Here we are, the premiere of Katie Thurston's Bachelorette season, and some of you all can't stop talking about the Bachelorette contestants' pants. Specifically, their length. Not sure how pant length became a semi-hot topic – turtlenecks I understand, their name alone is just abhorrent – but a little man capris? What's the problem with showing a little mankle?

There's going to be a lot of ~positive talk during Katie's season, and I'd like to extend that to the pants world. I'm Ankle Exposing Pants Positive. I'm Man Capri Positive. I'm Hairy Malleolus Positive. I'm Save A Sock, Ride A Shoe Bareback Positive.

If you hate a short man pant, you're not alone. The mankle has been a maligned fashion statement for years. The Economist reports that the mankle made its fashion show debut in 2004 and claims that it's stuck around in various forms ever since, but don't get it twisted; even though they've done their research on its history, the author of the article hates the mankle and wonders why anyone would want to show off their "pasty, hairy, and knobby" foot bones.

The Economist is not alone. In 2018, the Telegraph called the mankle a fashion "offense" they don't want to see. Hats off to Elle, though: in 2015, the publication praised the manks.

And here I am, in 2021 saying ... what am I saying, exactly? I guess the point is that hey, if we're able to welcome a sex positive single Bachelorette onto primetime network TV, I think we can welcome some bony, fleshy, knobs along with her.

Image: ABC