# What's up with thongs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290 "2004-01-27T15:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/21 "2004-01-29T02:14:35Z")
I wear thongs almost all the time. I find them more comfortable than regular underwear. Regular underwear always crawls up my butt; this is meant to be there and therefore is less uncomfortable. I rarely feel it. Also, I don’t like VPL, and this helps avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/22 "2004-01-29T06:24:09Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > \ > **Czarcasm** spoiled my joke. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No _Fun_. > _ **Czarcasm** _ No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No FU-UN! > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > > Say, I’m startin’ to like this! 😃😉 > > **Czarcasm** No Fun. > **Czarcasm** No Fun. Wait’ll you see me in a thong, boyo-Fun City! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MinniePurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@MinniePurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinniePurl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/23 "2004-01-29T07:13:54Z")
I don’t wear thongs. Partly because I find them uncomfortable, and also they just look DUMB to me, regardless of the size of the woman wearing them. They just look wrong. However, my main reason for not wearing them is that they [aren’t a good idea](http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/08/05/hlsc0805.htm) because of bacteria. See, the little strip shifts back and forth, and it can carry bacteria… well, places you don’t want bacteria to be carried to. Same reason why you’re supposed to wipe front to back. I do hate granny panties, though-- those huge things that go up to your armpits. Cotton bikinis are the way to go for me. ---
**Author:** ![RobertP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@RobertP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobertP)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/24 "2004-01-29T09:14:38Z")
hmmm… so I am getting a veriety of replies to my original question: is it OK to look. Several people admit to wearing thongs because they are supposed to be sexy, and by inference, they are supposed to be noticed. However, others prefer them for their own comfort, in which case they would not be for my eyes. Then a few others seem to have studied Thong Science 101 and believe that the alleged visibility is a result of differential friction coefficients and result in E Coli transference. Boy am I confused… ---
**Author:** ![Daftbugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Daftbugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daftbugger)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/25 "2004-01-29T11:08:33Z")
They ARE meant to be seen. Why do you think you can buy thongs with jewelled backs?? ---
**Author:** ![RobertP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@RobertP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobertP)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/26 "2004-01-29T12:04:35Z")
> [@Daftbugger](#): > > They ARE meant to be seen. Why do you think you can buy thongs with jewelled backs?? I can see a thong bumper sticker: “If you can count the jewels, you are standing too close” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/27 "2004-01-29T15:34:49Z")
I wear thongs because they eliminate VPL. I have some that are low cut to avoid the “everyone knows I’m wearing a thong” thing. Also, I found that if I buy them a size larger than I used to buy my regular panties, I don’t have the shifting, cut-you-half, etc. problems. ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/28 "2004-01-29T19:08:47Z")
I still don’t understand what’s wrong with a visible panty line. Women are weird. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/29 "2004-01-29T19:22:55Z")
> [@moo](#): > > I still don’t understand what’s wrong with a visible panty line. Maybe **Rashak Mani** can confirm or deny, but when I was in Brazil it seemed they looooved the VPL. I tried to buy a pair of plain white undies and not only could I not find a thong (which I prefer, see above) but I had to settle on white undies _with a black line around the edges_. I saw VPLs everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/30 "2004-01-29T19:53:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Wait’ll you see me in a thong, boyo-Fun City! 😃 Man, this scorched my retinas just _thinking_ about it… excuse me while I go wash my mind out with detergent. ---
**Author:** ![zephyrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@zephyrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyrine)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/31 "2004-01-29T20:11:24Z")
The problem with VPL is not whether men notice/like/hate it, it’s that other **women** notice it. I started to wear thongs because I was sick of my daughter and friends pointing out my VPL whenever I wore tight pants. And the deal with the visible thong is that low slung pants aren’t tight round the waist, and therefore gape at the back in certain positions. Of course some thongs are meant to be seen, just as any other underwear is sometimes meant to be seen, but in reference to the OP, I’d say your coworker probably didn’t intend for hers to be viewed under those circumstances. I have to say that when I started wearing them, I couldn’t believe how uncomfortable they were, but now I love them, and fully intend to wear them till my ass drags on the ground. Yes, every so often you have to do that discreet wriggle with a hand down the back of your pants to yank them back into position, but generally they are fab. I wear them because I like the way they make me feel. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/32 "2004-01-29T20:21:15Z")
