# On Manspreading **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945 "2015-10-08T18:01:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/41 "2015-10-09T05:17:10Z")
Well, for mansplaining, it’s because the people doing it were misogynists. It was deliberately a gendered insult as a way of getting back at them. It’s only recently been applied to other situations. Manspreading just sounds better than just “spreading.” Maybe legspreading would work. BTW, I do find it much more comfortable than holding my legs together. It’s just about relaxing certain muscles, not avoiding squishing what is in between. Though I do note that what’s in between them is different when sitting than when standing. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/42 "2015-10-09T05:30:35Z")
Do your nuts hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you sit without ‘em squishin’? For more space are you a wishin’? Do you throw 'em o’er your shoulder Like a continental soldier Do your nuts hang low? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/43 "2015-10-09T06:15:32Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > On the occasions I’m forced to sit next to one of these inconsiderate asswipes I tend to just firmly push their leg back into their space with my leg. I do this firstly because, as I said, I’m a man and can get away with it, unlike the passive-aggressive crap I’ve seen women who try this have to deal with. I also do this because the alternative is to give in to my first, very strong instinct, which is to stand up and powerfully drive my heel into the center of that open goal, and then stand over the pathetic dweeb curled into a fetal position shouting “HEY! I GUESS YOU **CAN** CLOSE YOUR LEGS AFTER ALL!” before giving the offender a few extra kicks for good measure. As I said, I haven’t done this. Yet. But it still could happen. Usually when I pointedly move towards sitting down in the space their leg occupies, people tend to move the offending limb out of the way. On the one occasion where the person strangely tried to stare me out I shamelessly ripped off David Niven and told him he was exposing his shortcomings. He very kindly got up and walked off muttering something, which I assume was polite thanks for me correcting his etiquette. As for the bags on seats thing, I see as many males doing it as females. Schoolkids seem particularly prone to it. As such referring to it as shebagging is rather inaccurate. I don’t think I’ve even seen a woman on public transport though sitting with her legs wide out, so manspread seems like a reasonable term. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/44 "2015-10-09T08:29:46Z")
The only public transportation I’ve used in recent years has been campus buses, where no one sits next to anyone else or makes eye contact. I doubt they even notice my massive bulge. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/45 "2015-10-09T09:22:07Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > As for the bags on seats thing, I see as many males doing it as females. Schoolkids seem particularly prone to it. As such referring to it as shebagging is rather inaccurate. I don’t think I’ve even seen a woman on public transport though sitting with her legs wide out, so manspread seems like a reasonable term. Exactly. Which is why **Tithonus** ’s desperate false equivalence is both pathetically obvious and obviously pathetic. So much anger against women, masking so much personal insecurity. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/46 "2015-10-09T12:43:10Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I see what you did there. what did I do there? > [@Scylla](#): > > I consider myself a feminist, but I have a problem with this concept. “Man spreading” seems to suggest that being inconsiderate of others’ space on public transport is a primarily male failing. it’s not “inconsideration.” It’s deliberate. It’s nothing more than douchebags being territorial. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/47 "2015-10-09T12:55:05Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Well, where I live, the subway (BART) has seats, and people do that shit all the time. Also, you’re absolutely right: you’re not entitled to ride at your desired level of comfort. So when you’re sitting there unnecessarily taking up room where I could be sitting, I’m not the dick for making you move your bitch-ass leg over, _you’re_ the dick for stretching out like that in the first place during commuter hours. How do you feel about reclining airline seats? