Long time reader here. I’ve notice something happens when I’m put in a situation with a strange man. He does something I refer to as “eagling”. He will sit his legs spread eagle. So much so that he invades my space his legs. :dubious: Naturally, our legs will brush together. When this happens, the man gets really I suppose offended. He wiggles like a worm or something crawled up his butt. I really don’t know why. Most of the men I incounter are straight looking. (I notice gay men don’t tend to sit in this fashion!) I’m not smelly, ugly, or fact. What gives? Anyone else encountered an eagle? Or just moi?
Next time, don’t take up my space. :mad:
Men spreading their legs while sitting is supposed to be a dominance display according to body language experts. Perhaps you’re ticking him off for not letting him take up as much room as he wants to. Or you were supposed to notice his displayed crotch and didn’t.
Maybe it is a dominance thing, but dominate your own space. Seriously, it’s getting to the point of the next time a man does this I’m going to MY dominance by stomping on their foot.
I just had a guy do this to me at the Flyers game earlier today. It was like, man, you are acting like you paid for half of my seat, but it’s small enough as it is and you can’t have any of it.
Fortunately, being a pretty big guy myself as well as capable of passive-aggression when called for, I pushed his knee over until I was taking up his space, held it there for a minute, and then went back to normal. He learned. 
He was using his wide stance to test you out. You obviously failed.
I am in favor of tactical passive aggression when confronted with anti-social behavior. You’d be amazed the effect one well-placed knuckle can have upon the back of a miscreant subway pole-leaner.
Since I wasn’t the one who smelled like stale cigarettes and day-old Bud Light, I don’t think I can be said to be the one who failed, but that’s neither here nor there.
Welcome to this public message board.
Thanks for the unhelpful answer that I replied to an equally assine manner to. :dubious:
YaraMateo, welcome to the message board.
I wouldn’t normally mention a poster’s spelling or grammar, either as a moderator or an ordinary participant, but the language of your posts is such that your intent borders on being unclear.
Moreover, keep in mind that we have rules here, of which one of the most important is not to insult other posters (except in the BBQ Pit). I strongly advise you to review the rules for posting and the Registration Agreement.
Thanks for the welcome and the advice.
I’ve often thought of this sitting “posture” to be one of some sort of attempt at dominance. (I’m female.) I see it a lot since I use public transportation every day. It’s kind of like, “I have to sit this way, my junk is so big.” Like showing off to make himself seem more manly. Unfortunately, being female, just brushing up against his leg in an attempt to re-take my space seems to not be all that unwelcome, and may even bring the wrong message. Instead, I have taken to uncovered-mouth coughing, with an “involuntary” kicking spasm, which makes the guy move and not mistake my “touch” as suggestive. I have found this to be very effective, and sometimes hilarious.
I’m not necessarily sure it’s limited to males, although the dominance intent may be more male-specific. Certainly (especially in lecture halls and public transit) there are a not insignificant number of times it’s happened that a woman has been in my space in that manner (not as often as men, admittedly).
I often find that when it’s a woman, it’s because they’re trying to turn to talk to someone in another row that causes them to ignore my personal space. Men just seem to want to sprawl around like big dumb dogs. And as much as I hesitate to say it, there are not infrequent people of both genders who are simply too big to fit in a single bus or stadium seat.