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Original poster

Fucking mansplaining

25 replies

summer712 · 26/05/2022 20:17

We've just been talking about a nest system with the doorbell, camera, smoke alarm etc for our house.

He's just explained to me how a smoke alarm works.

I asked him "are you fucking messing" and he said "I'm just telling you how it works"

We are sat in the pub eating dinner. Only reason I haven't twatted him.

OP posts:
nextone77 · 26/05/2022 22:11

Meh.. give him a break
Boring convo but nothing to twat him over

nextone77 · 26/05/2022 22:12

Or to swear at him!

CherrySocks · 26/05/2022 22:23

I didn't know how smoke alarms work - but I've just googled it

bellac11 · 26/05/2022 22:25

Ridiculous word

5zeds · 26/05/2022 22:25

It’s odd isn’t it? Just say “I know” at intervals.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 26/05/2022 22:32

What is it with some men that they think they know it bloodywell all, just sign and say you are a genius and keep changing the subject and explaining in minute detail to him and give him a taste of his own medicine..

Kendodd · 26/05/2022 22:40

Well I didn't know how a smoke detector works, something to do with radiation?

Compare it to my conversation with a middle aged man today, chatting after a business meeting. We were talking about holidays and I mentioned some worries about taking my two teenage daughters to a part of the world notorious for on street sexual harassment. He was familiar with the place, as was I (which was why I worried), and confidently told me that he'd "never seen anything like that" and that they'll be fine. I pointed out that "well, you wouldn't have seen it" only to be told again that no they're lovely people (they are) they don't put up with that (they do).

ODFOx · 26/05/2022 23:07

Meh, some people just blurt out what they know . Im a woman and I do it all the time. I know that I'm annoying. I try not to do it. I cant seem to help myself. Smile
If it's your partner I'd just smile, nod, and let it go ( once you've accidentally eaten his best chip or spilled his drink, obv).

LondonQueen · 26/05/2022 23:17

I just say mhm, yeah, I know at random intervals. Bonus points if it's whilst he's still talking.

Singingtherapy · 26/05/2022 23:21

That would be quite normal conversation in my house. I don't know how a smoke detector works. DH is an engineer and probably does. Couldn't get worked up about it. I know lots of things that he doesn't and he'd be happy for me to explain them as well.

donquixotedelamancha · 26/05/2022 23:24

He's just explained to me how a smoke alarm works. I asked him "are you fucking messing"

Do you have some sort of qualification that makes it obvious you know how it works? Did he already know, you know?

Original poster
summer712 · 26/05/2022 23:24

I must be hormonal or just a bit of a twat myself tonight. Sad

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 26/05/2022 23:25

I don't know how a smoke detector works. DH is an engineer and probably does. Couldn't get worked up about it. I know lots of things that he doesn't and he'd be happy for me to explain them as well.

Normal in any relationship, I think but since OP is annoyed at him for mansplaining presumably she's a physics professor or something.

Original poster
summer712 · 27/05/2022 21:35

Well no I'm not a professor or anything but presumably if something is on fire it detects the smoke.

That is what he explained to me. Yes I know this too. The ins and out about how it does this no I don't know this and neither does he he literally explained to me if something went on fire it would alert us. I mean we all get this it don't we.

I may not have explained myself fully here but it was him telling me of something went on fire then well we would be aware because of the smoke being detected in the alarm and it would go off.

OP posts:
EVHead · 27/05/2022 22:18

To me that’s not mansplaining. To me mansplaining is:

Man: What do you do for a living?
Me: I’m a geologist.
Man: Oh rocks! There are rocks called igneous rocks. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Magma is …

Tinkerblonde1 · 27/05/2022 22:35

Its on the GCSE physics specification.

The americium an alpha emitter ionises the air in a chamber this induces a PD so a current flows. If smoke enters the chamber the smoke absorbs the alpha so the air is no longer ionised. This sets an alarm.

Explain it back to him. Does seem he was stating the obvious.

NotMeNoNo · 27/05/2022 23:27

I think those orange apron guys in B&Q should literally be called the Mansplainers.
Asked a couple of them to find me an SES oven bulb in a massive randomly organised lightbulb display as they weren't very obvious.
A good 5 minutes of very careful explaining of screw fittings and temperatures followed before I could depart with the bulbs. I may be an engineer in my 50s but I clearly looked young and clueless to them!

donquixotedelamancha · 28/05/2022 01:18

I don't know this and neither does he he literally explained to me if something went on fire it would alert us. I mean we all get this it don't we.

I'm not sure that's mansplaining (EV's example is good) but it's certainly a weird thing to say.

Was he just saying anything to fill the empty space? DW does that quite a lot and it's irritating as fuck.

TyneTeas · 28/05/2022 01:27

This is a handy flowchart

www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180727-mansplaining-explained-in-one-chart

You don't have to be an expert, if a man is explaining something that is reasonable to assume most men people would already know

BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger · 28/05/2022 01:40

I had my assistant manager explained to me how to work out 5% of our profit. This is the same man who was truly astonished the week before when I explained that 78% of 20, is the same as 20% of 78.

Teddeh · 28/05/2022 01:59

Does he do this often, and ignore you/continue if you say you know? You could try getting some gold star stickers and sticking one on him each time.

KickAssAngel · 28/05/2022 03:13

I'm British but live in the US. DH is from Belfast. I once had an American who had stayed in Dublin for 6 months try to explain The Troubles to me, and to tell me all about the housing market in the UK. Not only could he tell me what Irish people really felt (he hasn't actually been in Ireland in the last 10 years) and he the tried to tell me about the cost of housing in the SE of England, the place where my entire family lives and where I can quote house prices street by street, but he knew better, apparently.

I was at a work conference so I just politely held my ground and used Right Move to prove him wrong.

ChiselandBits · 28/05/2022 06:56

I think I've actually started to make some progress with dp on this. After 5 years or so of solving any work problem I vaguely moan about he now stops himself after a sentence or so and says, 'but I don't really know so...' I think he's hoping I'll encourage him to continue but I always reply 'well no, because that's been my field for 20 years and the answer is...' or whatever.

MarmaladeLime · 28/05/2022 06:59

summer712 · 27/05/2022 21:35

Well no I'm not a professor or anything but presumably if something is on fire it detects the smoke.

That is what he explained to me. Yes I know this too. The ins and out about how it does this no I don't know this and neither does he he literally explained to me if something went on fire it would alert us. I mean we all get this it don't we.

I may not have explained myself fully here but it was him telling me of something went on fire then well we would be aware because of the smoke being detected in the alarm and it would go off.

Ahhh I see I thought it was explaining exactly how it detects it, which I didn't know. But if it was simply.. it detects heat/smoke then he's annoying.

Flatandhappy · 28/05/2022 08:25

I’m old and grumpy and my filter has gone so I just don’t tolerate mansplaining any more. I tend to give my best WTF luck and say something along the lines of “why on earth do you feel the need to explain something to me that as an intelligent adult I would obviously already know” and that is the polite version. I used to be a nicer person, honest.

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