for women's eyes only

[Portia]

Really? Menarche and bras are just too much for your delicate male sensibilities?

Newsflash, dudes and women who fear them: every woman menstruates at some point. Most women, Portlanders sometimes excepted, wear bras at some point. It's about as potentially offensive as questions about (beard) shaving or football.

[Marduk]

I assumed a question about bras would be too sexy for delicate male sensibilities.

[Squirrel]

I think it's only fair to readers that they have fair warning of what they're going to read may be of a sensitive nature, so that they have the option to skip it if they wish. And some people are embarrassed that they're asking that type of question, so they apologize- that's okay too. They're learning to be more open about it. Not everyone is comfortable in sharing everything, and that's a valid feeling, I think. But I do think it's good for people to keep asking these kinds of questions, and that men are knowledgeable about things that women deal with.

[Portia]

Still bugs me. A guy wouldn't say that. It reinforces the idea that women have to apologize for everything.

People don't say, hey, my question is rampant religious speculation, warning!

There's too Victorian of a culture around women's issues in our culture. It's stupid to read a Q&A board and not expect "sensitive" issues...

[Katya]

I once asked this question: http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/11226/

[Marduk]

I don't know the 'nym well enough to say: is Latro being sarcastic in that answer?

Because I actually like unusual hair colors on women.

[Katya]

I don't know the 'nym well enough to say: is Latro being sarcastic in that answer?

No. (Now I'm imagining whether or not you and Latro would be friends if you knew each other IRL. )

[Yarjka]

It's about as potentially offensive as questions about (beard) shaving or football.

Wouldn't a better comparison be to ejaculation/nocturnal emissions and jock straps (or boxer/brief options)?

Not that I disagree with you, because I don't - these questions shouldn't be offensive to males or females, nor should they need any warning. I just feel your comparisons are a bit off.

[Marduk]

Bras do not cover one's genitals.

[NerdGirl]

Bras do not cover one's genitals.

Unless you are wearing them wrong.

[Squirrel]

Bras do not cover one's genitals.

They still cover the private parts of a woman's body.

[Marduk]

Depends on how you define "private parts."

[Rifka]

I actually the questioner about bra sizes was very tactful-- it made me think of Question #66214, which was a lot more " mennreadingaboutperiodsisthemosthorriblethingintheworld!!!" overkill (and I loved Rating Pending's response to it!) I think it's silly to insist men not reading something like #66214, or the questions mentioned in this link, but I have no problem with a reader giving a mild disclaimer in case some men don't want to talk about it. Not everyone feels comfortable reading about bodily functions or undergarments and that's fine. We all have our own point of squeamishness and there's no reason to force someone else to our standard of okay/not okay unless it's inappropriate by gospel standards (or BYU standards in the case of the 100 hour board).

[Rifka]

On the other hand, I just found this question, which swings to the opposite extreme. http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/57108/

[Emiliana]

Yeah, I didn't necessarily think the question about bras needed a disclaimer. Menstruation, on the other hand, is gross, and I can understand why some men might appreciate the disclaimer.

[Marduk]

I'd agree that any question that involves blood coming out of someone probably needs a disclaimer. (Not that I personally care, but I get that a lot of people are squeamish about that stuff)

[Portia]

It wasn't a question about the mechanics of menses, though, but why girls are going through puberty earlier. That's historical not ew-gross.

[Emiliana]

True...

[thatonemom]

This is not exactly related, but I read this article by Maureen Johnson (a YA writer) about "girl" books vs. general books, which somehow means only books by/about men. Women's things apparently are their own sort of special category, clearly needing a label or disclaimer (or special cover) so that "regular people" won't have to bother with them. I wonder if there's some of that going on in board questions.

[Portia]

This is not exactly related, but I read this article by Maureen Johnson (a YA writer) about "girl" books vs. general books, which somehow means only books by/about men. Women's things apparently are their own sort of special category, clearly needing a label or disclaimer (or special cover) so that "regular people" won't have to bother with them. I wonder if there's some of that going on in board questions.

YES.