Stop ‘Manspreading’ on Metro North Trains

I'm an enormous human being. I see the look of terror on people's faces as I walk down the row at concerts or airplanes. The airline industry was the first to monetize the extra space that people of my size need. I've had to pay for an extra seat on an airplane for myself, and it wasn't cheap.

A blurb on Drudge Report caught my eye this morning. It read "California mass transit cracks down on Manspreaders". I clicked on the jump link, and it brought me to a post from Yahoo News. Basically, California has begun fining people $100 that take up more than one seat on mass transit trains. I don't believe this fine is directed at the morbidly obese, but more towards people who put their massive backpacks, coffee and bagels, or feet on adjoining seats.

Metro North has been running a similar campaign dubbed, "Dude, Stop the Spread, Please". I love the slogan. Many of my friends have complained about sitting next to a stoned, mouth-breathing manspreader on the trip from Southeast to Grand Central.

I'm very aware of the space I'm taking up on mass transit. If there are people standing, I'll shift into an uncomfortable position in order to offer someone the tiny space next to me. You should too. Another hint? Shower. It'll ease the pain of sitting so close to someone else.