New York Subway Officials To Shame People Sitting With Their Legs Spread - "man spreading"

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://mentakingup2muchspaceonthetrain.tumblr.com/
Link above has pics of man spreading galore
og


http://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/legs-wide-shut?s=mobile
The campaign, in part, will target man spreaders: people who spread their legs wide open, even on crowded trains, MTA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz told BuzzFeed New

The campaign, in part, will target man spreaders: people who spread their legs wide open, even on crowded trains, MTA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz told BuzzFeed News


It’s a crowded train, and you’re packed in between two “man spreaders” with their knees miles apart.

Not the most comfortable feeling in the world.

The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will soon take action against the seat-hogging people of the subway system, according to reports from AM New York.

In January, the MTA will unveil an entirely new public service campaign aimed at preserving space on its already packed trains.

http://elitedaily.com/humor/mta-psa-against-man-spreaders-subway-photos/854416/
That means leg-spreaders, backpack wearers and people who place grocery bags on the seat.

[joeglow3]

1. People want dense living and fewer cars

But then whine when people perform everyday tasks and need more space than their body on a train.

Screw that. I'll keep my car.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. close ur legs buddy

[joeglow3]

6. Fortunately, I don't need to

No one policing how I sit in my car.

[daleo]

18. The distance between brake and accelerator effectively controls this.

[Fumesucker]

19. Some of us learned to drive on a stick and only use one foot for both brake and accelerator

The left foot is for the clutch pedal.

[ManiacJoe]

25. That would be the only correct way, regardless of the number of pedals.

> ... only use one foot for both brake and accelerator

[Go Vols]

78. +1

[daleo]

207. You're right

I don't know what I was thinking.

[Codeine]

44. Unless you're driving a race car

you shouldn't be two-footing it.

[NutmegYankee]

54. Or driving a stick shift...

[Codeine]

55. I meant gas and brake two-footing

but yeah, you're right.

[Feral Child]

151. "Heel & Toe"-ing.

Since you know the technique, you know the term. You just forgot.

[arely staircase]

160. race car drivers break with their right feet?

I didn't know that.

[Odin2005]

168. You just failed Driver's Ed.

Using one foot for the gas and one for the break is a big no-no...

[yeoman6987]

131. One of many reasons I will not ride a bus or subwar

Driving my car is more comfortable and does not have dumb rules.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

92. Who are these "people"?

I have never met one who wasn't a freshly graduated urban planner under the age of 25.

[joeglow3]

94. Fair enough.

[CreekDog]

148. Actually you wouldn't be keeping your car

If everyone decided to keep their cars and drive them instead of using the subway, nobody in a car in NYC would be using their car to get anywhere, because they wouldn't be getting anywhere in their car.

There's not enough room for everyone to use their cars.

This isn't rocket science, jeez.

You really think everyone in NYC could use their cars without traffic becoming many times worse than it already is?

Sounds like you haven't thought this through, much like others in this thread who think that individuals in their own cars is the solution to subway overcrowding.

[joeglow3]

149. So maybe NY is too dense and we need to encourage people to spread out

[CreekDog]

150. New York City doesn't need to conform to your needs

what purpose would that serve?

[joeglow3]

165. But people are demanding that others conform to their WANTS

That is what this whole thread is about. If those people want to live in a city as dense as New York City, they should quit bitching about how people sit in subway cars.

[CreekDog]

169. Please read the story before you explain things...

The city that runs the subway system needs people to not take up multiple seats --that's all.

It's no different than having rules that prevent you from taking up two parking spots with your car.

[ieoeja]

171. If people want to live in a place with cars, they should stop bitching about how people park ...

their cars.

[joeglow3]

179. Show me the thread wih people whining about that.

[ieoeja]

170. I suppose if my Dad wanted to live on a farm, he should have quit bitching about people dumping ...

... trash on his property?

I don't think so. I will continue bitching about people who dump trash on my farm, walk four abreast down the sidewalk leaving no room for others to walk by, etc.

I reserve the right to call an asshole an "asshole".

[joeglow3]

180. You don't see the difference between...

...someone illegally dumping and someone not sitting with their legs at the appropriate angle?

[ieoeja]

182. Yes, I see a difference. But I also see three assholes. n/t

[joeglow3]

184. I am starting stretches. My goal is to sit with my legs at 180 degrees

[Archae]

2. Have these dumb shits ever rode on their own trains and buses?

On a long train or bus ride, (the bus out to the south side shopping center is an hour long, here in Sheboygan,) keeping the knees together or crossed the "narrow" way, gets very uncomfortable after a while.

We spread the knees apart since our legs are falling asleep!

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. so other people should just stand?

[Archae]

7. If they have to, yes.

I have.

A number of times, especially if I got on the bus when school let out.

[joeglow3]

9. Increase public transportation.

Sounds like there isn't enough. Pretty soon, they will cram us like the airlines.

[Jesus Malverde]

38. That and some express buses that have limited stops...nt

[brooklynite]

40. It's so cute listening to people who aren't from NYC prescribe improvements...

We're running about as many trains as we can squeeze on the tracks. Our ridership is as high as it was in WW2.

[joeglow3]

56. Then it sounds like public transportation may not be the answer

You are claiming it is maxed out and can't be expanded. How can we encourage such dense living when you are saying it is impossible to accommodate it?

[VanillaRhapsody]

93. well perhaps some could close their damn legs....

