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The ridiculousness of some men and their understanding of how bodies work (Original Post) Blue_Adept Jun 2016 OP
Home schooled by a prudish mother? TexasProgresive Jun 2016 #1
Catholic school and sex education from his equally ignorant buddies Warpy Jun 2016 #5
You don't have to be home schooled in America to be ignorant. Or have a prudish mother or dad. GuestCheck Jun 2016 #60
then the entire restuarant stood up and applauded. AngryAmish Jun 2016 #2
Touché . . . Journeyman Jun 2016 #4
Exactly melman Jun 2016 #28
There's a certain narrative style that goes along with these Internet essays... Hekate Jun 2016 #42
I could accept it as truth if it hadn't been for the "skirt" and "pants" she... moriah Jun 2016 #48
She probably meant her under-pants! Dont call me Shirley Jun 2016 #51
How did he even know there was a tampon machine in the women's bathroom? Nye Bevan Jun 2016 #3
Underpants? But, asking for permission to go to the restroom in the workplace? Bizarre! Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #8
"Pants" meaning "underpants" would explain it in the UK. Nye Bevan Jun 2016 #9
"Panties" is rather US than UK usage. Brits more often say "knickers". Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #11
I have friends who work for student loan call centers AwakeAtLast Jun 2016 #39
Way to keep your workers under control...especially been done to women for millenia. Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #41
It's bullshit. Boudica the Lyoness Jun 2016 #26
Married? babylonsister Jun 2016 #6
Can't be. Nye Bevan Jun 2016 #10
I'm sure some men would freak out if they saw a lot of blood. Manifestor_of_Light Jun 2016 #24
Unfuggenbelieveable. lpbk2713 Jun 2016 #7
Which accounts for the fact that I tend not to believe it. WillowTree Jun 2016 #29
How can anybody be so effing clueless? smirkymonkey Jun 2016 #12
This sounds like a made up anecdote to me. I call it bogus. japple Jun 2016 #13
Most of these "viral" stories on social media are fake, however I have no problem believing Chakab Jun 2016 #16
And there's still the vagina-camera guy knightmaar Jun 2016 #19
sadly, I doubt it is arithia Jun 2016 #17
This stuff... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2016 #14
The sex ed I got was an inadequate pack of lies. Manifestor_of_Light Jun 2016 #23
This is shocking. Enthusiast Jun 2016 #15
Surprised he didn't tell her to just swallow it knightmaar Jun 2016 #18
believe me, living in fundieville as I do, I have heard even stupider things. niyad Jun 2016 #20
I know that men-bashing Has become a sport here angrychair Jun 2016 #21
I had a male orchestra teacher once in high school. Manifestor_of_Light Jun 2016 #22
If we could turn "it" off... 3catwoman3 Jun 2016 #25
Does not ring true. Sorry, just doesn't TexasMommaWithAHat Jun 2016 #27
I had a male friend who told me he thought tampons were for girls to masturbate with milestogo Jun 2016 #30
RIGHT, we're MAGIC!!! elleng Jun 2016 #31
Why would anyone "choose" that if they didn't have to?! Though you never know about people Rhiannon12866 Jun 2016 #32
He also forgot to mention that it attracts bears.... Blue_Tires Jun 2016 #33
*snicker* Inkfreak Jun 2016 #55
jeeze Flatpicker Jun 2016 #34
Pfft. ronnie624 Jun 2016 #35
Cool Story Bro #399775 Oneironaut Jun 2016 #36
I have to call BS on this story Skittles Jun 2016 #37
The pants and skirt thing kinda made me question, but maybe... moriah Jun 2016 #47
I couldn't get past "he asked why I needed to go to the bathroom" Skittles Jun 2016 #56
I don't know, I've had it said by people in the tones of... moriah Jun 2016 #58
How in the hell dark forest Jun 2016 #38
Sadly Flatpicker Jun 2016 #40
And the really disgraceful thing is Dale Neiburg Jun 2016 #43
Let me just say this: If he really thinks a tampon is analagous to a dildo Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #44
he really does have tiny fingers Skittles Jun 2016 #49
mine too, ya know what I'm sayin Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #52
ARE YE SAYING YOU ARE WELL-ENDOWED, WARREN DEMONTAGUE? Skittles Jun 2016 #53
Ah, my fingers are just fine. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #54
What. The. Fuck? Rex Jun 2016 #45
He's married??! Who the fuck in their right mind would go on more than one date with that idiot? Quantess Jun 2016 #46
His lack of knowledge reflects a Ilsa Jun 2016 #59
I wonder about people like that. Quantess Jun 2016 #63
This is what happens when "Abstinence Sex Ed Fairy Tales" are taught instead of genuine Sex Ed. Dont call me Shirley Jun 2016 #50
blame feminine period comercials, they make it sound like a vacation & a thrill. pansypoo53219 Jun 2016 #57
Yep. In the commercials, the "young lady" is inclined to wear her white skylucy Jun 2016 #62
I've read this before, but can't remember what site it was on. tammywammy Jun 2016 #61

