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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. 

#1

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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.

wango138 , Büşranur Aydın/pexels Report

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nia not long
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't think to ask about any of that either. It's not my baby🤷🏽‍♀️ but congrats!!

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#2

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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.

FloppyPenguin1701 , Tomas Anunziata/pexels Report

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Sergio Bicerra
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#3

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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".

F0rdycent , Ron Lach/pexels Report

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#4

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Me and the bros have been friends for like 15 years... I think we have a total of 3 pictures together haha

Lamontyy , Nur Andi Ravsanjani Gusma/pexels Report

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Sum Guy
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have 2 pictures together with my best friend of 28 years... 1 was 3 years go at my dad's wedding and the other was 3 weeks ago at his sister's wedding.

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#5

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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.

GrammarIsDescriptive , SHVETS production/pexels Report

#6

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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."

Single_Blueberry , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

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Phoenix
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#8

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Being friends with someone and knowing absolutely nothing about them

IPanicKnife , Diva Plavalaguna/pexels Report

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Superb Owl
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To fix this: Knowing absolutely nothing about them that someone else thinks is normal to know.

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#9

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women The one who gets roasted the most is probably our star of the group. We insult because we love.

Ok-Experience-6674 , Helena Lopes/pexels Report

#10

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women stopping to pick up a good stick

PaIngallsButSexier , Saroj Gajurel/pexels Report

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SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#12

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Deciding to do something and leaving the house 5 minutes later to get it done.

Ok_Butterscotch_3219 , Alena Darmel/pexels Report

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xczechr
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going to a store to buy one thing, buying the one thing, then immediately leaving.

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#13

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Using shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash from the same bottle

spicy_sizzlin , Kindel Media/pexels Report

#14

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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

pinndog-trillionare , Liudmyla Shalimova/pexels Report

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Mike F
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's OK, after 50 the hair on the arms and legs quit growing but begin popping out of the nose and ears.

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#15

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Nodding to other random dudes on the street, and getting nods back in acknowledgement

blahdumb , Huy ProShoot/pexels Report

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xczechr
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Up if you know them, down if you don't. No one taught us this, but we all know it.

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#16

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Going literal years without any sort of physical contact

RadiantHC , Markus Spiske/pexels Report

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Natalie Bohrteller
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This shouldn't be normal. Deprivation of touch is a problem, not a normal.

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Roxy222uk
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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 :-(

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Momo Skarsgård
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Poppy
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not normal and not unique to men. I've been touch starved for 10 years because I've not had a partner (casual or otherwise) and my family aren't tactile.

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WA2DK
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a women and having been single for 14 years, and not into one-night stands, my amount of physical contact is also very limited. When it happens, I'm usually on the giving end, not the receiving (like playing with my kids' hair while they lean up against me).

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El Dee
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went ten weeks during lockdown without touching another living thing nor having a conversation with anyone who wasn't taking my payment for groceries. This is tough..

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Flora Porter
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Baali Venomax
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Months for me, but yeah. I'm an introvert and most of my female friends work or are too busy to catch up.

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Aranora
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have cats... Disabled lock in with severe airborne allergies. I had a physio visit the house 5 years ago and every time she came 2 feet near me she triggered my asthma. She was wearing unscented dove deodorant.

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Travis Fox
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Brendan
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went a couple of years without any physical affection. It was dispairing. The severity hit me when I was in the shower. The shower hose accidentally brushed by my arm, and it reminded me of human touch.

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TRina Lockary
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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TRina Lockary
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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That Person
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. The boys from school do way more shoving than the girls. This is flat out inaccurate

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Uncle Schmickle
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Often mental stimulation is enough ( he says cuddling the cat ! )

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yeeyee
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just physical touch or would it be more affectionate touch or both? I only ask because the handshake is a popular greeting, amongst other gestures.

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#17

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Idle mode, literally not thinking of anything for a short period of time

Raptoraide , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

#18

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Strapping something down and saying “that’s not going anywhere”

Ok_Cry1188 , Andrea Piacquadio/pexels Report

#19

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Not having to constantly worry about waiting on line for the bathroom/finding a bathroom

Historical-Essay6116 , Gabriela Pereira/pexels Report

#20

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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.

pakkomi , Yaroslav Shuraev/pexels Report

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witchling
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is really interesting. It's not often someone gets to see 'both sides of the story' from an insides perspective. Would make for a great anthropological study.

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#21

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women SPITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. WHYYYYY DO THEY DO THAT

anonuglysimpleetc , Polina Zimmerman/pexels Report

#22

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Washing your hair every time you shower

soyundinosaurioverde , Karolina Grabowska/pexels Report

#23

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.

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#24

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Sleeping on a mattress on the floor with no sheets and only one flat yellow pillow.

NotNamedBort , Skylar Kang/pexels Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe in my early 20s but I have so many pillows now. I love my little nest.

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#25

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women 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.

EdithWhartonsFarts , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

#26

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women When you walk behind a woman up the stairs you truly evaluate the architectual design and thinking that went into them by looking down

NostalgicNolan , MART PRODUCTION/pexels Report

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Falcon on Dizzy
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

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#27

Periods of silence. Sometimes you chill with the boys and just enjoy the moment. No words, just drinking, gaming, smoking, etc in silence..

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#28

Walking alone at night to "clear the mind", as men usually say. I wish I could do that!

gabibis_art Report

#29

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Walking around outside topless.

Adventurous_Yak_9234 , Irwan Rizky/pexels Report

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Daniela Lavanza
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#30

30 Things That Are Absolutely Normal For Men, But Not Women Never venting about your day

Cbjmac , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

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LaserBrain
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just being polite. Why force other people to listen to a bunch of whining and complaining, there's no need.

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