[joeglow3]

95. Spoken like a republican.

[VanillaRhapsody]

134. says the left leaning Independent

I guess you would know

[joeglow3]

141. It was a joke...lighten up

Go back and read what I was responding to. Not everything needs to be a confrontation.

[VanillaRhapsody]

147. likewise

Physician heal thyself

[markpkessinger]

202. So now people are labeled 'Republicans' for not being inconsiderate assholes? n/t

[joeglow3]

206. Wow. Do you always try to find insults where there are none?

First of all, it was a play on the "close your legs" arguments the right makes.

Second of all, down below the biology of this is explained. Why is it up to men to be uncomfortable and if it is the women who are uncomfortable, the men are assholes? Pretty damn convenient to consider everything that makes YOU comfortable right.

[snooper2]

120. Everyone should just stand...Just have straps to hold on to...

people are lazy and getting fat-

GET YOUR ASS UP!

[Boudica the Lyoness]

12. I'm just imagining me - a woman - doing that

for a 10 hour trans-Atlantic flight. Or sitting next someone doing that for 10 hours. Someone would end up dead I think lol.

[Skittles]

15. and what exactly do us gals do?

[elehhhhna]

60. im a woman and 6'2". I fold up like a praying mantis

On planes and public transportation. I could block one seat on either side easily if I sat like that (freakishly long legs, still very flexible.) I don't bc only an asshat would do that.

[Liberal_in_LA]

67. "like a praying mantis" lol

[Skittles]

73. classic case of male entitlement, elehhhhna

yes indeed

[ProfessorGAC]

113. You're A Foot Taller Than My Wife!

I've only met a few women over 6'. My wife sure isn't one of them. That's 5 inches taller than me. I can understand how you would find public transportation uncomfortable.

[elehhhhna]

122. Im a foot taller than everybodys wife!

Btw I love your posts here.

We of dutch extraction are the tallest people on earth. Tied with the Tutsi in the 1970s but not after the slaughter in Rwanda.

[ProfessorGAC]

123. Cool! I learned Something New

I did not know that at all. Now i have one more nugget for playing jeopardy. Just another one of the millions of mostly useless things rattling around up here.

[MillennialDem]

203. I'm also 6'2 and I'm not sure how you fold up on planes

I plain do not fit in an economy class seat. I *have* to womanspread or lean into the aisle if I'm unable to get an emergency exit or bulkhead seat. My knees are jammed into the seat in front of me unless I sit like that.

Though I think I may have particularly long thighs even for me height compared to my calves and upper body.

[Luminous Animal]

28. Funny. Women sit like this all the time. Keep your legs within the borders of your seat and keep

them out of the borders of my seat. You don't think MY legs might be falling asleep, too?

[Luminous Animal]

31. And the person next to you? Their legs are not falling asleep?

[pnwmom]

33. And yet many men and women don't have this problem.

No one is saying you have to sit with your legs pressed together. But there's a happy medium and it's not manspreading.

[LiberalElite]

45. They're not falling asleep from the moment

you sit down, pal.

[yeoman6987]

133. I drove 14 hours because I can't stand the way

Public transportation stuffs us all in. We complain about animals not having room when they do the exact same to humans. They will never end car driving if they continue doing this.

[donheld]

5. Is the problem having long legs.

I just wonder if short men do this? With long legs it must be a chore knowing what to do with those long legs.

[Archae]

8. Tell me about it.

I'm 6 feet tall and long-legged.

[Luminous Animal]

29. My husband is 6' 4" and my daughter is 6'2". Both long legged. Neither one of them would spread

their legs to encroach upon anothers space.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Sorry, but the discomfort of being tall ain't got

nothing on the discomfort of being arthritic.

[woolldog]

17. The problem is having large, external genitalia.

Some of us can't keep our legs closed tight together comfortably. ahem.

[Warpy]

26. Nobody's balls are that big.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/nyregion/a-scourge-is-spreading-mtas-cure-dude-close-your-legs.html?_r=0

Dear Subway Riders, Your Balls Are not That Big: http://animalnewyork.com/2014/dear-subway-riders-balls-big/

Page after page after page of inconsiderate oafs trying to keep their legs in a split position to take up as much room as possible so no one will sit next to them.

Shame on the lot of them. One of these days, people are going to start taking advantage of the clear shot to the groin on these clods.

[woolldog]

43. Unless you have balls,

you won't understand. Stop being gender centric. Men aren't women and cannot comfortably sit the same as women.

Get over because it's not going to change. Men have been sitting that way for millions of years.

[Warpy]

48. Nobody expects men to clamp their thighs together

but did you see those pictures?

Get over it, cowboy. They aint that big and never will be and they're presenting a perfect target to somebody with an aching back and sore feet who wants to sit down.

It will happen. That's a promise, not a threat.

[woolldog]

52. No it won't happen.

You and I both know that's an empty threat. The only thing that's going to happen is at best an attempt to guilt trip people into doing what you want them to do. When that doesn't work those offended will just sit there and take it and fume on the inside.

And in case it does they'll go to jail for assault. And whoever is assaulted will be justified in defending themselves. Can't believe you would condone that type of violence because someone isn't sitting the way you'd prefer them to sit. Step back, take a breath of fresh air and get some perspective.

[Orrex]

57. It's nice when DU endorses a policy of assault

Problem: Person is behaving inconsiderately
Solution: Assault him

Noted for future information and practice.

[Warpy]

58. Who endorsed a policy of assault?

A prediction is not a policy.

It's going to happen if it hasn't already.