TexasProgresive

(12,148 posts)
1. Home schooled by a prudish mother?
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 02:37 PM
Jun 2016

Or maybe, his parents objected to him taking biology and/or sex ed. I'm so sorry you had to put up with that flood of ignorance. Did he finally get it?

BTW, I went to an all boys Catholic H.S. and we were taught about male and female reproduction. Biology was a mandated course in our sophomore year. Father made damn sure we knew how babies were made.

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
5. Catholic school and sex education from his equally ignorant buddies
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 02:54 PM
Jun 2016

Men have a lot of really stupid ideas about how women work and they won't listen to us when we try to correct them. They'd rather mansplain what their idiot friends told them in high school.

Likely that oaf still thinks pads and tampons are luxuries instead of necessities that keep the blood from soaking into his office furniture.

 

GuestCheck

(13 posts)
60. You don't have to be home schooled in America to be ignorant. Or have a prudish mother or dad.
Sun Jun 5, 2016, 12:09 AM
Jun 2016

There are plenty of public schools in America that have no problem facilitating ignorance.

Hekate

(90,202 posts)
42. There's a certain narrative style that goes along with these Internet essays...
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 03:37 AM
Jun 2016

About the time all the passengers in the airplane take up a collection for the wounded soldier and let him sit in First Class, one is inclined to spot the holes in the story.

Yet they are very, very popular.

moriah

(8,311 posts)
48. I could accept it as truth if it hadn't been for the "skirt" and "pants" she...
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 06:04 AM
Jun 2016

... apparently was wearing at the same time.

Still...

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
3. How did he even know there was a tampon machine in the women's bathroom?
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 02:45 PM
Jun 2016

And why was the author wearing pants and a skirt?

And who the hell asks for a reason when someone excuses themself to go to the bathroom?

So many questions....

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
9. "Pants" meaning "underpants" would explain it in the UK.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 03:11 PM
Jun 2016

But the author specified working in a "state capitol", which suggests that a UK setting for this story is unlikely.

AwakeAtLast

(14,112 posts)
39. I have friends who work for student loan call centers
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 10:25 PM
Jun 2016

They have to raise their hand to get permission to leave their desk (phone) to go to the restroom.

There are many reasons why we need more unions.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
10. Can't be.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 03:13 PM
Jun 2016

One of the first things a guy learns in marriage are that a woman's bathroom activities are strictly "don't ask, don't tell".

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
24. I'm sure some men would freak out if they saw a lot of blood.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 05:00 PM
Jun 2016

And probably don't realize that this happens THIRTEEN TIMES A YEAR (lunar calendar) if you have regular periods, and have PMS, cramps, fatigue, whatever other symptoms you might get and that he is going to have to deal with that if he wants to live with you.

lpbk2713

(42,696 posts)
7. Unfuggenbelieveable.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 03:05 PM
Jun 2016



How does anyone that laughingly stupid get in a position of authority?
He's obviously not married and grew up without sisters.




 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
12. How can anybody be so effing clueless?
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:12 PM
Jun 2016

This right here explains the Republican mindset where it concerns Women's healthcare and reproductive rights. God help us!

 

Chakab

(1,727 posts)
16. Most of these "viral" stories on social media are fake, however I have no problem believing
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:38 PM
Jun 2016

that the type of ignorance that is detailed in the post actually exists.

In the 2012 election cycle, we found out that a large number of people actually believe that women can't conceive after being raped.

knightmaar

(748 posts)
19. And there's still the vagina-camera guy
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:43 PM
Jun 2016

I mean, he says he was joking when he asked if a woman could swallow a camera and have it come out her vagina ... but ...

arithia

(455 posts)
17. sadly, I doubt it is
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:38 PM
Jun 2016

I've heard far, far more stupid things about the female anatomy from men than this.

