It can be easy to fall into the trap of forgetting that the other half of the population lives a very different kind of life. The things that you might do without a second thought can, at times, be completely out of the ordinary for someone else.
So one curious internet user asked, “What is normal to men but weird to women?” and netizens shared their best examples. From prison-cell-like living spaces to simply never asking questions, get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites, and be sure to add your own thoughts and examples in the comments section below.
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Not getting details. Case in point: One of my best friends wife had a baby. I swung by the hospital on my lunch break, congratulated him, and left.
That night, I told my wife they had the baby. It was a boy, and the name. She started asking all this other stuff, length, weight, time, etc, and I had no idea. Didn't bother to ask. Baby was good, Mom and Dad were good. I thought I had covered the bases.
I wouldn't think to ask about any of that either. It's not my baby🤷🏽♀️ but congrats!!
Accidentally walking behind a woman at night and quickly going to the other side of the road or slowing down to create distance so you don't seem like a creep.
Did this last night, crossing throu a big apartment complex, there are routes to cross it in less time, she was about 15ft in front of me. After taking the same path for 5 minutes y redirected and took a longer route cause I was feeling creepy.
Several years back, my wife and I moved abroad. Our first Christmas back in the US we had separate guys/ladies nights to catch up with our old friends. When we got back that night she was able to give me an update on everyone because for the past few hours they just sat in a circle and took turns talking about their lives. When she asked me about the guys, I responded "I dunno, we just ordered pizza and played video games".
Me and the bros have been friends for like 15 years... I think we have a total of 3 pictures together haha
Not having any real friends to support them through tough times.
This is particularly true of boomers - I hope it won't be the same for my generation. As I watch my parents and their friends get old, sick, and die, I see that none of the men visit each other in hospital or even know why their "friends" are sick. My mom and her female friends spend their days checking in on and taking care of each other. But when a husband gets sick, there is no one except their wife to take care of them.
The only exception in my parents' friend-group was the gay male couple. They had a community of gay men supporting them.
Being scared of randomly being accused of being a creep in public, possibly even reported, even though you're just minding your own business.
No, I'm not staring at you, I'm thinking about a certainly relevant scenario about how I would fight off a random armed bank robber right now and my state of mind is "Where am I going again? Oh, look, a bunch of ants. Nice."
My dad used to drive to a park on his lunch break, eat his lunch then lay his seat back and take a short nap. He was reported to the police because they thought he was "watching the kids". He wasn't even facing the playground. If I (female) did the same thing I doubt anyone would've thought anything of it.
That side step to unstick your nutsack.
Being friends with someone and knowing absolutely nothing about them
To fix this: Knowing absolutely nothing about them that someone else thinks is normal to know.
The one who gets roasted the most is probably our star of the group. We insult because we love.
This one is very true. Generally, blokes only take the pįss out of people we like.
stopping to pick up a good stick
For me, it doesn't just stop with picking up the stick. What follows is stick becomes lightsaber in my head and whoosh, whoosh, imaginary Stormtrooper falls XP
Having no decorations whatsoever.
True. I've never understood the appeal of just having stuff everywhere.
Deciding to do something and leaving the house 5 minutes later to get it done.
Using shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash from the same bottle
Body hair. It’s fine for men to have hairy legs, armpits, etc., but everyone loses their mind if they see a woman with body hair
Nodding to other random dudes on the street, and getting nods back in acknowledgement
Going literal years without any sort of physical contact
This shouldn't be normal. Deprivation of touch is a problem, not a normal.
Absolutely true, touch by another human, skin on skin, is a physical need for well-being. Just a pat on the back of the hand, that kind of thing, but unbelievably important. Again, men in our society have been taught this is a feminine behaviour and that men only touch the skin of another human if they intend to have sex with the person :-(
Load More Replies...This doesn't belong here, I've met women that have spent years without any human touch. It's an individual thing and has nothing to do with gender.
Same for many women, especially if you're on your own when the menopause strikes. Nature takes away the incentive to do something about it.
My partner last touched me maybe 8 years ago. So yeah, true.
Load More Replies...Months for me, but yeah. I'm an introvert and most of my female friends work or are too busy to catch up.
Shouldn't be normal? Well it is. And faced primarily by men. We aren't allowed to reach out for contact because we are creepy if we do. We can't show our emotional emptiness because we are weak when we do. I've not been touched (except brushed up against in crowds) by another human being in almost 3 years now. Its soul crushing to feel this unwanted and untouchable. Men have more issues with loneliness than any other group, and sadly it's completely normal in today's society.
Same for fat or ugly women. We can go a whole lifetime without any affection of any kind. Only hate.
Psychological problem not a gender one. I know this first hand.
