I didn't know what heavy flow day meant.

[Funtatlaguy]

I’m a male and another male friend told me it looked like I was a having a “heavy flow day”.
I said, “thanks, man” thinking it might be a compliment like I was doing well like “going with the flow”.
A female friend then told me what it really meant and that it was not a compliment and that it’s also considered a sexist demeaning comment about women.

Why hadn’t I heard of this before?
Is it a common insult in some circles?

[hlthe2b]

1. well, your male friend is a creep. n/t

[Funtatlaguy]

2. Yes he kind of is

Although in this context maybe I should have called him a douche. Lol.

[vlyons]

3. Oh yes it is quite common

and insensitive in so many ways. Women menstruate once a month from early-teens to mid-fifties. Sometimes it is quite painful with abdominal cramps. Embarrassing when blood is so heavy that it visibly soils clothes. It can be very stressful and cause emotional irritability. But we put up with it, because it is just a natural part of having an adult female body. However for centuries, many cultural traditions have viewed menstruating women as being dirty and unclean. Women were supposed to take a full immersion bath after their period before engaging in sex again. Sometimes women were isolated from the family while having a period.

Talk to your wife (or girl friend?) about female periods. Ask her all sorts of questions about what her emotional state is during her period. It's a shame that our society is so squemish about female bodies and see what our bodies do naturally as something dirty. Even Mom's nursing infants is seen as something dirty to be hidden away. It's as though our bodies were only good for 2 things - providing men with sexual entertainment and cleaning house.

[Funtatlaguy]

4. It seems so juvenile to make fun

of a normal bodily function of half of humanity.
Sometimes, my male friends act like ten year olds.
I need better friends.

[Croney]

5. Great post, vlyons.

[FSogol]

6. In college, my appendix burst and I ended up in the hospital for just over a week. During my

recovery, a nice nurse, not much older than me, asked if I was able to pass gas. I had never heard the term before and couldn't understand what she meant. I thought she wanted me to give her gasoline, but didn't own a gas can and drove a motorcycle at the time. The resulting conversation was quite strange for the 2 of us. So, don't feel bad about missing out on some saying that everyone else knows.

BTW, Your friend was doing a traditional "insult the other guy." Next time, punch him in the shoulder and ask, "how's the flow now?"

[milestogo]

7. After I had abdominal surgery I remember the surgeon asking me if I was passing gas

I didn't realize he was asking a medical question about my body resuming its normal functioning. I thought he was asking if I farted and stunk up the place, so I said no.

[FSogol]

8. Did you yell, "Whoever smelt it, dealt it?"

[Funtatlaguy]

9. I think passing gas is much more prevalent

than heavy flow day.
Americans seem obsessed with bodily fluids.
Of course, though, I started a thread about it.
So, a pox on my house too. Speaking of sayings, I think that one means people hope you get sick?

[Wounded Bear]

11. The classics have it all...

[Wounded Bear]

10. I take it you're not married...

A lot of men don't understand things like that until they are.

Or at least in a long term relationship. You probably won't catch that one while casually dating.

[denbot]

15. Or been in a long/hell short term, live in relationship.

Wings, no wings, heavy, medium, light.. OP Dude learn your woman’s preferences, then be of unerringly service. It will go a long way.

[MissMillie]

12. Of course I knew what it meant in physiological terms, but

It never occurred to me that it was being used as an insult.

Sorry to say, I'm not surprised.

[RobinA]

13. I'm A 60-Year-Old

female, and I never heard that one. Thank goodness!

[rurallib]

14. My first girlfriend gave me the details in no uncertain terms

when I asked why she was so grumpy one day.

Back in the early 60s (no sex ed, especially in catholic schools), I had 2 brothers. Our mother would never say any word about anything to do with sex. Since my brothers were a bit older than I, I never got their guidance on things. Not that it would have done any good.

I did learn a very important lesson that day.

[denbot]

16. LoL, on one of my first "service" runs, I innocently asked if she wanted aspirins too..

You would have thought I failed an assasination attempt..