Who else finds forests a little creepy?

vargoo · 02-03-2019 01:07PM

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

I find them very relaxing. Just today i stopped on the side of the road and walked into one for mins. Then sat in the silence. Walking back out on what route I believed I took brought me back onto the road but about 1km from my car. That's what I find creepy is their disorientating ability.

You must have went well into it! Shouldn't do that, to easy to get turned around.

Love them myself, yesterdays rain was just perfect for slow 4 mile run in forest. I don't mind them at night but I'm a guy, sometimes I wonder about some girls I meet well into some forests I run in.

I do try and make noise but end up frightening the sh1te out of people when they don't hear me coming til last second.

twignme · 02-03-2019 01:28PM

I spend many hours in forests and love the sense of calm they bring. I always go on my own with my dogs and very, very rarely see anyone else, which is a bonus. They are a wonderful way to observe the passage of the seasons, one day an antler that has been shed, another the appearance of the frog spawn, or the Buzzards being chased away from nests overhead. The bright red pinpoint of colour in the distance from a ring of fly agaric under the trees.
I'm female and never really worry about being there, even in the dark. But I can understand that it could be a spooky environment for some people.

BarryD2 · 02-03-2019 01:39PM

twignme wrote: »

I'm female and never really worry about being there, even in the dark. But I can understand that it could be a spooky environment for some people.

That's the logical approach, the sort of sad fecker who might want to attack a woman is not going to hang around some obscure part of a forest for days on end waiting on the off chance that one comes along alone. Not practical.

I've always enjoyed trees and woods and rambling through them, one close to us I'd visit four or five times a week easily. But will admit to the odd doubt when feeling a way along a track at dusk, you can't help but look over your shoulder. Same for heavily tree lined rural roads at night time.

The Pheasant2 · 02-03-2019 01:52PM

Love forests, even at night. Though I can understand how people would find them unsettling. Were I an eccentric billionaire I would buy up as much land in Ireland as possible and plant it with deciduous forest and then leave it to the state (provided they wouldn't just fell it).

Stacksofwacks · 02-03-2019 01:54PM

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Yep. Ever since I saw The Blair Witch Project, I've never liked them, also the trees look like they are always watching and the owls are not what they seem.

Bat winged demons when you shine the torch up they look down and laugh :eek:

vargoo · 03-03-2019 12:01AM

https://qz.com/1557308/psychoterratica-is-the-trauma-caused-by-distance-from-nature/

MonkieSocks · 03-03-2019 12:29AM

ILoveYourVibes · 17-05-2019 03:12AM

I love walking through them ....i only walk at night with someone else though.

LionelNashe · 17-05-2019 04:48AM

Does anyone know of deciduos forest accessible by public transport from Dublin city centre?

whisky_galore · 17-05-2019 05:16AM

There's no wildlife in any forest here that can do any harm, no bears, wolves, wild boars, nothing.

As for ghosties, you've more to fear from the living than the dead.

Bobblehats · 17-05-2019 05:16AM

The forest has summoned me, on many occasions, in various guises it has its own allure

Ush1 · 17-05-2019 08:26AM

whisky_galore wrote: »

There's no wildlife in any forest here that can do any harm, no bears, wolves, wild boars, nothing.

As for ghosties, you've more to fear from the living than the dead.

Very little forest left either in Ireland tbh.

razorblunt · 17-05-2019 08:51AM

I live in Scotland so there are many to choose from.
I love them, there's one close by my gaff, its more of a woods really but there's a great 45-1hr loop walk which is great for the dog.
The difference in there in summer compare to winter is fantastic to see too.

seasidedub · 17-05-2019 08:55AM

I'm a bit of an all-swimming/sailing/climbing/outdoors freak, but, used to live in Finland, place covered with forests. Went for an after-work half-hour walk in
the local forest. Emerged about 3 hours later having been beyond lost and only got out when my phone navigator kicked in at a certain point near the edge of the forest - it hadnt worked deeper in. It was pitch black and really scary.

branie2 · 17-05-2019 09:08AM

Not me

recedite · 17-05-2019 09:19AM

Forests seem to freak out city slickers.

