Poll: Do You Manspread

[Saulkar]

I ride a motorbike. It's a safety requirement to pinch your legs as hard against the fuel tank as possible.

Ditto, that is however, not something that actually crossed my mind when creating this thread. What bike do you own? I own a 2006 FZ6.

I'm a tall man with long legs, it's somewhat of a necessity.

Judging from your furry-murry avatar, that is not the only thing that is tall; HOOOOO SNAP!

I am such a dork.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Ditto, that is however, not something that actually crossed my mind when creating this thread. What bike do you own? I own a 2006 FZ6.

FZs are a nice bike. I ride a *classic* (not 'old') 1995 model XJ600. I've ridden a collection of bikes, but the XJ600 was the first road bike I bought and she still purrs after all these years. She holds a lot of sentimental value for me.

 

[GrumbleGrump]

I barely sit in public transport so I don't generally do it. I just sit when I can be one seat apart from someone else.

Also, this shit is the absolute apex, the zenith, the absolute maximum of first world problems.

 

[maninahat]

No. I usually cross my legs, actually, which I suppose is the opposite of "manspreading".

There's nothing about male physiology that requires it. That's bollocks (pun unintended).

Ah, but don't you run into that related problem wherein your crossed leg comes dangerously close to touching the foot of the next person crossing their leg? I find myself swapping legs to match their chirality.

 

[Lightknight]

You mean do I make a habit of not crushing my balls? Sure.

Sucks that some women are so ignorant about how balls work as to invent a complaint about it. "Oh no, he's not crushing his own balls just because I want him to sit like people with no balls?! I'm going to ***** online about it like a literal ball buster because I'm sooo focused on controlling people I can't force to do what I want."

I don't take up more than one seat in doing so, though. If new people are getting on I'll just tighten up temporarily in case they want to sit in a seat next to me. If the bus is particularly crowded I'll just stand as a totally viable way at still not crushing my own balls just to make someone else happy.

There should be an even larger complaint about women putting their giant-ass bag in the seat next to them. I see that far more than I see some guy spreading himself over 1.5 seats. I've never seen a guy not adjust his posture once someone makes a move to sit in an adjacent seat but I have seen women sitting there like they don't know they can move their bag.

 

[Sleepy Sol]

No. I usually cross my legs, actually, which I suppose is the opposite of "manspreading".

There's nothing about male physiology that requires it. That's bollocks (pun unintended).

Same here, generally. It's about the only thing I do with my legs besides having them in a default "resting" position, I guess.

If I ever had to use public transit which isn't likely to happen soon, I'd probably be inclined to take up as little room as possible anyways.

 

[Areloch]

Yeah, as others have said, it's not really a gendered thing. If you're taking up additional space on public transport, you're being rude, either it's because you have to have your legs at 180 degrees when sitting, because you're carrying a small shopping mall in baggage, or because you're fat enough you literally take up multiple seats.

That said, I don't usually sit with my legs specifically pinched together, because that feels awkward to me. I tend to have a slight gap between my knees as I sit, but never enough to block nearby seats. So the question would be 'How wide do you have to have your legs separated before it qualifies as "manspreading"(also, heugh I hate that term).

 

[Lightknight]

Yeah, as others have said, it's not really a gendered thing. If you're taking up additional space on public transport, you're being rude, either it's because you have to have your legs at 180 degrees when sitting, because you're carrying a small shopping mall in baggage, or because you're fat enough you literally take up multiple seats.

So a fat person is being rude by existing? I think someone else might be being rude...

You know, I've seen a handicapped person with a motorized wheelchair cause a set of three seats to be folded up so they could park their wheelchair there. What a total dick, right? [/poeslaw]

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Sounds like a bit of a stupid term to excuse being an asshole. Well, in the case of public transport. If it is crowded.
Not on public transport? Go ahead, knock yourself out.
On public transport, but with a ton of free seats elsewhere? Sure, go for it, whatever.
No free seats and doing it, and in the process denying someone else a seat? Sounds like an asshole to me.
But I doubt that happens too much. I hope not, anyway.

Edit: Looking at a picture posted later in the thread, if that little bit of legs-apart-ness is called "manspreading" (which should really be better defined in the OP to stop this sort of confusion), then it's not so bad. The sort of shit I assumed to be "manspreading", as called here, is people having their legs absurdly far apart to the point of being obnoxious and blocking other seats.
Just a little gap between the knees, not even enough to force someone else to sit at an angle? Yeah, no problem.

 

[Areloch]

Yeah, as others have said, it's not really a gendered thing. If you're taking up additional space on public transport, you're being rude, either it's because you have to have your legs at 180 degrees when sitting, because you're carrying a small shopping mall in baggage, or because you're fat enough you literally take up multiple seats.

So a fat person is being rude by existing? I think someone else might be being rude...

Oh come on.

The whole point is that if you're blocking other seating, it's kind of rude. There's a difference between being overweight, and being so large that you take up multiple people's seating. If one is literally so massive that they take up 2 or 3 seats by the mere act of sitting down, then yeah, it's kind of a problem.

