Sometimes, someone says “I wonder what it means” and often one responds by giving their opinion (or not). Big deal.
The cartoon does just what a mirror does - reveals those that look at it.
I was accused of “mansplaining” once. I’m a man, and I was explaining something, so I wasn’t gonna complain, except… well, that word isn’t in the dictionary! (yet). or is it? Jeez, I can’t keep up…
"I said I wonder what it means, not tell me what it means."
Yeah, it’s a Rorschach test, and that means the interpretation tells us about the interpreter more than anything else.
Most of us, men and women alike, can think of a time some know-it-all asshole told us some shit and we just wanted them to shut up, and we project that onto the cartoon. Some people, apparently, are so upset by others pointing out that the world has these know-it-all-assholes* that they assume anyone who points it out is the one being a jerk.
I can’t remember who deserves the credit for this, but: If you meet an asshole in the morning, it’s too bad you had to deal with that asshole. If you meet assholes all day, you’re the asshole.
If reading that comic makes a person think of all the times people have unfairly complained about them and not all the times they were annoyed by others then it’s pretty clear who the asshole is.
* People who are annoyed at this tend to surround it in the language of discrimination and rights, as if observing that men seem to do this to women a lot is a crime against humanity. I dislike the term “mansplaining” because it takes an issues that affects every marginalized group and makes it solely about gender (white people 'splain things to black people, people without disabilities 'splain things to people with disabilities, cis people 'splain things to trans people). I think that’s a legitimate complaint. But the majority who raise an issue with it are just rationalizing their hurt feelings at being called out on behaviour that others don’t like.
That’s an interesting line to walk, but the doctor analogy probably breaks down because they are actually speaking from a position of superior knowledge and because their goal is to get you to comply with the treatment, not to be your friend. If you walk out saying, “That doctor is such a pain in the ass” but take your entire course of anti-biotics, that’s a win for them.
And even if he did his master’s thesis on the artist, he could say, “You know, it’s funny, I actually did my master’s thesis on this artist.” Then wait for her to say, “Oh really?” Then give a little information, like, “His two biggest influences were and [Y]. Actually, I think they have some paintings here.” Next thing you know, he is walking through the gallery, showing off his knowledge of and passion for the subject, and seeming really interesting instead of like a bore because he is stopping to gauge her reaction and interest as he goes, and giving her an opportunity to share her knowledge as well, instead of assuming he knows more. Maybe her master’s thesis was on [Y].
There’s two problems with “mansplaining.” One is presuming you know more than the other person, the other is assuming the other person wants to hear every thought that floats through your head.
I almost promise you it is, but entirely besides that, dictionaries react to language, they don’t govern it.
But the original – and narrower – meaning was so powerful that it’s now creeping into a far broader use. If I assume a woman who is talking about, say, physics and I just assume she must need my authoritative input, that’s being an asshole. If I hear anyone on the street asking aloud “what star is that?” I will offer an authoritative answer if I have one. Maybe that’s also being an asshole, but I’ll still do it – and it’s different in kind.
Then again, maybe she spoke to him first. Who can say?
Hey, enough with the womansplaining! 
why can’t it just be _splain_ing - sigh
Doctors, especially those treating you, can and should be empathetic to how you are feeling and what they are about to do to your vulnerable body without ever intending to be your friend.
Hah! Well, you’re welcome. I do work with foster kids in emotional intelligence and mindfulness.
Edit: and for what it’s worth, I qualified all of my statements as speculation and opinion.
Just say all you like. I shared the real life experience to illustrate how easy it is to find yourself in a situation where you think you are saying/doing one thing, but it is received/taken in an entirely different manner. I do not personally take offense to the idea that we “splain” things to one another which is the modern “Don’t talk down to me”. I DO however take offense that some feel it is a gender specific action. Its not.
My spouse wanted me to understand the situation and her frustration and reply “That sucks, what a bitch.” I did not do that, because as her and I discussed through our casual disagreement she learned that I am in fact not a telepath. She realized her mistake in assuming what my response would be, and I realized my mistake in simply not probing further and gauging what her needs were.
The problem here is I did not need some random person explaining that to me. My spouse and I were there and perfectly capable of discussing the situation and coming to a mutual resolution.
Raylan Givens, Justified
Agreed. Specifically to the fact that most often the greatest emotion felt is fear. And that fear is commonly exasperated when you are hearing words and phrases that you cannot comprehend.
Offering authoritative answer about a subject for which there is no authority; mansplaining.*
Offering authoritative answer to a question nobody asked; mansplaining.*
Offering authoritative answer to a person who is just as (or more) knowledgeable; mansplaining.*
Offering authoritative answer to an actual question about which you are an actual authority; not mansplaining.*
*if you’re a man, of course.
I tend to have a bunch of useless knowledge and trivia that pops into my head at random. Often times i can’t help but say it out loud, it’s like trivia tourette’s. I try to be mindful of it but sometimes i can’t help myself :\ I can only hope it’s not taken the wrong way
Does that happen to you a lot? Could that be happening, currently?
[redacted]
Brilliant.
And I may add: or else you’re a proctologist.
It can be! Start using it an hope it catches on.
I totally agree. Plus if their goal is compliance with treatment, offering sympathy along with their explanation of why treatment is important furthers that goal. In fact, in my original reply I had written a paragraph to that effect and then, given the topic, I reminded myself that I should be trying to explain everything to everyone, and I removed it.
I recently watched a Jimmy Carr special where he said that he sometimes wondered why there are so many more men in stand-up than women. He knew women were just as capable of thinking of funny things as men. He said he attributed it to women having a special ability men don’t: The ability to think of something funny and then not say it.
I didn’t catch your answer. May I take that as a “may be”?
