it away. Every. Stinkin. Time. Your reality is an illusion based on the privilege of not having XX chromosomes or are perceived of as femme. Again, I used to think like you, then I grew up.
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Russel A. Kester
Robert, you wrote something that I found to be quite surprising which was, "[y]our reality is an illusion based on the privilege of not having XX chromosomes or are perceived of as femme." Why do you think that being born a man, XY, is a privilege but being born a woman, XX, is not? And what is wrong with a guy who is effeminate or a guy who is naturally very masculine? There seems to be a lot of judgement there, but why I don't know. I see these things as difference in the human race as what makes each of use unique and interesting.
Yes, your style is a bit bombastic, but then that's just you being you.
The reference to the Dunning-Kruger effect was uncalled for as it was just another personal attack and unhelpful.
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Joe Stutler
I get the sense that were he to speak what he wrote, "ladies" would sound really, really creepy.
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Russel A. Kester
Joe, why would you say such a thing?.
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Joe Stutler
Because it appears accurate, creeper. ;-)
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Russel A. Kester
Well, then Joe, you must not be keeping up with the posts because I am 100% gay and have no interest in speaking to a woman in the manner you suggest. Perhaps you would benefit from spending some time in self-reflection on your comment.
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Joe Stutler
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Russel A. Kester
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Russel A. Kester
BH, you are so quick to see misogyny where it doesn't exist and equally as quick to ignore misandry where it clearly does. The women's comments were over the top and clearly myandrist. If they make statements saying women should be wary of men, then turn about is fair play, and I, or any man, can make statements that men should be equally wary of women. It's simply how the two sexes have used humor to express the enduring battle of the sexes. People on the far-left really do need some chill pills.
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Rev. BH
Have you a crystal ball? How do you know who's on the far-left? Those women? Me? Anyone who disagrees with you? "Take a chill pill" ha, that's a good one! - that's what used to be known as the pot calling the kettle black.
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Russel A. Kester
BH, your reaction indicates that I hit the proverbial nail on the head.
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Gregory Ingram
Isn't that your goal? Every post you make is insulting, inflammatory, or seems to have the intent of getting people upset.
You will of course see my response as a victory because that is clearly your goal. You should be removed from these forums in my opinion because every thing I see you post in other threads too is just bait to get people to react in a specific way so you can then label them a lib or whatever.
It disingenuous and disgusting.
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Russel A. Kester
Gregory, my goals are to react to the articles as we're asked to do and to challenge opinions which seem to be either baseless or wrong. I assume you have similar goals. If you find facts, science, or religious values as insulting and inflammatory there isn't much I or anyone else can do about that.
And then you pull out the 'cancel culture card'. How could anyone have predicted that when those on the far-left are faced with basic science or their views and values are challenged they would gang up on one guy and then demand the he or she be cancelled? Oh right, everyone could. Those who profess to be on the side of freedom and inclusivity suddenly demand neither for those who disagree with them. That was too predictable, Gregory.
None of my comments have been disingenuous or disgusting. If one's mind is filled with darkness, then everywhere they look they will see only darkness.
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Melinda Fulk
You absolutely right that bears are big and terrifying to encounter, which is why us choosing them over you is such a power statement. We prefer that big scary bear to the uncertainly of a strange man. Why? Because the bear is predictable. Men are not. There is a time I'd have had a harder time answering this question, because I felt safer in general. But nowadays? Too many men feel too entitled to help themselves to a woman's body regardless of how she feels about it.
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Russel A. Kester
Melinda, the rape rate per 100,000 population has been around 40 from 1990 to 2022. From about 2010 to 2012 it dropped to around 27. Source is https://www.statista.com/statistics/191226/reported-forcible-rape-rate-in-the-us-since-1990/
While you might have the perception that it has increased in recent years that doesn't seem to be reflected in the statistics. Also bear in mind that the FBI broadened its definition of rape in 2013.
I don't think saying too many men feel entitled to such a heinous act is the right way to frame the issue. There are some men who just don't care because they have no conscious. That's not entitlement it's a lack of morality.
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SueW
Do you have the statistics for the rapes that are never reported? We know who we are, and we’ll choose the bear every time.