[Orrex]

59. Then you're issuing a promise of action on someone else's behalf?

Making a prediction is one thing. Making a promise is very different, since it requires agency to do so. And when we're speaking of assault, "promising" that it will happen is an interesting statement of certainty, akin to announcing that "he's asking for it."

Since you agreed with Treasonous Bastard that you "see a target," I think it's not unreasonable to infer hostile intent.


If a man looked at a spread-legged woman and said "I see a target," would you interpret that as a statement of concern that someone else might have unsavory action in mind?

[elehhhhna]

61. bullshit. men make it through 4hour biz meetings

Without doing that. Fail. You fail.

[Orrex]

66. Do men typically sit with their knees pressed together at such biz meetings?

Maybe they do. I don't get invited to a lot of them, so I don't know.

If they're seated at a table, I would imagine that they move their legs quite a bit, for reasons ball-related and otherwise.


That doesn't excuse the oafishness of spreading one's knees from one side of the bus to the other, but I'm not sure that one's posture in the meeting room will give us much insight, either.

[woolldog]

70. Again, men have been sitting this way for millenia

It's not just this generation of men that randomly started sitting with legs spread out. There's a reason for it, even if you don't want to understand that. A picture from prehistoric times proving my point:

[elehhhhna]

72. lmao. they squatted before chairs came to fashion, should stick with that.

[Skittles]

74. hilarious when men admit they have never evolved

[Gormy Cuss]

97. and yet, the wide stancers on the subway tend to be under 30 year old males.

Older men tend to hold their legs only slightly apart. I guess only young men need to hold their legs as wide apart as they can on the subway.

[woolldog]

100. Do you have any proof of that, other than just saying it?

[Gormy Cuss]

117. Thirty years of riding subways.

And for clarity, it's only a small subset of men who ride with a wide stance, even among the younger men.

eta: look at the man sitting on the left side of the second picture in the OP. He's managed to sit himself down with his legs in front of him.

[notadmblnd]

85. Actually, they sit in chairs at the office, just like that too.

Behind their desks, at conference tables and in their cubes. However, as a woman I have found that most men automatically straighten up when they see the seat next to them is needed. And on the occasion they don't notice, I've only had to politely request it.

[digonswine]

88. You are correct--

No man needs excess space due to needing more ball-room. The suggestion is laughable and I don't get why any sensible person would suggest men need more room down there. They don't.
If they move their legs during a 4 hr meeting, I promise--it has NOTHING to do with nuts and everything to do with joints.
Cripes-what load of BS.

[JonLP24]

75. I can do this with no problem

People spreading their legs into my personal space bug the hell out of me. I don't do it myself, only an inconsiderate jackass would do it.

[woolldog]

77. That's great Jon.

Some of us are working with more than you though.

[ieoeja]

178. So Jon's a gorilla, and you're a howler monkey?

Female gorillas mate solely with the band leader. The chance of a male reproducing is determined by his success at becoming a band leader. Once that success is achieved, semen volume is of little concern as there is no competition.

Female howler monkeys mate with every male member of the troop. Reproduction is dependent on luck rather than skill. Semen volume is pretty much all they have going for them to swing the scales in their favor.

As such, gorilla's have evolved with small testicles. Howler monkey's testicles drag the ground. So when a man talks about his "big balls" he is effectively saying that he comes from a long line of friendly women and men who got lucky.

Nothing wrong with that. I like friendly women. Viva la sympa femmes!

[digonswine]

82. Bullshit

Any guy can sit comfortably in any position a woman does--mostly.

Legs forward-fine. Legs crossed man-style--fine. Legs crossed female-style--all good.

Unless your balls are sore from overuse or a nut-stomping competition, your post is BS

Spread-eagle is not required for comfort--what a load.

[steve2470]

162. "nut-stomping competition" LOL

That made me guffaw! Thanks for the laugh, I needed it!

[digonswine]

163. Thanks-enjoy the holidays!

[digonswine]

86. You are wrong-period

Your huge balls aside--you clearly are sitting wrong. You are making dudes look stupid--like we need extra leg-room.
Take an anatomy class or something so you can stop making silly assertions here.

[woolldog]

90. Sitting wrong?

Sitting wrong? Seriously?

As if there is a "right" way to sit. I sit the way that is comfortable to me. If you don't like the way I'm sitting too bad. Tell me the next time you see me on the subway.

If I sit with my legs close together the way women do, my balls will start to ache. Most men, do not sit close legged for any length of time, yes even, astonishingly, in four hour business meetings. It's not comfortable because our genitals are external.

This "campaign" will have about the same success as a campaign encouraging women to stand up while peeing.

[smirkymonkey]

108. Really? I am in business meetings with men all the time,

often for hours, and none of them sit there with their legs splayed open.

Why are these men able to endure a few hours of sitting in a way that doesn't infringe on the personal space of others, yet certain other men can't endure 15 minutes on public transportation without spreading their legs in a way that takes up the space of two people?

[woolldog]

124. I am too.

And I don't know about your meetings but in mine everyone has their own chair. And yes the men do sit with their legs apart not close together (not as extreme as some of the pics in this thread to be sure). Pay attention and you'll notice.

[joeglow3]

185. Pay attention. Just look at the differences in how men and women cross their legs

Sure, there are some men who don't. Those are the ones with small balls.

[digonswine]

157. I don't know how you sit--

I think of "normal" as knees in front-about hip-width apart. For the knees to be locked together, one needs to actively be pulling them together with constant contraction--certainly not comfy. I really, really do not care how you sit as long as it's not fully splayed out like some in the photos--at least when room is a precious commodity.

[unblock]

181. get a full bladder with no bathroom. i guarantee you'll figure out how to sit without manspreading.

[Luminous Animal]

30. Sit up with legs forward. And yes, short men do this. And tall women don't.

I'm 5'9" my husband is 6'4" and our daughter is 6'2". All of us long legged and not one of feel the need to spread out. We sit up with our legs forward.

[LiberalElite]

46. They ALL do it -

the short ones just take up less space.

[Ykcutnek]

10. Inconsiderate pissants.

I'm 6'4" and have a bad knee, but can sit comfortably without doing that shit.

[TeeYiYi]

13. Omg...

...


TYY

[Warren DeMontague]

35. He could be just limbering up for the riverdance.

[LiberalElite]

47. Stringbean here should have paid three fares. nt

[MineralMan]

51. Don't touch me! Stay away from me!

I don't like you or anyone else. Just keep your damned distance!

That's what this guy is saying, through body language. I'd give him his wide berth, frankly. Looks like an arsehole to me.

[big_dog]

79. i think we've found a love connection for that dude!

Few things communicate "IDGAF" better than kicking off your shoes, spreading out on a crowded train, and guzzling a beer.

[3catwoman3]

104. Perhaps his pants...

...are a tad too tight.

[TeeYiYi]

106. I believe that's exactly what's going on here...

Dude thinks he's clandestinely 'adjusting' in stealth mode, not realizing that he forgot to activate his personal cloaking device.

TYY

[Arugula Latte]

129. "Behold the magnificence of my Man Crotch. You're welcome!"

[Chisox08]

145. It looks like he posing for that picture because nobody sits like that

[hifiguy]

154. Inconsiderate goon spotted at 12 o'clock!

Whatta maroon.

[DawgHouse]

200. This guy kind of looks like Chip Esten, the comedian from Whose Line Is It Anyway.

I wonder if it is because it sort of looks posed to me.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. You see rudeness...

I see a target.

[Warpy]

27. Jinx.

[melman]

110. If anybody on here

joked about kicking a woman in the crotch the shitstorm would never end.

[TreasonousBastard]

112. Funny how that works, isn't it?

[freshwest]

193. I didn't see a target. Looked vulnerable to me, despite the 'DNFWM!' facial expression.

[Control-Z]

16. Of my gawd, this made me laugh.

Shame on me - but it may be the first time in my lifetime it wasn't women being told not to spread their legs. I would bet few men have ever been told to keep their legs together - until now. Can't wait to hear the whining and justifications. Lol

Forgive me for my possibly inappropriate sense of humor.

[freshwest]

194. LOL! The Outrage Meter will flip out!

[Enrique]

20. Larry Craig

this means you.

[PoliticAverse]

21. Clearly discrimination against those with 'wide stance's... n/t

[brush]

41. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Good one.

Good ol' wide-stance Larry.

[nruthie]

53. Priceless!!

[JonLP24]

22. I can't stand leg spreaders in buses

[Behind the Aegis]

23. NO SEX THREADS!

Thanks for ignoring that rule.

[burrowowl]

24. I always wondered

about this taking the Paris metro daily for 20 years.
Why women with larger hips take up less space than men? Were they cooling their balls are what?

[MisterP]

64. maybe that's physics: lay two pencils parallel: push to top ends together and the far ends

swing apart, and vice-versa

or whatever: the main factor seems to be short seats (which are more comfortable than when everyone's dangling like a mannequin), which happens in the back of the bus

[geek tragedy]

32. Man-spreaders are a common variety of subway asshole nt

[Warren DeMontague]

34. It's NYC.

i mean, I thought being the biggest flamin' jerk possible to everyone around you was like a big ol' badge of honuh!

[dilby]

36. yes because men are the only ones who take up too much space.

I regularly ride public transit and I see both sexes do this or think that their bag or purse paid a fair and deserves a seat as well. I am all for calling out douche bags on transit but I think you need to call out all douches not matter what they have between their legs.

[Posteritatis]

83. Women generally don't start claiming evolution gives them the duty to do that, though. (nt)

[Inkfreak]

37. I didn't even know this was a thing.

I'm 6'4" and never do this. How weird.

[TeeYiYi]

63. Me either...

It appears to be the equivalent of marking territory. We're probably lucky they're not pissing in corners.



TYY

[Liberal_in_LA]

69. it is. been growing as a "thing" that riders are complaining about recently

[TeeYiYi]

102. As new 'things' go...

...this one is pretty obnoxious.

If I found myself surrounded by entitled space encroachers, I wouldn't hesitate to reestablish boundaries with some knee action of my own.



TYY

[phylny]

109. I have done just that. It's been a long time since I've ridden NYC transit,

but I recall a guy next to me who was manspreading, and I pushed my leg right into his. We must have been touching for twenty minutes until he finally relented.

My commuting partner, Sophia, was much more direct: "What, you think you have something huge between your legs that you have to sit that way? Give me some room!"

[Posteritatis]

80. What's baffling is how heatedly people defend it

The reactions above where people start claiming with absolute sincerity that men can't sit without their legs at a 90-degree angle, or that that's so important that it's worth forcing two other people to stand on public transit, is about half as nasty as I've seen every time this has come up somewhere other than DU.

As soon as people started talking about it it seems to have become incredibly, critically important to people who feel entitled to three times as much space as anyone else.

[ieoeja]

111. Before this thread I had always assumed they just didn't notice they were pushing others around.

I was shocked to see a couple of people actually argue the point.