 

[Silverbane7]

we get a lot of guys (and gals) who are wide in the trunk area, spreading about on the bus here.
but we have more of an issue with 'pramspreading' than manspreading.

that is to say, when there are already 2 pushchairs taking up space for at least 6 people, and another one decides she wants to get on.
and then looks blankly at the already lengthways foldable pushcahirs and wonders which one to nag into moving so her foldable pushchair (usualy filled with a toddler that can actualy walk, and covered to the gills in carrier bags at the back, so its not particularly stable to begin with) can be wedged in sideways, making it hard for passengers to get on (or off).
i may be channeing 'grumpy old granny', but when i was that age, my mother had to FOLD UP the pushchair..is that a lost art in these modern times? it sure is round here, but then the chairs never seem to be folded from the day they are bought (and then dumped in the streets some days...i hate pushchairs, and side by side double buggies....those things should burn in hell (or the sun))

i only realy have an issue with people spreading if they are overweight and there is a distribution problem, cause too much weight on one side messes with the busses shocks, making it even more bumpy on our allready knackred and pothole filled roads..is it too much to ask that you sit on one side and the other person sit on the other side, so the bus is not leaning while standing still? or if they are stinky.
i agree with Foamy about stinky.if in front of you, someone smells, and in back of you, someone smells...it is like being in a sweaty armpit sandwich. and i have a very *very* sensitive nose...the only worse things is holidays when you have more than one screaming (and very high pitched at that) kiddies competeing for who can shatter the glass windows.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

I see i misunderstood the 2nd option in the poll. I thought it was more about public decency, not about saving space.

Yes, when there is some free space in the public transport i preffer to "manspread" or put my leg on my other leg. It just feels more comfortable. When there isn't though... i'll just take the standing spot. For some weird reason i don't like when my knees touch, iunno.

 

[Lightknight]

Yeah, as others have said, it's not really a gendered thing. If you're taking up additional space on public transport, you're being rude, either it's because you have to have your legs at 180 degrees when sitting, because you're carrying a small shopping mall in baggage, or because you're fat enough you literally take up multiple seats.

So a fat person is being rude by existing? I think someone else might be being rude...

Oh come on.

The whole point is that if you're blocking other seating, it's kind of rude. There's a difference between being overweight, and being so large that you take up multiple people's seating. If one is literally so massive that they take up 2 or 3 seats by the mere act of sitting down, then yeah, it's kind of a problem.

The first few options you gave were for people purposefully taking up additional seats.

Then you threw in an option where the person merely existing means they're being rude.

Food addictions have a variety of causes including psychological distress. You're being bigoted and inconsiderate here by insisting that they are rude in their suffering. I've also known men who are simply large people. Not fat but large. Are they rude too or are you only fat shaming here today?

Being rude requires intent.

 

[lacktheknack]

"Physiologically impossible" can be debunked by getting on a flipping bus. Tons of people don't.

If you spread your legs a mere inch, your junk will find a way to co-exist with your legs. Its what it does. People who complain that they have an intolerable bulge (which most pants give you anyways, junk or no, unless deliberately stretched) or will crush themselves either have legs of freaking titanium (pro-tip: they do not) or are massively exaggerating the thickness and/or delicateness of their genitalia (pro-tip: they are). It is admittedly way more comfy (so I man-spread like a damned crab when alone), but it is by no means intolerable to sit like a normal human being when around other normal human beings.

If it really is so awful for you, too damned bad. Stand. Or stop wearing those horrifying tight-jeans. No one likes them, everyone lied to you when they said they did.

 

[Saelune]

People generally prefer to be comfortable. Having testicles certainly try their best to impede that. If this is an issue of seating and space though, if there clearly is some space for you and -anyone- is all spread out, ask them for the seat and if they aren't a jerk will likely give you the room. I'm sure people on both sides of sexism will use "manspreading" to back their BS, but the answer is, no, you don't -need- to have your legs spread out, but its certainly more comfortable.

But as someone with social anxiety Id rather have the whole damn train car to myself. But as someone in New York, I know that aint happening.

 

[Lightknight]

Furthermore, I have heard that the term is sexist as it excludes female spreaders from the argument but, from my personal observations, the most vocal pro manspreaders base almost all of their arguments upon the male physiology necessitating it. Soooo, does that make it a sexist term, I do not know.

P.S. If popular consensus reads that the term is sexist, what term would you use instead of manspread? Would it be more prudent to simply use different terms for men and women?

The term is sexist in that it is used derogatorily when it is simply significantly more comfortable for men to sit this way. It is used to shame men who do it even when there are PLENTY of seats available.

Women most frequently do the same thing with their purses or shopping bags but as far as I know it isn't necessarily more comfortable for them to sit that way because they're not squishing their goods when sitting with legs crossed or together.

The thing that should be rude is willingly taking up more seats when seating is scarce. Complaining about manspreading in and of itself is bigoted. The pictures posted online never really seem to tell the full story. Good examples of someone being rude should show them taking up space when seating is limited. Most of the time it just shows that they're sitting alone but you have no idea how much seating there is elsewhere.

