Why do men do this.

[Bestcatmum]

Why do men wander about like a fart in a trance completely and totally spacially unaware.
I've lost count of the times a man has backed right into me, stepped back and right into me, forced me off the pavement because I am apparently invisible and just walked into me in the supermarket because he wasn't paying attention. It really makes me fume. Women hardly do this, they are aware of everyone around them.
Today a group of three men in their 60's were laughing and joking and heading right for me on the pavement and about one second before on of them crashed into me I yelled STOP at the top of my voice (I am completely shameless).
He was so shocked he staggered about on the kerb and fell into the road (no cars around). He looked at me astonished as if I had just teleported in front of him.
I didn't say sorry, I just went on my way.

because they expect you, as a woman, to get out of the way?
Men don't forever bump into men do they?

Hahahaha that is amazing 😄😄 please let it have been my FIL! Well done OP.

I do this thing where I do not move out of the way for men.

If we’re walking toward each other and about to take the same spot on the path, I don’t capitulate. Will literally let them bang into me, or they move before they do.

Try it, OP. It’s very liberating.

I have never noticed men doing this any more than women.

Yes they do it all the time. I now stop dead where I'm walking and let them move around me, instead of doing the dance and I end up moving out of the way.

I usually let them walk into me. Even if it means getting called a bitch/cunt/twat.

Yes! It’s called Patriarchy Chicken and it’s a great game. I also play it in my car, especially with BMW drivers

😅😅😎

I think because most people are rude and/or thoughtless - just caught up in their own lives and don't pay attention.
However, somethings there is a valid reason for it, and it's taught me to they not to judge.
My dad was once bumbling around in a busy shop and a woman told him off for being rude, not getting out of the way etc. it was his third visit out (first place somewhere busy) following 6 months of rehab after a major stroke.

Should read "sometimes there is a valid reason and it's taught me to try not to judge!"

Me too. Takes nerve to begin with but it's great. They always look so shocked, as it's probably literally the first time in their life a woman hasn't moved for them.

Are you male or female yourself?

I wouldn't do it in a car, that could go seriously wrong. I sometimes stand my ground against cyclists on footpaths (not shared use/bridle paths) to DHs consternation- but only if it's somewhere I can jump sideways if needbe.

Now that you’re conscious of it, you’ll absolutely notice it.

This is interesting, as I’ve really always found it to be the other way round. Standing at the bottom or top of an escalator, blocking supermarket aisles for a chat, standing in doorways etc has always seemed to me to be much more of a female thing.

Shit, I drive a BMW so all those men I’m playing patriarchy chicken with on the street are possibly then playing it with me as we drive 😂

(I’ll add that I’m actually a very courteous driver- possibly over so. Have no intention of dinging my nice new shiny car!)

I have also never noticed this.... The only people I have constantly walking into me are teenagers too busy staring at their phones.

I don't see a world where women have greater self- and spatial awareness. Pretty much 50:50 in the getting in the way and greater outrage and offence from a higher proportion of women. My test is when people stand so close behind me when I'm paying in a particular shop check-out that when I turn around I can't help but bump into them as they are so close and I don't know they are there and they haven't left any path away from the till. The situation is caused pretty much 50:50 by sex but my estimate 90:10 outraged usually older women for me 'being clumsy' instead of the instant apology which tends to come from men. IME when there is a collision, the women are much more vocal about demanding an apology and being seen not to be in the wrong even though they are.

Yup, it's a biggie. To the pp who said they haven't noticed it... you might now. I only noticed it after I was pregnant and had spd and couldn't move out the way.... I was smashed into constantly and, even more frustratingly, had men v irritated with me when THEY bumped into me. Sigh.

They believe the whole world is theirs, all space is theirs to occupy, so they have no need to look out.
I remember a journalist who went to Afghanistan, and noticed how women wearing burkas were barged off the pavement by men, who often seemed annoyed at their very existence. These were women doing exactly what men told them to do, wearing the burka and meekly going round with their heads bowed, yet men still didn't respect them one bit.

But I do notice a difference; as I said above I’ve always noticed it as a female thing.

I've never noticed this

But I do notice a difference; as I said above I’ve always noticed it as a female thing.

You described something different- groups of women standing talking in inconsiderate positions. I can't say I've noticed that tbh, but it's not the same thing as being walked into.

I generally find that women do this far more than men, just stop dead and start fishing through their handbags, or turning back the way they've come and walking straight into me.

it is actually a thing that became more apparent in lockdown when everyone was walking. There was a newspaper article linking to studies.