These are the problematic spreaders via[men taking up too much space on the train.](men taking up too much space on the train)
I sit spread as well. It’s just more comfortable.
I’m aware of my surroundings though, especially in places like a bus, or train. I’ll reel it in once it becomes standing room only for other passengers, but all you have to do is ask them kindly to “share the seat” and 90% of the time most will acquiesce.
If they didn’t hear you or ignore you then I get in their physical space and tap their thigh, shoulder and ask again … “share the seat.”
That usually works.
I see it all the time, but I just smile and lean over and ask politely if they can let me sit down by them. I never get a bad reaction, although sometimes I get a gruff “sure.”
I can’t sit comfortably with m y legs close together. There’s something in the way, and I can’t remove it.
My old classmate called it the “f**k, my balls are huge” posture.
I wouldn’t really notice it, except maybe on an airplane.
People also need to actually communicate with words, too: “Excuse me, is someone sitting in this seat?” is a politer but effective way of saying, “Move over, bucko.” And it works equally for the ladies in movie theaters who think that laying their coat and purse on the neighboring seat is allowable in a crowded cinema.
This is pretty much just the default natural male posture. If you have even average external genitalia, it’s pretty uncomfortable to “close your legs”- just speaking practically.
It’s not as disgusting in the US as it is in Scotland.
I’m skeptical. Plenty of men don’t sit with their legs spread. Do those men have undescended testicles and micropenises?
This is complete crap.
I’m not making any outlandish claims about the size of my genitals, but nor am l saying that they are small. They are, as far as I can tell, comfortably in the average range. I can sit perfectly comfortably with my legs together.
Sure, if there’s plenty of space it’s nice to spread out. But if you can’t adjust yourself so that your nuts aren’t crushed by your thighs, I suggest you see a doctor.
It’s enough of a thing, there’s a Tumblr just for it, Saving Room for Cats.
I used to ride these ridiculously overcrowded minivans around West Africa- usually 20 people per van (plus babies and assorted livestock), packed like sardines, in billion degree heat through slow, dusty roads. The rows were generally five across, so tightly packed people would switch off being the one who leans forward because there was no other way to fit everyone’s shoulders.
And I was always-- always-- next to some dude who felt like his need to air his genitals was far more important than the needs of the four-plus-people he was sharing a row with. At that level of crowdedness, it actually takes a solid, sustained effort to fight for that kind of real estate.
Last time I was on one of those situations, in Laos, everyone had to spread their legs… and mesh them like gear teeth with the people in the row in front, it would had been impossible to sit knee to knee in such crowded space, it was knee-thigh-knee-thigh-knee… I estimated about 40 people and their belongings on the back of a small truck bumping through dirt roads for three hours at 35C.
Good memories. 
I agree taking up two seats on a full train is a dick move, but from the tone of this lady’s article, I kind of get the impression she doesn’t like the “manspread” period.
To that I say, she cant heartily go fuck herself.
On the one hand: Yeah, sprawling out on a train is kind of annoying. Sacrifice a little comfort for your fellow passengers, guys.
On the other hand: The lady featured in the article has apparently devoted a significant part of her life to fighting against the terrible, heart-wrenching epidemic of . . . people who get too comfy on subways. Someone needs to get a life.
You don’t have a rush hour commute on the subway, do you? I have a 1.5 hour subway commute, and damned if I’m going to stand up for that because some dude feels like he gets an extra seat.
nm
Also in Japan, usually a grumpy-looking middle-aged man in a middle-manager suit. We foreigners used to call this position The Samurai. The look on his face usually dares anyone to say anything, or to attempt to sit in the 1/3 of a space that is left.
I’ve never seen three seats together on a BART train. I thought all the seats were in pairs. 