Gotta love the "you're bullying me because I'm not sitting the way you like." Yeah, it's because we want to sit a certain way. Not because you're being a total asshole who thinks everybody should accomodate you while you accomodate noone.

[Arugula Latte]

130. Yeah, pretty revealing about the mindset of some DUers, eh?

[Posteritatis]

155. They probably *didn't*, but mentioning it provokes "how dare you!" flareups from them.

That sort of situation usually results in silly, forced justifications because Ain't No One Gonna Tell Me To Change Nope, or something like that.

I really, really doubt anyone making the "men can't safely sit unless their legs are at right angles or more" argument ever thought about it for more than a fraction of a second before someone pointed out that people claiming three seats on public transit aren't exactly playing well with society.

[AndreaCG]

39. If I am not mistaken people have already been arrested

For lying on the seats and putting their feet up on them, on trains that are relatively empty. Now this "shaming" will doubtless lead to arrests soon. Like the cops and courts don't have better things to do. Just ask them to move, shove yourself beside them if they don't and plop yourself on one knee if they don't take the hint! Ok maybe not the last. I usually come up with a dirty look for the ones with bags on the seat and they take them off. Rarely is a sarcastic comment needed.

[brush]

42. You do have to be a little careful . . .

though — a lot careful, actually. It's New York City. There are a lot of mean a holes out there, not to mention the

lunatics, that will go off on you in a . . . what's the phrase — a New York minute.

You know the tried and true "don't make eye contact" rule for riding on the subway, apply that one-hundred fold with

shoving body parts.

[AndreaCG]

50. Don't make eye contact IMO only applies to a few

Like the subway preachers, the really smelly homeless (I feel sorry for them but it's also nauseating) and those few who you instinctively smell are trouble. For the most part though if you say something to someone that's not blatantly inappropriate, in a reasonably friendly fashion, you get a decent response. Even New Yorkers are social creatures after all. Shoving your way into a subway seat may piss the wide legged stance person off, but deep down they probably know they're wrong and nothing major will happen 99% of the time.

[MineralMan]

49. I never sit that way. It looks to me like those people

are trying to generate extra space for themselves and keep people away. I can't see any other reason for it. It's rude and passive aggressive to do that on a crowded bus or train.

[Agony]

62. Wall Street "man spreads" on the rest of us all day every day

we need an "official" public service campaign to shame them into stopping the "seat-hogging"

except only the peons are ever called to account for decency.

[justiceischeap]

65. I rode the DC Metro daily for over 5 years

This is not just a problem in NYC and I've not once seen a woman do this on the train.

It's infuriating having to sit next to someone who doesn't have the common decency to get his leg out of my space.

It was also infuriating when men or women would stow their bags in the empty seat next to them.

[Liberal_in_LA]

68. i had a woman sit next to me w legs together but at angle

Very annoying. Her knees took up some of my seating area.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

71. Did you speak up?

I did. They can grumble all they want...

[seveneyes]

89. I rode the DC Metro once

It also was the last time I ever rode it. I would pitch a tent in EBF Egypt, faux pray to yeehad , smoke corn silk, eat haggis and walk uphill both to and from work before I would do it again.

Throw back the little ones and pan fry the big ones.

[notadmblnd]

76. You know how a male dog pisses on things to mark terrority?

Well, this is just the way the human male marks his.

[seveneyes]

87. "the human male"

As if it's a monolith.

[snooper2]

121. you have almost won Post of Thread award...try a little more please

[olddots]

81. further proof of civilation unraveling

Not really but you have to admit the people in these pics look like they are claiming territory not trying to be comfortable .I guess chivalry is very much dead .

[seveneyes]

84. Daddy, don't live in that New York City no more

Lucy still loves her coke and rum
But she sits alone 'cause her daddy can't come

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

91. Of the disgusting, annoying and terrifying sub-human behavior I have seen on the NY subway

This doesn't even register a 0.5 out of 100.

[Raine1967]

96. Close yer damn legs. eom.

[Rex]

98. LOL!

Ah the things people get mad about in America! They have NO IDEA how lucky they all have it!

Some of you ride the subway, do you ever have a problem with 'train stuffing'? If so, then my apologies.

[yuiyoshida]

119. lol...

I have always heard about this, never seen it, thanks for posting.. wow, sure glad I don't live in Tokyo, though I hear they have all women cars, in some of the trains now.

[ieoeja]

172. Sort of did that in Chicago once.

On the regional Metra (as opposed to the local City) trains you have to step up into the train. Got there just as the doors were closing. Guy in front of me stepped up, but it was so crowded he started to fall backward. So I put my hand on his back and held him til the doors closed behind his shoulders.

I keep hoping I'll be at a bar in the train station some day when and a guy says, "I was falling backward out of an overcrowded train when...."

On the other hand, me not knowing whom I helped and him never knowing who held him up is kind of cool.

[Rex]

204. Can you imagine having that as a job?

A: What do you do all day?

B: I push people around.

A: Professionally?

B: Yes, the pay and benefits are great!

[jberryhill]

99. Shouldn't the headline say "men" instead of people?

[Calista241]

116. Get out of here with your sexist drivel!

[Reter]

101. Why is that guy on the left wearing such short-shorts?

They went out of style two decades ago for guys.

[Warren DeMontague]

103. It looks like Pauly Shore circa 1989.

So maybe that's why.

[TeeYiYi]

105. Short shorts...

...enjoyed a fashion renaissance in 2014.