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Russel A. Kester
Sue, the point of the discussion of statistics was to address Malinda's perception that rape is on the rise and that the statistics we do have seem to indicate that it is not rising. So unreported rapes, which concern you, would not explain her perceptions as they would be unknown to her as well as to you and me.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Kester I’ve been sexually assaulted by a man. Shut up. I 100% understand why they choose bears. Most rapes that get reported don’t have anything. Also, you blame me for his actions you’re like every other straight republican who down plays what women go through. You are a perfect example of misogyny in a rainbow flag, it’s pathetic and sad. Be better.
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Russel A. Kester
Robert, I haven't blamed you for anything other than following really bad ideologies and being over the top in your communication style.
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Joe Stutler
So you're pro-rape...got it.
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Russel A. Kester
Joe, again, childish and not a fact or argument presented.
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Joe Stutler
Just calling it as I see it. You're pro-rape.
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Reverend Marika
Maybe their answers reflect their own life experience.
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SueW
Mine certainly do - multiple rapes and assault attempts, plus a very nice man who turned into a monster once I moved in with him.
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Joe Stutler
Past or future?
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Gregory Ingram
Both
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Robert James Ruhnke
Of course you’re gunna gaslight cis women when there’s mountains of evidence to back their claim. A bear will just eat them. Men will take their souls, their bodies, and their sanity till there’s nothing left.
Since 1784 there been over 180 fatal bear attacks. Meanwhile a woman is SA’d every 60 seconds in this country. This has nothing to do with feminism, and once more you prove you’re living in a fantasy world of sunshine and rainbows.
I’d say this comment qualifies you for a rare sub group of gay men who hate women. Something about them being competition or you having mommy issues, prolly both. I would not be surprised if you worship the ground straight men walk on, Kester. Ick. You’re gaslighting women and proving their point as to why they choose the bear. A bear WILL leave you alone if it’s not starving which is 99% of the time. I’ve seen bears open doors and close them after being caught by the owner, I’ve seen bears do miraculous things, and outside of polar bears, the only carnivorous bear on the planet, bears are really just giant raccoons, omnivorous scavengers. Shame on you, 🤡.
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Russel A. Kester
Robert, "[m]en will take their souls." Really? Their very souls? Well, at least you acknowledge people have souls.
And then you, again, attack me by playing the role of, what?, a psychologist? With you it's always attack the person, villify the man, attempt character assassination. I totally understand that this comes from a social justice warrior cult that runs from actually engaging constructively and, as you admitted in a previous comment, you are here to troll. So, why should anyone take what you wrote seriously? Aside from basic slogans and memes, you haven't shown a willingness to actually analyze anything. I hope you will do so in good faith in future remarks.
For some reason it seems there are several groups who think it's okay to speak disparagingly of men. It's not. I needs to stop. Such attitudes are particularly harmful to boys and young men as they become men. Those who do so think it acceptable because they see men as oppressors and anything they say or do to the oppressor is permitted without excuses. Wrong. If you wish to try to denigrate me for calling out such behavior by saying that means I worship straight guys, go ahead. It's nonsense of course. But that's your emotionally driven, over the top, bombastic communication style. But when you write that I hate women, you have said a very horrible thing indeed. Even your preferred communication style does not excuse such an egregious statement. That was very wrong of you.
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Bond Wright
Kester: You just don't like being held accountable. Feminists do that. Hurray for them. Hurry for us that they exist. "Hell hath no..bla bla bla"--stop with this ridiculous sexist comment. It's a bore.
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Russel A. Kester
Bond, I think everyone should be held accountable for their actions especially me. I've made no pretense of being perfect. Yes, radical feminists hold everyone accountable except themselves. What a sense of entitlement one must have to think they have the right to tell someone else what to believe or to tell them to shut up. I don't think I've told others either what to believe or to shut. Instead I remember a number of times I've encouraged others to express themselves and not to leave the blog, especially those who believe or think differently than me. What a difference between us, one encouraging thoughtful discussion and the other wanting to shut it down. But if this bores you, by all means don't read my comments.
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Alexander Arends
A woman can't control a bear and has a far better chance of manipulating a man. Those nine women who prefer to be in the woods with a bear must not have any respect for men, or for themselves for that matter.
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Nicholas J Page
We don't have bears I. England apart from those on captivity and ex Special Forces Bear Grylls.Please dont tar all men with the same brush yes there are savages out there but a lot of men are not allowed attackers or rapist's.
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Gregory Ingram
It is all men until it is no men.
