# Why no love for briefs (underwear)?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [September 19, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861 "2011-09-19T21:02:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/1 "2011-09-19T21:02:57Z")
First, if this is the wrong forum, sorry mods.
Briefs get mocked and called names like tighty-whities.
I’m just curious as to why.
---
### Author:  [@Teufelblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teufelblitz)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/2 "2011-09-19T21:20:34Z")
For the same reason that male g-strings get called banana hammocks? Anything that fits snugly around that region tends to look pretty goofy, even on the handsome, and is mocked accordingly.
---
### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/3 "2011-09-19T21:24:30Z")
Although not outside of the US. I can tell you that if you pick up a Ukrainian girl in a bar in the 1990s and take her back to your apartment, if you are wearing boxers, she will laugh at you. This happened to, uh, a friend of mine.
---
### Author:  [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/4 "2011-09-19T21:25:45Z")
My Dad, at about 2 AM, coming down the stairs to tell us all to be quite during a sleepover.
---
### Author:  [@Teufelblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teufelblitz)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/5 "2011-09-19T21:28:13Z")
> [@madmonk28](#):
>
> Although not outside of the US. I can tell you that if you pick up a Ukrainian girl in a bar in the 1990s and take her back to your apartment, if you are wearing boxers, she will laugh at you. This happened to, uh, a friend of mine.
Well, boxers always seemed kind of old man-ish to me when I was younger.
The tight boxers that I’ve seen advertised lately seem… strange. Kinda like grandma thunderpants for men.
---
### Author:  [@tpatsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpatsfan)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/6 "2011-09-19T22:10:25Z")
Well correct me if I’m wrong but if a women wears anything but sexy underwear they are granny panties correct? Same rules apply. Every type of underwear gets tagged with a name. Depending on who and wear you are is if it bad or good. It is life. Do you think I wore a thong in high school so I would be cool like all the other girls? No! Wear what you want. If he/she doesn’t like it who care its underwear.
---
### Author:  [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/7 "2011-09-19T22:30:57Z")
There are [briefs](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=briefs&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1920&bih=947&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsr&tbnid=7c3URHwZFDlQqM:&imgrefurl=http://www.banglads.com/mens-underwear-uk-20/mens-briefs-22/calvin-klein-pack-black-mens-briefs-13208.htm&docid=4KuHIiPqMKF1wM&w=960&h=1140&ei=KsJ3TvPYHeGa1AWI8rSXCA&zoom=1) and there are [briefs](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=briefs&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1920&bih=947&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsr&tbnid=nb-rAYSXNG6HRM:&imgrefurl=http://www.welcomemobility.co.uk/Products/Male-Super-Briefs__AA2780.aspx&docid=szjnctrCwO5PZM&w=300&h=300&ei=KsJ3TvPYHeGa1AWI8rSXCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=462&vpy=339&dur=270&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=102&ty=116&page=2&tbnh=142&tbnw=143&start=57&ndsp=58&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:57).
They’re not created equal.
---
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/8 "2011-09-19T22:38:32Z")
Briefs are underwear, so 95% of the time or more no-one will know what they look like anyway.
And Illuminatiprimus, I liked the briefs in the second link better. Does that mean my taste in fashion is good or bad? 😃
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/9 "2011-09-19T22:45:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Well correct me if I’m wrong but if a women wears anything but sexy underwear they are granny panties correct?
When I hear “granny panties”, I think something with multiple layers and ruffles. Which, frankly, can still look sexy on the right woman. Just remember, every grandmother ever, yes, including your own, has in fact had sex. Heck, my gramma had eleven kids, so I can only conclude that Grampap found her underwear, whatever it was, quite adequately sexy.
---
### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/10 "2011-09-19T23:29:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> When I hear “granny panties”, I think something with multiple layers and ruffles. Which, frankly, can still look sexy on the right woman. Just remember, every grandmother ever, yes, including your own, has in fact had sex. Heck, my gramma had eleven kids, so I can only conclude that Grampap found her underwear, whatever it was, quite adequately sexy.
[Granny panties](http://xac.xanga.com/0e1f177352233224394193/z176313546.jpg) are any kind of completely undecorated, probably grey, probably saggy, full coverage plain cotton underwear.
Tighty whities (AKA y-fronts) are mocked on men because they look ridiculous. Generally, they sag. They make you look like a giant little boy. If you are younger, like in college, women will suspect your mother buys them for you, which is also independently mockable.
Tighty-whities are a style of briefs. The kind that look more like a bathing suit can look good, if you have an exceptional body. Like, say, Michael Jordan. Belly sagging over the waistband of briefs is not a good look.
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/11 "2011-09-19T23:33:35Z")
Because they’re out of style. Everything else is rationalization. There is no logical reason other than the fact the most men now wear boxers.
When I was growing up, boxer were old man pants and everyone wore briefs. And there were just as many rationalizations about why no one wore boxers.