TYY

[donheld]

107. Those short shorts will never go out of style.

Hopefully, the barely short shorts will fade out fast.

[closeupready]

143. Because his legs are hot.

[RedCappedBandit]

114. As a New Yorker who stands every day during his 50 minutes commute,

I see this behavior done by men and women every day and the term manspreading is some BS.

Mostly, some people are just bigger than other people. That's the way it is.

[hughee99]

146. If you can't tie the story into one group oppressing another group, it wouldn't be much

of a story here. Linking this to misogyny is sure to result in a much longer DU life span.

[stevenleser]

118. I have no problem with this or bags on seats as long as the train is not crowded

As soon as the seats start filling up, men and women need to take their bags off the seats and men who do the manspreading need to stop. It's that simple.

I see both things happen a lot lately. Seems like only in the last 18 months both things started to happen a lot and the guys who do the spreading seem to not want to stop when there are no seats left.

There is some serious entitlement that has to stop.

[closeupready]

125. Which train lines do you see it on - the numbered ones?

The lettered ones seem a bit better to me, though maybe that's just my imagination.

[stevenleser]

132. Yep, 1,2,3 are the ones that go both to my house and my main work location.

Not sure what is behind this increasingly entitled attitude by some on the trains.

[NCTraveler]

126. Same reason inferior men need huge trucks. They think they are duping others. Sarcasm

The whole big package thing is making me laugh my ass off. Clearly someone feels the need to let others know how "big" they are. lol.

[Arugula Latte]

127. I see men do this all the time. The message: "I'm better than you, so I should take up more space."

I see it as them trying to assert their dominance. Kinda pathetic and sad, really, that that is the way a lot of them try to boost their own self esteem.

[joeglow3]

186. And those fat people.

[Arugula Latte]

187. Yeah, no. This isn't the same.

This is men purposely spreading out to dominate the space and take up more of it.

But nice try.

[joeglow3]

189. Are you a man?

[Arugula Latte]

190. Nope. I'm a woman who has been pushed over in a seat waaaay too many times.

Men routinely sit next to women and then think they are entitled to their seat PLUS half of a woman's seat. I have often had to crunch myself over so I wouldn't have some dude's arms and/or legs pressed up against me for an entire ride. And it's not that there isn't enough room for men to sit in in these seats -- there is. I mean, I get it if you are 6'6" and there is no place else for your arms and legs to go. But the majority of these men are just average height. They're just rude and feel entitled to dominate space and make people (usually women) feel uncomfortable. Assholes.

[joeglow3]

191. So, you don't know how uncomfortable it is to smash your balls together

[Arugula Latte]

198. Millions of men manage to sit in public places without either "smashing" their balls together

OR invading the space of the person next to them. There is a persistent minority of arrogant douchebags who willfully spread out because they are rude and/or insecure and/or think they are better than others (mostly women) and have no concept of what living courteously in civilization means.

So, cry me a fucking river.

[joeglow3]

199. From below, it is biology

But everyone needs t cater to you, right?



Ischium bones in men, the bones you sit on, are closer together, meaning men have a smaller point of contact. This increases pressure and discomfort in that area. Spreading weight onto the legs lowers pressure and increases comfort.

The inferior pubic rami, used to balance when you sit, is 20-30 degrees narrower in men, resulting in less stability; additionally, it makes sitting with one's legs apposed unnatural.

Men have cylindrical thighs, as opposed to conical thighs, further compounding the issue of sitting with one's thighs apposed.

Men have narrower acetabulum, meaning their thighs are closer together, resulting in less space between them, further compounding the above, the issue of external genitalia, and reducing the amount of balancing leverage available when sitting with one's thighs apposed.

Men have more lateral facing acetabulum, meaning their legs swing forward, backward, and out; women have more anterior facing acetabulum, meaning their legs not only have a greater ability to swing inward, but do so naturally when moving forward, like when sitting or walking (thus the swaying hips).

Men have wider, heavier upper bodies, thus require more stability.

Sitting with legs apart is not only the biologically natural position for males, but is actually necessary for men to attain the same level of stability that women enjoy. Just as importantly, the inverse of these factors explains why sitting with apposed legs is biologically natural for women.

[Arugula Latte]

208. So not rudely imposing on me and taking over my personal space is "catering" to me?

Women are not deserving of their own piece of private space in public because men have balls? Really?

Wow, what a selfish, entitled piece of work you are. Hope I never have to sit next to you on a train or bus.

[joeglow3]

209. Good to see you are hard of reading.

[Arugula Latte]

210. You seem to think men are entitled to take over women's space because of biology.

What a boorish, bullying, arrogant, asshole position to take. Plenty of men manage their bodies in public. You seem to have the mindset of a toddler who has no control.

It's pathetic, really, and very revealing about your own sense of entitlement.

[joeglow3]

212. No. You have a victim mentality.

Last edited Wed Dec 24, 2014, 01:15 AM - Edit history (1)

People (women and men) complain about the seating on airlines (rightfully so) because it is extremely uncomfortable, can cause pain and can be detrimental to the body. People are continually blaming the airlines for this poor treatment of people.

Here we have a similar situation, but not as bad because it is not uncomfortable for women. Thus, your response is not to blame the public transport system or to say more room should be allowed for riders. Instead, it is to say "I got mine so fuck you. Not only that, if you don't sit in a painful stance and instead are too close to me, YOU are the selfish prick who thinks they are entitled, but I am NOT entitled for my view."