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Russel A. Kester
Gregory, your statement is so wrong. One does not hold everyone guilty for the wrong of one or a few. That is preposterous thinking. Some women are, literally, prostitutes. Does that make all women prostitutes? Surely not.
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Robert Gagnon
Everyone thinks the man is a bad one, whats with that? One thing for sure a woman can maybe out run or kill a man. Not so with a bear. The question of need for food and water, which a man could supply, not so with a bear. A sharp stick or a rock could injure a man, these would have no effect on a bear. Death by bear would not be much faster than by a sadist. Pick your poison. Once again the man may be harmless.
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Robert James Ruhnke
More men attack women than bears do. Which undermines your entire argument, Gags. Bears being omnivores and if aren’t starving or have cubs, will leave you alone. Men don’t. Again you miss the point. Gags.
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Robert Gagnon
Most likely there are more men around women than bears, which makes your comment laughable. Just because you had a deliverance moment (squeal 6'4 fat boy) doesn't make every man a bad person. The only ones that may think so are bad people that think every one else is like themselves. Ask Odin for protection next time. Guess the backwoods of Kansas aren't as safe as moms basement.
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Gregory Ingram
Could you do all of us a favor and start making the dangerous men wear a sign then please. Also, make sure you are absolutely sure they don't need a sign.
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Robert Gagnon
That would be convenient. Unfortunately with the loss of morals and social rules that parents have failed to instill in their children, the likelihood of more guys taking advantage of a situation is more probable. Holding the door for women (all of them, not just one you're trying to impress) is an example. Chivalry is almost dead and these old rules and ways are laughed at by the same women fearing men.
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Gregory Ingram
"Chivalry" Has always been a false flag to create a false sense of security in others.
Women have been treated like property and used for sexually against their will since the beginning of history.
You can blame the parents all you like but society has a big role to play as well.
Like I said earlier
"It is all men until it is no men" Because we don't know what we don't know and most of us are going to choose the path of caution.
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Robert Gagnon
Better the demon you know. A bear is an almost unstoppable force. And I doubt city girls have ever seen a bear without a barrier. Better question would you rather swim with sharks than meet a man in the woods.
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Gregory Ingram
Okay for one last time. It's not about the bear. How obtuse can you be. It was never about the bear. It is about the fact that women view men as dangerous until proven otherwise and often times the proof of otherwise never comes, but the proof of dangerous is all to present.Try sitting down and listening to what they are saying.
Better question is if a tree falls on a man in the woods is still going to be as tone deaf as many on this blog are...
It's absolutely vile how many men fail to understand what is really being said here.
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Russel A. Kester
Gregory, I think men understand very well what is being said. And they disagree. Maybe you and the others should sitting down and listening to what men are saying. It's a two-way street as they say.
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Robert Gagnon
I can only be responsible for my own actions. I would never harm or take advantage of a woman. They are already at a physical and social disadvantage compared to men. To take from a weaker positioned person is not honorable or something to brag about. I have seen the worse examples of people. I like to feel comfortable with all my actions in life, I know others may think differently. I like to imagine most think like me.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
You're just some rando on the internet and you're a disgusting person, with your mocking of a rape. You probably don't look any different from a good person on the outside. You are not making the point you think you're making.
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Robert Gagnon
More than a rando, and out of context. That remark was meant for that individual only. Same individual that claims he's like Hannibal Lecter and I should stop by for dinner. He also fabricates false claims and antagonizes everyone on this site. My statement is a blunt example of the hypocrisy of a big mean person claiming victim hood. You are defending the wrong person. That happens when you come into the middle of a conversation.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Guess what? I didn't catch him being a horrible person. He may well be horrible, and I won't assume he isn't horrible just because I didn't see him being horrible. But I did see you being horrible, because what you said was repulsive regardless of provocation, so I know at least one of you is terrible. And when you don't know how many terrible people are around, it's safer to assume anyone could be than see proof that some are and blithely ignore the rest. That's the point. The existence of one awful person suggests the existence of more awful people, and they don't wear warning signs. Hence the wariness, and the desire for avoidance. With me, online, it's a desire not to lose what few shreds remain of my faith in humanity. With women, it's the desire to not die.
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Robert Gagnon
I have to respect someone to concern myself with their opinion of me. Once again this does not concern you lacking information and context. As if a cannibal is a much better person than one using a scene from a movie to call out an obvious lie. Believe me, you'd be much safer with me under any conditions, I'll always do the right thing. We should all be thankful that you are out to catch and judge people on, what authority? Oh yes, random opinion. You sensitivity is your issue, not mine.
