# Insecurity- do you feel taller in a thong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541 "2003-07-06T08:23:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/1 "2003-07-06T08:23:31Z")
I’ve been performing an informal survey with about 60 girls with whom I am acquainted, attempting to find a relationship between height and propensity for thong-wearing. (I had this crazy idea that shorter girls were more likely to wear them) It should be noted that all subjects were all college students between 18 and 24, and all were between 104 and 134 pounds. The tallest was 6’1", and the shortest 4’9". The results were interesting, to say the least; my height theory was completely wrong- as it turned out, 44 girls were “regular” or “always” thong wearers, and 30 of those were over 5’4". So, my theory seems to be backward. Now, I need a larger and more varied sample, so I would appreciate it if any of our less inhibited Dopettes could weigh in with their preference… ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/2 "2003-07-06T09:48:50Z")
Sure…I feel taller in thongs. About 1cm taller to be precise. Oh…not _those_ sort of thongs eh? Well, why did’nya say so. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/3 "2003-07-06T15:58:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*as it turned out, 44 girls were “regular” or “always” thong wearers, and 30 of those were over 5’4". > \*\* That’s hardly surprising … _you_ try wearing a thong, and see if you don’t gain a few inches “reaching for the sky” in an attempt to escape the “cheesewire effect” … 😉 Julie ---
**Author:** ![\_ceQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b9bd4f/32.png) [@\_ceQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_ceQueen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/4 "2003-07-06T16:05:55Z")
Wow. _Anything_ to find out what underwear a girl is wearing, huh. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/5 "2003-07-06T16:20:36Z")
Okay, what the hell. I wear them on occassion…in total, an estimated 10% of time spent in underwear. I’m 5’8," 145lbs. Do they make me feel taller? No. I’ve never noticed any correlation between any type of underwear and how tall I felt, a height which I’ve been comfortable with and wouldn’t want to change one way or the other anyway. What made you think there might be sort of connection in the first place, **dutchboy208**? ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/6 "2003-07-06T18:35:34Z")
Never. _Never_. I never wear thongs. My daughter doesn’t either. We’re both 5’6", of average size (weight-wise). She’s 18 and I’m 43. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/7 "2003-07-06T18:40:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by !ceQueen \* > \*\*Wow. _Anything_ to find out what underwear a girl is wearing, huh. \*\* Well actually this whole thing began when I bet a friend I could find out what kind of underwear a certain girl in a bar was wearing without getting slapped… turns out all you have to do is claim the information is for “scientific purposes” and the risk of violent reprisal disappears… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/8 "2003-07-06T21:00:16Z")
Slightly OT: I put my underwear on BACKWARDS today :eek: It makes me feel shorter. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/9 "2003-07-06T21:02:34Z")
Backwards underwear, or thongs? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/10 "2003-07-06T22:19:09Z")
I’m 5’8 and my best friend isn’t quite 5 feet tall. We both wear thongs pretty much all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/11 "2003-07-06T22:49:08Z")
You guys must look a real trip going out together… heh. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/12 "2003-07-07T06:28:36Z")
i’m knocking this back up top just because i can 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/13 "2003-07-07T06:40:47Z")
I have to point out that a woman who is 6’1" and 134 pounds is either lying about her weight or is very skinny - skinny as in she should see a doctor. Women who wear the tight pants that are in style tend to wear thongs (and if they don’t they should). I’m 5’11" and 145-150 pounds (which is thin!) and I wear thongs. Black ones usually, in case you want to expand the scope of your survey. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Adelita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Adelita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adelita)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/14 "2003-07-07T07:00:42Z")
You got it, **Chula** I’m 5’11, 160 lbs, and look relatively thin, and I always wear thongs. Ya get so you don’t notice them anymore, really! ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/15 "2003-07-07T07:05:34Z")
People keep saying that, so I keep trying them, and they just keep on sucking big sweaty donkey balls. They’re okay for lounging around the house, or for car trips, but they just don’t do it for days when you have to actually move around. After a couple of hours of physical labor, they **chafe**. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/16 "2003-07-07T07:23:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*I have to point out that a woman who is 6’1" and 134 pounds is either lying about her weight or is very skinny - skinny as in she should see a doctor. > > Women who wear the tight pants that are in style tend to wear thongs (and if they don’t they should). > > I’m 5’11" and 145-150 pounds (which is thin!) and I wear thongs. Black ones usually, in case you want to expand the scope of your survey. 😉 \*\* The 6’1" girl wasn’t even the 134-pounder- she weighed in at 129. Skinny as a rail- she was a model with the company I worked for until last week, and every time I saw her I was tempted to get something from the vending machine and make her eat it. Are visible panty lines really such a bad thing? I’m all in favor of thongs, but on the grounds that I find them much more attractive by themselves; why exactly is it so bad that people might know you’re wearing full-coverage underwear? I wasn’t planning on getting any more nosy, but if future posters wish to follow your model you won’t catch me complaining… ---
**Author:** ![cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/17 "2003-07-07T07:30:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > **I have to point out that a woman who is 6’1" and 134 pounds is either lying about her weight or is very skinny - skinny as in she should see a doctor.** Actually, this would put her BMI at just under 18, which would be considered _ideal_ from a medical standpoint: [http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/obesity/mortality.htm](http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/obesity/mortality.htm) > [@](#): > > An earlier (1995) study by Manson, Willett, and Stamfer et al. examined data from the Nurses’ Health Study, looking at 4,726 deaths occurring from 1976 through 1992, 881 from cardiovascular disease, 2,586 from cancer, and 1,259 from other causes (68). A direct association was observed between BMI and mortality among women who had never smoked. Using a BMI of \<19.0 as the reference group (relative risk [RR]=1.0), women with BMIs of 19.0-21.9 and 22.0-24.9 had a RR of 1.2; women with a BMI of 25.0-26.9 had a RR of 1.3; women with a BMI of 27.0-28.9 had a RR of 1.6; those with a BMI of 29.0-31.9 had a RR of 2.1; and those with a BMI of \>32.0 had a RR of 2.2. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/18 "2003-07-07T07:57:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cynic \* > \*\*Actually, this would put her BMI at just under 18, which would be considered _ideal_ from a medical standpoint: > > [http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/obesity/mortality.htm](http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/obesity/mortality.htm) \*\* I had a feeling that remark would provoke some responses. But according to your source, “The lowest mortality rates from all causes were found among study subjects having a BMI of between 23.5-24.9 for men and 22.0-23.4 for women.” So a woman who is 6’1" would have an ideal weight of 166-178, according to that source. I’m not saying that she _is_ sick or anorexic, but she’s underweight enough to justify being examined by a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/19 "2003-07-07T09:55:07Z")
4’ 10" Thongs are vile inventions. Never wear them. Why would shorter women wear them? I’m puzzled. Just can’t see a connection between shortness and butt flossing. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541/20 "2003-07-07T14:06:33Z")
Oh, what the hell, I’ll answer. 5’1", average weight. I wear thongs some of the time—when I’m wearing something tighter across the arse and I don’t want visible panty lines. Yes, **dutchboy** , I find VPLs a bad thing. Not so much because “everyone will know I’m wearing full-coverage underwear”, but because if the VPLs look lumpy and bumpy under what is supposed to be a smooth expanse of fabric, they will call attention to that area, and NOT in a good way. I don’t at all feel taller in thongs. Unless I happen to be standing next to someone even shorter than I, and then it’s just coincidence anyhow. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insecurity-do-you-feel-taller-in-a-thong/186541.md?page=2)