Look, life is too short to follow arbitrary rules about how to interact with furniture. If you have long legs, stepping over the back of a chair—the legendary Riker Maneuver—is simply more efficient than shimmying around the side. It’s a statement of confidence and spatial awareness. Beyond just being a 'power move,' it’s actually more ergonomic for some people to mount a chair this way rather than twisting their hips. We should value functionality and personal flair over rigid, outdated social norms. If the chair is stable and you aren't hurting anyone, why does it matter how your glutes meet the cushion? It’s about taking command of your environment. People who get upset about 'weird' sitting habits are usually just uncomfortable with anyone who doesn't conform to the most boring possible version of social etiquette. If I can get into my seat faster and more comfortably by swinging a leg over the top, I'm going to do it.
There is a reason we have social norms for basic tasks like sitting down: they prevent accidents and maintain a level of decorum. Stepping over the back of a chair isn't 'efficient'; it's a tripping hazard and a great way to scuff up the upholstery or break the backrest, which wasn't designed to bear that kind of weight or angle. In a professional or social setting, it comes across as performative and distracting, as if you’re trying way too hard to be the 'alpha' in the room. It’s also inconsiderate to those around you—nobody wants your shoe swinging past their face while they’re trying to have a conversation. Good manners and respect for shared property mean sitting like a functioning adult, not like you're mounting a horse in a sci-fi drama. Just because you can physically do something doesn't mean it's appropriate behavior in a shared space.