# Why would any guy wear tidy whities? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855 "2013-04-27T19:13:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/61 "2013-04-29T02:43:06Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > My father wears briefs. I… How do you know? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/62 "2013-04-29T03:09:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I… > How do you know? > 🙂 Sounds like someone never had to do the laundry growing up. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/63 "2013-04-29T03:34:55Z")
I’ve always worn briefs (I’m 48). My father has always worn briefs, too. I’ve tried boxers; I don’t like the loose feel. In fact, a few years ago, I started running, and started wearing athletic briefs, which give more support / a somewhat cozier fit. I decided I preferred that feel, and have switched to athletic-style briefs full-time. (Also, I switched from white to colored briefs years ago. White brief start looking dodgier a lot earlier in their lifespans than colored ones do.) ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/64 "2013-04-29T04:53:01Z")
Boxer briefs (ones like [these](http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/165622/fruit-of-the-loom-boxer-briefs-profile.jpg)) are easily the most unflattering underwear men can wear. At least boxer shorts come in fun patterns (say something like [these](http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=12332&vid=1&pid=452350002), and if a dude is hanging out in just boxer shorts, you can sometimes get a cheap thrill when they gape open. Trunks (i.e. boxer briefs that stop just at the bottom of the rump) are OK, I guess. Still, if you’re going to do that, you may as well just go with briefs (ala [these](http://cki.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pCKI1-4931056v275.jpg), which is what I wear when I do wear underwears other than boxer shorts and am not freeballing it (usually reserved for certain summer weekends)). And of course, every gay man loves a jock. (In gay pornos, if the dudes are wearing underwear, it’s always briefs or a jock, because these are the underpants most flattering to the male shape. Even in buhr porn, so being tubby is not an excuse). Anyways, TL;DR: Boxer-briefs are _the_ _worst_ and need to be abolished. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/65 "2013-04-29T07:01:13Z")
Boxers or briefs? at my age, depends. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/66 "2013-04-29T07:14:32Z")
Briefs. As Kramer once remarked to Jerry Seinfeld, “My boys need a floor under them.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/67 "2013-04-29T11:20:51Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Sounds like someone never had to do the laundry growing up. You are correct. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/68 "2013-04-29T12:03:50Z")
I’ve got a couple pair of white linen pants that necessitate the tighty whities. Other than when I’m wearing those, it’s boxers or boxer briefs. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/69 "2013-04-29T12:24:53Z")
I wear Bells double seat briefs. Blue. Apart from anything else, my brother choose boxers, my dad choose bikini briefs, and I choose Y-fronts so there wasn’t any confusion. And that’s still the case, now that I’m married and living with three boys. Once I’d made the choice, it’s something I’ll never have to think about again, but I’m choosing the pure cotton because it’s more comfortable, and blue because I think the white is just embarrassing. Boxers bunch up, and bikini briefs are so 70’s. My grandfather wore a union suit (look it up son) till the day he died. My dad switched to Y-fronts the first time he tried them, and then to bikini briefs later – he wore a suit to work so it didn’t matter, but hey, the guy had no shame anyway. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/70 "2013-04-29T12:57:32Z")
Seriously, you guys can _run_ in boxers? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/71 "2013-04-29T13:00:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Seriously, you guys can _run_ in boxers? On a typical day, I don’t suddenly sprint or run. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/72 "2013-04-29T13:04:00Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > On a typical day, I don’t suddenly sprint or run. Yes, but one Must Be Prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/73 "2013-04-29T13:05:01Z")
Wore TWs all the way up to my 30’s. Finally switched to boxer briefs for work or the gym and boxers on other occasions. On any man who is not super buff or slim (ie. most men) TWs are not flattering. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/74 "2013-04-29T15:25:23Z")
