Male friend revealed something worrying when he was drunk. AIBU to think this is really creepy and needs reporting?

[SummerOfLadybirds]

He's a plumber and works for a small company that has a contract with several rental companies. When very drunk, he told me and another friend that he and colleagues play a 'game' when they're in people's houses that involves stealing a pair of women's dirty knickers and bringing them back as a trophy. Once a month they show each other their 'trophies' allocate points and whoever scores highest gets free drinks all night (the sexier the style and the dirtier/smellier the knickers the more points it gets). BTW friend is in his late 30s and not the type you would ever imagine to do something like this. Other friend was shocked but laughed and said she'd move her laundry basket out of bathroom next time a plumber came. She says its just silly fun that all men get up to!

Am I being prudish to be horrified?

I don't get this knicker sniffing thing?! Why?! Like uou wouldn't sniff smelly socks! Knickers might get a bit sweaty in sumber or after a run but how is that appealing to ANYONE????

I asked my husband about this. He's a tradesman and has never heard of it. Unless he's lying

I have heard stuff like this from DH who who works with Trade but I (and he) thought it was an urban myth, like stories of all the bored housewives throwing themselves at the builders, answering the door naked etc

He does however know a couple who take pictures of the skid marks they leave in people's toilets and send them to each other though

I have heard of worse. Estate agent in south UK several years ago would rent overseas vendors homes for sex workers.

DH works in the building trade.

He tells me stories of 2 builders he knows who are always trying to out gross each other.

This is exactly the sort of thing they'd do.

Worst I've heard is the rubber brick story. Two tradesmen carry a rubber brick to various jobs then scare the shit out of people by launching it at the other's head.

I have heard of this before and think it is fairly common practice. I think it is unacceptable. There is so much everyday sexism like this and some people we say we are killjoys for wanting it to stop.

I really don't think it is common practice. Why are men seen as some alien species who want to sniff dirty knickers? Do you honestly think they want to do that any more than women want to sniff dirty boxers? I'm sure some men do but i don't think there is that many of them and they're not a concentrated group who work as tradesmen. My husband could easily do work in your houses, I promise he's not waiting for his chance to nick your used undercrackers.

bottleofbeer - I don't think we can really know what is in anyone's mind, male or female, sorry.

Misogynist revolting disrespectful and disturbing human being. YANBU

Nope we don't. So it's just as likely a tradesman in your home couldn't care less about your smalls. One man bragging about it doesn't make it common practice. My husband has never heard of it happening and he's worked with hundreds of other tradesmen. So it's either not very common at all or the weirdos that do, don't actually tell people about it. Much less have competitions with colleagues.

My DH used to work as a glazer and knew of blokes who did things like this-they would rummage through underwear drawers and laundry baskets. DH would have nothing to do with it and ended up reporting one disgusting bloke for taking knickers out of a washing basket.
Pyjamas he has been to many houses where the occupants are less than private about their dirty washing, believe me!!