# Why do we wear underwear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359 "2003-11-15T01:52:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ILikeMadonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8baadc/32.png) [@ILikeMadonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILikeMadonna)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/1 "2003-11-15T01:52:39Z")
When did humans start wearing underwear and for what purpose? Is it advisable not to wear underwear? When did women start wearing bras? ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/2 "2003-11-15T01:58:43Z")
Well, your first question has a one word answer: Stink. Being able to change out undies and still have clean smelling pants is a plus. Not that I’m all that stinky or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/3 "2003-11-15T02:08:39Z")
I wear underwear because I don’t want to think I’m wearing 80 grit sandpaper when I’m actually wearing a pair of jeans. Tripler Plus, it’s not as embarrassing as it could be when I get “pantsed”. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/4 "2003-11-15T02:13:57Z")
Just to keep my mom happy, in case of an accident and they take me to the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/5 "2003-11-15T02:29:52Z")
There’ve been quite a few threads on this, but [here’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=220816) the last one. For me? Never being able to shake off that last drop. ---
**Author:** ![IUHomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90db22/32.png) [@IUHomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IUHomer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/6 "2003-11-15T03:39:22Z")
As I believe Seinfeld once mentioned, I find the idea of a device with interlocking teeth such as a zipper anywhere near my genitals rather disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/7 "2003-11-15T03:56:37Z")
Comfort Underwear: generally cheaper to replace than pants, a dress or a skirt Smell Appearance Safety Absorption ---
**Author:** ![BellaDellaItalia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BellaDellaItalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellaDellaItalia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/8 "2003-11-15T04:01:25Z")
This is why I love the Dope… You all are such profound thinkers. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/9 "2003-11-15T04:10:21Z")
Something attractive and colorful to remove from your partners body using only your lips, as an entree to the main course. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/10 "2003-11-15T04:12:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IUHomer \* > \*\*As I believe Seinfeld once mentioned, I find the idea of a device with interlocking teeth such as a zipper anywhere near my genitals rather disturbing. \*\* Dude! It’s called a _button fly_ for a reason! 😃 Tripler Who am I kidding? I wear BDUs. They got button flys for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/11 "2003-11-15T04:31:01Z")
Look as a guy who has “freeballed” for laudry reasons, I can tell you that the teeth of a zipper and the soft fleash of a man’s gonads are not a good match at all. No one in that right mind wants to see a scabby penis ever ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/12 "2003-11-15T05:10:33Z")
It’s a 50/50 thing with me. Some days I just wanna be free (not my balls… I don’t have any balls, not on my person but I guess I do have some because my SO is a guy so his _are_ mine, in a sense). I’m pretty finicky about being clean so I’m not stinky or gross. I wear panties during that time of the month, of course. ---
**Author:** ![4gotnname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/848f3c/32.png) [@4gotnname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4gotnname)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/13 "2003-11-15T06:06:36Z")
To attach pads, wait i wear tampons. Anyways if your a girl, for many reason, if your a guy thats gay. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/14 "2003-11-15T06:08:44Z")
> [@](#): > > not my balls… I don’t have any balls, not on my person but I guess I do have some because my SO is a guy so his are mine, in a sense). Damn. ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/15 "2003-11-15T07:10:08Z")
huh? “But I am le tired.” ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/16 "2003-11-15T12:36:27Z")
So when you scratch your ass you have a nice soft fabric working in your favor. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![danixa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@danixa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danixa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/17 "2003-11-15T12:50:52Z")
so if you somehow end up playing spin the bottle/strip you have a better chance of surviving. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/18 "2003-11-15T16:25:33Z")
I hate underwear. It’s uncomfortable, it’s hot, it’s a pain in the ass. I just go commando. Fuck underwear. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/19 "2003-11-15T16:32:37Z")
Well if you are taken short and \* really do \*\* have to take a dump behind that tree you can always wipe your ass on them, Beats the shit out of using stinging nettles. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/213359/20 "2003-11-15T16:47:49Z")
So my dick doesn’t poke a hole in my jeans when I ride behind a cute chick on the escalator at the mall. :dubious: