Poll: Do You Manspread

[Wrex Brogan]

...What if you're big, fat, have a generous helping of testicles and can still sit comfortably in a chair without flopping your legs out?

Just sayin', anecdotes are all well and good until we try to make arguments from 'em. Because then some fat, large-balled fuck (i.e. me) will come butting in going 'Your argument doesn't fit my personal experience!' and ruin everything with his ability to not knee other passengers and try to pass it off as 'I need the space for comfort'.

I don't believe you or we have very different standards of what "manspreading" is.

...it's true, I have enormous testicles. Both a curse and a blessing, some would say.

But no, the standard of 'manspreading' I'm working with here is 'stretching your legs out to the point it intrudes on other peoples space, using flimsy justifications like testicles to be a dickhead', which is, as stated, a dickheaded thing to do. It's being a prick in a very specifically gendered way (hence the testicles), why it's called 'manspreading'.

Public transport is uncomfortable for everyone. Don't be an asshole and make it more uncomfortable for other people because you never learned to not sit on your balls.

 

[chadachada123]

As many other posters have mentioned, the question is vague to the point of being nearly useless.

Do I spread my knees to a comfortable angle on the bus? Yeah, when there's room. Do I bring them a couple of inches closer together if the bus becomes packed? Yeah, I do that, too, but my knees will still be spread out several inches, as any closer will become uncomfortable if not painful after a few minutes. It's not enough to actually get in anyone's way, but could be enough for some dickhead to claim that I'm "exerting my dominance" or some such absurdity. While there have been several female (and even male) posters that try to contend that not being able to fully close the knees without discomfort is somehow unusual, it's really not for anyone with decent thigh muscles.

Female posters, perhaps try grabbing a couple of grapes, putting them in a plastic bag 1/3 filled with water, and trying to sit down while holding it in the appropriate location. You should be able to see how having a dangling sack of sensitivity can be precarious.

 

[Something Amyss]

???? None of this is remotely relevant to the question I was asking until the very end.

You directed me to a misleading picture. I addressed that.

 

[Metalix Knightmare]

No. It'd just seem like... what are you going to do? Snap your fingers and point to your groin?

HI DID YOU NOTICE MY GROIN? LOOK! I HAVE OPENED MY LEGS SO YOU MAY ADMIRE MY MAJESTY!

It's not like I nail my knees together, but really, come on. Have some modesty.

Question, what is your gender? Legit question here, because if you're not a dude it's not so much showin off the junk as much as it is just being more comfortable. The berries tend to get cramped when you don't sit spread out.

Doubly so if you're a fat guy like myself.

 

[NiPah]

???? None of this is remotely relevant to the question I was asking until the very end.

You directed me to a misleading picture. I addressed that.

How's the image misleading then? He asked if the image was an example of manspreading and you didn't address the image but simply offered some background information and your own theory on the thought process of the individual in the image.

I'm guessing s0denone was curious if you thought the individual in the first image was manspreading.

 

[WeepingAngels]

We should be protesting the word manspreading. It's a man hating, made up word and if we can all agree that women take up extra space with purses too then we shouldn't be using the word manspreading.

 

[Nemmerle]

No. It'd just seem like... what are you going to do? Snap your fingers and point to your groin?

HI DID YOU NOTICE MY GROIN? LOOK! I HAVE OPENED MY LEGS SO YOU MAY ADMIRE MY MAJESTY!

It's not like I nail my knees together, but really, come on. Have some modesty.

Question, what is your gender? Legit question here, because if you're not a dude it's not so much showin off the junk as much as it is just being more comfortable. The berries tend to get cramped when you don't sit spread out.

Doubly so if you're a fat guy like myself.

I'm male.

I mean... manspreading is to my mind spreading out like you could draw a fairly large angle inbetween. Making a blatant exhibition of the thing. As long as it's not much wider than your shoulders that's just... how your legs naturally hang off your torso.