The extremely funny part is that you think others are entitled but you aren't. What a joke.

[Arugula Latte]

215. Not uncomfortable for women? Are you delusional?

To have some rude, domineering male invading your space, often pressing his arms and legs up against your own body, is not uncomfortable for women?

You think that women asserting they are entitled to their own small piece of space in public without it being invaded is "victim mentality"?

You are a piece of work. What an arrogant, bullying, boorish prick.

[joeglow3]

216. You think I want to be touching you or anyone else

Think pretty highly of yourself. But, we now know EVERYTHING is about you.

[Arugula Latte]

217. You're rude, selfish, and arrogant.

You think it is perfectly fine to be domineering and act boorishly in public.

I guess you feel the need to let everyone know you're the silverback. Oooh, we're so impressed with your amazing superiority because you have testicles! All bow down to you!

[joeglow3]

220. I see biology and evolution only matter for women

Men need to go against thousands of years of biology to accommodate you. And I am the selfish one. You're cute.

[Arugula Latte]

128. Also, why wasn't this ever a Seinfeld episode?!

[Blue Owl]

138. Totally agree!

Woulda made a great episode...

[Arugula Latte]

140. I can picture Elaine bursting into Jerry's apartment:

"I am THROUGH riding the subway -- I had to sit next to the Man Spreader again today!"

She and Jerry discuss how annoying Man Spreaders are (Jerry: "Ohh you're soooo much better than the rest of us, you deserve to take up soooo much more space&quot , but then Kramer launches into an impassioned defense of practice.

"We can't close our legs, Elaine! Our parts get CRUSHED! They can't BREATHE like that! It's INHUMANE!"

Then George admits one time he was wearing shorts on the subway, spread his legs, and a co-worker saw his naughty bits. From then on his nickname in the office was "The Dangler."

Or something like that ...

[Codeine]

156. Oh goodness, that's PERFECT!

Elaine: Trust me Jerry -- the guys who do this, well let's just say they aren't the guys who need to spread out like that, if you know what I mean.

Jerry: So they're. . . compensating?

Elaine: Compensating, Jerry. they're compensating by spreading.

Jerry: Compen-spreading. Who knew?

[Arugula Latte]

166. Ha Ha! Compen-spreading! Love it!

[freshwest]

195. Perfect description of how it'd be done. Always enjoyed Elaine's 'Fake, fake, fake!' scene, too.

[stevenleser]

142. Honestly, I don't think this was a thing until the last 12-18 months.

Then, all of a sudden a number of guys just all started doing it.

IOW, I dont think this was around when Seinfeld was filming.

[Arugula Latte]

152. Hah, really? I've sat next to Man Spreaders on transit trains & airplanes for years and years.

It's incredibly common. Their thinking seems to be: "Oh, there's a woman sitting next to me. That means half her space is rightfully mine!"

They don't seem to care if they touch their leg or arm to mine, but of course it's weird when a stranger invades your personal space, so I have to shrink over in my seat even more, giving up more room.

Pisses me off.

[freshwest]

196. Yes, some think all women should cede whatever space they're in: bus, line, table, road...

It gets old quick...

[Blue Owl]

135. Really makes folks crotchety

n/t

[Arugula Latte]

137. Ba da bing!

[Jamaal510]

136. The one on the left looks like a perv

with not only his legs spread that wide apart, but also with those short shorts--as if he's trying to show his junk to everybody on the train.

[closeupready]

144. Well, duh, that is L train for you, regardless of gender.

[Quackers]

139. This reminded me of the basic training cattle trailers in the Army

They used to stuff us in just like cattle. On several occasions, we were packed in so tight that you could take your weight off your legs and not fall down.

[ieoeja]

173. I think the twits up thread defending the spread wouldn't dare in your circumstances. n/t

[Feral Child]

153. I don't think this has been mentioned.

That behavior is a mild form of sexual assault, performed by twits who don't have the balls to reach out and grab your ass.

First of all, rubbing your leg against someone else without permission, has sexual connotations. Gender of the victim doesn't matter, straight males will sometimes rape other males; proof that rape isn't about rape, it's about debasing the victim.
Secondly, this is a display meant to make others sexually uncomfortable. It's an actual, or in the case of the dude with "strategically" placed hands in the photo, a suggested, display of the genitals. It's intended to make others so uncomfortable they're compelled to obviously look away.

These men (I've never seen a woman do this, even with pants on) are Level 1 "rapists", the most easily defended form of sexual assault. In more private circumstances they're very likely "date-rapists".

Date-rape is quite common. It doesn't necessarily involve "roofies" or alcohol. Two High School kids making out, the girl allows limited sexual intimacy but does not want to go all the way. The guy takes advantage of her state of undress and his weight/strength to enter her despite objections. That's date-rape. It's rape. It often goes un-reported, just because. Guilt, shame, confusion because there's no obvious "force".

I doubt there is research or available statistics, but I would not be surprised if 50% of young girls lose their virginity this way.

I'd also bet that 100% of those assholes are absolutely sure they're not rapists.

[ieoeja]

174. I'm surprised it took this long to be mentioned.

There are also those who would do this as a non-sexual intimidation factor. But then sexual assault is generally the same thing: one serving of dominance with a side of sex.

[Feral Child]

183. Yeah, that's how I see it.

Pretty hard to differentiate, but space-dominance is pretty much the same thing.

This is very primitive behavior. Or primAtive; you see the same things occuring in chimpanzee culture.

We haven't evolved much beyond that, except in our ability to invent devastating technology.

