Locker Room Etiquette 2

Leonhardtx says:
I agree again, at least in part, with Rye3111's comments. Wandering around naked so much is weird and unnecessary. But I don't want to let myself feel threatened by that, because nothing is actually happening. I'm not going to let the weird behaviour of others control how I feel. In that sense I like T. Oguy's approach. Let's be comfortable and not defensive. But I have no intention of wandering around nude all the time.
If that's what Rye1111 meant too, then I agree with him entirely. Very useful comments, at least for me.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 9:08 pm EST

Rye3111 says:
The stuff we're talking about is, getting out of the shower, staying in the common area naked, walking back to your locker naked, getting your toiletries naked, walking back to the mirror/sink naked, taking 15 minutes to shave and do your hair naked and basically doing whatever it is you can to be naked until the very last minute.
I know this may be an exaggeration in a sense, but honestly it really seems that way.

It doesn't bother me in the least with respect to how comfortable I am, I guess I just think its weird. I mean its still a public place and it really seems like these guys just love being all sorts of naked in the locker room around other men

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 6:03 pm EST

Rye3111 says:
T.Oguy I think you're missing hte point. In my mind being naked in the locker room shoud have nothing to do with how comfortable you are. Let me use an example. I played varsity lacrosse in college. We were a pretty tight group, and pretty crazy and immature. There were plenty of retarded things going on in the shower like guys pissing on each other when they weren't looking or making jokes/stupid comments about somebody's piece. Yeah I know we were all meatheads.

Anyway, point being though, once the shower was over, generally guys covered up at their locker. Not fast, just eventually. It wasn't uncommon to walk through our locker room and see a dozen guys naked at their locker, but chances are they all just got out of the shower and they were all in the process of getting dressed.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 5:58 pm EST

T.Oguy says:
Leonhardtx, I agree that guys should be more comfortable in the locker rooms and even myself have often shyed away just keeping my head down and changing as fast as possible to just get out. I think part of it could be atributed to a man's school years. In the past students were told to go "hit the showers" and now a days kids are told to get changed and out as fast as possible not using the facilities.

Reading some of the comments I think when I start going to the gym again this fall I'll try to be less nervous in the locker room because its not meant to be a tense place and if we all would care a bit less it could be a bit more of a comfortable experience.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 4:58 pm EST

someguy says:
If you feel the need to walk around the locker room completely naked, your a moron. Its a public place, just because there are no females in the area doesnt make it ok to run around naked. At my gym, there is always the same guy that I think just likes to be naked. He gets out of the shower and stands in front of the mirror and gets ready for work. Brushes his teeth, shaves, does his hair, etc. Thats just wrong man. Put a towel on for christ sakes and cover up. I dont expect you to get dressed right away but I dont think its to much to ask to cover up while you are at the sink.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 3:01 pm EST

Leonhardtx says:
Thanks Rye3111. Your comments sheds some light on this. You are right -- I personally don't wander around naked after a shower, usually put a towel around me or my boxers on, and then shave.

I know what you mean about really old guys wandering around naked, but it's never bothered me. That's part of the point I was making -- they don't seem to stare or even look, they're just really comfortable with their bodies and aren't fussed about being naked. Looks a lot better to me than the anxiety the younger guys seem to feel.

My guess is the old guys grew up in a time where homosexuality wasn't such an issue, and they have nothing to prove about their sexuality (had their kids, I sometimes hear guys like that talking about their grandkids). We should be so comfortable IMHO.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 1:52 pm EST

FixUpLookSharp says:
... What's wrong with prancing around naked!?

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 12:20 pm EST

Rye3111 says:

Leonhardtx, i think its meant more in the sense of staring, not just glancing.