I've seen a few movies recently where bunch of lads go off to Scotland or Scandinavia for a wilderness holiday, take a short cut into a forest, and then get hunted by horrible creatures and/or hillbillies.
A bit boring, but very cheap movies to make

Its definitely tapping into some deep fear alright.

Wibbs · 17-05-2019 09:35AM

Stacksofwacks wrote: »

Aha! We are all originally monkeys who evolved out of the forest so we are hardwired to sense danger/attack coming from behind the trees. Something like that..

Could be, though for the dwelling monkeys and apes forests would be far safer environments than open grassland. Walking upright really helps in the latter mind you, because you can spot danger quite a distance away. It's easy to forget that humans standing up are one of the tallest animals around as far as our eye line goes. Only a handful of animals are taller.

Another hypothesis is why modern humans have a wariness about forests is that when we left Africa around 100,000 years ago we weren't walking into uninhabited lands. There were already other, earlier people there and they lived in the forests and were more adapted to them. Look at people like Neandertals. Larger eyes better suited to low light, spears used as stabbing weapons rather than thrown; projectile weapons not being much use in thick forest as they're more likely to hit trees or bushes in the way, so more ambush predator as a method. A modern human used to grasslands would be at a serious disadvantage(one theory why neandertals were in decline was because of climate change and a turn towards more open grasslands that didn't suit them). On top of that you have other forest predators we wouldn't have been used to in Africa and fewer food sources that we could exploit too. If you look at the earliest modern human migration routes into Asia we skirt along the coasts and even reach Australia remarkably quickly. Our movements inland seem to have come later. It appears coastlines were safer and had more reliable food.

Duff · 17-05-2019 09:38AM

Good craic for a bit of Bigfoot hunting.

recedite · 17-05-2019 09:46AM

Wibbs wrote: »

Look at people like Neandertals. Larger eyes better suited to low light, spears used as stabbing weapons rather than thrown; projectile weapons not being much use in thick forest as they're more likely to hit trees or bushes in the way, so more ambush predator as a method.

Our innate fear of the neandertal, and that fear projected onto the hillbilly?
There could be something in it :pac:
Bears and wolves were there for a very long time too, although gone from our part of the world now.

sbsquarepants · 17-05-2019 10:06AM

LionelNashe wrote: »

Does anyone know of deciduos forest accessible by public transport from Dublin city centre?

Sure, go to Hueston station and catch the train to Killarney:D

Joking aside, it's actually well worth the trip if you can get down for a weekend. Killarney national park is one of the most beautiful places in the world as far as I'm concerned.

Deciduous forests are unfortunately quite rare in Ireland, mostly west coast I think? As far as I know Mullaghmeen in Westmeath is a beech forest but I've never been so I've no idea of the size or how accessible it is.

17-05-2019 10:07AM

I used to love walking through forests but have stopped doing it. There have been a few times where I felt so strange, like something watching me and then my mind would run away with me and then I'd be running back to the car. Once I came across this really lovely spot with a little stream right beside an old dilapidated house. It was warm and sunny out I remember. I couldn't wait to get out of there. That house and the stillness. Shudder.

kowloon · 17-05-2019 10:19AM

recedite wrote: »

Forests seem to freak out city slickers.

Half of the horror movie industry seems to revolve around the idea that the country is inhabited by cannibals who will wear your skin. I blame the lack of access to broadband and incest porn.

nozzferrahhtoo · 17-05-2019 10:28AM

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

There is a stillness about forests that is both comforting and unnerving at the same time.

Deleted User wrote: »

I couldn't wait to get out of there. That house and the stillness. Shudder.

