I do not see why my lifestyle or personality should be altered and subdued because of a slim chance that there will be a rabid axeman waiting for me along the tow-path. True, I may get attacked one day but, up until that time (which may never happen), I have had the freedom to do what I want since I understand that the vast majority of men are not rapists.
Similarly for you blokes. The vast majority of women would not dream of taking a legal action for harmless banter or a bit of flirtatiousness so carry on as you would be and behave naturally.
Thank you, Whirlygig, for putting it far better than I did; I can usually express myself fairly clearly, but I was annoyed and tired.
To repeat what Whirlygig said, many women have been restricted all their lives due to fear, fear that was usually unfounded, as few men are rapists and axe-murderers. Some of us chose to live our lives fully anyway, and it worked. Same for you guys. Do you want to always walk around in fear, of something that may never happen. Is it really worth it? Don't you know enough women who are scared of their own shadows? Do you want to be like that too? Is that what equality means, in the modern world?
This has nothing to do with the world, what it's coming too, where you live etc etc; it's simply YOUR choice.