# Underwear as outer wear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287 "2008-11-18T15:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/1 "2008-11-18T15:38:16Z")
What ist thine opinion? We’re having a warm, sunny morning and I was thinking of just wearing my cotton-knit boxer shorts out on the patio wouldn’t really be so bad, would it? The neighbors might see me, but it’s not like I’m showing anything my regular shorts wouldn’t show. I remember years ago when I was in the Army eating in the cafeteria this friend of mine came in wearing his boxer shorts he’d tie-dyed. “Nice underwear” I said. “Oh, thanks for pointing that out!” he responded. “Hey, they’re underwear dude. You’re not fooling me.” Should I be able to sit in my back yard in my boxer shorts? Not as a matter of law, but as a matter of etiquette. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/2 "2008-11-18T16:03:21Z")
Well, unless you sew the fly shut, you just might show something your regular shorts don’t show. Those things have a tendency to gap open when you sit down. Believe me, I’ve seen it. (Well, not your it, but you know what I mean.) My personal opinion is that if you wouldn’t wear something to have breakfast with your inlaws when one of you is staying at the other’s house, you probably shouldn’t wear it out in the yard. For most people I know, that involves at least putting on some jammies, even if you would normally roam about the house in your skivvies or the altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/3 "2008-11-18T16:36:43Z")
Eh, my boyfriend is always in front of the giant windows in his boxer shorts. I figure the neighbors shouldn’t be looking anyway. And let me tell you, he has some seriously disreputable underwear. Some of it doesn’t even perform the basic functions of underwear anymore and is more of a notional sort of thing, the holes are so big. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/4 "2008-11-18T17:13:50Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Eh, my boyfriend is always in front of the giant windows in his boxer shorts. I figure the neighbors shouldn’t be looking anyway. And let me tell you, he has some seriously disreputable underwear. Some of it doesn’t even perform the basic functions of underwear anymore and is more of a notional sort of thing, the holes are so big. Oh, what is it with the 30-year-old underwear thing? Throw that stuff out, steal $10 out of his wallet and buy him some new stuff. Let him whine. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/5 "2008-11-18T17:28:35Z")
I don’t see any problem with it. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/6 "2008-11-18T17:48:27Z")
It works for Batman. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/7 "2008-11-18T18:04:17Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I don’t see any problem with it. If you were me, or my neighbor, oder? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/8 "2008-11-18T18:07:20Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > If you were me, or my neighbor, oder? Either really. (I was tempted to ask for photographic evidence before I answered as the neighbor…but thought better of it. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/9 "2008-11-18T18:30:00Z")
I guess my question is what are you going to do with the 6 seconds saved by pulling shorts on? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/10 "2008-11-18T18:35:47Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Either really. (I was tempted to ask for photographic evidence before I answered as the neighbor…but thought better of it. 😉 ) Photographic evidence. [NSFW; contains pussy shot!](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Levdrakon/Pussypants.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/11 "2008-11-18T18:36:05Z")
Eh, I’ve been known to take the trash out in boxers and a wifebeater, but I probably wouldn’t just \*sit \*out there like that. Like Magiver said, what’s so much more difficult or time-consuming (or even less comfortable) about pulling on some gym shorts or pajama bottoms? ---
**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:** [November 18, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/12 "2008-11-18T18:52:26Z")
My instinct is that if you have to ask, you probably shouldn’t do it. I know my junk has a strong tendency to wriggle out through the flap while I’m walking around the house in boxers. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/13 "2008-11-18T18:59:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > My instinct is that if you have to ask, you probably shouldn’t do it. > > I know my junk has a strong tendency to wriggle out through the flap while I’m walking around the house in boxers. You’re talking weave boxers, not knit boxers. No way Mr. Outgoing is entering any popularity contests. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/14 "2008-11-18T19:29:24Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > You’re talking weave boxers, not knit boxers. No way Mr. Outgoing is entering any popularity contests. I actually have worse floppage issues with knit boxers. The only way my junk remains firmly ensconced in its soft cotton housing is if I wear boxer-briefs (or briefs, presumably, though I haven’t worn those in about 18 years). ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/15 "2008-11-18T19:37:38Z")
Hm. I think you’re right. I’m thinking knit boxer briefs. Mr. Happy gets a little too independent with the fly in regular boxers. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/16 "2008-11-18T20:06:59Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > It works for [del]Batman[/del] Superman. Fixed that for you. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/17 "2008-11-18T20:17:38Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > Fixed that for you. [Kids these days.](http://www.mrbalihai.com/goof/2007/10/batman_darling.html) No respect for the classics. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/18 "2008-11-18T20:27:31Z")
At least Batman ended up maturing in his old age. He realized he didn’t have to say “biff” every time he broke someone’s nose. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/19 "2008-11-18T20:28:10Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Oh, what is it with the 30-year-old underwear thing? Throw that stuff out, steal $10 out of his wallet and buy him some new stuff. Let him whine. I did steal the ones that literally no longer had a back. At all. All that was left was the back SEAM, like the world’s most oversized thong. And he asked me, “I’m missing some underwear. Have you seen them?” “No, no idea. Haven’t seen 'em.” ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287/20 "2008-11-18T20:50:56Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I did steal the ones that literally no longer had a back. At all. All that was left was the back SEAM, like the world’s most oversized thong. And he asked me, “I’m missing some underwear. Have you seen them?” “No, no idea. Haven’t seen 'em.” You sold them on eBay, though, right? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underwear-as-outer-wear/473287.md?page=2)