Thursday, 22 January 2009

  • Man Law from a Female's Perspective

    Guest blog by The_Prestigiator

    On January 9th, Dollarish.com featured a post titled "My Top 5 Complaints About Public Transportation." When I went to comment on what irritates me about public transportation, I saw this one by its_me_Katie and chuckled:

    "The people with no manners. like the people who don't move out of their seats for elderly and pregnant women. i always move but it makes me angry when males don't move. i thought it was man law but i guess it doesn't apply to some... haha : ) "

    I mainly chuckled at the bit she referred to as "man law" because despite being a pretty independent lady, I do occasionally question a guy who doesn't assume the part of a "Good day, milady" sort of gentleman.

    Case in point. On my very first day of college, I was excited to meet so many new people and make friends. I surveyed the lads on my dorm floor and thought that we had a few cute prospects.

    That was until one such "cutie" ventured downstairs at the same time as me. He just looked my way and although he knew I was right behind him he didn't hold the door open and shut it in my face.

    In my moment of shock and slight fury, I vowed to glare at him whenever I saw him around campus. We actually became pretty good friends but in that exact moment I was disgusted by the fact that he broke "man law."

    So what sorts of behavior does "manlaw" consist of? I asked my friends and together we compiled this list:

    1. Holding doors open for all ladies.

    2. Giving up your seat on a bus to a woman or giving up a taxi you had just hailed.

    3. Pulling the seat out for your date.

    4. Not putting the sexy moves on a girl on a first date.

    5. Not peeing on the side of a building when there are ladies present.

    6. If you see any woman or girl struggling to carry something, you offer to help. (Personally, I would carry my own stuff regardless if a guy offers to help but my friends were pretty adamant about this one.)

    7. Defend a woman's honor. I think this can come off as too "chivalrous" at times but once in a while, it's unbelievably flattering when a guy comes to the rescue.

    8. Maintaining good hygiene.

    We couldn't think of anymore notable ones. Respect was basically an accepted and big theme. Surprisingly, none of us thought guys paying for a date was that important.

    After all, we're in a recession and some ladies do wish to uphold at least a few feminist notions. Still, we knew that at times we'd probably label such courteous behavior "sexist" we couldn't help but want guys to follow our specific gender code of conduct.

    Women being ironic and complex...Go figure.

    What do you think of "manlaw"? Do you feel that guys are expected to uphold certain social standards? Is it fair or it annoying that it can be viewed as chauvinistic?

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Comments (33)

  • laurenmaureen@xanga

    i like those rules :]
  • dakeyjake

    What do us guys get out of all of this??????
  • JadedJanissary@xanga

    Those are good, but those aren't "man laws," they're being a gentleman.  And, you can't do those often without getting yelled at for being a sexist pig.
  • Neowind@xanga

    Self respect is respect for others as well, smelling good is a must.  I think that goes both way... and that's the main reason why I can't date some jewish women, not to sound racist or anything... but believe in deodorant.



    Wait a sec, this is suppose to be mancouch... I think guys hardly talk about this among other guys.. ever.
  • x_last_first_kiss_x@xanga

    @Neowind@xanga - think of it as a girl telling all of those on the mancouch what is expected.
  • Neowind@xanga

    @ov3r_us3d@xanga - Oh, I understand what the post is saying, but shouldn't that be something over at datingish?  Actually.. I might make a woman law list tonight, just for giggles.


    I see the "man law" Miller Light commercials... I believe that's where the title comes from.   But really these type of rules could be simplified even further.
  • MusingsOfAnAlmostSocio@xanga

    @dakeyjake - Boobies. Some wisdom from Ctrl+Alt+Del

    As for why, a lot of these things have to do with compensating for things we like about girls. For instance, #3, why? Because they wear heels and dresses and skirts because we like them (well, some of us anyway). The least we can do is help them get into their seat without head butting the table when they slip. I do disagree with #4 though. Nothing wrong with that. Just don't overdo it. Plenty of girls want guys to put sexy moves on them on the first date. I don't think man law should dictate something like that. And everyone should maintain good hygiene. There are probably other things I could add to this list, but I gotta get back to work...
  • BlkBoldBeautiful@xanga

    @dakeyjake - 
    a good woman.
  • hyperalice@xanga

    #5, they shouldnt pee on the side of a building anyways. have some respect, guys!
  • rough_souls@xanga

    i like man law, but i agree, i'd probably still carry my heavy items myself/open the door myself/insist they go ahead of me... but still, boys, DONT STOP DOING IT. we make mental notes of this, you get major kudos!
  • TATASOCUTE@xanga

    I LOVE THOSES RULES BUT HOW MANY MAN BELIEVE IN THAT
  • catchastar16@xanga

    Can the door and the seat-giving-up be Everyone Rules, please? I always hold the door for the person behind me, and if you see a pregnant woman/older person/person with bags/person with small children/etc., you should give them your seat (obviously, unless you fall into one of those categories). 
  • jeffgodofbiskuts@xanga

    I don't really think these things are what I would consider to be "man law." Man law is not the same as "don't be a d-bag," which is what these rules seem to be to me.

