Elderly Man’s Inappropriate Remarks to Young Hikers Spark Outrage: A Lesson in Outdoor Etiquette

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(Screenshot from an online community)

A video showing an elderly man approaching young women who were resting during a hike and making inappropriate comments and advances has spread rapidly across social media and online forums, sparking controversy.

Published under headlines such as Old man harassing hikers, the clip has provoked public outrage over intergenerational etiquette and conduct on public trails.

The footage shows the man sit beside two women who were resting on a bench during a hike. He asks their ages; when one replies she is 30, he brings up his family, saying, “My daughter is well over 40.”

The interaction escalates when the man says, “Oh, how pretty — would you be my girlfriend?”

When one woman asks, “What did you say?” he brazenly repeats, “Would you be my girlfriend?”

A woman responds firmly, “No, that’s not acceptable.” The man then mutters, “Right, that wouldn’t work,” attempting to dismiss it as a joke. The women, visibly uncomfortable, quickly leave and the encounter ends.

Online commenters reacted with anger. “You don’t make those jokes to a stranger, especially someone young enough to be your child,” wrote one. Others called it “verbal abuse and sexual harassment” and said, “Age is no excuse; at minimum, you should observe basic manners as you get older.”

With hiking, camping and other outdoor leisure activities growing in popularity, incidents in which people disturb others’ rest or cause discomfort on trails and at campsites have become more common.

Experts say unwanted personal questions or flirtatious remarks can inflict significant psychological stress. They urge people to observe basic public etiquette.