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.
This post may include affiliate links.
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
I am a girl. Give me a good stick and i will be thrilled lol. My friend and i actually had a sort of wrestling/playfight over a really good stick. He won :(
Load More Replies...
I do this, that's why I started using hiking poles because I'm committed to leave no trace even though I want to bring everything home.
I've got 4 dogs, if I pick up a stick, they expect me to throw it to the next continent. What kind of man would I be if I disappoint them?
The dogs I have now aren't interested in sticks that much but I threw a stick up for a dog in the park and the man said 'he'll not leave you alone now' and yikes he was right! I nearly went home with a third dog! Not that I'd have minded!!
Load More Replies...
With magpies and plovers wanting to swoop you (I'm in Australia of course) a good stick is a necessity on all my walks
yeah we have plovers here in SA and they are c***s.
Load More Replies...
Oh hell no That is not just a guy thing trust me, I literally have a giant bin under the eaves of my garage full of sticks I intend to do something with... and rocks Oh my God I pick up any rare unusual odd looking rock and bring it home I literally just have a area in my yard a random rocks I pick up on walks. Oh yeah and seed pods not because I want the seeds necessarily because the pods look cool I am like a 5-year-old child seriously you have to go through my pockets when I come in the house to see what odd random things I picked up
You guys pick up sticks, I pick up rocks, feathers and anything else shiny I spot. Yup, I admit it, i'm a female magpie :D
but that has nothing to do with being a man, i'm a woman and i do that too. my oldest nephew, who could be my little brother, sometimes has wild sword fights, we're both over 40
OOh not so weird for all women - my daughter often came home with 'a good stick' - the last one was about 10 months age - she's nearly 30!
Hubby does that. Then he pulls out his pocket knife and carves the top of the stick until it has a really good hand-hold so it's the perfect walking stick. THEN he leans it up against a tree, picks up a new stick, and starts over.
Not just a guy thing. Whenever I hike with my dog, I always get a nice walking stick.
I'm more of a rock person. Because, pretty, weapon, stress reliever (throw that thing like a baseball, even though I don't play baseball) and because holding a rock just feels right.
I thought that was a human thing, not a gendered thing. Maybe just in my house? Or maybe guys and neurodivergent girls? 🤷
A good stick is not to be sniffed at. I have a collection I've brought back from hikes over the years.
I pick up a good stick if I find one. Then I raise it up and shout "You shall not pass!" I'm a woman. :)
I think this is instinct from countless generations of needing support for long walks and defending ourselves from wild animals (i.e. snakes). I don't know if it's unique to men though.
This isn't a men thing!! I always look out for a good stick on every one of my hikes.
Never under estimate a good stick lol. Its a cane, a bat, a sword, a shooty thing, a wand. Its endless.
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.
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
Actually a crime in most parts of London (by-laws). And rightly so IMO.
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
That's just being polite. Why force other people to listen to a bunch of whining and complaining, there's no need.
Note: this post originally had 45 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
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