> [@movingfinger](#): > > Briefs. > As Kramer once remarked to Jerry Seinfeld, “My boys need a floor under them.” I’m pretty sure the line was “My boys need a home.” I wore tighty whiteys until I was in my 20’s, then switched to boxers- what a relief!. I really prefer the looseness that allows my package to move freely. The only problem with them has been that in jeans, they tend to ride up so that the waistband winds up higher than the beltline, which I don’t like. So for years I tend to just go commando when wearing jeans- Fridays at work, and most of the weekend. But when I got my vasectomy my wife picked up a few pairs of bikini briefs so that my balls would, well, have a home. I hated them, but kept them around for emergencies. Over the winter I tried them out again a couple times under jeans, and I really can’t stand the way my whole unit is so uncomfortably scrunched up inside them. My wife suggested I try boxer briefs, which are supposed to be a little roomier than briefs but snugger than boxers. I tried them a few weeks ago- they suck just as much. I don’t know how you guys wear them- my boys are so constrained and squished I was going to the men’s room a couple times a day just to let myself free and to get some air. So I’m sticking with my boxers, and nothing with jeans. As far as the effect my underwear has had on the women in my life, a former GF called my boxers “old man underwear” and preferred me to wear skimpy little ball-huggers. I hated them, but they got me laid on a regular basis, so what can you do? On the other hand, my wife thinks those tight little things are ridiculous-looking and finds it sexy when I walk around the house in my boxers. Just one more reason that I find her awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/75 "2013-04-29T15:34:58Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Wore TWs all the way up to my 30’s. Finally switched to boxer briefs for work or the gym and boxers on other occasions. On any man who is not super buff or slim (ie. most men) TWs are not flattering. Who ever sees you just in your underwear? Me, I’m either wearing clothes or I’m naked. I don’t hang out with my wife (or in earlier years, friendly young women) dressed in my underwear. My underwear and pants come off together when undressing. When dressing, my pants go on about 5 seconds after my underwear. I understand having a preference for the way they fit and feel, but I’m missing the importance on how they\* look\*. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/76 "2013-04-29T15:50:25Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > At least boxer shorts come in fun patterns (say something like [these](http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=12332&vid=1&pid=452350002), and if a dude is hanging out in just boxer shorts, you can sometimes get a cheap thrill when they gape open. As I have a couple pair (from GAP, no less), I know that patterned boxer briefs not too far from the boxers in your example exist. I went looking for a link to some [and came across this](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_six_brow_2?rh=n%3A1036592%2Cn%3A%211036682%2Cn%3A1040658%2Cn%3A1045706%2Cn%3A1045718%2Cp_n_feature_six_browse-bin%3A2482409011&bbn=1045718&ie=UTF8&qid=1367250158&rnid=2444106011). So be careful what you wish for, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/77 "2013-04-29T16:24:13Z")
I converted to boxers about five years ago when my lifestyle shifted to the less-monogamous; I felt boxers looked more dignified upon disrobing, and I find them rather comfortable as well. If I were in better shape, I might be persuaded to go the boxer-brief route. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/78 "2013-04-29T16:28:54Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I felt boxers looked more dignified upon disrobing If by dignified, you mean lazy, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/79 "2013-04-29T17:30:00Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Personally, I am only attracted to men if they wear beige boxer-briefs. One time I pulled off a dude’s pants and discovered that he was wearing herringbone-patterned boxers. > > I pepper-sprayed him, of course. Isn’t that a little harsh? Maybe his tiger-stripes were in the laundry. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > (Also, I switched from white to colored briefs years ago. White brief start looking dodgier a lot earlier in their lifespans than colored ones do.) Whoever decided that underwear should be white was a) overly optimistic and b) not middle-aged. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855/80 "2013-04-29T17:40:53Z")
Seriously? No one posted [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYiSxkrqMgM) yet? I wear briefs or boxer briefs but they have to be tight. I hate when the boys slip to the side and stick to my thigh or get pinched by my pants. Plus when you wear boxers there is too great a chance that when you are walking to the bathroom at 3 AM of things popping out and terrorizing your kids. Or if you are asleep without covers and you have morning wood boxers won’t keep Mr. Happy from standing up to greet the day, attracting the attention of pets. My friend was viciously clawed by his kitten who treated him as a scratching post. The briefs were in the garbage that day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-any-guy-wear-tidy-whities/656855.md?page=5)