 

[THM]

Only in the days I don't mansplain. The Patriarchy High Command forbids doing both in the same day, lest the conspiracy is exposed, our lords deposed and our exclusive priveleges rescinded. But y'all already knew that.

All hail the glorious Patriarchy! May it continue to rule the world, even as the Tumblrists gnash their teeth and wail!

OT: Ugh; I originally voted 'only if there aren't many people', but on second thought, no - I don't, because I refuse to acknowledge or respect this moronic idea. Also, I'm a man and I don't hate myself.

We should be protesting the word manspreading. It's a man hating, made up word and if we can all agree that women take up extra space with purses too then we shouldn't be using the word manspreading.

I agree wholeheartedly. This PC bullshit is getting to insane levels. Doesn't matter what sex you are, people can be inconsiderate. Full stop.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I'm late to this topic, but I thought I'd weigh in anyway.

1. The provocatively named "man-spreading" is obviously the complete opposite of a hot button issue. It's an annoying social irritant with a moderate gender bent to it that generally manifests itself as one of the 5,000 ways people are unnecessarily rude on transit. It is not a boiling front on the gender war, despite how some of the gentlemen posting in this thread are treating it.

2. I'm a tall guy with long legs, so I will occasionally spread them farther than shoulder width if it prevents me crushing them into the seat ahead of me. Pressing my knees into a metal seat-back is extremely uncomfortable. That said, if someone is sitting beside me, I will crush those knees in there (usually by using something to cushion them if possible). I'm fantastically anal-retentive about my personal space, so I both understand the complaints about "man-spreading" and rather fussily avoid having my own legs pressing into anyone.

3. As a male with an ordinarily sized set of genitalia, I can confirm that I can press my legs as tightly together as I can without "crushing" anything. It's not the most comfortable position in the world, but then neither is smooshing into some stranger because "mah balls just gots to be free". I will not discount the possibility that there exists a man with such extraordinarily large balls that he cannot comfortably bring his legs to shoulder width, but such a medical enormity is probably indication of a severe health problem that should be dealt with immediately.

4. As someone who rides transit every day, with very few exceptions guys are definitively the worse seat partners, to the extent that I frantically seek out a solo seat and often won't even get on the fucking train if one isn't available, choosing to wait for the next one. "Man-spreading" does occur, but usually it's lack of elbow/arm control that gets me. Yes, bus stranger, I LOVE that you've decided to read the paper and your fucking elbow is jutting into my chest so you can hold it nice and wide. Keep doing that. It's DELIGHTFUL.

5. Lest anyone think I'm just picking on guys, worst female passenger I've ever rode near was a lady who liked to take her shoes off and rub an extremely vile smelling cream on her feet for 30 minutes. I've gone to the far end of the train to avoid her.

 

[ZeD [taken 0]]

Is there some sort of minimum angle your legs must have to be classifies as a manspreader?
I like to have some spread because it's comfortable, and sometimes I lean my elbows on my thighs.

I never encroach on other people's spaces (unless they're really small, and shove their legs together, giving me more room).
But from what I've read, it's not just the knee invasion that's an "issue", but just exposing your covered crotch.

Egh, this just seems like one of the pettiest social "issues" I've seen brought up.

 

[mysecondlife]

Maybe? I get fidgity when I sit for a long time. I'd cross one of my legs over the other, extend to stretch my legs. I might even do manspreading without noticing.

 

[Silvanus]

Another thing I find quite odd about the notion that a wide angle is necessary to prevent balls getting crushed; whenever we walk, our legs are pretty close together. Am I to believe that those using the above argument also walk with the same angle? With the legs far apart?

 

[s0denone]

Another thing I find quite odd about the notion that a wide angle is necessary to prevent balls getting crushed; whenever we walk, our legs are pretty close together. Am I to believe that those using the above argument also walk with the same angle? With the legs far apart?

Are you suggesting that thighs have the same width when theyre being squashed on a seat as when your walking?