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David Lee Valdina
A woman had an affair with a man all covered with hair. When he picked up his hat she realized that She'd been had by Smoky the Bear.
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CraigB
Well, except for every single woman who as been raped or sexually assulted and not reported it. Many of the women I know who have publically said they choose the bear, have had some kind of SA that was not reported. So, a lot of these women who you think have not idea how good it has gotten in the last 40 years, might just be speaking from personal experience or the experiences of their friend group(s).
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Dierdre Vans Evers
A bear! As others have said, at worst the bear will kill you -- a man can rape, kidnap, beat, frighten out of sheer desire to cause harm.
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Robert Gagnon
Let's change the story a little..A woman alone in the ocean with sharks circling. A rough looking fisherman pulls up in a boat and extends his hand. What would you do? Same situation, more immediate threats.
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RFSmith
Reminds me of a joke I heard decades ago:
A man was being chased through the woods by a bear when he found himself trapped next to a cliff wall. Expecting the inevitable the man closed his eyes and began to pray. After a couple moments passed the man opened an eye to see the bear kneeling with it's front paws pressed together in prayer herself.
The man praised God and said, "Thank You, Lord, for this is a Christian bear!"
He then heard the bears prayer, "Thank You, Lord, for these thine gifts we are about to receive..."
I would much rather be in the woods with a bear than a man as well!
Me too and I'm a guy,
May God grant you your wish.
Kester, the whole conversation is a metaphor, and you’re failing to understand it. As someone who has come across bears and has been left alone, l’ll choose the bear. The bear won’t try to gaslight my decision to run or fight back. A bear won’t shame me for being attacked. The bear never adds degradation into its kill, so yeah, I see why people are choosing the bear over men like yourself. Wishing harm upon someone is disgusting, thank you once again for showing your true colors, Kester. Before you gaslight me by saying I’m Emotional, you wish harm on people for their opinion.
Robert, you just wrote that if she came across a bear she would be perfectly safe and then you wrote that she wouldn't be safe, and that I'd wished her harm. Which is it? Would she be safe or not?
Russel A. Kester You are the EXACT reason we women choose the bear!
Patti, wow my full name. How am I the reason women would chose the bear? I'm gay and have zero interest in women in such ways as you suggest.
What kind of toxic disgusting comment is that? You are no better then the men who replied to this women with vileness instead of understanding what they are saying.
Gregory, toxic really? You are the ones who chose the bear and now you don't want to live with your choice? Seems you didn't take the question seriously when asked, but if it becomes a reality now you're all up in arms. Complete hypocrisy. Sounds like y'all didn't mean what ya said doesn't it.
Sounds like you don’t understand the concept of metaphor.
I'm sorry to say, but you are in no position to pray or bless on this, which is precisely the point of the comparison. There is no sincerity in your comment, therefore it appears you are untrustworthy.
I love men so the comparison confuses me, tho I understand what women are trying to say. I also understand that some women have led themselves to a certain level of promiscuity, mostly based on trying to get what they didn't receive from their primary care givers, which may give men the idea of "open range." It's all a test and a lesson for us all to consider and reflect on.
Truebluebethy, I'll respond to the last part of your comment first. You said some thought provoking things. That was nice to read. The comparison of a bear and a man was intended, I believe, not to be confusing but to be supercilious. As such, people getting excited about it is much ado about nothing. Your other ideas on why women are promiscuous are interesting. I hope we'll have a better opportunity to flesh those out.
Your first part seems rather judgemental. As a child of the Divine, like everyone else, I too have a God given right to pray or bless which is inalienable. That said, it was no more serious than the question. It wasn't an actual prayer to the Divine, it was a rhetorical device intended to do just what it did. Given the content of the responses it received, I think it shows how insincere the backers of the bear were in their comments.
City folk think mountain lions are cute, bears are cuddly and buffalo are cows you can go muzzle to muzzle with. They get eaten and gored when they go to be buddies with them. To those in the city the most dangerous predator is indeed a man and they've answered according to their experience and perspective. We're talking about the wild where all bears wake up hungry every single morning. They don't have a town garbage can to raid then scurry away when a human shows up. They need something handy and easy.