I've heard far, far more stupid things about the female anatomy from WOMEN. I once had to explain to a fellow 22 year old woman that no, you will not get pregnant if you simply touch a man's genitals. She was worried after she tripped, fell, and landed fully clothed on a friend that she would end up with child.


We need better sex ed in this country. ~_~

 

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)
14. This stuff...
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:35 PM
Jun 2016

used to be taught in Sex Ed. Of course we can't have such classes anymore, we must have abstinence only.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
23. The sex ed I got was an inadequate pack of lies.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:59 PM
Jun 2016

That was in 1971 or 72.

Movies of that helmet haired Ann Landers telling us to do anything on a date except make out. If you make out you're a slut, and boys only want one thing, and once they get it they will drop you like a kleenex, blah blah.........

Telling us that two virgins could give each other venereal disease (now called STDs, not VD).

Telling us that if you had an STD, giving us the impression you could sneeze on somebody and they would get it like a cold virus.

knightmaar

(748 posts)
18. Surprised he didn't tell her to just swallow it
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:42 PM
Jun 2016

Because it'll end coming out down there somewhere, won't it?

Just like those cameras?

angrychair

(8,594 posts)
21. I know that men-bashing Has become a sport here
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:53 PM
Jun 2016

But just like any person of color or women would take offense to such broad generalizations, this should be no exception.

In your rush to bash ignorant sexist like tRump and his allies, remember that there are still proud male feminist that care very deeply about their female family and friends and are very aware of how human biological systems function.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
22. I had a male orchestra teacher once in high school.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 04:56 PM
Jun 2016

We had class from noon to 1. We had lunch at 1 to 1:30. I usually had about 10 minutes to eat because of the lines in the cafeteria. I went to a gigantic suburban high school with only 6 minutes between classes. There were about 3,500 students in 4 grades. Bigger than a lot of colleges, in other words. I didn't have time to go pee. Many days I never went to the bathroom for eight hours.

During the break before orchestra, I went to the bathroom to change my pad when I had my period. This was back when we had these horrible cotton pads with long gauze strings on them. You had to wear an elastic belt around your waist and thread the ends through some metal things sort of like the snaggers on a garter belt. This was long before we had stick backed pads. Years before. I don't know how many years before.

So I was late to class. We had to go in the instrument room, throw our books down, and get our fiddles out and bows and rosin our bows and things like that. Then we had to walk about 50 feet down the hall to the main part of the band hall and sit down in our orchestra seats.

One day, he found out I was late to class. I told him I had to go to the bathroom. He said, "Can't you go some other time?" and I said, "No". I was mad and humiliated. I went home and told my mother about it. She said, "He has a wife and a daughter. He should know about those things."

I guess I should have thrown a dirty pad on his desk just to get his attention. He would no doubt have suspended me for that.


In fact, he often put his daughter in the first chair as the concertmistress, and she was not one of the best first violinists. He had his four favorites that were teacher's pets that he rotated amongst the first two stands. We "played for chairs" every six weeks. I would always be fifth or sixth chair and would sit there in the practice room and cry after he announced it. I got ignored. I was so depressed over it that I didn't even CARE what he or anybody else thought about my crying. His favoritism with his four pets was quite obvious.


So I told him that if he was going to suspend me for being late, then he could take it up with my mother. He backed down. I'm sure my mother would have given him hell for threatening me with suspension for taking care of a bodily function and not bleeding all over my seat.


A couple of months ago, I got an email from the favored daughter inviting me to an orchestra/band reunion, and celebrating his 80th birthday. I did not reply because of numerous bad memories and the fact that I might have told him to his face what a jackass he was. Besides I had a prior commitment that night to go see Siegfried at the opera, which was a lot more important in my priorities. I thought about telling his daughter via email about his threats to suspend me for taking care of my period, and didn't do it.


A lot of men don't understand that women have to take care of their periods, or that they need lunch breaks or bathroom breaks, and think they are being macho, when all they are doing is making life uncomfortable for the rest of us. And looking really stupid.

It's been over 40 years since I was in high school, and I'm still pissed off at that man and absolutely do not respect him for several stupid things he did. Good violinist, good teacher, but a real clown and an asshole in some ways.

He ranted about how bad unions were, one day on the podium. I went home and told my dad about it and he said, "Isn't he a member of a union? The state teachers' association?" and I said, "Yeah, I guess." Dad was a union organizer for the O.C.A.W. back in his day.



