Why do men put their hands down their pants & other random thoughts

Who’d a thunk it? I’d been collecting random items for my next batch of blog soup and, when I pulled them out to write this post, it turns out they have one thing in common: they all relate to the parts of our anatomy found inside our pants.

I’m not sure what this says about what catches my eye (“Hey, if it’s got to do with peeing, pooping or private parts, I’m all over it!”), but I thought these items were interesting nonetheless. I hope you agree:

Paris fights public urination with flower-growing toilets

One of the worst things about when I lived in Boston was the stench of urine—especially in warmer weather—where (mostly) men peed on sidewalks or in the subway stations. It’s a problem that plagues most cities and, according to an article in the New York Times, Paris is tackling it by installing sleek, eco-friendly sidewalk urinals that look like a flower box. The “Uritrottoir” doesn’t use water; users make their, um, deposit in a urinal trough, and the unit stores the urine on a bed of dry straw, sawdust or wood chips, which is hauled away and turned into compost for use in public gardens and parks. A large model of the pee pod can absorb the outflow of 600 people; the smaller model handles 300 deposits. The units are remotely monitored via computer, letting a “urine attendant” know when it’s time to empty them.

Oh, lest we women feel left out, the company that makes the Uritrottoir is working on a design for those of us who don’t pee standing up. We live in interesting times, n’est-ce pas?

Incontinent baby boomers are reviving the paper industry

Speaking of urination, Bloomberg News recently reported that adult diaper-wearing baby boomers are giving a boost to the paper industry, which has absorbed significant losses in this digital age of paperless communication. As we boomers age, however, demand is growing for absorbent hygiene products. In fact, according to industry research, U.S. retail sales for products targeting adult incontinence reached almost $2 billion in 2016 and are projected to rise another 9 percent in 2017 and 8 percent in 2018. So paper companies are expanding production of moisture-capturing fiber known as fluff pulp used in diapers and tampons. It’s nice to be part of the solution, isn’t it?

In the spam department

I have a pretty effective spam filter on my email. It sends me a daily report that I peruse to make sure nothing legit has been quarantined, but most of the missives are offering me ways to boost my SEO or libido, meet sexy Russian girls, cure hearing loss or lose weight. Lately, however, an inordinate number are trying to sell me ED drugs, and some of the subject lines are pretty comical. Recent favorites: “Can hot sauce give you bigger boners?” and “ You’re mighty. Use Levitra and feel the pession (sic).” Hey, at least they used “you’re” correctly.

Coming clean about my recent colonoscopy prep

I recently had my regular screening colonoscopy and underwent the dreaded prep: two days of a low-fiber diet followed by a day of clear liquids, then the chugging of 64-ounces of Miralax-laced Gatorade, bookended by laxative pills, the night before my procedure. When I came to in the recovery room post-procedure, the doctor said I had done a great job on the prep, and everything looked fine. While I was relieved to know I’m polyp-free, I must confess I felt oddly proud to have the thoroughness of my extreme pooping acknowledged. Don’t judge me.

Do your Kegels, ladies

In another example of ego-gratification from a medical provider, I recently had my annual gynecologic exam. After my provider removed the speculum and palpated my abdomen with her finger inside me, she asked me to tighten my vaginal muscles and grip her finger—a test of pelvic floor muscle strength (as we women know, weak pelvic floor muscles can put us at risk for incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse as we age). I did as asked, and my provider blurted out, “Whoa—you get the prize for muscle strength today!” While I have no plans to undertake vaginal weightlifting (yup, it’s a thing–there’s even a Wikipedia page on it), I guess it’s nice to know I could be a contender. Or at least not wet my pants.

What’s up with men putting their hands down their pants?

Maybe it’s the grownup male version of a security blanket. Or just reassurance that “the boys” are intact. But it’s definitely a thing—guys putting their hands down their pants to get in touch with themselves. They’re not really fondling or trying to arouse themselves, and it’s not something they do in public (well, some do—but that’s an entirely different issue). It just seems to be a position they default to, particularly when they’re sitting around watching TV in their comfy sweats.

I don’t remember how or why (well, there was wine consumption involved), but this topic came up after Hubs and I had dinner with some good friends. The husbands agreed that most men do it—and that it’s mostly just a mindless habit. In fact, the other husband said, “I don’t trust any guy who doesn’t put his hand down his pants.” Then he quickly added, “In private, that is.”

So, there you have it. A bird in the hand, and all that.

It all inspires this week’s haiku:

Funny how matters
below the waist remain top
of mind as we age.

What do you think? Got some observations of your own to share? Are you—or do you know—a guy who’s in touch with himself? Are there things you’re oddly proud of? Please comment!

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6 thoughts on “Why do men put their hands down their pants & other random thoughts”

  1. As a middle aged woman, I applaud any additional places to pee, especially in Europe, where it seems they never have to pee. I’m probably the reason the paper industry has boomed to 2 billion!

    1. Can you imagine handing out your business card at social events? I have a feeling there’s a joke in there somewhere about being #1 in his/her field…

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