Posted on 01/16/2015 4:06:51 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The advertising campaign in New York telling men to stop “manspreading” has cost the city’s taxpayers more than $76,000.
“Dude…Stop the Spread, Please” was the biggest takeaway from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) new campaign announced last month, instructing riders on proper subway etiquette. “Manspreading” is when a man keeps his legs apart while sitting.
Invoices obtained by the Washington Free Beacon from the MTA through a Freedom of Information Law request reveal that the campaign has cost $76,707.70.
The MTA hired Edison Lithograph and Printing Corp. to print thousands of posters and placards, which will appear in 2,600 subway cars. The company produces all of MTA’s advertising and brochures.
The MTA is $34.4 billion in debt.
While online commenters complain that manspreading is “ridiculous male privilege,” defenders of the practice argue, “I need to sit that way because of my balls.” Others decry that “women put their handbags on seats all the time.”
The Canadian Association for Equality, which is fighting a potential ban of manspreading in Toronto, agreed.
“This sets a very bad precedent as men opening their legs is something we have to do due to our biology,” the group wrote in a petition to the Toronto Transit Commission. “It sometimes can be physically painful for [us] to close our legs and we can’t be expected to do so.”
They added that manspreading is a “sexist term, and is the simple act of opening your legs.”
The MTA said promoting good etiquette makes the subway more enjoyable for everyone.
“The new program, developed by MTA Corporate Communications, highlights behaviors that are both encouraged and discouraged for the benefit of everyone,” a press release announcing the campaign said. “The messaging largely reflects complaints and suggestions from riders.”
“The colorfully-designed placards employ simple graphics to illustrate behavioral ‘do’ and ‘don’t’ scenarios,” the MTA added. “The illustrations are reinforced with pithy statements.”
Besides manspreading, the list of “no no’s” include “clipping” your hair, “primping,” and “blocking doors.”
“Poles are for your safety, not your latest routine,” will also appear on an ad.
DANG!
Whattabout transgender spreading?
People need to get a life.
Let's start a campaign for that and see what happens, lol.
BAN MANSHAMING!!!
I love NYC, it will always be my hometown. We were there over the holidays and there’s just no place like it, the verve and excitement, just walking down the street, it’s unbeatable.
But I’m glad I don’t live there anymore because the s.t.u.p.i.d. has just gotten out of control.
I never thought NYC was a stupid town, but it is now.
My gawd, how much bs will new yawkiz take?
So I guess they don’t have any real problems to spend money on?
These people obviously have very privileged lives. If you can make up campaigns about non-issues, your life might be too good. Maybe a few years in a Communist country as a nobody will put their lives into perspective.
“Privilege”
There is a word that needs to be eliminated from daily use. I consider myself pretty savvy on current events and politically active. I never hear that word used the way is has until about 6 months ago. I wonder which kook linguistics professor cooked up this nonsense. It is too simplistic to stroke Noam Chomskey’s ego so probably some gynocentric angry lesbian professor from Hahvahd.
Wow! Glad I don't live there and have to contribute to this madness.
Taking up more space than you need on crowded public transportation is rude, your gender doesn’t matter. Or at least it shouldn’t matter.
There was an article posted at F.R., just today, that some place had canceled, "The Vagina Monologues" because it was unfair to women without vaginas.
(I'm not making that up)
this sh1t is getting out of hand.
i sit with legs a little bit open because i don’t want crushed nuts.
why we have to hear women complaints about their special needs physically, and make accomodations for them, and they bitch about the fact men have balls and don’t want to sit on them, is beyond me.
course these are mostly feminist women who hate men and find anything at all to harass them about.
My boys need to breathe.
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