The Devil’s Advocate, serving you a cocktail of humour, wit and sarcasm
Recently, the internet erupted over the “Man vs Bear” debate sparked by Screenshot HQ, a TikTok account. They asked a group of women, “If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man?” Six out of seven women chose the bear, while only one picked the man—perhaps confusing “bear” with Bear Grylls, the wilderness survival expert!
One woman stated, “Man is scary,” while another remarked, “If I was attacked by a bear, people would believe me,” drawing attention to the #MeToo movement. This hypothetical question ignited a discussion on why most women would feel safer encountering a bear.
The response triggered outrage among men, who felt vilified. Online comments questioned if this reaction was sexist, an example of misandry, or androphobia. Some wondered if women were influenced by Hollywood serial killer movies or playing the victim card. Why weren’t the Karva Chauth wives and Raksha Bandhan sisters not interviewed? Critics argued for broader representation, questioning why only single, city-dwelling, privileged women, active on social media, were speaking for all women.
I saw this as an excellent opportunity for a discussion between Xena, the firebrand woke feminist, and Appu, the outside-the-box thinker.
Appu dove right in, asking, “What if the man was Brad Pitt or George Clooney? Would the woman still pick the bear? What if the man was the woman’s father, brother, son, husband, or a male cop? Would she still distrust and fear them?”
Xena retorted, “All men are evil, including my father. The #MeToo movement has shown that all men are potential sexual predators. Bears, on the other hand, are docile. I grew up as a house princess with cuddly toy bears like Winnie-the-Pooh, Baloo, and Smokey the Bear. Bears only want honey; they wouldn’t harm a woman, unlike a man who is always looking for an opportunity to assault women. The only bear I fear is the Australian drop bear.”
Appu countered, “Statistics show that women are more likely to be attacked by someone they know than a stranger. So, fearing a stranger in the woods doesn’t make sense. You’re painting all men with the same brush.”
“More men than women are killed by men in homicides, so men have reason to fear men too! You haven’t ventured into the woods to have genuine experience with bears; you’re only aware of the bear market. Many women have been mauled and killed by bears. The Australian drop bear is as fictitious as your imagination on this topic”.
“The Outdoor Guide states that bears are among the most dangerous mammals alive, thanks to their size, teeth, claws, and power, they are a killing machine. They shouldn’t be trifled with. Please snap out of your Disney bubble.”
Appu continued, “What if men were asked a similar question: Woman vs Bear? What would they choose?”
Xena fired back, “Of course, he would pick the bear. A man’s toxic ego and masculinity wouldn’t let him seek help from a woman, even if she could punch the bear unconscious or shoo it away.”
Appu challenged, “Most rescue personnel are men. They regularly save people from disasters; house fires, bush fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, search parties for people lost in forests etc. Wouldn’t you want to be saved by such men?”
Xena replied, “I’m scared of men. I cross the road even when I see an old man approaching. Last week, when my car broke down, I was nervous waiting for the roadside assistance man. What if the man was a serial killer? I always carry a can of pepper spray in my bag. I wouldn’t let a male surgeon operate on me or a male firefighter pull me out of a burning house.”
As a parting shot, Appu laughed, “Xena, if you find yourself in a situation with a strange man in a dimly lit parking lot, don’t ask a bear to walk you to your car.”
What would actually take place in the real world when a bear encounter situation arises, unlike the hypothetical situation under discussion?
In March 2024, a woman in Belarus was hiking with a man when they encountered a bear. The man ran off, naturally, leaving the woman to fend for herself. The bear chased and eventually killed the woman. Her body was discovered by a search dog shortly after her.
There are indeed evil men and women in the world, but thankfully, they are few in number. If women continue depicting all men as monsters, it will only widen the gender divide and deepen distrust between men and women.
Bare necessities to bear in mind!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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