If you were alone in the woods, would you encounter a bear or a human? The answer to this hypothetical question sparks a debate about why the majority say they feel safer choosing a bear. continuing.
The topic has been hotly debated for weeks, with men and women from all over the world exchanging their opinions on social media.
TikTok account Screenshot HQ started the conversation, asking six women whether they would rather run into a stranger in the woods or a bear. Of the seven women interviewed for this piece, only one chose a man.
![A curious young black bear is seen on a trail at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park on June 1, 2023 in Copeland, Florida.](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/05/01/USAT/73520482007-usatsi-22152591.jpg?width=300&height=382&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
“Mr. Bear, I’m afraid of men,” one of the women replies.
Many women echoed the answer in the original video, writing in the comments that they too would choose a bear over a man. This hypothesis has divided people, with some expressing sadness at the state of the world and others joking about the situation. Some men are surprised.
Here’s what we know:
There’s no question that bears are a safer choice, many say.
The original post had many responses, over 65,000 to be exact, with many saying they understood why women chose bears.
“No one will ever ask me if I led a bear or give me a pamphlet on tips to prevent bear attacks,” @celestiallystunning wrote.
@Brennduhh wrote: “If I die and leave my body in the forest, the wolves will be kinder than any human.”
Another woman wrote, “I understand what the bear is trying to do.” She said, “I don’t know what a man’s intentions are. No matter how kind he is.”
Other TikTok users went a step further and asked their loved ones hypothetical questions. Last week, Meredith Steele of @babiesofsteele asked her husband whether he would rather her daughter encounter bears or humans in the woods. She said her husband was leaning toward the bears, though “she didn’t like either option.”
“Maybe it’s a friendly bear,” he says.
Fellow TikTok user Diana was left speechless when she asked her sister-in-law what she would choose.
“I asked her the question because, you know, I just wanted to laugh. She said, ‘You know, the bear is better. If the bear attacks me and I get out of the woods, everybody ‘Please have pity on me because you believe me,”’ she said. “But if a man attacks me and I get away with it, I’m going to spend my life trying to get people to believe me and sympathize with me.”
Bears vs. men debate stirs cauldron, pitting women against some men
This assumption has caused some tension, with some women arguing that men will never truly understand what it’s like to be a woman, or the dangers inherent in it.
Social media users answered this question themselves, creating memes, spoken word poetry, skit The next few days and weeks passed.
So what would you choose?