# To Spike TV: Men Don't Need Tampons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951 "2003-07-03T04:38:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/1 "2003-07-03T04:38:59Z")
So my girlfriend and I were kicking back watching From Russia With Love and at every single commercial break was a tampon commercial. The same tampon commercial. Over and over again. Now, this may not be unusual, until I add that this was on Spike TV. If you haven’t seen the obnoxious commercials, they feature a guy dancing around, shouting about the counter-revolution, since Oxygen, Lifetime, etc. have been oppressing us. (I haven’t noticed). Because SpikeTV is The Network For Men…The First One! And they like to shove it in your face. So, guys, what’s up with the tampon commercials? ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/2 "2003-07-03T05:00:40Z")
Huh? You don’t use tampons? …:dubious: Oh…kay… ---
**Author:** ![MrSarcasticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@MrSarcasticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSarcasticus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/3 "2003-07-03T05:03:17Z")
Like people who watch pro wrestling need condoms? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/4 "2003-07-03T05:12:43Z")
> [@](#): > > So my girlfriend and I were kicking back watching… I think you just answered your own question. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/5 "2003-07-03T06:03:52Z")
Sorry for the hijack – is it called Spike finally? The other day it was still called TNN. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/6 "2003-07-03T06:07:12Z")
Still TNN today. Are you sure you don’t need a tampon to make one of these, **GMRyujin**? [http://web.dbtech.net/~suncastl/angel.htm](http://web.dbtech.net/~suncastl/angel.htm) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/7 "2003-07-03T06:29:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrSarcasticus \* > \*\*Like people who watch pro wrestling need condoms? \*\* Manditory sterilization, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/8 "2003-07-03T07:11:07Z")
Well, gee, what if you need to go horseback riding, or swimming? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/9 "2003-07-03T07:25:48Z")
I don’t have cable so I haven’t actually seen the new TNN. But based on what I’ve heard and the OP, I know the following: They were easily intimidated by Spike Lee. Their best known new show is about a female superhero. Their promos feature a man dancing, talking about Oxygen and Lifetime, and saying he’s oppressed by women. They advertise tampons a lot. Somehow, I remain underwhelmed by their manliness. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/10 "2003-07-03T10:04:11Z")
Are they really re-naming it Spike TV, or is it a joke, sort of when MTV “became” Al-TV when Weird Al Yankovic hosted for a couple of hours? I don’t see much point in renaming it, but whatever. They’re still trying to get away from the old “Nashville” stigma, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/11 "2003-07-03T11:31:16Z")
There’s a thread about this in the pit, but basically: -Yes, they were planning on re-naming TNN to ‘Spike TV’, but Spike Lee got a court injunction to stop them, claiming he should be the only one to use the name ‘Spike’. The case is still before the courts. -No, they were not easily intimidated. They are legally prohibited form launching under the new name. The man in the promos isn’t dancing…he’s pacing excitedly. All he said was how it’s about time we have a network for men. (“All these shows where you paint each others rooms! Oh, it’s red; its still boring!”) The female superhero is ‘Striperella’… 'nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/12 "2003-07-03T11:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > To Spike TV: Men Don’t Need Tampons Maybe they know something we don’t! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/13 "2003-07-03T12:21:45Z")
So, what, since it’s going to be Spike TV I can’t watch Star Trek TNG any more? I guess I’m not girly enough to watch Lifetime TV. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/14 "2003-07-03T14:09:30Z")
I noticed the same thing while watching ST:TNG. Every friggin break. It struck me as odd, not only beacsuse the network’s now aiming at men, but because some men (not me, I’m a man who is comfortable around menstration) are really squeamish around such things, and would thus zap the commercials. Also, banner ads on TV should not take up a full third of the screen, and should definitely not have sound (see FX). ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/15 "2003-07-03T16:10:57Z")
Yea, the bottom half of the friggin’ screen was covered by commercials for their stupid shows. I want to watch Bond, not “Gary The Rat”. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/16 "2003-07-03T16:39:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I noticed the same thing while watching ST:TNG. > > Every friggin break. It struck me as odd, not only beacsuse the network’s now aiming at men, but because some men (not me, I’m a man who is comfortable around menstration) are really squeamish around such things, and would thus zap the commercials. Come on–tampons for men? That’s very TNG! They have male offciers wearing skirts and dresses after all! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/17 "2003-07-03T16:49:28Z")
Oxygen features men in their commercials. And I believe Albie Hecht, head of TNN (The Nameless Network) said women would be welcome at Spike TV. Either that, or it’s a secret plot to turn men into women. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/18 "2003-07-03T17:00:18Z")
What are you, nuts? Of _course_ you need to see these ads! Granted, you don’t personally need the actual tampons yourself, but on the off-chance (hah) that you find yourself having to buy some some day, you’re going to want to march confidently down that aisle, look at the selection, and say to yourself, “Okay, that’s the kind I saw the ad for when I was watching _From Russia With Love_, and my girlfriend didn’t laugh and throw things at the TV, so they must be okay,” so you can grab them and walk confidently away before the sweat starts to roll down your back and you are filled with the paralyzing fear that you will be stuck in the Wrong Part of the Store until somebody old enough to be your grandmother has to help you out, or, worse, a 22-year-old built like a supermodel. Then you’ll thank Spike TV. Yes, you will. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/19 "2003-07-03T18:12:47Z")
I can confidently say that no woman would send me to buy tampons, because I’d just screw it up and they’d have to do it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951/20 "2003-07-03T18:51:09Z")
Besides, what will you do when your buddy gets shot and you need to treat a sucking chest wound? THEN you’ll wish you had paid attention to those tampon commercials. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spike-tv-men-dont-need-tampons/185951.md?page=2)