Oracne's Brain Radio: the journal of victoria janssen

Social? Ethical? Question

Feb. 12th, 2013 at 9:10 AM

So, imagine you're in the gym. You're exercising on a machine, and in front of you is another row of machines with people exercising on them. The person in front of you is wearing black capris. Except, either they are not actual exericse tights or they are worn thin, because you learn that the person is wearing a thong, because you can see it through the fabric.

Do you say anything?

The trouble is, I was exercising, and I would have had to stop, go and interrupt the other person's exercising, and explain the issue of which they may not have been aware. I did not want to stop, so I did nothing. Also, what if the person knew, and didn't care? Then again, what if the person did care, in fact really did not want everyone to know their underwear preferences?

What do you think?

Comments

( 17 comments — Leave a comment )

fjm

Feb. 12th, 2013 03:12 pm (UTC)

S/he's wearing a thong. S/he doesn't care. S/he will probably have studied the front effect quite carefully in the mirror.

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 03:16 pm (UTC)

I only got the back effect - she left before I was finished on the elliptical, so I had to ponder why I felt thongs were so unattractive....

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fjm

Feb. 12th, 2013 03:17 pm (UTC)

Because the human bum, unclothed, is remarkably like a pig or horse bum.

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 03:29 pm (UTC)

Mmm, bacon.

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sartorias

Feb. 12th, 2013 05:27 pm (UTC)

I was in a long line once, and overheard an older woman say to a young one in that I'm-just-joking tone, "Your underwear is riding above your jeans in back. I just thought you should know."

Young woman in hostile tone: "You just thought I should know."

Old woman, less joking, "Have you any idea how unattractive that looks?"

Young woman: "Your problem. You're the one looking at my butt."

Since then, I don't make any personal remark to anyone, short of "You are bleeding arterial blood."

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houseboatonstyx

Feb. 12th, 2013 05:35 pm (UTC)

If the person is wearing a pill box hat and a plaid pleated skirt that comes just below the knee, and her white lace slip is showing, tell her discretely. If her skirt is one that comes above the knee, say nothing.

/ end of channeling Miss Manners /

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 07:01 pm (UTC)

Seems like a good gauge!

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 07:01 pm (UTC)

Good point!

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malkingrey

Feb. 12th, 2013 05:38 pm (UTC)

Either they don't know, in which case telling them is going to make them embarrassed and unhappy (strangely, we are seldom grateful to the person who brings us this kind of bad news), or they do know and they don't care, in which case telling them is only going to piss them off.

On balance, the greatest happiness (or least unhappiness, anyhow) all around would seem to be served by saying nothing.

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pantryslut

Feb. 12th, 2013 06:14 pm (UTC)

This is more or less my analysis as well.

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 07:00 pm (UTC)

Yeah, that was the conclusion I eventually arrived at, too.

Usually I'm not stuck in the same place, with nothing to do but contemplate the wardrobe spectacle.

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 07:00 pm (UTC)

Yep, that's what I think, too, upon thinking.

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sidewinder

Feb. 13th, 2013 12:32 am (UTC)

^This.

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lawbabeak

Feb. 12th, 2013 08:44 pm (UTC)

I would be mortified if someone pointed out something like that to me at the gym. On the other hand, I'd like to know... this is why I bend over in front of a mirror when trying on gym bottoms. I had tights in high school that werenot as thick as I thought. Fortunately, I figured out afteronly one important wear.

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oracne

Feb. 12th, 2013 08:50 pm (UTC)

I finally decided it was best I didn't say anything - I didn't see her get harassed or anything, either.

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swimtech

Feb. 13th, 2013 12:46 am (UTC)

A few times I've seen chlorine-eaten suits at the pool, so that the back of the suit is entirely transparent. Of course, there's not even any underwear to shield you from that view.

Edited at 2013-02-13 12:47 am (UTC)

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birdhousefrog

Feb. 13th, 2013 10:24 pm (UTC)

I think your brain does weird things when you're working out. And I don't just mean yours. Mine does too. It sort of puzzles through things like this. Of course, I'd rather it puzzled through a story than looked at someone's thong and went all Emily Post on me....

You made me laugh.
Oz

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( 17 comments — Leave a comment )

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