Dear Straight Talk: I’m staying at my dad’s house part of the summer and it’s so lame because he and my step mom are freaking out over my thong underwear. They have actually confiscated them!

I’m 16 and say it’s none of their business what I underwear I wear. I told them I was writing your column to see what other teenagers would say to this because they don’t believe me that most teens wear thongs and that it’s possible to wear a thong and not be a slut. I don’t want to get my mother involved and start a cat fight so please help me out. I’m stuck in San Angelo, Texas wearing hi-rise briefs.

~ Can’t take it anymore

Laura, 22, Fair Oaks: I don’t know of a single girl who hasn’t worn a thong at some point. The reason most girls wear them is to prevent VPL (visible panty lines).

Brie, 18, Ashland, OR: I wear thongs almost always. They are comfortable and look better under clothes. My dad doesn’t say anything about my “skimpy” underwear, but my mom occasionally makes fun of me. Yet it was she who told me to buy a pair when I was 13 because she didn’t like the underwear line in a dress I wore. Many teens wear thongs. It has nothing to do with sexual activity.

Maureen, 17, Redding: I’ve worn thong underwear since 13. I told my mom I wanted one so she bought me some. She doesn’t really understand, but she doesn’t care. Most people wear them and it isn’t an issue and it doesn’t make you a slut. At 16, this should be your own business, but if it makes your parents happy, what’s wrong with wearing “regular” underwear for awhile?

Lennon, 22, Fair Oaks: In all my youth, I’ve never worn a thong. You will find this a recurring theme among males. Underwear has no determination on whether a person (girl, in this case) is a “slut” or not (slut being an ambiguous word nowadays anyway). My girlfriend in high school wore a thong and was a 4.2 GPA, never-went-to-parties, stayed-up-late-studying bookworm.

Nicole, 19, Arcata: What ridiculous, out-of-touch parents! I haven’t worn anything but thongs since I was 15. In no way do they have a sexual connotation, they are just more comfortable. Parents: your daughter’s choice of underwear is none of your business!

Peter, 22, Monterey: I make assumptions about girls who let their underwear show as a fashion statement, and usually these assumptions are not positive.

Elizabeth, 20, Rocklin: I was in eighth grade and started wearing thongs when a friend’s parents embarrassed me by commenting on seeing my panty line through my pants. However, there are girls who don’t know what a belt is, and flashing your thong to the world when you sit or bend, something’s just wrong with that.

Dear San Angelo: You’re right that thong underwear is de rigueur in adolescent female fashion, yet “something’s just wrong with that” when the thong is shooting hoops above the top of a girl’s jeans — and it’s not just Texans who have a problem with that. You don’t say how your underwear came to be your dad and step mother’s business, but this is a sure-fire method. It’s also possible that you’re not doing your own laundry, or you’ve changed clothes in front of family members who shouldn’t care about your underwear but do. Underwear should be one’s own business, but you have to make it that way. Does this give you some guidance?

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