# Uncle Urban, I need pads... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825 "2019-12-13T21:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/41 "2019-12-14T22:07:32Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If she had a headache, should I buy Tylenol, or Motrin, or aspirin; in tablets or capsules, & in regular strength or extra strength. Aren’t some of those not for anyone under age 12? Is she close enough in age (she’s not 6; maybe she’s big for her age & her 12th b-day is coming up) that I need to worry about that warning? I wouldn’t know what pad to buy for an 11yo, either. Given the nieces age & the genericness of her statement as reported by the OP, there’s ambiguity with whether she was saying, “I need pads, can you pay for them” or “I need pads & don’t know which ones to get” > > I could help with the former but wouldn’t have a clue about the latter sentence & would ask a female for help as well. Are you worried she’s going to have an adverse reaction to the wrong pad? An external pad is a little different than ingesting medicine. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/42 "2019-12-14T22:21:57Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I don’t have _any_ kids, but I still would have paid for my nieces hygiene products if she asked me while we were shopping for groceries. You handled it poorly. If she asked for a toothbrush, would you have panicked? There are so many types, how would you know which one she needs, right? :rolleyes: Well, no. Toothbrushes are basically all the same and if one isn’t to your liking, it’s not resulting in blood all over your underwear/pants. I certainly didn’t mean to “dump” on the OP. Like I said, he just kinda failed a “roll with it” test. He didn’t commit a sin. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/43 "2019-12-14T22:29:16Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Exactly. Didn’t you say at one point that you’re a school teacher? I want to say middle school. It’s hard to believe you haven’t encountered this before. High school actually. And they wouldnt ask me, they would ask to go see the nurse. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/44 "2019-12-14T22:36:44Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > OK folks, which is it? Menstruation is a “mine field” for women or you are in trouble for “treat(ing) anything woman-related like it’s part of a parallel universe”? It seem like OP cannot win. I am a woman and old enough to remember when no one but your mom talked about menstruation. However I don’t think “mine field” or “parallel universe” fit the situation. OP wasn’t sure what he was being asked. If they had been at the check stand it would have been one thing (paying for the product) or if she had been asking for directions to that section, another thing, or “I need pads and what do I buy” yet another thing. He could have ask for clarity but not knowing the girl very well, he asked for help. Big Deal. To some of you, I think you are just beating this horse because you don’t like the OP. Time to let it go. Exactly. I didnt mine paying. It was no big deal. After we were done with groceries we met up with my wife, went to that section, and my wife and her picked some out and we went to checkout and left. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/45 "2019-12-14T23:33:59Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Walk up to the pharmacy (if it has one) and, without shame or dumb jokes, ask for help to help her decide. Yeah that’ll work too. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/46 "2019-12-14T23:55:07Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Women get fired from jobs because a surprise period ended up ruining a chair–this is a subject for light, fun discussion? Only for a man, never for us. Now you’ve learned something but I’m not holding my breath it will make a bit of difference. You had the opportunity to rise above and make your niece’s life a little easier and ya blew it. Go you? You think that a women should be fired for a surprise period instead of having light fun discussion about it? You had the opportunity to rise above it, and make women’s life a little easier, and you blew it. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/47 "2019-12-15T00:35:03Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If she had a headache, should I buy Tylenol, or Motrin, or aspirin; in tablets or capsules, & in regular strength or extra strength. Aren’t some of those not for anyone under age 12? Is she close enough in age (she’s not 6; maybe she’s big for her age & her 12th b-day is coming up) that I need to worry about that warning? I wouldn’t know what pad to buy for an 11yo, either. Given the nieces age & the genericness of her statement as reported by the OP, there’s ambiguity with whether she was saying, “I need pads, can you pay for them” or “I need pads & don’t know which ones to get” > > I could help with the former but wouldn’t have a clue about the latter sentence & would ask a female for help as well. Drugs are not basic hygiene products. Pads are not on the same level as medicine. A better analogy would be shampoo, soap, or a luffa. Or a nephew saying he needs shaving creme or a razor. