# Men - what is your problem when it comes to shorts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113 "2009-09-30T16:12:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/141 "2009-10-02T22:06:13Z")
I would never wear shorts that came below my knee. Mid thigh would be okay. Yes, get off my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/142 "2009-10-02T22:20:50Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > So does my ski jacket. No it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/143 "2009-10-02T22:31:49Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Is there no middle ground? Must the alternative to manpris show ass-cheek? What on earth is wrong with “normal shorts”, which everybody but Diogenes would probably say are somewhere between your knees and your giblets, but near neither? This insistence on defining only your own personal preference as “normal” is manipulative and arrogant and, frankly, controlling. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/144 "2009-10-02T22:33:48Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Also, HE IS NOT MY HUSBAND. WE LIVE IN SIN. Sweaty, frequent sin. Thankyou. 😃 That’s my girl! ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/145 "2009-10-02T22:39:52Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > I don’t see the OP as trying to force her boyfriend to wear something he doesn’t like. [QUOTE=Zsofia] I had to ARGUE with him to get him to accept a pair above the knee. [/QUOTE] These two statements seem to be contradictory. Then there are these two: [QUOTE=Zsofia] He was like, “Well, what do I need?” and I explained about liners and stuff and that you don’t wear underwear with them, and that these here are the running shorts, and how about these? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Zsofia] ..it’s hard to pry him out of his cotton, and I keep telling him that he has got to get some technical fabrics [/QUOTE] Your OP came off a someone nagging someone else to wear what you want him to wear. You even said yourself your were arguing with him. I run in cotton. _gasp_ I can’t tell you the number of people I pass who are decked out in the latest and greatest running shoes/shorts/shirts and carrying the best water bottle with a GPS on their wrist. If you really want to get your SO interested and keep him interested, I’d suggest you make it easy for him. If you make it a battle right down to the length of his shorts you just might find he isn’t all that interested. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Keep things simple. Maybe after he’s been running a bit you can start to upgrade the equipment, but at least for beginners I think the important thing is to make it as uncomplicated as possible. Letting him wear what he wants and sincerely showing him some very strong positive encouragement will go much, much farther in keeping him running with you than the greatest pair or shorts will ever do. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/146 "2009-10-02T22:54:19Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Is there no middle ground? Must the alternative to manpris show ass-cheek? What on earth is wrong with “normal shorts”, which everybody but Diogenes would probably say are somewhere between your knees and your giblets, but near neither? Exactly. One thing people forget about the era when short shorts were more acceptable for guys is that there were longer shorts too; we could choose, at least if it wasn’t a case of a team uniform of something like that. I think another factor along the way is that, for some reason, the idea that the concern for what others think of our dress and appearance became absolutely paramount for guys. Within reason, I have no problem with that, and certainly shorts of any kind, let alone short shorts, aren’t appropriate in some situations. The problem now is that this principle seems to apply everywhere. I’m not going to wear clam-diggers or manpris to swim in just because someone might not like my knees and thighs. I’m going to wear something comfortable, practical, and fairly minimal for swimming, and laying out in the sun after. ( I know it’s not really about bathing suits, but the same principle applies IMO). ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/147 "2009-10-02T23:04:20Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > These two statements seem to be contradictory. Maybe. Personally, I live in a world where the words “argue” and “accept” are not synonymous with the word “force”. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/148 "2009-10-02T23:04:44Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No it doesn’t. Have you ever been skiing? They all have powder skirts. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/149 "2009-10-02T23:16:21Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Have you ever been skiing? They all have powder skirts. Right, which is a specific part of a specific garment & never referred to simply as a skirt. I sold many of said jackets back in college. None of which has any bearing on the fact that it is not uncommon to hear designers, sales clerks and seamstresses refer to the lower part of a dress as a skirt. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/150 "2009-10-02T23:54:12Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Maybe. > Personally, I live in a world where the words “argue” and “accept” are not synonymous with the word “force”. I was once on committee to determine coding standards for my company. One of the other members was convinced we needed to have 3 space indenting in code. Everyone else wanted it to be 3 or 4 spaces, up to the programmer. But no, the one committee member was determine to have their way. We discussed this niggling little point for 3 hours. They wouldn’t back down and ARGUED their point until the rest of us just accepted it so we could move on. Did they force us into accepting their viewpoint? Not in your world, no, but in mine they sure as hell did. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/151 "2009-10-03T02:01:15Z")
It’s really very simple when it comes to shorts. Below the knee is only acceptable when doing weight lifting to avoid mucking around in dirty floors and sweaty machines. Above the knee is only acceptable when doing sports swimming. Everything else that’s not precisely on the knee makes you either gay or a douchebag. Probably both. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/152 "2009-10-03T02:19:32Z")
Jesus Christ, some of you either have serious relationship issues that you’re projecting onto others or you really, really love message board conflict. I tried to “argue him into it” not by strapping on my harpy wings but by saying “Are you sure? These are longer than the short ones” and “Won’t they annoy you? You should show off your legs.” So I guess I sexually harassed him too, in the middle of Dick’s. (Wait, what?) Honestly, anybody who could rub two brain cells together to make a fire could get out of that OP that I was surprised to find him so adamant about showing kneecap, in a mild and nonthreatening manner, so I bought him the shorts he wanted and came here to ask WTF with that? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/153 "2009-10-03T02:53:15Z")
You’re the one who said you “argued” with him. There’s no need to get pissy because people take your own words at face value. Maybe you’re unaware of your own tone, and maybe you aren’t meaning things the way they sound, but the tenor of your posts is _reading_ as hostile to your SO for not wearing what you wanted him to wear. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/154 "2009-10-03T03:32:46Z")
Oh, and I’m sure you know all about hostile tone? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/155 "2009-10-03T03:37:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > but the tenor of your posts is _reading_ as hostile to your SO for not wearing what you wanted him to wear. I got mildly exasperated. No hostility. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/156 "2009-10-03T03:40:54Z")
Probably easy to interpret hostility if, say, you were the type of person whose SO dreams of eviscerating with a knitting needle every time you open your mouth because you’re so damned confrontational. Hypothetically. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/157 "2009-10-03T03:42:41Z")
So does this qualify as most silly thing to ever have an almost flame war about? (I mean this with love) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/158 "2009-10-03T03:49:22Z")
Zsofia, his clothes are his choice, so let him be. Would you (or do you) like being micromanaged in your choice of clothing? Of course not. So give him the same respect. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/159 "2009-10-03T03:55:12Z")
Shorts? Pants? Hell, who needs 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113/160 "2009-10-03T04:37:15Z")
Next time, avoid the whole short length argument, and just buy him a kilt. I only half jest. No American man who has adjusted their sensibilities to the wearing of a kilt would waste the breath to quibble over the length of a pair of shorts. The reactions from the ladies tend to adjust one’s sensibilities rather quickly I’ve found. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-what-is-your-problem-when-it-comes-to-shorts/512113.md?page=9)