    "Man Law" is stuff like: "If there are others available, do not use the urinal directly adjacent to another dude."
  • coolmonkey@xanga

    Wasn't there an identical post like this a week ago about chivalry?  And these are not man laws.  This is a chivalry checklist.  I swear, why is the Mancouch being invaded by chick posts?  Don't they already have Datingish?

    Man laws include laws like, "Thou shalt not waste beer" or "Thou shalt not have sex with thou friend's sister unless she comes onto you first."  For a complete list, please consul the man law manual:  http://www.muybueno.net/articles/stories/manlaws.html
  • Spyder_V@xanga

    Hahahaha! Man laws from a woman's perspective? This looks like a list that a group of women made in hopes that all men were gentleman and chivalrous. Sorry, for the laughter, but man law is completely different.

    However, most of those are applicable for me and I practice them whenever I'm in the situation. They're definitely something that separate great men, from the normal. =P
  • kaybaby666@xanga

    I think those "rules" that apply to men should also apply to women. It's being polite and that shouldn't be limited to gender. I've held doors, offered the good seat, paid for a meal, bought a present all that stuff for boyfriends, guy friends etc..

    As for the peeing on the wall thing. I've seen it, whatever lol.

  • deepcreekkid@xanga

    @Neowind@xanga - You'd be surprised, my group of friends and I talk about that.  I think all men have these kinds of conversations once and awhile, I can't see why not.  I guess we're all gentlemen (when we want to be).

    But yea, this isn't man law. man law is more like, "If thou walks in on thou's roommate with a female, quickly, and quietly leave."  Or, "Thou shall not be in the same room if your friend/roommate is trying to get some."
  • icecrepas@xanga

    chivalry is not a law, it's a lifestyle.


    it must not be upheld, it must be lived.


    is this concept that difficult to comprehend?
  • the_world_to_you@xanga

    yo, i got a question.


    when is a guy supposed to "come to the rescue" (law #7)?alot of the time, and i know i might seem a bit harsh on the girls with this, but girls seem to laugh at it when douche bags slap their asses or otherwise treat 'em like merch. I thought it was supposed to be the chivalrous guys who could really impress.
    Take the girls at my school for example. they hang around these guys who treat them like dirt and just play along with it. even when they say "stop it" its hard to tell if they are playing or if they really want help. last time i tried to stand up for a girl in that kind of situation, i got slapped by her and punched by him.
  • TheGiantSlayer@xanga

    This isn't Man law, this is basic Manners. There is a distinction between the two. 
  • DanzInRealLife@xanga

    I'm liking most of those.. Except the holding the door open for all ladies...

    If you're walking in with one, then sure. If there's an old lady in front of you, most definitely, same goes with pregnant women. But not every woman that is approaching the door at the same time you are.
  • figachewy@xanga

    Whoa whoa whoa! Put the brakes on! That's chivalry you're describing, which is completely exclusive from man law. Man law revolves around being masculine and macho and setting boundaries among other men; chivalry is all about treating girls right. 
  • starving2bebeautifulx@xanga

    One on hand, I agree that men should act like that. But, on the other hand, if we expect men to take care of us and protect us like that, how can we expect to be independent and get treated as equals? We can't have it both ways.
  • Doubledb@xanga

    @JadedJanissary@xanga - Yes I agree, those are lwas for being a gentleman but no "Man Laws" maybe woman laws for men? ha ha. "Man Laws" usually refer to things that might look men seem more feminine. For instance, some men if they go see a movie want a seat between them. Me and one of my friends do it more because we are both bigger so we have more elbow room. There are some other examples but I cannot think of any of the top of my head.

    Examples
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Laws
    http://www.muybueno.net/articles/stories/manlaws.html
  • caffeinatedangel@xanga

    Those are all in my ideas of "man law" or the laws of Chivalry. But one that I miss? Not swearing in the presence of a lady. I think that shows a lot of respect - especially if you are just getting to know each other. I'm find with it with my close guy friends, but if I meet a guy and he has a potty mouth right off the bat, that is just icky and ungentlemanly in my opinion.

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