In 40 years, everyone will wear briefs and laugh at boxers.
It’s the Circle of Style.
---
### Author:  [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/12 "2011-09-19T23:53:44Z")
I’ve worn briefs all my life. I don’t care what anybody else thinks. Well, I care what one person thinks:
The only other person who sees them nowadays is my wife. She is fine with them.
---
### Author:  [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/13 "2011-09-20T00:03:47Z")
Boxer briefs are where it’s at – especially for demi-chubs like me. Because of the chafing and everything.
Tighty-whities just seem odd to me, and I’m a nominally hetero male – why so much snug up in your junk?
---
### Author:  [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/14 "2011-09-20T00:40:49Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> [Granny panties](http://xac.xanga.com/0e1f177352233224394193/z176313546.jpg) are any kind of completely undecorated, probably grey, probably saggy, full coverage plain cotton underwear.
>
> Tighty whities (AKA y-fronts) are mocked on men because they look ridiculous. Generally, they sag. They make you look like a giant little boy. If you are younger, like in college, women will suspect your mother buys them for you, which is also independently mockable.
>
> Tighty-whities are a style of briefs. The kind that look more like a bathing suit can look good, if you have an exceptional body. Like, say, Michael Jordan. Belly sagging over the waistband of briefs is not a good look.
uff… I clicked that link… ☹
---
### Author:  [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/15 "2011-09-20T00:51:36Z")
> [@Nobody](#):
>
> Briefs are underwear, so 95% of the time or more no-one will know what they look like anyway.
>
> And Illuminatiprimus, I liked the briefs in the second link better. Does that mean my taste in fashion is good or bad? 😃
My gosh, **Nobody** , those are just…institutional ☹
Little boys wear tighty whities because their mothers buy them. If such a man shucked in front of me I would assume he never let go of the apron strings. Neither the connotation nor the visual presentation is sexy, and I might just laugh, which would surely kill the mood. Anything between briefs and a Speedo is an improvement over the second pic.
---
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/16 "2011-09-20T01:31:40Z")
> [@Troppus](#):
>
> My gosh, **Nobody** , those are just…institutional ☹
>
> Little boys wear tighty whities because their mothers buy them. If such a man shucked in front of me I would assume he never let go of the apron strings. Neither the connotation nor the visual presentation is sexy, and I might just laugh, which would surely kill the mood. Anything between briefs and a Speedo is an improvement over the second pic.
:dubious: But I’m not wearing underwear to be sexy. I’m wearing it to keep my junk firmly in place. Which is why I don’t like boxers.
I guess if I was single and trying to impress the ladies I’d wear something different. But I don’t see how those briefs cry, “Mama’s boy.”
---
### Author:  [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/17 "2011-09-20T01:51:43Z")
> [@Nobody](#):
>
> :dubious: But I’m not wearing underwear to be sexy. I’m wearing it to keep my junk firmly in place. Which is why I don’t like boxers.
>
> I guess if I was single and trying to impress the ladies I’d wear something different. But I don’t see how those briefs cry, “Mama’s boy.”
Well then, if only \*\*Nobody \*\*sees them, and they make **Nobody** happy, wear what you like and don’t worry about all the briefs hate.
Might I suggest an alternate title for this thread? Instead of “Why no love for briefs?”, how about “Hey, everybody, I’m **Nobody**. I wear briefs, and I don’t care what anyone thinks, who’s with me?!?”
---
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/18 "2011-09-20T01:55:03Z")
I got a good laugh out of that. Thanks.
This isn’t about me though. Honest. Yeah, I wear them, but even if I wore boxers I’d still wonder about the hate for briefs and post this thread. To me choosing to wear boxers or briefs is a non issue, but I’ve heard enough people mock briefs that it makes me wonder why. That’s all.
---
### Author:  [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/19 "2011-09-20T05:11:41Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Because they’re out of style. Everything else is rationalization. There is no logical reason other than the fact the most men now wear boxers.
>
> When I was growing up, boxer were old man pants and everyone wore briefs. And there were just as many rationalizations about why no one wore boxers.
>
> In 40 years, everyone will wear briefs and laugh at boxers.
>
> It’s the Circle of Style.
This is completely the correct answer – style. And the 'circle of style is mostly teen age boys wanting to wear a different style than their father.
(Except that I wonder about the part
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> the fact the most men now wear boxers.
. Do actual sales figures back this up?
Not that many years ago, I worked in sales accounting at Target, and briefs outsold boxers.)
---
### Author:  [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861/20 "2011-09-20T06:54:41Z")
> [@Nobody](#):
>
> :dubious: But I’m not wearing underwear to be sexy. I’m wearing it to keep my junk firmly in place. Which is why I don’t like boxers.
Have you tried boxer briefs? Much, much more comfy in both respects (I can’t wear boxers, they don’t give you any support).
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-love-for-briefs-underwear/596861.md?page=2)