 

[Silvanus]

Are you suggesting that thighs have the same width when theyre being squashed on a seat as when your walking?

Nope; I'm suggesting that the legs are very frequently close together when one is walking, and are frequently closer together than they would be when sitting with only a minor gap.

 

[s0denone]

Nope; I'm suggesting that the legs are very frequently close together when one is walking, and are frequently closer together than they would be when sitting with only a minor gap.

I think it is very interesting how you are so hellbent on "proving" that people who say are uncomfortable sitting with their legs together, as men, are lying.

I honestly don't know what to tell you. I am not an ass taking up unnessecary space, but I do sit with my legs slightly spread. I do it because if I don't, it is uncomfortable. That is not a lie. I have runs four times a week for training and do not have testicular cancer. Sitting with my knees together is still not something I can do and be fine.

People are different. Why does your experience invalidate mine?

 

[The Almighty Aardvark]

I'm sorry, but yeah, it's a gendered thing. Just like it's more common for men to belch and fart in public (If you're going to disagree with me on this then I don't really know where to go from here) it's more common for men to man-spread. I've seen countless guys do it in my transit experiences, and never once seen a woman do it. Women tend to get it beat into their head a lot harder that they must be polite, considerate and unimposing. There's an expectation for them to do that. There's not nearly the same expectation for guys.

I don't do it myself, but I clearly have massively undersized testicles if it's supposed to be a physical necessity.

 

[Silvanus]

I think it is very interesting how you are so hellbent on "proving" that people who say are uncomfortable sitting with their legs together, as men, are lying.

I'm not sure why there are quote marks around "proving". Who're you quoting?

I honestly don't know what to tell you. I am not an ass taking up unnessecary space, but I do sit with my legs slightly spread. I do it because if I don't, it is uncomfortable. That is not a lie. I have runs four times a week for training and do not have testicular cancer. Sitting with my knees together is still not something I can do and be fine.

Righto. You'll notice I'm not arguing people shouldn't leave a "slight" gap, which most people do.

People are different. Why does your experience invalidate mine?

This is the height of hypocrisy, coming after you claimed that "the only 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 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.937092-Poll-Do-You-Manspread?page=2#23608718]".

You generalised your experience to all men, and said quite explicitly that nobody experiences it differently unless they're "a boy, not a man". You said that. What mindblowing hypocrisy to say with a straight face that I'm the one invalidating the experiences of others.

 

[s0denone]

I'm not sure why there are quote marks around "proving". Who're you quoting?

I'm quoting you. I am using quotationmarks because such proof is impossible, yet you're still trying your best.

Righto. You'll notice I'm not arguing people shouldn't leave a "slight" gap, which most people do.

Okay, so will you claim to know the definition of "manspreading"? A short google search gives me everything from the exaggerated and rude to something that looks very normal to me.

This is the height of hypocrisy, coming after you claimed that "the only 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 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.937092-Poll-Do-You-Manspread?page=2#23608718]".

You generalised your experience to all men, and said quite explicitly that nobody experiences it differently unless they're "a boy, not a man". You said that. What mindblowing hypocrisy to say with a straight face that I'm the one invalidating the experiences of others.

I conceded later(EDIT: I should add you replied to this concession, so you are well aware of that, making you rather disingenuous), that it might well be the case for the average, but still remain rather steadfast that the fat or the fit (i.e. men with big thighs) cannot be comfortable in such a position.
I might be wrong, maybe there are outliers with big thighs who can sit comfortably with their legs together. I don't know any men that sit like that unless they absolutely have to; in fact I don't know if I've ever seen it.

What do you think? Am I still a hypocrit? Does me being a hypocrit give you carte blanche to invalidate my experience, and the experience of ALL of the other men replying in this very thread, saying sitting like that makes them uncomfortable? Is this some kind of conspiracy that we all coordinated? "Hey guys, you have to go and lie in this thread real quick"?