# An otherwise normal man with holes in his socks - how weird? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777 "2012-10-05T05:19:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/81 "2012-10-10T20:18:50Z")
I always bring an extra sock when I go golfing in case I get a hole in one. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/82 "2012-10-10T20:33:44Z")
I can’t stand wearing socks with holes in them. But I’m a weird fellow whom no one should emulate. I also feel more comfortable i a shirt & tie than a tee-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/83 "2012-10-11T04:08:07Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Lots of people I know think guys’ feet in general are gross. She said: “From my point of view, it’s FAR better for broke people to go commando/sockless than to wear holey undies or socks out of the house. I have no problem with bare nads or feet.” So, no problem with bare nads or feet. Presumably, bare nads and / or feet are not a complete deal breaker. But holes in one’s socks?! That’s just low class, man. Maybe I’m the only one who found that hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyWithATypewriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MonkeyWithATypewriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyWithATypewriter)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/84 "2012-10-11T13:12:51Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Darn it! I’d rather you sew! My college room mates had holes in their underwear …so I am pretty much desensitized to sock holes… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/85 "2012-10-11T13:54:40Z")
Why do I need socks if I have diamonds on the soles of my shoes? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/86 "2012-10-11T14:17:30Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I was on a Southwest flight on which the flight attendents held a contest to the person with the biggest hole in his or her sock. The finalists were all normal-looking guys and there were some unbelievably gigantic holey socks. This was pre 9/11, so before you had to take off your shoes going through Security. I suspect 9/11 helped sock sales. Easily avoidable by anyone who doesn’t mind lying in public. “Oh, crap, that hole wasn’t there when I put that sock on! It must have just happened!” :dubious: It doesn’t matter if they believe you. In your own mind, you’ve covered your butt, even if you haven’t covered your toe (or heel). Or, so I hear. From other people. Who do that kind of thing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/87 "2012-10-11T14:57:35Z")
Whenever I see the title of this thread, I keep wondering, “Where are all these men who _would_ be **completely normal** if only it weren’t for the holes in their socks?” ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/88 "2012-10-11T15:28:17Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Why do I need socks if I have diamonds on the soles of my shoes? Rich girl. Don’t try to hide it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/89 "2012-10-11T15:34:57Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > One claimed that if she didn’t know me, she’d think it was a sign of a mental health disorder. I ran across the perfect response for this just the other day: > [@](#): > > By they way, I found your nose. It was in my business. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/90 "2012-10-11T15:39:16Z")
I’m wearing a sock with a hole in it right now! It only bothers me if my toe stick through (that’s uncomfortable) or I have to take of my shoes in public. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/91 "2012-10-11T15:42:35Z")
I’m a man, I don’t wear holy socks, but I checked not weird at all because if I saw a guy or a woman with holes in their socks it would not lead me to draw any conclusions about them as people at all. Totally unimportant. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/92 "2012-10-11T18:22:12Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > The reason I don’t get new socks is because they are still usable, and because I have all of one type of sock which makes it easy to sort them. Wait, you don’t number all your sock pairs and label them L and R to keep straight which is which? 😉 > [@Shodan](#): > > EtA: I buy large numbers of socks, all of the same kind and color, so they don’t have to be sorted. And if one develops a hole, throw it and save the other. Then make a new pair when another sock springs a leak. Seems to be a common solution. > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > If I notice the hole, I usually put the sock aside with the full intention of throwing it out later. Later it ends up back in the laundry. > > This will happen ten or twelve times before the sock actually gets thrown out. Since I do my own laundry, if I don’t notice when taking them off and cull immediately, then I will inspect the trouble spots while sorting my socks to look for holes. I tend to get them in the back just above the heel. Not sure what I’m catching them on to do that. I’ve had some pairs go until the heel wears through, others get a tear fairly soon. ☹ > [@InternetLegend](#): > > What I want to know is how all of you who buy the same type of sock all the time manage to do so. By the time I go to replace socks, I can never find the exact same type I bought before, so the socks don’t quite match, and that bugs me. I’ve noticed that problem. Generally, I’ll buy a 9 pack or a couple 6 packs or otherwise a pile of the same brand at the same time, thus they will all be the same. I’ll wear those and over time weed them down until my sock count is suffiently low that I have to do laundry too often, at which point I’ll look for another bulk buy. Then I have sets of socks, so sorting consists of determining which set. A bit of a pain, but still better than sorting to the individual pair. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/93 "2012-10-12T01:05:38Z")
Not weird at all. But perhaps he should trim his toenails more often. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/94 "2012-10-12T05:30:10Z")
I should add I can’t wear socks with a hole in the toe or the heel - both feel funny and affect my comfort. A strange hole in some other location might not affect the feel, but if it’s visible it looks tacky and weird. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/95 "2012-10-12T12:30:41Z")
My MIL is weird about holey socks. If you happen to wear one in her presence she will stalk until she finds an opportunity and then stick her finger in the hole and rip. Very annoying when the kids were younger. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/96 "2012-10-12T12:44:12Z")
I guess I can say I’m a normal, well-socialized man. I have mostly healthy relationships and can hold down a job and school. I constantly have holes in my dress socks because I seem to have acidic foot-sweat that eats through them after 2-3 wearings (with washings in between). Oddly enough, I rarely get holes in my white socks. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/97 "2012-10-12T15:15:38Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > I ask because, yes, I am the guy with holes in his socks. Not every pair; just a hole here and there, and it doesn’t bother me - certainly not enough to throw the entire sock away. Throwing the entire sock away is just wasteful. I only throw away the part with the hole in it. ---
**Author:** ![homeschooler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@homeschooler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeschooler)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/98 "2012-10-14T16:57:19Z")
I solved the problem by not wearing socks and hose. I hate how they feel, hole or no holes. Even when I lived in a cold enough climate that we got snow a few days a year, I didn’t need socks more than five or six times a year. My husband wears holey socks and it doesn’t seem to bother him until more than one toe is peeking out. If he’d cut his toenails he wouldn’t have this problem. He lets the white part get 1/4 of an inch long, or more, before my pleadings convince him to cut them. I figure the holey socks are his problem, and I’ll darn them if he asks, but he usually just throws them out eventually. It’s those long “razor blade” toenails that bother me. He can afford socks, and toenail clippers, and he could know better if he wanted to pay attention. He’s a medical doctor. His mother, and my mother, and some of the aunts in the family bug me about his holey socks and his long toenails. You’d be surprised how often his toenails come up in conversations when they call me. I’ve learned to either agree with them until they change the subject, or tell them they need to discuss it with him if they want any action taken. I will NEVER use video calls with them, because it would just start an argument if they saw me rolling my eyes. And to answer the question about the wooden darning tool: yes, a website called “knit pickers” sells a traditional wooden darning egg for $3.99. I think nowadays they are mostly used by knitters making booties and socks. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/99 "2012-10-14T17:33:22Z")
Ouch. Hope he wears some form of foot covering to bed to keep from clawing you. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777/100 "2012-10-14T23:54:25Z")
Female here: Hole in heel or ball of foot, it’s over. Hole in toe, no biggie for a while–pinch the hole between my toes while I put them on for a buffer area. Why don’t I just throw them out and replace them? Because I have somewhat eccentric tastes in socks, and where am I going to find another pair of these awesome lime green socks with the nigiri sushi pattern on them, or these awesome ones with the pink flamingos, or these hot purple and orange argyle ones? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-otherwise-normal-man-with-holes-in-his-socks-how-weird/636777.md?page=6)