While this isn't exclusive to men what I think it is is it's perceived as being something men shouldn't ask for in a non-sexual format. Like we think it is somehow acceptable for women to say could I have a hug from a friend or would you like a from a friend but for a guy to do that we have this weird toxic masculinity concept that there's something wrong or creepy about that
This not only isn't normal but it really isn't healthy, and I'm not talking from a general opinion There are studies that say physical contact is important. I have fibromyalgia being hugged can literally be agony and yet there are times When I realize my husband needs hug and I want one so I will hug him even though it hurts because it hurts more to think of him not getting hug
Nope. The boys from school do way more shoving than the girls. This is flat out inaccurate
Often mental stimulation is enough ( he says cuddling the cat ! )
Idle mode, literally not thinking of anything for a short period of time
How is that possible?! I’m a guy, and my brain whirls endlessly.
Strapping something down and saying “that’s not going anywhere”
Well, if you don't say the magic words, you're definitely going to lose it.
Not having to constantly worry about waiting on line for the bathroom/finding a bathroom
I'm trans, and not many people know that. It gives me a very unique perspective in life of having acclimatised to both men and women social norms. A major difference is that men and women gossip, - but differently. When girls gossip, it's about "who did what, when, how, and *the audacity*" and when men gossip, it's one guy saying "this guy is a s**t c**t, ay." And other guys going "yeah." If I treated either in reversal, men would be put off by it, and women would be wondering *why* I don't like them over the fact that I just *don't,* women need reason, context. Forgiveness is different too. Women are so much more understanding, but rarely forgive once a line is crossed. Men might just not like you over something petty. Buy him a beer or make his life a little easier and suddenly you're not so bad anymore. "He's still a s**t c**t, but he's not that bad" Men aren't better drivers, they're more decisive ones. Women are more cautious, which can slow reaction time when they're accessing the situation. Men leave much more to instinct. Often in each other's eyes, men are reckless, women are too slow. Neither are necessarily right or wrong. Being "gross". Men in men-only environments don't tend to think much about spitting, sticky taping wounds, adjusting their junk, farting, burping, not washing their hands as often as they probably should. There seems to be a lot more group forgiveness that "yeah I do that too, it's normal." When women are together, you still don't hear them ripping one and congratulating each other.
SPITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. WHYYYYY DO THEY DO THAT
I've never done this. I've seen some men do it but I never know why? I mean... did a fly land in your mouth? Or do you have tuberculosis?
Been working out at a local gym for half a year with 3-4 guys . Don’t know their names. Don’t plan on asking.
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor with no sheets and only one flat yellow pillow.
Maybe in my early 20s but I have so many pillows now. I love my little nest.
I have cried once in the last 15 years and it was when I watched my father die 12 years ago. I don't 'try not to cry,' I just don't cry. My wife and my 7 sisters have very clearly informed me this is, uh, not their normal.
When you walk behind a woman up the stairs you truly evaluate the architectual design and thinking that went into them by looking down
these are some beautiful m***********g stairs, man I gotta applaud whoever designed these, they're pretty nice. the steps are perfectly spaced, the color is immaculate, and oh I'm at the top now. bye stairs!
Periods of silence. Sometimes you chill with the boys and just enjoy the moment. No words, just drinking, gaming, smoking, etc in silence..
Walking alone at night to "clear the mind", as men usually say. I wish I could do that!
Walking around outside topless.
This is more a cultural thing. Go to Polynesia, a topless woman is not shocking there. Also, it's about comfort. I for one would rather wear a piece of garment that holds thight my stuff, even in a context where I can take it off.
Never venting about your day
Many of these are what leads to men (like myself) saying they hadn’t seen any signs before their friends suicide. We need to talk to each other if and when we’re feeling low! Too many young men die at their own hands, and in so many cases it’s entirely avoidable.
i totally agree. there is so little support or room out there for simply talking about what they're going through, and as someone who's had a close friend almost die of suicide, that really needs to change. Simply being able to reach out to one person who you can actually talk to can save your life. Guys, please let yourself be that one person to someone you care about.
Load More Replies...hmm mostly sexist nonsense that applies mostly to western societies.
As a guy I can say like almost none of these r true. Like, esp the ones abt emotions a lot of those r untrue
Many of these are what leads to men (like myself) saying they hadn’t seen any signs before their friends suicide. We need to talk to each other if and when we’re feeling low! Too many young men die at their own hands, and in so many cases it’s entirely avoidable.
i totally agree. there is so little support or room out there for simply talking about what they're going through, and as someone who's had a close friend almost die of suicide, that really needs to change. Simply being able to reach out to one person who you can actually talk to can save your life. Guys, please let yourself be that one person to someone you care about.
Load More Replies...hmm mostly sexist nonsense that applies mostly to western societies.
As a guy I can say like almost none of these r true. Like, esp the ones abt emotions a lot of those r untrue