How have you been mansplained today?

[Globules]

For me

1. Using the Costa express machine. I'd connected on the app. The man behind me was saying "just press start. You need to press start" He then leaned in to press start on the machine. I blocked him, glared and said "my order has just gone through on the app". I turned away, so didn't see his reaction.

2. Carrying a large box to the car park. A sub contractor saw me and headed directly for me "don't you waste your energy on that love", and tried to take the box. Didn't ask, just presumed. I swiveled away and had reached the car by this point. " Not a problem".

3. Saw a male colleague at the end of the day. I checked they were going home soon. "Definitely. There's a big game to watch" he said. I jokingly replied "is there?" He then said "yes, it's England Vs Netherlands. It's the Euro semi finals. We beat Switzerland on Saturday and we have to win tonight if we're going to get to the final". I didn't quite know what to say, so I told him to enjoy the match and walked off.

How about you?

We were on the beach where I had seen parasailing previously. At that time there were two guys in uniform walking by and handing out leaflets about it. I asked one how much parasailing was. He said: Yes, we do parasailing, it's that parachute over there. I replied that I know what parasailing is and that I had asked how much it was.
Maybe he had to do the intro first although I did ask him just one very clear question and didn't need to be explained anything.

None of those are mansplaining. They are just patronising blokes. Unless you are a professional large box carrying Costa machine operator who moonlights as a football pundit. In which case, you hit the jackpot today.

I was driving in the rain. My b-i-l was in the passenger seat. The screen must have been misting from the top down. I am short so the misting had not come down as low as my eyes and I had a perfect view. My b-i-l was noticing the misting on his side but instead of asking me to switch on the de-mister, he leaned over the dashboard, said 'You need to clear the windscreen. It's this button here' and bldy well pressed it himself! My surprise was obvious and I told him a I wasn't experiencing reduced view and b I normally make my own decisions. I was so angry! You do not lean across and push buttons in someone else's car when they are driving. Do you? He cold simply have asked! He was back this Christmas so as soon as he got in and sat in the passenger seat I said 'If you would like any adjustments made, eg heating, de-misting, just ask, rather than pressing buttons. I prefer it to be just me who touches the controls' and he really took the hump! I'm not really asking for advice, I just want to call the buer out. There were other incidents. I feel I wouldn't care if I never saw him again.

I was driving in the rain. My b-i-l was in the passenger seat. The screen must have been misting from the top down. I am short so the misting had not come down as low as my eyes and I had a perfect view. My b-i-l was noticing the misting on his side but instead of asking me to switch on the de-mister, he leaned over the dashboard, said 'You need to clear the windscreen. It's this button here' and he pressed it himself. I told him I wasn't experiencing reduced view and I normally make my own decisions. I was so angry. What kind of person leans over a driver and presses buttons himself, I wonder. He couuld easily have just asked me to turn on the air. He was back again this Christmas so I asked him before starting the car if he could leave the controls to me and he took offence. There were other incidents. I didn't want to react too much because I didn't want to have any uncomfortable atmosphere at Christmas as other family members were there. They unhelpfully just sit back and keep quiet and don't challenge his behaviour. I feel I wouldn't care if I never saw him again.

Mansplaining is when a man explains your subject of expertise to you.