Guys, why do men lightly touch women when they say “excuse me”?

[Anonymous]

Before you come at me saying I’m some crazy feminist or justice warrior, I genuinely don’t care that men do this. It’s something that happens to me, but whenever men say excuse me, they’ll lightly touch a woman’s arm or waist. I’m not saying women don’t do it, but I mainly see it in men. Why do guys do it?

[gentlemanscholar]

If I needed to get the attention of a lady, who was preoccupied and did not see me coming through (say on to the other side of the footpath); I would politely and clearly say, to the lady 'Excuse me, please." then 'Thank you."

[jimyee]

I would never touch a women's waist but I do do the arm touch, but I do that with men as well.

[Shark_61695]

I think I do it to guide the other person out of my way. In a busy place, often it is difficult to identify who is trying to get past and where, so a gentle touch to arm or back, the most convenient safe place to touch.

[Asker]

@Shark_61695 Fair enough!

[jimyee]

As someone who works in the service industry, as well as a dive bar, I'm not necessarily trying to be nice, I'm trying to get through and sometimes i might be holding 30+glasses. However, when proper, I'm always respectful.

[lightbulb27]

sometimes not all.
we used to knock the girl out with tree branch 20k years ago and take her back to our cave. It was just reflex to get attention. But that was frowned upon 10k years ago by the great Zog who said "you knuckle druggers bad, stop that!" We've evolved so that we now use gently touch girl and be nice without being too brute to get attention, without causing much of an emotional stir. Much better! Don't tell me we have to evolve again? This is getting tiring!:)

[taleswapper]

Usually, to get their attention, and indicate to whom they are speaking. Especially if they have no name to add.

[HaveNoName]

The creeps do that. I will never give a man the benefit of the doubt when I see him do this. It is not accidental; it is not unconscientious.

[hereforthefunofit]

It's being polite to make sure we dont run into you. Nothing more then that.

[Lance1965]

I have never seen a guy do that... but it sounds kind of creepy.

[Anonymous]

Thats rape tell the police if you see that its their toxic masculinity

[John_Doesnt]

Yes, but not lightly. I do it rough.

[jmstarling]

I don't. That sounds rude unless you're close.