I'm agreeing with MH on the staying naked too long, and it does tend to be the older men. Leon, look, comfortable or not, I just don't see a reason to be hanging out naked in the locker room. Nobody is saying that you need to do speed dressing here. But, and I've been seeing this my whole life, there's some older men at my gym who will dry off at their locker, and then walk over to the blow dryer, still naked, and do their hair for 5 minutes, while being naked the whole time. Why not wrap the towel around yourself? Why not toss on your underwear? It seems like a lot of men there just really like to go out of their way to be really naked for a really long time.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 11:06 am EST

Leonhardtx says:
P.S.: I know the article reflects the thinking of many young guys. I see the fear and defensiveness in them nowadays, and that's why I get steamed about this kind of talk. When I was a kid, a guy felt very comfortable in the locker room. Now you'd think it is one of the most dangerous places a guy can go.
I don't have kids yet, but I don't want my sons to acquire this kind of fear and defensiveness. They will know how to protect themselves from gay or pedophile predators, and otherwise they will be happy to be themselves in masculine environments.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 9:58 am EST

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Leonhardtx says:
I disagree with points 1 & 3 because they encourage fear, worry, and unmasculine defensiveness. We are full grown competent men, who can handle anything. But we are supposed to be afraid of other straight men in the locker room? Nuts.

We should be relaxed in a masculine environment. I don't encourage staring, but a glance at a guy's arms, abs, back, legs, or even his crotch isn't something to worry about. We're like dogs, naturally curious, and it's not gay to look at the obvious. It's not masculine to be fearful.

If a guy actually hits on another guy verbally he should be told off real fast. If he touches another guy, stronger action is required. Otherwise don't sweat it. We don't have women around to worry about, so we should be relaxed and natural, the way our fathers are.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 9:54 am EST

NY guy says:
And For God Sake, DO NOT SIT ON THE BENCHES NAKED. PLEASE PLEASE PUT A TOWEL UNDER YOU UGLY BUTT!!!!!!!

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 9:32 am EST

 

Locker Room Etiquette 1

SSbrownbear says:
Generationally, there is a huge difference in how men treat nudity. Men of a certain age - nowadays those 35 or even 40+ - grew up in a time when communal nudity just wasn't a big deal. Notice how many of these posts talks about "old guys." Most of us HAD to shower after gym - we got used to being naked with our peers.

Younger men have a completely different set of experiences. They have almost NO experience of

No right or wrong here - just different generations and experiences.

communal nudity. I bet only a handful of guys under 35 reading this ever had to shower after gym class. Larger homes and privacy mean that casual nudity - seeing a brother or dad nude probably doesn't happen. There is no context for nude being "okay" except under very specific circumstances.

Posted on 12/17/2008 at 8:15 am EST

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John says:
The only time I'm ever completely naked in the men's locker room is while changing in and out of my clothes. Usually, I'll bring a towel with myself when using the sauna or steam room. With that said, most men I have encountered in the locker room are nude at some point or another. If your not comfortable with nudity then cover up. If you want to avoid seeing other men change...don't go into the changing room.

Posted on 11/20/2008 at 6:08 pm EST

Rating: n/a

Dr Evil says:
Its about time this was brought to light. The locker room is not a buffet for you damn homos. Wrap your towel aroud you and qiut staring.

Posted on 11/20/2008 at 9:13 am EST

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David says:
Normally I change under a towel, wrap a towel around my waist when walking around the locker room, and drape a towel over my privates when using the sauna or steam room. However, the last time I used the men's locker room while staying at a hotel in Abu Dhabi I decided to branch out. I emerged from the steam room and walked over to the changing area to find another hairy Middle Eastern man with a towel around his waist. After pulling out my clothes, I noticed him undo his towel, stretch his legs and dry of his crotch, pubes aplenty. For the first time this vivid display of the male body seemed normal and comfortable. Then and there I dropped my towel, completely naked for the first time in front of another man. I didn't even care if he was looking at my penis. Why should I? He has one too.

Posted on 11/20/2008 at 3:23 am EST

Rating: n/a

jezstar says:
i'd hate 2 get erect in a locker room, you would always be
 known as "that guy who got hard in the showers" then
people would reply "oh... that guy..."

Posted on 11/18/2008 at 7:53 am EST

Rating: n/a

me says:
do we?

Posted on 10/24/2008 at 2:25 pm EST

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ordinarybloke says:
Most guys at my gym in the UK, particularly the East Europeans, seem pretty unfussed about being naked, often going into the sauna without nothing on. The ones that seem to have a hang up are the younger English guys who can be seen showering with their trunks on or putting on their boxers with their towels wrapped around them - all of which seems a bit odd to me. Most of the guys there are regulars and used to being naked. I admit when I first joined the gym it felt a bit awkward being naked around other guys, as the showers don't have seperate stalls, but after a couple of times those feelings of being self-conscious soon disappear. The worst a guy will do is have a quick glance at your bits, which if we're being honest we all do from time to time.