This goes for men too, please carry a sidearm if your hiking in the wild with predators. If you've got one powerful enough to drop a bear, dinging a evil man will be easy as eating a buttered slice of fresh baked bread.
It's a metaphor
The bear isn't going to rape them If they get attacked by a bear people will believe them If they get mauled by a bear no one is going to ask what was they wearing The bear isnt going to kidnap them and hold them prisoner until they find the next victim while taking pleasure on them against their will
Good grief how people can completely miss the point is beyond me.
No, but the bear will rip your guts out with their long razor sharp claws, before you can even ask wth just happened! Even so, a bear attack on humans is extremely rare and only do so for food or because they see YOU as a threat! They’re not just cuddly animals. Just because you come across a man in the woods and you are alone, doesn’t mean he will attack you either. Not all men have this agenda to want to do so either. It’s weird, that the ones who are choosing the bear since who are all these women booking up with to date and marry? Not a bear. They can’t think that all men are savages and have ill intentions if they are still reproducing with them and sleeping next to them at night and not with a bear. I get it’s a metaphor, but it’s a dumb one and one that makes no sense and one that is pegging men for these horrid creatures who only want to harm women when as soon as they get the chance to be alone with one when that’s not even true. Sure there ARE some out there who would do so without hesitation, BUT that’s not the majority of men anymore than that’s the majority of bears who’d do so. There are far more decent and respectful men out there than there are skeezy scum bags, rapists or psychopaths! And it’s usually the other way around saying that women are the crazy ones who are not to be crossed because they will screw over a man rather than the other way around. While that’s not really the same thing as for physically harming them, this battle of the sexes does go both ways and has for a long time, so men can’t be all that shocked that women would say they’d choose the bear especially if women have been pegged for being gold diggers, seducer and home wreckers by men since the beginning of woman kind. So I get it, but maybe that in itself is what the real problem here actually lies is that we see things like this in the first place….that there is a reason to believe that people who are different from us are the problem when it is a societal issue to think this and have it be that way in the first place. Maybe the real problem here is that we feel the need to dog on each other to be hurtful and to be hurtful towards others as it is. Maybe it’s that we don’t hold each other up as we should and treat each other with kindness and love more than we should. Instead things like this are what we experience and automatically just think ill will and assume the worst towards each other. It’s not news this it’s the way we live, but if this is how we treat each other, it’s no wonder why many would voluntarily choose the bear over our own kind. One things for sure, it doesn’t have to be that way though.
Chrystal, your comment had a lot of common sense and assessed both sexes fairly. Well done.
Chrystal, I regret using the phrase well done. Doesn't quite seem right. I'm not here to pat people in the head. Let me rephrase. How very refreshing. Hope that sounds better.
Those animals are predictable, SOJ. Leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone. 99% of the time. Men, are 60/40, and that number is sadly going down. Bears are omnivores and don’t eat as much meat as you project. Polar bears are the only exception of carnivorous bear. Men are dangerous wherever they are. You’re proving the point of the metaphor.
Robert, with men it is not 60/40. Since the 90's the rate of rape has been fairly steady at about 40 per 100,000 if I remember correctly when I wrote of this in a comment elsewhere. That rate is not good. It's tragic. But a far cry from 60/40 as you wrote.
I am so sorry for all these women who have had such bad experiences with men where this question can be answered so easily.
No contest. I'd rather encounter a bear than a man in the woods. Each and every day is a constant parade of man's inhumanity towards woman. No, that's right. This revealing research doesn't yield a very nice picture of the male homo sapien. It gives the authentic picture of him.This is a 'right on' research project and lays the blame right where it belongs--not at the innocent feet of the bear. You men reading this: If the shoe fits--wear it. If it doesn't--you have nothing to be concerned about. But LISTEN UP: This is the reality every woman and girl lives with world wide every day. What can you do today to make her feel/be safer? What can you do to change men ( your brothers) be the better? For in recognition of men's problem, some men organized an organization call NOMAS National Organization of Men Against Sexism. In fact, they have a conference coming up in San Antonio, Tx. next month. This is a male problem...
Bond, first this was a silly question not research. You exaggerate by talking as if there's a boogeyman lurking in every shadow. And you say nothing of the woman who rape boys and girls as if it doesn't exist. It does. So the root of the problem isn't, as you present it, a man's problem; it's a human problem. Good research to better identify the true causes of such behavior is much more helpful than scolding men here as if we're the perpetrators.