"TMI" question

[osaraba]

Okay guys (especially, though not exclusively, of the male variety), I have a question for you.

If a woman in your office is out sick and you ask her why... what would be your reaction if she said she was out because of cramps? Is it TMI? Would it be better if she had said she had a stomachache or virus or whatever?

Personally, I don't care too much who knows if I've got my period, but people sometimes act weird about it.

It still amuses me very much when drugstore workers double-bag tampons and pads. Oh yes, it does. And sometimes, if I have a choice, I'll make sure to get on the line with the young guy cashier -- because they're usually much more embarrassed about it all. It's so funny. I'm not really the kind of person that enjoys making other people uncomfortable, but this seems to be the exception that proves the rule.

Comments

[loudnbothered.livejournal.com]

Doesn't really bug me, but some ppl are squemish. Mario, for example, cannot sit through an episode of House.

[osaraba]

Fair enough. ^^

[benjio21.livejournal.com]

nah I have np with it, but that can be due to the fact that I grew up with mostly women, and had to buy their pads and what not.

[blackmage137.livejournal.com]

TMI. As an HR person, I err to the side of "less to no information" as it isn't their business. I don't just mean cramps. I mean any time you are out sick for any reason. A simple "Oh, I wasn't feeling well" will suffice in any situation.

[morganwolf.livejournal.com]

Working in a health office around nurses, you learn really fast not to balk at the discussion of personal health issues. I understand this is the not the case everywhere.

My own feeling (and I say this as a woman, of course) is that normal women get their periods and have cramps, sometimes very bad ones. This is a part of life. Blood comes out our vaginas. Can't deal with it? Tough shit. "Cramps" is a lot better than "I was going through a pad an hour," just as "digestive issues" is a lot better than "explosive diarrhea." While I do think that in most settings (except, apparently, the health field) it's better to err on the side of discretion and not, for example, go into details about the perineal abcess or anal fistula that's been plaguing you, "cramps" should not make anyone grossed out or uncomfortable.

I think it's a sad state of affairs when people are so afraid of acknowledging that women in the workplace are actually women that a reference to their basic biology provokes such negative reactions.

[firefox1490.livejournal.com]

LOL, funny story. Wensday I got my period. When I get my period I get whiny and vomity and really I'm just horrid to be around. I'd gone to school that day thinking oh I'll be okay. Only I wasn't 2nd period the entire school as far as I could tell smelled like wet cat food and cigarettes, the cat food I dont know why but the cigarettes because all the teachers in my damned school smoke. So I wasn't happy. I'm all pathetic looking so I sign to go home and I have to take the train and the train station smelled like ass hot sweaty ass. I'm about two seconds from passiing out I'm so uncomfortable I end up sitting on the floor. Mind you this is NYC PUBLIC transportation subway system thats not that clean. And now its funny but like four different people asked me on the train did they need to call an ambulance I'm like no not unless they're going to take me to house. And one of them was this really nice lady who bought me water and gave me a plastic bag in case I had to vomit. The other was this young cop in the train station who I'd stopped in front of cause I really wanted to vomit (CAUSE OMG does MTA need to sterilize the air in the train station!!!). And he was like can I help with anything do you need me to like take you to a hospital. It was so awkward after I told him no I'm not dying or anything I just had my period. He went all red and was like ohhhhhh. Really funny.

So in short, telling someone you were out because of cramps isnt in my book TMI, cause you asked and everyone wants honesty lol :)