--~~ Ask A Female Engineer Anything ~~--

[Guest]

Dear Female Engineers,

I was out shopping with FMJR. It started off as nothing unusual, she pleaded with me to get out with her since I had been gone so much during the week. I figured it was cool - grab a bite to eat, run some errands, pick up a a few things, etc.

Well, one of the things she said she needed were some pants or slacks since she is volunteering at the hospital while still looking for work. As we are walking through the ladies' apparel, she wanders into the 'intimates' section. As a man, I have always wondered what the appropriate protocol is in this situation: do I follow, stay behind, what exactly am I supposed to do in this situation?

Thanks for your insights!!

- Trying not to be a perv in the ladies' section

 

[Paul S]

I am not your intended target audience, but here is my 2 cents.

FMJR wanted you to go shopping with her, and if she went in there, you should follow. Those things are just clothes, no need to fear them!

 

[CivE Bricky]

Dear Female Engineers,
I was out shopping with FMJR. As we are walking through the ladies' apparel, she wanders into the 'intimates' section. As a man, I have always wondered what the appropriate protocol is in this situation: do I follow, stay behind, what exactly am I supposed to do in this situation?

Thanks for your insights!!

- Trying not to be a perv in the ladies' section

If you can act at ease and focus on FMJR's interests, being there is fine.

However if you make loud bad jokes like asking if they have your size or can they double that order for your mistress...or pay excessive attention to others selections,... or paw the merchandise, that would be annoying.....and any other shoppers would feel really sorry for FMJR.

Collaborative lingerie buying can be a good thing -- women want flattering (& in the right color) and well....you know what men want. Usually everyone can be happy. Just keep discussions quiet...

PS. We think it's charming when a guy shops for lingerie alone and is really focused on trying to figure out what his dear sweet wife would like (ask the sales help, not other shoppers for assistance) and come prepared with some idea of the right size. We'll overhear and pipe in if we have something helpful to add......

Good luck...

 

[Fluvial]

You stand around with your hands in your pockets, and whenever she asks you about something say "Yes dear!"

(I'm kidding)

Guys who don't look out-of-place in the lingerie department or store are the ones who just look nonchalant ... kind of laid back, showing mild interest if their SO brings their attention to something, smiling politely to other shoppers, engaging in small talk with other men who are trapped in the store accompanying their ladies.

Of course, as Bricky says, don't be loud or tell obnoxious jokes or anything like that. I don't think you'd do that anyway.

Paul is also right. Lingerie isn't supposed to be scary.

 

[Ble_PE]

I always have fun picking out the skimpiest outfit and holding it up to see if the wife like how it looks on me. She never seems to find it funny, but I get a lot of funny looks!

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

I think you should buy a leopard skin man-thong while you are at it. To set the tone for future relations.

 

[PE-ness]

Dear Female Engineers:

I have a problem: I am designing an aeration basin that is supposed to treat domestic wastewater with an average strength of 200 mg/L, at an average flow of 6.5 MGD, and a peak flow of 8 MGD. What confuses me is that I have a sidestream from a fish processing plant that is only about 50k gallons per day, but up to 400 mg/L BOD, and large grease loads.

My question is this: what does it feel like to have, you know.... ****ies?

 

[snickerd3]

definitely follow her...she is the FMJR. I'd suggest even looking for an outfit you'd like to see her in, don't necessarily hold it up to show her but linger around it. If she sees you doing this she might just surprise you one day by wearing it. we know what we like, but sometimes its nice to see you like.

 

[Fluvial]

Dear Female Engineers:

The answer is:

We finish our wastewater calculations faster becasue we're not thinking about ****ies.

 

[Fluvial]

I think you should buy a leopard skin man-thong while you are at it. To set the tone for future relations.

Don't do it JR !!! You'll lose your man card !!

 

[frazil]

Dear Female Engineers:
I have a problem: I am designing an aeration basin that is supposed to treat domestic wastewater with an average strength of 200 mg/L, at an average flow of 6.5 MGD, and a peak flow of 8 MGD. What confuses me is that I have a sidestream from a fish processing plant that is only about 50k gallons per day, but up to 400 mg/L BOD, and large grease loads.