So essentially it is most commonly shaming a man for having balls at all. That's not something we can help. We don't have to sit with our knees miles apart. But some spreadage is certainly more comfortable than none and if plenty alternate seating is ability the who the fuck cares? I don't care if someone is laying across seats to take a nap as long as there's enough seating. Why is it so important to control other people just because we want them to sit a certain way? That's pre-school crap.

 

[Areloch]

Yeah, as others have said, it's not really a gendered thing. If you're taking up additional space on public transport, you're being rude, either it's because you have to have your legs at 180 degrees when sitting, because you're carrying a small shopping mall in baggage, or because you're fat enough you literally take up multiple seats.

So a fat person is being rude by existing? I think someone else might be being rude...

Oh come on.

The whole point is that if you're blocking other seating, it's kind of rude. There's a difference between being overweight, and being so large that you take up multiple people's seating. If one is literally so massive that they take up 2 or 3 seats by the mere act of sitting down, then yeah, it's kind of a problem.

The first few options you gave were for people purposefully taking up additional seats.

Then you threw in an option where the person merely existing means they're being rude.

Food addictions have a variety of causes including psychological distress. You're being bigoted and inconsiderate here by insisting that they are rude in their suffering. I've also known men who are simply large people. Not fat but large. Are they rude too or are you only fat shaming here today?

Being rude requires intent.

Inconsiderate, then?
Also, how large a person are you imagining where I detail the situation of "literally taking up 2 or 3 seats of space by the mere act of sitting down?". My mom is fairly large and several of my friends are as well, one who is technically obese. And they manage to not dominate multiple seats when sitting down.

I feel there's a difference between being charged multiple plane tickets for merely being over a certain weight, and feeling a twinge of annoyance in looking over and seeing that you COULD have had a place to sit on public transport if our hypothetical morbidly obese person wasn't taking up several seats.

But fine, whatever, I'm an awful fat shamer. This is kind of tangenting away from the point of the thread. My point was, it doesn't matter HOW the seat being blocked occurs, but the fact that it is being blocked that is the issue in play. It's not exclusively 'those darned men and their legs'.

 

[Lightknight]

Yeah, as others have said, it's not really a gendered thing. If you're taking up additional space on public transport, you're being rude, either it's because you have to have your legs at 180 degrees when sitting, because you're carrying a small shopping mall in baggage, or because you're fat enough you literally take up multiple seats.

So a fat person is being rude by existing? I think someone else might be being rude...

Oh come on.

The whole point is that if you're blocking other seating, it's kind of rude. There's a difference between being overweight, and being so large that you take up multiple people's seating. If one is literally so massive that they take up 2 or 3 seats by the mere act of sitting down, then yeah, it's kind of a problem.

The first few options you gave were for people purposefully taking up additional seats.

Then you threw in an option where the person merely existing means they're being rude.

Food addictions have a variety of causes including psychological distress. You're being bigoted and inconsiderate here by insisting that they are rude in their suffering. I've also known men who are simply large people. Not fat but large. Are they rude too or are you only fat shaming here today?

Being rude requires intent.

Inconsiderate, then?
Also, how large a person are you imagining where I detail the situation of "literally taking up 2 or 3 seats of space by the mere act of sitting down?". My mom is fairly large and several of my friends are as well, one who is technically obese. And they manage to not dominate multiple seats when sitting down.

I feel there's a difference between being charged multiple plane tickets for merely being over a certain weight, and feeling a twinge of annoyance in looking over and seeing that you COULD have had a place to sit on public transport if our hypothetical morbidly obese person wasn't taking up several seats.

But fine, whatever, I'm an awful fat shamer. This is kind of tangenting away from the point of the thread. My point was, it doesn't matter HOW the seat being blocked occurs, but the fact that it is being blocked that is the issue in play. It's not exclusively 'those darned men and their legs'.

I would assume that a person who is morbidly obsess like that would be suffering from a particularly bad addiction. You're treating it like they're gobbling up cake like there's no tomorrow while uttering the sentiment, "Fucking transit people sitting next to me... I'll show them".

Any way you look at it, you're shaming someone with an eating disorder at that point.

You can call them inconvenient, but so is a person with a motorized wheelchair that requires folding up that three-seat section in the front of most buses.

But rude? No. Inconsiderate? No. They might be very much aware of how much space they're taking up and feel very ashamed about it. I mean, I have met a few crazies that glorify being fat and those assholes can certainly be counted in the rude category. But being unable to compete with evolution which encourages overeating, bad parenting that can associate food with love, and mental distress which can trigger the desire to self sooth with food, that's not being rude. That's having a condition with multiple mitigating factors.

 

[Phasmal]

Women most frequently do the same thing with their purses or shopping bags but as far as I know it isn't necessarily more comfortable for them to sit that way because they're not squishing their goods when sitting with legs crossed or together.

Oh c'mon dude, men totally do the bag thing too. It's not a case of men have to sit spread out because of their spacehopper balls and women viciously handbag all over the place. I think we can agree people of any gender are capable of being reasonable human beings and also space-wasting jerks.