Poll: Do You Manspread

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Actually, it's Soylent Green in a sandwich topping format.

Well, that's a bit more appetising than my second guess I suppose.

 

[Secondhand Revenant]

Not according to CAFE:

The Canadian Association for Equality (CAFE), a Canadian men's rights group, has been critical of campaigns against manspreading by transit authorities. The CAFE has argued that it is "physically painful for men to close their legs" and that campaigns against manspreading is comparable to "[forcing] women to stop breast feeding on busses or trains".[11]

If Wikipedia's not good enough, here's the source:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/12/28/manspreading_a_transit_controversy_with_legs.html

?It?s physically painful for men to close their legs and we cannot be expected to do so, and it?s also a biological necessity for us to do so,? the campaign states. ?We can?t force woman to stop breast feeding on busses (sic) or trains and we can?t force them to stop bringing strollers on, why should we force men to close their legs? This is sexism plain and simple and it cannot be passed.?

I'm not sure whether to laugh or headdesk.

This is a thing. whatisitidonteven.

Ahhh MRAs, making shit up that half the world is going to know is false and still expecting it to fly.

Also it seems CAFE doesn't understand the difference between feeding a child or bringing a child on public transport and being expected not to take up several seats on one's own. Like what were they smoking that made them think there's anything comparable?

Good to see that they're typically sexist and reserve stroller complaints for women. As if only a woman could ever do that or as if it's something inherently female.

 

[Lightknight]

It is merely more comfortable for men to spread their legs than not to. I do not take offense to being mad at a person spreading out all over the place when seats are limited. I do take offense to people complaining that a guy is making himself comfortable when seating is completely available. Like those internet-shaming pictures of guys on mostly empty buses as though they're doing something wrong.

Yeah, I get that guys prefer to sit with legs apart sometimes, ladies do too sometimes.

Spoiler: We've all been there

Hah, that picture.

Sometimes I think the issue is a little overblown, I mean, guys are clearly both capable and often comfortable sitting with legs closed or crossed, even if not always.
But as for the online photo thing, I'm with you there, mostly because I find taking pictures of strangers incredibly rude no matter the circumstance (with very few exceptions like crime or whatever).

It was fine as a service announcement for people to be more mindful of how much space they're taking up. But it just evolved into a sexist rant against men. I mean, some people do deserve to get shamed when they're being ridiculous about it. I mean, some of the craziest ones are staged for part of the craze, but in general it just became a way for people to express sexism and try to actually harass and oppress (mildly) men.

So bizarre.

 

[Silvanus]

Listen. The only men (In reality, likely "boys", rather than "men") who can sit with their knees together and not be wildly uncomfortable are either skinny as fuck, because they have no thighs or haven't had their balls drop yet.

This simply isn't true for an average sized, healthy man. If one is seriously uncomfortable solely from closing one's legs, that might actually be cause to see a doctor.

 

[Hagi]

Usually sit with my legs crossed. Never had any issue whatsoever closing my legs.

If anyone does have issues they should probably have that checked out by a doctor, if your balls are that bloated you've probably got an STD of some kind...

 

[Lightknight]

Listen. The only men (In reality, likely "boys", rather than "men") who can sit with their knees together and not be wildly uncomfortable are either skinny as fuck, because they have no thighs or haven't had their balls drop yet.

This simply isn't true for an average sized, healthy man. If one is seriously uncomfortable solely from closing one's legs, that might actually be cause to see a doctor.

How would you know? Are you medical expert of some kind that has conducted research in this area? Did you survey a legitimate sample size of men? Do you have a control group?

My testicles are just fine. If I sit with my knees touching or close they will begin to hurt. I don't have to have a wide angle or anything. But there needs to be at least some space. Not more than my shoulders though. My shoulders are the real problem. I can almost spread over 45 degrees and still not hit my shoulder width.

But you're just going to have to deal with fact that a perfectly healthy pair of balls is going to hurt when enough pressure is applied. Even when the angle is slight they will still hurt over enough time. I don't know what the exact angle of no-pain is, but I'd wager it differs from person to person.

Ever heard a guy cry out in pain because he sat on a ball? Yeah, apparently that can happen.

 

[MeatMachine]

Yes, I manspread myself, but only when there is a woman around to oppress and other fellow patriarchs to bear witness to our glory.

 

[Lightknight]

Yes, I manspread myself, but only when there is a woman around to oppress and other fellow patriarchs to bear witness to our glory.

That's why I decided to get paid more than a woman working at McDonald's. I want her to know that society unfairly values my external genitals and it totally has nothing to do with me working in software and her working in fast food... (that's how useful a study on the wage group is when it accounts for literally nothing but gender)

 

[Phasmal]

Spoiler: Oh look at where the comments are goin'

C'mon dudes, do you have to? Ugh.