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/48 "2015-10-09T12:57:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > In one of **LinusK** ’s interminable anti-women threads, another poster (whom I won’t name; you can look it up if you really want) cited the following as “feminist bullshit”: > Apart from the drooling idiocy of the logic there ("manspreading is okay because hur hur handbags), it’s also bullshit in itself. > > Cards on the table: I’m a man. I’m a man who frequently takes public transport and I do indeed see plenty of men - almost all relatively young - taking up not only their seat space but half a seat on either side of them for no fucking apparent reason other than to impress on a trainload of complete strangers how massive their junk is and how impossible it is for them to sit like a normal civilized human being. Strangely, I’ve never personally felt the overwhelming need to advertising my own virility thusly but here these people are, potentially overcompensating. > > On the occasions I’m forced to sit next to one of these inconsiderate asswipes I tend to just firmly push their leg back into their space with my leg. I do this firstly because, as I said, I’m a man and can get away with it, unlike the passive-aggressive crap I’ve seen women who try this have to deal with. I also do this because the alternative is to give in to my first, very strong instinct, which is to stand up and powerfully drive my heel into the center of that open goal, and then stand over the pathetic dweeb curled into a fetal position shouting “HEY! I GUESS YOU **CAN** CLOSE YOUR LEGS AFTER ALL!” before giving the offender a few extra kicks for good measure. As I said, I haven’t done this. Yet. But it still could happen. > > So if you happen to be a manspreader: please think twice. Because having your testicles crushed often offends. Empty cans rattle the loudest. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/49 "2015-10-09T13:00:24Z")
I’m a manspreader, but solely for the reason that I’m fat and my paunch makes it very difficult to sit with my legs together. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/50 "2015-10-09T13:34:52Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Similar is the term “mansplaining,” which is supposedly how men talk down to women in a condescending fashion. The truth is though that being a condescending ass is another one of those gender nonspecific failings. Case in point, I’m a bit of a condescending asshole at times. It’s a flaw of mine. However, I talk down to both women and pretty much equally. It’s not your gender, it’s more like if I feel I can get away with acting smug and superior. (Btw, I’m not proud of this, and I try not to do this, and sometimes catch myself and stop and apologize, but not always, like I said, it’s a failing.) I define mansplaining as “men explaining to women, women’s issues”. For example that gym thing recently. Women would come in saying why they might feel comfortable in a women only gym and gave examples and stuff and yet men kept coming in telling us how we were wrong. That is mansplaining to me. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/51 "2015-10-09T13:56:38Z")
I was sure someone would post a link to this [Esquire](http://s65.photobucket.com/user/pjcomix/media/news/clinton_manspread_zps158757dc.jpg.html)cover… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/52 "2015-10-09T13:57:20Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’m a manspreader, but solely for the reason that I’m fat and my paunch makes it very difficult to sit with my legs together. That’s not quite the same thing - you’re not doing it for no good reason. It does seem to be a recent phenomenon; I don’t remember it being so prevalent even a decade ago. Kids today, get off my lawn, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/53 "2015-10-09T13:58:41Z")
This issue is so stupid in my opinion. If there is room to spread out and no one is put off by it, spread out. If it’s crowded, don’t do it. Just don’t be an asshole and there won’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/54 "2015-10-09T14:02:16Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I define mansplaining as “men explaining to women, women’s issues”. For example that gym thing recently. Women would come in saying why they might feel comfortable in a women only gym and gave examples and stuff and yet men kept coming in telling us how we were wrong. That is mansplaining to me. [Whitemansplaining](http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-08-05-1438740986-1504197-ClevelandRedface.png). ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/55 "2015-10-09T14:16:54Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I define mansplaining as “men explaining to women, women’s issues”. For example that gym thing recently. Women would come in saying why they might feel comfortable in a women only gym and gave examples and stuff and yet men kept coming in telling us how we were wrong. That is mansplaining to me. Strikes me everyone was busy agreeing in one of your threads that you don’t have to be a parent to understand and sympathize with parental issues, and I thought the points well-made. Presumably, you also don’t have to be a parent yourself to have an opinion on things like the problems parents face in everyday life, and whether they are as serious as other problems non-parents face. So why is it impossible, irrational, wrong or impolite for a man to have an opinion on issues that women face? Both are examples of walking in someone elses’ shoes, attempting to see things from their perspective, and can be done well or badly depending on the individual. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/56 "2015-10-09T14:23:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I think those girls are jerks, and I am a feminist. Does that make it better? > > I also see men putting their briefcases on the seat next to them. I think this is also jerkish. I think then my question is why anyone needed to pretend this phenomenon is uniquely male and therefore merited being named as it is was, or why the LinusKs of the world want to turn it into a “women are worse” argument. Some people - not many people, but some - take up too much room on public transit. That’s a fact. Why does it have to be made into some kind of political debate? Why create new gender-specific words for it? I think maybe it’s not so much a battle of the sexes thing as it is the Internet phenomenon of creating new words and terms of art for common things in an effort to make them seem new. Recently a fun one is “ghosting,” the phenomenon by which someone who doesn’t want to see you romantically anymore just doesn’t return your calls and texts. To read some articles on this wholly unnecessary new term you’d think this was both a new phenomenon and the worst thing since the Killing Fields. In fact it’s just, you know, s/he isn’t that into you, a phenomenon as old as the human race itself. But it sounds cooler if you invent a word for it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/57 "2015-10-09T14:33:58Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Strikes me everyone was busy agreeing in one of your threads that you don’t have to be a parent to understand and sympathize with parental issues, and I thought the points well-made. > > Presumably, you also don’t have to be a parent yourself to have an opinion on things like the problems parents face in everyday life, and whether they are as serious as other problems non-parents face. So why is it impossible, irrational, wrong or impolite for a man to have an opinion on issues that women face? > > Both are examples of walking in someone elses’ shoes, attempting to see things from their perspective, and can be done well or badly depending on the individual. That is not at all what I said. Is it? If it is, then I apologize for being unclear. Look. Men can certainly have an opinion on what women’s issues. But I definitely think it’s mainsplaining to come in and tell us that our opinions are wrong…that clearly we are not seeing it in the way we should. If I tell you someone sexually harassed me and you say, “No, that wasn’t sexually harassing, that was simply him being nice to you,” That is mainsplaining. **Gyrate** , that picture made me cringe. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/58 "2015-10-09T14:43:40Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > That is not at all what I said. Is it? If it is, then I apologize for being unclear. > > Look. Men can certainly have an opinion on what women’s issues. But I definitely think it’s mainsplaining to come in and tell us that our opinions are wrong…that clearly we are not seeing it in the way we should. > > If I tell you someone sexually harassed me and you say, “No, that wasn’t sexually harassing, that was simply him being nice to you,” That is mainsplaining. > > **Gyrate** , that picture made me cringe. I’m not sure what putting the label “mansplaining” on something means. Does it mean the opinion is invalid, because a man cannot know what sexual harrassment really is? Is it offensive? Could, say, a male jury member rule on the matter, if you charged the guy with an offence? Does the same work for a non-parent stating that a parent is wrong about a childrearing issue? If a non-parent says “no, from your discription of that incident, it sounds like you aren’t appropriately disciplining your child”, is that invalid/offensive “childfreesplaining”? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/59 "2015-10-09T14:46:03Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I’m not sure what putting the label “mansplaining” on something means. Does it mean the opinion is invalid, because a man cannot know what sexual harrassment really is? Is it offensive? Could, say, a male jury member rule on the matter, if you charged the guy with an offence? Do you have similar analytical difficulty with, say, the label “whining?” It’s a label that means a certain thing is happening. When somebody says the label describes particular behavior, they mean that the behavior fits that description. It doesn’t mean some bullshit about a jury. It means somebody’s fucking whining. What’s confusing about that? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945/60 "2015-10-09T14:55:33Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I’m not sure what putting the label “mansplaining” on something means. Does it mean the opinion is invalid, because a man cannot know what sexual harrassment really is? Is it offensive? Could, say, a male jury member rule on the matter, if you charged the guy with an offence? Are you purposefully not reading my posts? I don’t think I want to keep on explaining over and over again. This kind of argument is what makes this board suck, quite frankly. You try to say something, and you explain it, and you explain it, but people frankly refuse to listen and understand but continue to demand you explain yourself!!! I respectfully bow out of this game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-manspreading/733945.md?page=4)