My question is this: what does it feel like to have, you know.... ****ies?

what a ****!

 

[maryannette]

what a ****!

I agree. And I'm turning avatars off because of the animated ****s that VTE has.

 

[Guest]

If you can act at ease and focus on FMJR's interests, being there is fine.

Well, I was certainly doing that - my disease is that I am in the lingerie section of a store. If I were only with people I knew (friends and such) no biggie ... with strangers; it feels a tad wonky.

However if you make loud bad jokes like asking if they have your size or can they double that order for your mistress...or pay excessive attention to others selections,... or paw the merchandise, that would be annoying.....and any other shoppers would feel really sorry for FMJR.

Definitely not like that at all!!!

Collaborative lingerie buying can be a good thing -- women want flattering (& in the right color) and well....you know what men want. Usually everyone can be happy. Just keep discussions quiet...

That's fair ... and I would say that FMJR and I would be quite discreet.

PS. We think it's charming when a guy shops for lingerie alone and is really focused on trying to figure out what his dear sweet wife would like (ask the sales help, not other shoppers for assistance) and come prepared with some idea of the right size. We'll overhear and pipe in if we have something helpful to add......

That's actually going to be a challenge for me ... I think I would certainly go solo with the thought of picking out something tasteful for FMJR. Of course, I have no idea how to even begin sizing things up .... but I am willing to learn!!

Guys who don't look out-of-place in the lingerie department or store are the ones who just look nonchalant ... kind of laid back, showing mild interest if their SO brings their attention to something, smiling politely to other shoppers, engaging in small talk with other men who are trapped in the store accompanying their ladies.

Well, that *IS* a good point. I just have to remember to keep that in mind.

Paul is also right. Lingerie isn't supposed to be scary.

Generally it isn't ... I was just surprised when FMJR strolled into that section of the store. Keep in mind .. I was previously married for 12 yrs, so I am having to re-learn habits. Ex-mrs. JR had very different habits - I would go grocery shopping and run errands with her so we could have 'together' time ... but she never wanted to do anything fun, exciting, imaginative, or the least bit creative. She was a major stick in the mud. FMJR is A LOT different - I just need to be better about erasing the old and getting into the new.

definitely follow her...she is the FMJR. I'd suggest even looking for an outfit you'd like to see her in, don't necessarily hold it up to show her but linger around it. If she sees you doing this she might just surprise you one day by wearing it. we know what we like, but sometimes its nice to see you like.

I will definitely keep that in mind!!

Thanks for the answers ladies!!

- Trying not to be a perv in the ladies' section

 

[Fluvial]

I agree. And I'm turning avatars off because of the animated ****s that VTE has.

His was a silly question anyway because men have ****s too.

And, several of the message boards I'm on don't allow animated avatars (for many reasons). Y'all might want to consider implementing that.

 

[Road Guy]

Never go shopping with any girlfriend, you set yourself up d

for a long trm shopping commitment, you also don't have to worry About the underwear section.

 

[Supe]

I routinely went shopping for lingerie with that trollop known as Corset Girl. Even bought her some myself. It worked to my benefit at the time, but I'm sure she'll be enjoying it with someone else now, so IMO, it's a wash.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

Never been to the naughty undies department.

 

[Supe]

I'm somewhat surprised at the level of underpants shyness coming from this board in particular. I had, at the very least, been in Victorias Secret with EVERY girl I ever dated.

 

[Ble_PE]

I'm somewhat surprised at the level of underpants shyness coming from this board in particular. I had, at the very least, been in Victorias Secret with EVERY girl I ever dated.

I've been in VS with multiple girlfriends, but now that I'm married, I let the wife go in there while I relax on the mall bench.

 

[chaosiscash]

I'm somewhat surprised at the level of underpants shyness coming from this board in particular. I had, at the very least, been in Victorias Secret with EVERY girl I ever dated.

I'm in the same boat. Actually, my wife worked there while in college. She was always amazed at how little men knew about the size of the women they were shopping for. Apparently, every girlfriend or wife of any guy in there shopping alone was "about her size". It was a running joke among VS salesgirls, like these guys think that the salesgirls are going to try stuff on for them if they think the girl they are shopping for is the same size. I think some guys watch way too much ****.