Some websites are pure genius. Their services are are usually amazing, unique, or a "must have" for their users. People can't imagine their lives without Twitter, Facebook, or that website that tracks their fantasy football teams. Other sites, well, they go down in the "massive waste of time and resources" category. PMS Buddy is one of those sites.
PMS Buddy is aimed at heterosexual men who are afraid of their female partner's menstrual cycle.
The site offers a way for men to track their partner's periods, and alerts them to when they are approaching "the danger zone." They claim to "keep you informed and offer you free advice" so you know what to do when your woman (or any woman, for that matter) succumbs to her hormones and goes crazy.
PMS is not that bad for most women. Sure, some women get a little grouchy, but no one enjoys running to the bathroom and dealing with bodily fluids, especially not ones that require extra tools and equipment.
Some women do suffer from intense PMS, and few women also have PMDD. I mean, I understand if your partner suffers from PMDD. You might want to be on your toes about her cycle.
The awareness makes sense to me, I totally understand. The part that gets me are their little "tips and tricks" at handling "that time of the month." I highly doubt their tips and tricks are going to do anything to salvage the situation. If anything, they'll just make it worse.
Check out these gems:
When all else fails, flowers will always do the trick. They are kryptonite to PMS.
Yeah, because patronizing a woman is always going to make her love you more. "Honey, I know you're PMSing right now. I bought you these flowers so you wouldn't bite my head off with your incredible bitchiness because I know I'm going to do something wrong. Aren't I so sweet and thoughtful? I love you!" Flowers are not PMS kryptonite.
It's like bringing flowers to a break-up. Not classy.
Another classic is their bra and underwear pitch, sponsored by the Playboy store:
During PMS women can feel bloated and unattractive. Show her how you really feel with some sexy lingerie.
That's exactly what I want when I'm dealing with tampons: presents that reduce me to a sex toy built for your pleasure. I'll pass.
Do something special for her and show her you care. A bottle of her favorite wine should help calm things down.
Calm things down? Are they really that bad to where you need to add alcohol into the situation?
And, yes, I'm willing to acknowledge that some women fall into the overly dramatic PMS stereotype. But I'd rather fall into the stereotype of the PMSing woman than the stereotype of an insensitive jerk who thinks flowers, wine, and sexy underwear will placate a woman.
I'm not alone in my thoughts, either. A female visitor posted in the "PMS Stories" section:
As for what you poor, poor men that are so unjustly harangued by your wives who are genuinely in quite a bit of distress, I propose you MAN UP. You heard me. Women don’t find whining attractive and I can’t find it in my heart to feel too sorry for you. You could show a little strength and be the man your woman needs you to be when she isn’t capable of being 100% but instead you are flocking to a website to bitch.
So many of the post from men are of the “poor me, I am such a victim of this woman’s” variety that it makes me wonder when men turned into such self centered pussies. Do you ever stop to think it isn’t about you? Why aren’t more men asking “How can I help her during this time?”
Brilliant.
All in all, the concept behind the site is downright patronizing. It
reduces women to little balls of hormones who are unable to control
their emotions when their hormones experience the slightest
fluctuation.
Men, do not be afraid of women's menstrual cycles. If you're afraid of them, you just end up looking like another asshole who uses PMS Buddy and thinks giving a woman presents will make her less grouchy for a few days. Women's menstrual cycles do not exist purely to make your life difficult. Really, I promise, her PMS is not just about you.
We all like presents, but we don't enjoy being belittled or bought.
Image from Getty, royalty free.