[arely staircase]

158. 2 things spring to mind

1. 'Man spreaders' sounds really dirty.

2.The guy in the pic on the left looks like the biggest dipshit who ever troubled the world with his being.

[saltpepperdoor]

159. first big-gulps now this

Lol

[Xithras]

161. This is dumb. There's a biological reason that men sit like that, and it's not just our nuts.

This has popped up off and on for years, and usually the people whining about it get slapped down when the science is explained to them. The argument against "man spreading" is largely an argument of the ignorant and uninformed. I'm going to copypaste a simple explanation as who why nearly all men sit with their legs spread:

Ischium bones in men, the bones you sit on, are closer together, meaning men have a smaller point of contact. This increases pressure and discomfort in that area. Spreading weight onto the legs lowers pressure and increases comfort.

The inferior pubic rami, used to balance when you sit, is 20-30 degrees narrower in men, resulting in less stability; additionally, it makes sitting with one's legs apposed unnatural.

Men have cylindrical thighs, as opposed to conical thighs, further compounding the issue of sitting with one's thighs apposed.

Men have narrower acetabulum, meaning their thighs are closer together, resulting in less space between them, further compounding the above, the issue of external genitalia, and reducing the amount of balancing leverage available when sitting with one's thighs apposed.

Men have more lateral facing acetabulum, meaning their legs swing forward, backward, and out; women have more anterior facing acetabulum, meaning their legs not only have a greater ability to swing inward, but do so naturally when moving forward, like when sitting or walking (thus the swaying hips).

Men have wider, heavier upper bodies, thus require more stability.

Sitting with legs apart is not only the biologically natural position for males, but is actually necessary for men to attain the same level of stability that women enjoy. Just as importantly, the inverse of these factors explains why sitting with apposed legs is biologically natural for women.

The problem isn't "rude men". It's that the seating designs used in most buses and subways were developed to accommodate female seating requirements while ignoring the biological realities of the male body. As a man, in situations where I am forced to sit with my legs together, it is something that I have to constantly remind myself of. It's an unnatural body position, and one that I will fall out of if I'm not paying attention.

[ieoeja]

175. I disagree with "this is stupid". But I like the rest.

I didn't know the biology of it, but I knew damned well that my legs naturally want to swing outward. And it is clear that this is not so for women.

That said, I disagree with "this is stupid" because this is about men who do not remind themselves "in situations where I am forced to sit with my legs together, it is something that I have to constantly remind myself of".

[steve2470]

164. it's really simple, common courtesy for your fellow passengers

I don't care if your testicles are King Kong-sized, you can sit with knees closer together for a while on the train. Yes, I like to spread my legs too (like most men do), but common courtesy dictates keeping your knees together on crowded trains. If a man can't do it for a 15 minute train ride (or less), consult your doctor or just don't ride the train.

[Odin2005]

167. I'm a dude and this shit baffles me.

I see it all the time on the city bus, is it some kind of unconscious dominance thing?

[Arugula Latte]

188. I used to think it was all unconscious, but I've seen it enough that I think a lot of men

do it on purpose.

[Dont call me Shirley]

176. Airing it out?

[diabeticman]

177. Really? What type of Christian like taliban twlight zone are we slipping into?

[freshwest]

192. I've always felt sorry for men regarding this matter. If you don't know, don't ask.

FYI:

Not a man and grateful to not be afflicted with the reason I'm referring to here.

I understand the problem from both points of view.

Just sayin'

And Happy Holidays.

[Ken Burch]

197. Of all the new words I never wanted to see coined "manspreading" would pretty much be #1

I keep imagining Lt. Dangle doing that in his short shorts.

(an image some would probably enjoy, to be fair, and more power to them).

[Lex]

201. Uncouth and boorish. nt

[mainer]

205. Is there a website to shame these guys?

A place where their photos can be posted for ridicule? There ought to be.

[Liberal_in_LA]

218. yes. see link in OP. tumblr thread w lots of pics

[Beringia]

211. I had someone do this to me once on a bus

I asked him to please quit encroaching on my space, and he got very hostile. Another time a man sat next to me on an almost empty commuter train and the ticket-man came and asked him to move to another seat, that was so nice that I will always remember.

[Liberal_in_LA]

219. wow. the ticket man knew the guy was up to no good

I've had people sit w me on almost empty buses. Always wondered about that

[mainer]

213. NY Mag interviews man-spreaders on video

to see how they justify taking up two seats.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/gothamist-confronts-subway-manspreaders.html

[LeftinOH]

214. There is such a thing as "transit etiquette"....

and there are plenty of regular riders who don't get it, not to mention occasional riders.

>Take up only one seat for yourself. Your backpack, shopping bag, giant handbag, other handbag, and lunchbox don't get a seat unto themselves; condense your carry-ons as much as possible and put the lot on your lap or the floor in front of you.

>The seats at the front are reserved for mobility impaired or the visually impaired. Pay attention, and move away from those seats when someone who actually needs them shows up.

>Kindly use earbuds to listen to your "music". Also turn down the volume.

>When it's time to board, please have your fare or fare-card ready. Fumbling for your method of payment while there are people waiting to get on slows everyone down.

>If you are a standee and have a backpack, please be mindful of how much space it takes up; you may want to carry it.

>If you are a standee and are using earbuds, lower the volume enough so you can hear when other passengers trying to get off say "excuse me".

>For sit-down passengers (especially men), remember to close your legs. This is public transit and space is at a premium. Save the splayed legs for the sofa at home.