Not according to CAFE:

The Canadian Association for Equality (CAFE), a Canadian men's rights group, has been critical of campaigns against manspreading by transit authorities. The CAFE has argued that it is "physically painful for men to close their legs" and that campaigns against manspreading is comparable to "[forcing] women to stop breast feeding on busses or trains".[11]

If Wikipedia's not good enough, here's the source:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/12/28/manspreading_a_transit_controversy_with_legs.html

?It?s physically painful for men to close their legs and we cannot be expected to do so, and it?s also a biological necessity for us to do so,? the campaign states. ?We can?t force woman to stop breast feeding on busses (sic) or trains and we can?t force them to stop bringing strollers on, why should we force men to close their legs? This is sexism plain and simple and it cannot be passed.?

I'm not sure whether to laugh or headdesk.

This is a thing. whatisitidonteven.

Jeezy Chreezy. I'd be concerned for a guy who can't close his legs without pain, that doesn't sound right to me. And why do weird guys always have to bring up breastfeeding. Uuuugh.

 

[The Philistine]

If it's physically painful for a guy to keep his legs closed, his pants are way too tight. When the space is available, it is nice to get the bit of extra airflow.

 

[Rastrelly]

I rrad the terms like 'manspread', 'mansplaining' etc. and all I can think is '1984'. On topic - Tracer's butt was a more important topic then this. Man is able to spread legs so that they barely take any additional space.

 

[The Philistine]

I wear skinny jeans almost exclusively, I still never have that issue. I do wear the stretchy kind though.

I've worn regular jeans that, when not sitting right, can pinch and bite. Probably more of an issue for guys who don't take enough time to make sure a pair of pants fits right.

 

[s0denone]

Listen. The only men (In reality, likely "boys", rather than "men") who can sit with their knees together and not be wildly uncomfortable are either skinny as fuck, because they have no thighs or haven't had their balls drop yet.

This simply isn't true for an average sized, healthy man. If one is seriously uncomfortable solely from closing one's legs, that might actually be cause to see a doctor.

While my balls would hurt if I managed to somehow sit on them (though they aren't quite that long, yet) I'm sure that would be a massive issue. Just like I'm sure my balls would legitimately hurt if I sat with my knees together all the time. That wasn't the crux of my argument though. Because I have large thigh muscles from playing football(soccer) for 10 years and working out for 5, that means it is simply uncomfortable for me to sit like that. If I plop down in a seat with limited legroom, my knees will spread, because squeezing them together requires literal, constant effort, if my knees are bent at all. It is impossible for me to relax in any fashion, if I sit in such a position and is simply not enjoyable in the slightest. I don't go out of my way to take up space (and gladly give it up to the disabled, pregnant or elderly) but I also don't force myself to be excessively uncomfortable.

Don't think I count as anorexic, I'm reasonably thin certainly, 6'1" with a 30"-32" waist. My legs are together right now, cradled on top of where my thighs are pressed together, held in place by a rather nice pair of silk boxer briefs. They're quite cosy.

Fair enough. I think 30" is certainly pretty fucking lean at 6'1, but not anorexic. My evidence is anecdotal, as is yours. Besides responding the same as above, to Silvanus, I'll add that I don't really understand why this is a problem at all - as in even a little, legitimately.
I don't take up excessive space, but I sit in a way that makes me comfortable. Why is that an issue?

 

[MrFalconfly]

Depends on the circumstances (which means "Only when there's room" and "Only if there are not many people").

I'm a fairly tall guy, which means, If I decide to "relax my limbs" they're going to extend beyond the room which bus designers in Copenhagen think are enough for passengers (let's just say that they assumed Danes topped out at 1.80m which sucks if you're 1.94m).

Also, sometimes the distance between seats in the bus (front to back) basically means I have to spread my legs, to even fit into the seat (don't even get started with airplanes).

That said, if the bus is packed, and I'm on a seat which permits it, sure I'm going to sit with my legs together. However for me it's a juggle between using leg-space width-wise, or lengthwise.

 

[Gorrath]

Jeezy Chreezy. I'd be concerned for a guy who can't close his legs without pain, that doesn't sound right to me. And why do weird guys always have to bring up breastfeeding. Uuuugh.

