Man-spread on public transport is so unnecessary

[InDreamland]

This really gets on my nerves. Blokes who spread so people either don't feel comfortable to try sit next to them or end up having them rub or push their legs up against them (mainly women who end up uncomfortable). It's so unnecessary. No man has balls that big they need to spread this wide. The last time I voiced my unease at a bloke rubbing his legs against me whilst he spread I was shouted at, verbally abused and prodded by him whilst he intimidated me. I only pointed out to him quietly and told him what he was doing. It was a full train and no one came to my defence. Pic is from my commute home tonight. What can be done to stop these men?

I just don’t move my legs to give them the space. I can assure they get uncomfortable first and move their legs back into their zone.

I sat next to a young guy on a train recently and he was generally ok and kept his legs to himself

Then I went to the loo and when I came back was spread in front of my seat and settled himself at an angle for a snooze

I just don't know what they're thinking. Did he think I was going to stay in the loo for the rest of my journey or what

Someone tried mentioning this on a lighthearted company "get this of my chest" page. Several men took offence to the term "man-spreading" because it was sexist and demeaning

Thankfully some pretty articulate men and women explained why it wasn't without risking their job!

Horrible, isn't it?

I read an article ages ago , wish I had made a copy or made some note. The point is that instead of shrinking away trying to keep space between you, stand your ground as it were then .. imagine love and peace being beamed out to the whole universe through the point of touch.

It's s lot more woo woo than I would normally be comfortable with but it absolutely does work. I make sure my arms are covered and just keep them on half the arm rest.

I realise that I'm writing about arms on arm rests rather than legs but I'm sure it works for both.

The explanation for its effectiveness is that if you keep shrinking away the person thinks (if only unconsciously ) that they can expand. The love and peace beaming out keeps your presence so they don't keep encroaching.

Try it.

My trick when wanting to sit down next to a manspreader is to back into the seat at an angle, plop bum down and swing legs round to force the manspreader's legs back in front of him.
It has to be done in one very swift movement and look accidental or it could be considered aggressive.

Or I used to maintain my thigh pressed against his just to piss him off.

Oh GOD this happened to me a few weeks ago on the Central line.

Busy train, two adjacent seats came free and he got to his before I got to mine. He immediately opened his “canopy”, taking up about half my space. I had just had a very difficult meeting and come through it unscathed, so was feeling quite jaunty. I double-patted the outside of his knee and said “come on, over you go”, pushing it in. I swear he never budged out of his own space for the rest of the journey.

I definitely recommend touching them in a brisk, middle-aged-lady way. I get the impression he was horrified but it was totally his own fault. The woman on his other side, also benefited, obviously...

I have got quite assertive in middle age and find a brisk "Scuse me, could I have a bit of space here? Thanks!" while taking up my half of the seat works.

It's always, always men who do it. Even women who are large are easier to sit next to than men as they tend to have more consideration and awareness of other people around them.

30 years ago was working in Aldgate and a colleague was driven mad by this on her train. One morning she was laughing as the train had jolted her briefcase out of the luggage rack. Think rectangular one that expands. She said she'd never seen so many legs snap shut as it fell down.

I think the direct but polite approach works for me! Ask any space invader to move over and then quietly assert your own space.

On some buses that's the only way I can sit down as they give far to little legroom on many seats. Unfortunately I can't shorten my thighs by 2-3 inches so that I can sit down normally (I'm not a man).

I just loudly say “excuse me please” and look down at their spreaded thigh. Always works and they close legs promptly.

What an awful specimen! I hate this too. One large man actually crushed me as he sat down in the middle seat. He exerted such pressure on me that it forced me against the side of the train and I had to move.

Normally I try accidentally kicking or stepping on feet to get them to move over.

coatlessinspokane Get him a T shirt that says 'my face is up here', we'll all chip in

A designer recently created a man spreading chair. Won awards and everything.

Women were nodding along, but by god the WHINING from men about how unfair/mean/sexist/dangerous/other bullshit reason!

metro.co.uk/2019/07/18/student-creates-chair-put-end-manspreading-10418726/

A young man actually spread his newspaper on to me as well whilst doing this on a train once

I inadvertently did this to a mate, she tore a strip off the paper and ate it. Without a word.

Funnily enough, I asked my DH if men did this to other men and he looked at me in bemusement. It seems men don't do this to other men...