Can we please discuss 'moving out of the way' for men?

[VladmirsPoutine]

I've frankly had it and have made it my mission to never move out of the way and just sort of pull my whole-self in a forward position so that it's either we're going to clash or he'll side-step out of my way.

Can I ask all you women to do the same?

I was always somehow subconsciously moving - but fuck it. The pavement is as much my right.

Gahh! Just walked back to work and a man whom I did not move out of the way for motioned me to the left but I walked straight through and thought fuck it. He then turned back to call me a bitch.

Hope everyone else is having a lovely Thursday morning!

I tend to move out of the way for everyone - men, women, hildren, dogs... This is not some sort of weird deference, but because I find it quicker to adjust my path and keep walking.

Yeah I don't move out of the way for blokes, especially if they're texting. Then I aim for them

How odd, where I live (London) men will side step for women - I assume its a courtesy thing. that in it's self will get MN all het up, damned men, with their courteous 1950's ideals, and now you come along and get upset that they dont and you get steam rollered.

TBH you just come across as beligerent with no manners.

I realised I did this for absolutely everyone and it annoyed me. WHY does noone ever move out of the way? EVER?

Anyway now, unless obviously it is someone with lower mobility for any reason, the video for Bittersweet Symphony is my life inspiration.

I'm with you, Vladimir. Only it can be a very depressing experiment. I just asked my officemate if she did this, and she said she did it on her way to work today, on a broad footpath through a park, and the guy she didn't move aside for called her a 'frigid flat-chested cunt.'

I work in London and it's very, very rare that men will move aside for me.

Someone over on the Feminist Board called it Patriarchy Chicken. It’s my new hobby, specially when I’m in the City. I am happy to step aside for pretty much anyone other than self important men. With those fuckers I hold my line and don’t deviate.

I find women generally are much worse for this than men. And I've stopped moving for people, at least in the sense where they have more opportunity to move than me. I often get abuse for it though, but when I'm just me and they're walking three abreast they can move

Yup, I realised this a couple of years ago and never move now. The worst offenders are youngish men, they look up from their phone, see me, look down and carry on walking straight towards me. It amuses me when they realise they're about to crash into me and look horrified 😃

Obvs I move for anyone who looks less able than me to move.

I'm curious - I honestly don't think this happens to me (ie men expecting me to move over for them). Now I know I do have a bit of a resting bitch face, but can it really be that?! If it did happen to me though, I would whole heartedly be with you on thus!

There is always the option of stopping and standing still rather than side stepping.

I honestly find women do it just as much as men - in fact in my experience you're more likely to get into the awkward I move-you move-I move dance with men. I just find it so odd. Obviously sometimes I should move. But noone else EVER does. And yes, when you bump into them they act shocked and victimised. YOU COULD HAVE ALSO MOVED.

Or indeed on this!

This is in London, edge of City/Shoreditch.

Interesting. I've never noticed this. I've worked in London. Live in the South East. I've come across people as equally polite as myself, and of course lots of rude people. My experience has no relation to gender. But I'm going to pay a bit attention going forward.

I noticed a while back that nobody steps aside for me. I have to use a rollator so it's clear that I'm disabled so you'd think it would be courteous to move out of my way. Especially on cobbled paths which have a flat route for wheels. I'm now tempted to use my rollator as a battering ram except I'm too chicken.

Patriarchy Chicken. It's a recognised thing and great fun to play. I'm tall and stubborn as hell. I usually win ;-)
www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2019/02/how-play-patriarchy-chicken-why-i-refuse-move-out-way-men

I hate moving out of the way for people who then don’t say thank you, I always mutter you’re welcome cunt under my breath- never quite brave enough to say it out loud.

Did it yesterday and was gutted I’d bothered. I even looked at the couple and smiled expecting acknowledgment of my good manners but they just kept walking and blanked me- twats.

Am I the only one who isn't bothered by moving out of the way? I'd rather slightly divert my course by a few centimeters than potentially end up hurt when someone bumps into me despite the fact I have seen them coming, purely for the sake of standing my ground.

Often the person who moves is just the one whose moving is more logical or who has more room to 'overtake' - eg if one side is blocked by a wall, whoever is more central/ to the open side will move as they have more room for maneuver; if someone is carrying a lot of stuff/pushing a pushchair etc then the other person will usually move because it is easier for one person to change course than someone laden with things/children etc

I move-you move-I move dance

My latest celebrity encounter was doing this dance with Joe Lycett.

I think London is particularly bad for this. Around here it's more a case of people politely stepping aside for each other to such a degree that both are standing in the road or hedge making 'No, no, after you' gestures forever. Then I go into London for occasional work visits and am startled and flattened in minutes.

This is one of those now you mention it posts. I always move out of the away. Only exemption is smug couples holding hands especially narrow pavements. Unlink ffs I’m not stepping on to the road for you

The only group I have noticed for not moving is sadly groups of teenagers. (Never lone teenagers-they always move) I hate to say that because I think teenagers get a hard rap and individually can be lovely people but for some reason on the street, when in groups of two or more something makes them arrogant.

I didn't know that this was a thing? Where I live men tend to move out of the way for women, hold doors open, let them walk down a corridor before them, offer their seats to them etc. But people do tell me it's old fashioned here when they come to visit.

Gahh! Just walked back to work and a man whom I did not move out of the way for motioned me to the left but I walked straight through and thought fuck it. He then turned back to call me a bitch.

What a pig. Hope you’re ok OP. That would bother me.

I’ve stopped moving out of men’s way after reading about it on MN. I walk in a straight line now, unless I’m changing direction, obviously