Superstition - 1 button open in shirts from laundry?

[koo]

HI

I have noticed this before, but this morning I really started to wonder....

I take my dirty clothes to the local laundry every once in a while. Whenever the sack contains "dress shirts" (long or short-sleeved, with proper collars, buttoned down all the way in the front) the laundry quite properly asks if I want the shirts to be ironed as well, with an extra charge. Well, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Anyhow, regardless of which option I choose, the shirts always arrive properly folded and buttoned - except one button, which is normally the second or third button from the bottom.

The last "batch" I laundered had around 10 dress shirts. Every single one was properly buttoned, for the exception of every single one of them having the mentioned "button in between" unbuttoned.

Recalling from previous laundry rounds, this happens always or nearly always. And this does not only happen with the laundry in Isaan, but with atleast the one I use when I visit Pattaya also.

Is there some kind of superstition about leaving one button open, or a practical reason perhaps? I do not feel annoyed about this, just wondering what might be the reason, would be nice to know...

[MJCM]

Now I have seen it all on TV !!! A question about buttons on Shirts unbuttoned.

[thaipod]

I think you need to stand your ground on this one and insist why the top button is not done up.

[bkkjames]

Perhaps they think you are fat?

[koo]

OK, now that all the bashing by the guys in SIngha or Chang wifebeaters is done, I'm really waiting for everyone else to finish doing inventory in their wardrobe

[MJCM]

OK, now that all the bashing by the guys in SIngha or Chang wifebeaters is done, I'm really waiting for everyone else to finish doing inventory in their wardrobe

You call that bashing 5555, you must be a TV newbie Edited October 6, 2014 by MJCM

[Thai Chi]

OK ... serious answer to your question OP.

Straight from the "horses mouth" ..... (should read, my wife who operated a laundry in Isaan for a few years)

And I quote ..... "why do all of them up, lazy to do that"......... Verbatim

I hope that clears things up.

[ozsamurai]

nothing but laziness, laundries everywhere do it, a few at the top so when you double the shirt over they all appear done up, then one at the bottom to hold it in place. On the other hand, its a PITA to have to undo all the buttons before you wear it. 5sec X 365 = 30min a year undoing that one button, at average life expectancy for a male at 80 years now, that is now saving you 40 hours of your life..... now that you have 40 extra hours thanks to the laundry, try and do something useful with it, not waste it posting about buttons!

Oz

Edited October 6, 2014 by ozsamurai

[pgrahmm]

If the shirt is folded it probably saves them time.....really makes no difference you have to unbutton to wear the shirt anyway.....

[koo]

nothing but laziness, laundries everywhere do it, a few at the top so when you double the shirt over they all appear done up, then one at the bottom to hold it in place. On the other hand, its a PITA to have to undo all the buttons before you wear it. 5sec X 365 = 30min a year undoing that one button, at average life expectancy for a male at 80 years now, that is now saving you 40 hours of your life..... now that you have 40 extra hours thanks to the laundry, try and do something useful with it, not waste it posting about buttons!

Oz

This makes sense, tx ozsamurai So it is only a practise with the laundries...

Anyhow, I usually put the shirt on t-shirt-style, meaning I unbutton only the collar button and then slip it on over my head - no need to unbutton the whole shirt. The downside of this is that if you forget to check for the above "superstition button", you'll be flashing your bellybutton all day

Edited October 6, 2014 by koo

[Morakot]

Logic of shirt button explained in detail. Always one button away....

*Contains strong language

Edited October 6, 2014 by Morakot

[MJCM]

nothing but laziness, laundries everywhere do it, a few at the top so when you double the shirt over they all appear done up, then one at the bottom to hold it in place. On the other hand, its a PITA to have to undo all the buttons before you wear it. 5sec X 365 = 30min a year undoing that one button, at average life expectancy for a male at 80 years now, that is now saving you 40 hours of your life..... now that you have 40 extra hours thanks to the laundry, try and do something useful with it, not waste it posting about buttons!

Oz

This makes sense, tx ozsamurai So it is only a practise with the laundries...

Anyhow, I usually put the shirt on t-shirt-style, meaning I unbutton only the collar button and then slip it on over my head - no need to unbutton the whole shirt. The downside of this is that if you forget to check for the above "superstition button", you'll be flashing your bellybutton all day

55555555

"I usually put the shirt on t-shirt style meaning I unbutton only the collar button and then slip it on over my head" so you mean you are used to wifebeaters and just changed to shirts and can't change the habit?

Edited October 6, 2014 by MJCM

[koo]

MJCM, a valid question, that did come to mind as well But truthfully, it just is quite a bit faster to put it on and take off without hassle with the buttons. You know when you are in a "Pattaya Soi 6 barhopping spree" you just fall so much behind your friends if you have to button and unbutton your shirt every time

Actually, I have ever owned only one wifebeater, a white cotton Singha shirt that I received as a gift and gave forward as a gift as well.