> [@Moo the Magic Cow](#): > > I still don’t understand what’s wrong with a visible panty line. > > Women are weird. Visible panty lines aren’t that bad if you have the type of butt that’ll can crack walnuts, but if you have a mortal woman butt (i.e. one with some soft plumpness) the elastic of the panty leg can dig right across the cheek and cause the dreaded “double butt” effect. I can’t believe any guy can find _that_ attractive. (but I also have trouble understanding why some guys wanna be peed on so go figure…) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/33 "2004-01-29T20:58:18Z")
I used to wonder why women wore thongs. I thought they were horrible…that is, until I started wearing them. Here’s why: 1. no visible panty line–that is ugly and tacky! 2. believe it or not, you cannot feel them. They are much more comfortable than having a wedgie constantly inching its way up your crack from both sides. 3. usually they are low enough that they don’t show above the waist of your pants. A lot of normal undies tend to do this, I find. That being said, it is very tacky to intentionally have your thong showing in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/34 "2004-01-29T21:17:46Z")
I wear thongs sometimes, and I often deliberately let it show. It’s not appropriate for work (just like massive cleavage) but sometimes you can’t help it. I have a friend who thinks it is the SLUTTIEST thing ever to wear low slung pants with a thong. I however, think it’s sexy. Most men agree. (As an aside, she thinks this because she caught her boyfriend checking it out on some other girl. My point is proven.) Some girls think it’s tacky. I date their ex-boyfriends. HA. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dogbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea5d25/32.png) [@dogbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbert)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/35 "2004-01-29T21:26:30Z")
I always thought that the Tats in the small of the back were directions, right? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/36 "2004-01-29T22:55:28Z")
a personal experience.Where I work, there is a nubileyoung lady, who wears low-slung jeans. When she bends over, you can see her thong…man, that is sexy! However, as a mid-Victorian, I find such a display entirely inappropriate! In fact, it reminds me of seeing a female chimpanzee at the zoo, displaying her rump for the local males. Such are the vulgarities of modern life! If Victoria were stillon the throne such things wouldnot be tolerated! ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/37 "2004-01-29T23:25:40Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > a personal experience.Where I work, there is a nubileyoung lady, who wears low-slung jeans. When she bends over, you can see her thong…man, that is sexy! However, as a mid-Victorian, I find such a display entirely inappropriate! In fact, it reminds me of seeing a female chimpanzee at the zoo, displaying her rump for the local males. > Such are the vulgarities of modern life! If Victoria were stillon the throne such things wouldnot be tolerated! If Victoria was still around, we’d still be puttin’ skirts on the piano legs so all you men-folk don’t get all het up… ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/38 "2004-01-29T23:28:57Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > 1. believe it or not, you cannot feel them. They are much more comfortable than having a wedgie constantly inching its way up your crack from both sides. I’ll pick not, thanks. I’ve tried every type of thong known to man, and they’re all utterly miserable. I’ve tried buying them bigger, I’ve tried buying them smaller, I’ve tried the wide ones, I’ve tried the narrow ones, I’ve tried the ultra low-cut ones, I’ve tried the g-strings. They’re all okay, for about an hour or two (four if I’m being _very_ sedentary, like on a car trip). Then, they start to crawl up, and an hour after that, they’re chafing right above my rectum. Every single time I wear the damn things, no matter what, it’s the same story. As far as the double-butt thing goes, if your underwear is digging into your ass-cheeks like that, the problem is not that you’re wearing the wrong cut of underwear. The problem is that _your underwear is too bleepin’ small_, and you need to buy a size or two bigger. Properly fitted panties come under the buttocks, around to the side where buttock turns into hip, and then up. They gently hug the buttock, they don’t don’t dig into it. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/39 "2004-01-29T23:43:00Z")
For what it’s worth, some guys think thongs are tacky as well… and I know that it’s not just me. Wear what you like, just don’t expect all guys to go following you around drooling over your exposed buttcrack. On a guy, the “exposed thong” look would be known as “plumber pants.” Just to put it in perspective. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290/40 "2004-01-30T00:56:32Z")
Ahem. When I wear undies, I like thongs. Y’know why? Less fabric to go crawling up your ass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-thongs/226290.md?page=3)