I can close my legs without pain but like many men it can become uncomfortable over time, especially if the pants I'm wearing are binding. There is much to be said about the way men's hips are shaped it relates tho this but also the size of one's testicles. Getting them caught in some binding jeans can pinch like crazy, which is far more likely to happen if you're sitting with you legs closed. I believe the comparison to breastfeeding is simply a way of comparing how women's biology necessitates society to be generally accepting of some acts that may make people uncomfortable. Someone might be uncomfortable with a woman breastfeeding a child on a bus or tram 2 feet from them and someone might be uncomfortable with a guy sitting next to them with his legs spread.

OT: Manspreading is one of the biggest non-issues concocted by people with very little else to ***** about. While riding on packed public transportation requires everyone to make some sacrifice to their own personal comfort, manspreading is oft talked about like it is somehow unique or particularly offensive. I do think the issue made out of it is particularly sexist in intent and the shaming that's meant to come with it. That's not to say there aren't any men who are jerks about taking up space on public transit but fuck me it's no worse than a woman taking up a ton of space because she "can't" keep her enormous purse in her lap and it needs its own seat.

At the same time I don't expect a woman with 5 grocery bags to somehow keep them all in her lap either. Sure I may have to stand because she's carrying too much and needs some extra space so she isn't horribly uncomfortable on the 20 minute ride home. Nor should people be all up in arms just because some significant portion of dudes don't like having their most pressure sensative body part mashed under their thighs.

 

[Silvanus]

How would you know? Are you medical expert of some kind that has conducted research in this area? Did you survey a legitimate sample size of men? Do you have a control group?

My testicles are just fine. If I sit with my knees touching or close they will begin to hurt. I don't have to have a wide angle or anything. But there needs to be at least some space. Not more than my shoulders though. My shoulders are the real problem. I can almost spread over 45 degrees and still not hit my shoulder width.

But you're just going to have to deal with fact that a perfectly healthy pair of balls is going to hurt when enough pressure is applied. Even when the angle is slight they will still hurt over enough time. I don't know what the exact angle of no-pain is, but I'd wager it differs from person to person.

I would wager so, too, though I severely doubt anybody's testicles are so massive as to require more than a small gap. They are not that gigantic, unless there is some condition involved.

I've not carried out any kind of study, but do observe hundreds of men on a weekly basis on public transport, and the vast majority do not need to sit with their legs significantly far apart. Small gap, sure; obtuse angle, no.

If a sitting position which comes naturally to most causes one severe discomfort, then that's cause for concern. Testicles are not massive enough to require a wide angle.

It's worth noting, by the way, that s0denone was not arguing that it is necessary for some; he claimed it was a necessity for all, unless their "balls hadn't dropped". That's just absurdly, transparently false, as should be obvious from even cursory observation.

 

[s0denone]

It's worth noting, by the way, that s0denone was not arguing that it is necessary for some; he claimed it was a necessity for all, unless their "balls hadn't dropped". That's just absurdly, transparently false, as should be obvious from even cursory observation.

I refuse to believe it is preferrable to anyone to sit with their knees pressed together, if they have testicles or any kind of thighs. There is no way that can be preferrable. No way.

My primary focus was on the thighs, not the testes, but the point remains. Any big guy, muscular or fat, cannot sit like that without being wildly uncomfortable, while I suppose I can be inclined to believe a more "average" looking man can do so at less discomfort, while it still wouldn't be particularly awesome.

I suppose that makes this an issues of both "fat-" and "Fit shaming". Interesting, bud.

EDIT: I also think it is pretty hilarious that you talk as if testes are all the same size. You don't have to have testicular cancer to have big balls(within reason), friend.

 

[Gorrath]

How would you know? Are you medical expert of some kind that has conducted research in this area? Did you survey a legitimate sample size of men? Do you have a control group?

My testicles are just fine. If I sit with my knees touching or close they will begin to hurt. I don't have to have a wide angle or anything. But there needs to be at least some space. Not more than my shoulders though. My shoulders are the real problem. I can almost spread over 45 degrees and still not hit my shoulder width.

But you're just going to have to deal with fact that a perfectly healthy pair of balls is going to hurt when enough pressure is applied. Even when the angle is slight they will still hurt over enough time. I don't know what the exact angle of no-pain is, but I'd wager it differs from person to person.

I would wager so, too, though I severely doubt anybody's testicle are so massive as to require more than a small gap. They are not that gigantic, unless there is some condition involved.

I would guess that this issue of comfort has less to do with testicle size and more to do with the size and shape of a man's thighs. My thighs are particularly noteworthy in their girth due to sports, which means creating the necessary space to avoid uncomfortable pressure requires a greater angle for my knees to be open. I don't have to lug my testicles around in a wheelbarrow, but I do suspect I do quite a bit more manspreading than might be average, especially if I'm wearing suit trousers or jeans.