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/48 "2019-12-15T01:58:39Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > High school actually. And they wouldnt ask me, they would ask to go see the nurse. My point was that since roughly half your students were young women, you’d at least be aware of things like this and not get freaked out by them. Much less consider it a “light” topic. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/49 "2019-12-15T03:07:51Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > OK folks, which is it? Menstruation is a “mine field” for women or you are in trouble for “treat(ing) anything woman-related like it’s part of a parallel universe”? It seem like OP cannot win. I am a woman and old enough to remember when no one but your mom talked about menstruation. However I don’t think “mine field” or “parallel universe” fit the situation. OP wasn’t sure what he was being asked. If they had been at the check stand it would have been one thing (paying for the product) or if she had been asking for directions to that section, another thing, or “I need pads and what do I buy” yet another thing. He could have ask for clarity but not knowing the girl very well, he asked for help. Big Deal. To some of you, I think you are just beating this horse because you don’t like the OP. Time to let it go. That is not the issue. If the OP wasn’t sure what he was being asked, he could have followed up with a question–you know, like people do. Maybe, “I don’t know anything about that stuff, honey. Do you know what you need?” (Chances are excellent that unless she’d started menstruating for the first time right there in Aisle 4, she had a good idea what she needed.) I said he could use this as a learning opportunity, and I hope he does. From his posting history, he does tend to think of us women as existing in a parallel universe. Here’s a good chance to change his thinking, and I hope he does so. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/50 "2019-12-15T13:20:47Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > So it was me and the niece buying groceries and such while my wife was off in another section and she out of the blue said to me she needed pads. How hard would it have been to say “I need prune juice, Fleet suppositories and MiraLAX— see you at checkout”? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/51 "2019-12-15T13:29:24Z")
It’s also possible that she was bringing it up to **Urbanredneck** specifically because she was trying to embarrass him. I’ve had students about that age start talking about menstruation in front of me just to embarrass me. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/52 "2019-12-15T13:51:00Z")
I believe it was in 1978, I was working the graveyard shift at a Spires restaurant (then a chain of 24-hour diners). It was just about quitting time for me, and the morning waitresses had just arrived. Heather asked me to go across the parking lot to Safeway and pick her up a box of tampons, and I complied. No biggie, just one coworker doing a favor for another. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/53 "2019-12-16T01:40:15Z")
I know what! When young 11-or-12-year-old Urban Niece remarked to Urban Uncle that she needs pads, Urban Uncle should have responded in turn: Pick me up a package of condoms while you’re there. \ ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/54 "2019-12-16T01:43:33Z")
Why? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/55 "2019-12-16T02:43:28Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Drugs are not basic hygiene products. Pads are not on the same level as medicine. A better analogy would be shampoo, soap, or a luffa. Or a nephew saying he needs shaving creme or a razor. Creme, gel, or mug & brush? Straight razor, safety razor, disposable (2, 3, 4, or 5 blades) or electric (Norelco triple head or Bruan straight head style, dry only or wet/dry)? Guidance on what to get is different than paying for a product. There was ambiguity between “can you pay” & “what should I get” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/56 "2019-12-16T03:13:10Z")
You’re married and you were taken aback by a statement that pads are required? How does that happen? I buy pads and other stuff for my wife all the time. Should I fear that people will think I’m getting it for myself? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/57 "2019-12-16T19:29:55Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > You think that a women should be fired for a surprise period instead of having light fun discussion about it? > > . Your a liar. I never wrote that. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/58 "2019-12-16T22:19:21Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Your a liar. I never wrote that. The word is _you’re_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/59 "2019-12-16T22:37:59Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Your a liar. I never wrote that. Who said you did? He was addressing another poster. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825/60 "2019-12-17T05:47:19Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > How hard would it have been to say “I need prune juice, Fleet suppositories and MiraLAX— see you at checkout”? I know I probably shouldn’t but, dayum, I laughed out loud at that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-urban-i-need-pads/844825.md?page=4)