Still hate the man's guts for embarrassing me about my period.


TexasMommaWithAHat

(3,212 posts)
27. Does not ring true. Sorry, just doesn't
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 05:12 PM
Jun 2016

Even "back in the day," men knew their wives had regular "monthlies" or whatever term they may have whispered about. Anyone heard of the "rhythm method?" It's what was used by a lot of folks, and even if they weren't using the rhythm method for attempted birth control, the guy would have to be low IQ not to have figured it out.

Besides, surely he realized his wife couldn't turn it off just so he could have sex.

milestogo

(16,829 posts)
30. I had a male friend who told me he thought tampons were for girls to masturbate with
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 05:19 PM
Jun 2016

when he was an adolescent. So I asked - and you thought we needed a box of 40 at a time, and that we needed them in Regular, Super, and SuperPlus sizes? He said yes.

Adolescent boys masturbate every chance they get - so maybe thats why they would think that way if they were not otherwise instructed.

Rhiannon12866

(203,009 posts)
32. Why would anyone "choose" that if they didn't have to?! Though you never know about people
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 05:33 PM
Jun 2016

I used to have severe problems in that department, was very anemic, even once passed out at work. I had a couple of female bosses who were not at all sympathetic, actually acted grossed out. But then I had a couple of male bosses who were not only understanding, but they both stayed late and helped me out when we were on deadline and I was particularly unwell. You never know...

Flatpicker

(894 posts)
34. jeeze
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 05:48 PM
Jun 2016

Not for the story, but for some of the anger being shown here.
Many men don't understand what is going on, nor are they told about these things at some point.

It's not as if we are given any information when we hit a certain age. Usually our health class, esp in the US, and back in the 70s-80s, were focused on night emissions, the idea that our sweat was going to stink and we should shower more, and to dry our feet so we don't get athletes foot.

Being annoyed that we don't understand isn't the right direction to take.

Most of us were very uninformed and unless you were actively curious(which was frowned upon), the answers weren't easy to find. I can believe that there are whole groups of men who are ignorant on these subjects. It's not their fault. The system we have in place doesn't teach correctly on either side of the aisle.

Most men aren't trying to be difficult. We really don't know, and in the workplace, we are trying to treat everyone uniformly. Sure, there are some bad manager types, but many of them are just trying to get by with the knowledge that we have.

moriah

(8,311 posts)
47. The pants and skirt thing kinda made me question, but maybe...
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 06:02 AM
Jun 2016

... she meant underpants.

But it could be a variation of Poe's Law. It's hard to tell really good satire from genuine lunacy.

moriah

(8,311 posts)
58. I don't know, I've had it said by people in the tones of...
Sat Jun 4, 2016, 09:45 PM
Jun 2016

... "Why do you have to go *now*???? In a pleading tone of voice in asking a colleague to take over a conference call, but even then it was a rhetorical question

dark forest

(110 posts)
38. How in the hell
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 08:39 PM
Jun 2016

did he even have the nerve to ask why you needed to go!? What possible business could he think it was of his?

Flatpicker

(894 posts)
40. Sadly
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 11:20 PM
Jun 2016

Many places that involve Call Centers and or Customer Service Centers have very draconian rules regarding bathroom breaks.

Dale Neiburg

(694 posts)
43. And the really disgraceful thing is
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 04:45 AM
Jun 2016

that men like this are the most eager to control women's health care, reproductive and otherwise.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
54. Ah, my fingers are just fine.
Sat Jun 4, 2016, 08:00 PM
Jun 2016

In fact I've been told I could have been a world-class pianist.


.....wait, what?

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
46. He's married??! Who the fuck in their right mind would go on more than one date with that idiot?
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 05:46 AM
Jun 2016

Wow... there's no accounting for taste. That guy doesn't deserve to get laid, EVER.

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
63. I wonder about people like that.
Sun Jun 5, 2016, 06:14 AM
Jun 2016

She might be relieved that he doesn't get intimate with her very often, and he might just be one of those politicians who frequents male prostitutes. Mere speculation, of course.

skylucy

(3,734 posts)
62. Yep. In the commercials, the "young lady" is inclined to wear her white
Sun Jun 5, 2016, 02:16 AM
Jun 2016

slacks and go bike riding (after practicing her favorite gymnastic moves).

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