I think often the human brain freaks out when it gets disparate inputs it can not reconcile into a coherent whole. We even believe it may be the cause of things like Phantom Limbs and Body Identity Disorder.

Forests are not still. They are quite often teeming with life. Insects. Birds. Rodents. And so on.

So when we are in the forest and part of our brain is expecting or even experiencing stillness, and another part the opposite, maybe it deals with that disparity by getting unnerved and making you feel you want to get out of there. It knows something is not right and it's preference is towards "get out" rather than "figure it out" for obvious evolutionary reasons I would say.

I find I can over come it. If and when a forest starts to feel creepy I stop and become mindful of the motion and life around me. Thus over riding the false "Stillness" input that is freaking out my brain and removing the disparity and the resulting unease. The creepy "get out of here" feeling just falls way instantly for me then and my enjoyment resumes.

Mice are a great one. I was staring at a patch of ground with my partner recently and she was seeing loads of mice in it flashing around under the fallen sticks and leaves. I saw none. For ages. Then suddenly I spotted one and it was like one of those Optical Illusions you can not un-see once you see it. I suddenly was seeing LOADS of them and unable to figure out why I could not a moment before. A patch of ground I was convinced was still was actually TEEMING.

Dunno if that will help you retrieve your previous enjoyment of forests. I can hope so.

Hamsterchops · 17-05-2019 11:29AM

Stacksofwacks wrote: »

Especially at night, the other night was walking through a nearby forest when something moved in the trees it nearly scared the bejaysus outta me!

I know what you mean, specially as it's getting dark and the wind is rushing through the trees......

You should watch the film 'Dog soldiers' before you embark on your next night time visit to the forest, also check out the 2004 movie 'the Village' :-)

mcmoustache · 17-05-2019 12:15PM

Some can be creepy while others can be among the most beautiful places in the world.

I remember one time this forest kept commenting on my sexy arse and any time I told him to lay off it, he'd make this sucking sound while maintaining eye contact. I really didn't feel at ease throughout this and was completely creeped out by it.

Other forests, though, were just an absolute joy to visit and had none of the creepiness of some of the more pervy ones.

skallywag · 17-05-2019 07:10PM

I know quite a few people who would never enter a forest a night, although I love them myself at night time. I bike or run through forest trails regularly at night in the winter. Particularly cool in winter if you happen to have snow and a clear night with a moon.

Jimbob1977 · 17-05-2019 07:12PM

The owls are not what they seem

Buford T. Justice XIX · 17-05-2019 07:48PM

Hamsterchops wrote: »

I know what you mean, specially as it's getting dark and the wind is rushing through the trees......

You should watch the film 'Dog soldiers' before you embark on your next night time visit to the forest, also check out the 2004 movie 'the Village' :-)

That's a cracking film, always stay up later that I should watching it.

Sheepdish1 · 18-05-2019 12:36AM

seasidedub wrote: »

I'm a bit of an all-swimming/sailing/climbing/outdoors freak, but, used to live in Finland, place covered with forests. Went for an after-work half-hour walk in
the local forest. Emerged about 3 hours later having been beyond lost and only got out when my phone navigator kicked in at a certain point near the edge of the forest - it hadnt worked deeper in. It was pitch black and really scary.

Had you gone far from where you thought you were or were you near enough but disoriented? They must be so easy to get lost in!

gozunda · 18-05-2019 12:48AM

skallywag wrote: »

I know quite a few people who would never enter a forest a night, although I love them myself at night time. I bike or run through forest trails regularly at night in the winter. Particularly cool in winter if you happen to have snow and a clear night with a moon.

Did a few of the long distance walkways in the UK many years ago. We camped in woods / forests along the way. You would not believe the noises and sounds you hear in woods late at night. Vixens shrieking / owls / sound of badgers fighting etc - you wouldn't be far off thinking that a homicidal maniac was prowling the woods and just outside your tent ...

Who else finds forests a little creepy?

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