Just wondering if it's possible the LW #1 is a woman and she's dating another woman, would that make a difference as to how the bra washing situation might have come up?

Putting aside the ridiculous question of whether lesbians wear bras (they're for comfort and support, not solely for dudes to look at), a lesbian would likely not pathologize her girlfriend for not washing her bra and would not keep any disgust a secret.

I'm picturing the LW as one of those guys without any sisters who actually believes women don't fart or take smelly dumps.

Erica C - THANK YOU

I was trying to say Thank You for making me laugh out loud on a rather dismal day :) You are so right!!

I've usually found that women who need bras, wear bras. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

I personally wash mine after a wearing or two, depending upon the sweat factor. And, yes, it is really difficult to find ones that fit well, especially if you wear an unpopular size.

What a moron!

"Do some lesbians wear bras?"

I laughed, then I realized this might be a real question. And I wept a little. And then I perked up, because anyone asking this has clearly never seen real breasts at all, and does not deserve to.

And then I perked up, because anyone asking this has clearly never seen real breasts at all, and does not deserve to.

Oh, don't be a dick (pun intended) -- the headline was to get your attention, which it did, and past that there was certainly no offense against anybody in my note. So lighten up, don't get your panties (or tightie-whities, or thong, or whatever you prefer) in a bunch.

Ed note: I've actually seen real breasts, both male and female, have even seen those breasts naked from time to time, and oddly enough the person to whom those breasts were attached did not make vast sweeping judgments about what what other people "deserve" in order to fondle said breasts. But then I'm not a dick, either, or a pussy.

You've seen breasts! Good for you!

For a stab at getting attention, you sure are taking the responses seriously.

What fun is getting attention of you also don't have fun replying? :-) And frankly I think it's a sign of respect to take someone's response seriously, if people feel strongly enough to write something, I think it's only considerate to answer them!

Travelall:

Just wondering if it's possible the LW #1 is a woman and she's dating another woman, would that make a difference as to how the bra washing situation might have come up?

I think the general rule of thumb is....if they don't shave their armpits they probably don't wear bras.

SoMerry:

I've usually found that women who need bras, wear bras. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

This reminds me of a story I was told by a fellow graduate student (this was in the early 90s). He was dating a girl who happened to be the daughter of the president of the university. So he got to go to a commencent luncheon and sat at the president's table. Another guest at this table was the commencement speaker, Ted Turner. And Jane Fonda was with him. So my friend got to meet her, and his report to me was that she wasn't wearing a bra. (He was popular with women because he was a good-looking guy, but he was the sort who would notice something like that even though I assume she was wearing some sort of top.)

When I was in school (the dark ages), there was something called a pencil test. You put a pencil right under your breast. If it fell, you didn't need to wear a bra. If it stayed, you did. Depended totally on your "perkiness quotient." Not on your size.

These days, of course, you see women running down the beach and nothing moves. Nothing. Silcon valleys.

Once in a while I really am amazed at these comments. Hate to generalize, but women are more likely to do snoogums' laundry when she thinks it needs doing, than to pathologize her and look for validation from the advice columnist. Most of the males' comments here show you in that frame of mind where boobs have an existence of their own and you and the two of them are in an alternate dimension, sometimes while someone is talking 12" above them. Remember breasts are not yours. Their primary purpose is to make sure babies are fed. Love you guys, but your humour is saying things about you I don't think you want to say.

I think the general rule of thumb is....if they don't shave their armpits they probably don't wear bras.

I'm going to assume you're going for a "bra burning feminist" crack here, but that's just a wee bit out of line there, champ. Ever try shaving your armpits? Daily? For months? Here's something for you I dare you to try: go on, shave your pits every day for a year. And check them regularly, make sure there's not a speck of hair in there.

The truth is: it's not about anything of the above. Those are things done either by perceived necessity or comfort. You may go on and on about the filthiness of a woman not shaving her armpits when a great cretin like you doesn't either... and you think you don't stink? Deodorant is your friend, same with her. And if you're not the one banging her or seeing her pits on display... what d'you care? It's behaviour like this that makes some women really hate having to shave their legs and pits and tweeze or wax every damn inch of their body just because some tosspot thinks they ought to in order to be "elegant" and "pretty". Well shaved pits won't get you back to the car again if you're lost hiking, so maybe you should think twice about whether you'd like to be lost in the woods with a girl who's plucked and shaved and smells like lotus flowers and can't read a map for beans, or the girl who forgot to shave a couple of days but could track deer through the snow in January in Alaska. Hope you like the cold.

And as for the brilliant fellow who had to open his post with such a ridiculous question: it's people like you that make other people still have to label themselves carefully so pigeonholing knockheads like yourself won't make stupid stereotyping statements. Getting attention indeed.

Oh and don't expect a reply, I take great joy in posting and vanishing for weeks at a time.

If I shaved my armpits I'd look like a fag.....or worse, a metrosexual.