Posted on 10/21/2008 at 10:10 am EST

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Chilled says:
I only get naked with women and plan on keeping it that way.

Posted on 09/20/2008 at 12:00 am EST

atlhockey says:
Yeah, we have one guy at my gym who is unbelievably hairy. I mean I've always considered myself hairy, but this poor guy's got a total body pelt. Anyway, he actually dries off standing under one of those hand blowers meant for, well, the hands. Pretty funny.

Posted on 09/08/2008 at 6:35 am EST

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Dave says:
I'm a gym trainer and the worst thing to see is guy bent over trying to dry his arse with the hair dryer
not nice

Posted on 09/05/2008 at 7:34 am EST

Rating: n/a

Joe Camel says:
Look, but don't touch..thats a no/no..May be the only looks some of you guys can get anyway...

Posted on 09/02/2008 at 7:25 pm EST

Rating: n/a

leonhardtx says:
This discussion has got me paying more attention to what goes on in the locker room. The other day I saw an older Chinese guy at the sinks shaving, with only a t-shirt on (naked below the waist). He was a short, stocky guy with a craggy face who looked tough and hard-bitten. Nothing remotely weak or gay about him. Perhaps an immigrant (had that "come from a tough life in the old country" look).

He wasn't looking around or paying attention to anybody else.
Before I might have wondered if he was trying to make a point by not having shorts or a towel on. But after the other guys' comments here, it actually seemed like he was just comfortable and not fussing about something unimportant. He was very relaxed. I won't necessarily do that myself, but he set a good example.

Posted on 08/29/2008 at 12:38 pm EST

Rating: n/a

atlhockey says:
Anotherguy, I have never chosen a locker for its proximity to the showers, I generally walk nude from locker to shower room, carrying my towel or slinging it over one shoulder. This keeps it dry and clean and I'm gonna be naked in 30 seconds anyway, so what would be the point in covering up?. I hadn't really thought about "the walk" as being awkward, but everybody's different.

Posted on 08/26/2008 at 6:52 am EST

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anotherguy says:
I agree that we should use common sense in a locker room. Be naked when you have to. We're all grown up men and there's nothing to be ashamed of. But don't over do it.
I have one question though.The ackward thing for me in my locker room is the walk from my locker to the showers. I know I can put on my towel, but I'd rather keep it clean for when I come out of the shower. And yes, this means me having to walk naked to the shower area. I always try to use the locker that is closet to the showers.
Yes, I am not ashamed or anything if I walk a few steps naked to the showers.
What do you guys think?

Posted on 08/25/2008 at 2:50 pm EST

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mytetop says:
What the heck has happened to being a man, its a locker room, I played sports in high school and college, act like you have got some sense, its bad enough that we are being flooded with all the womans movement now we can't even be men in an all male enviroment. We have let the younger guys become afraid of their own bodies, and where will that lead too, FEAR, we all have the same male equipment. Grow up men, grow up and have some common sense, you know when incidents are taken to far. Respect women but also respect that you are a man too. I have grown so tired of this catering attitude towards the rights of women and the lack of respect toward men, again, grow up. Deal with your homophobia, afterall that is what is not being addressed too.

Posted on 08/24/2008 at 12:42 am EST

Mel says:
I switched gyms because I got "the goated" from the older men too many times.

Posted on 08/21/2008 at 9:01 pm EST

Rating: n/a

atlhockey says:
More power to you, NUDE MEANS NOTHING. We should all feel comfortable in the locker room, and you're right, it's none of my business how long somebody stays nude. I basically just do my thing and don't let myself get too jazzed by others. After all, locker rooms are what they are. And for most of us nudity around other males, especially if you've played sports, is no big deal. Now nudity around females??? Co-ed locker rooms?? That would be interesting!

Posted on 08/21/2008 at 11:41 am EST

Rating: n/a

NUDE MEANS NOTHING says:
YOU GUYS ARE SICK, I HAVE BEEN TO GYMS AND SPAS ALL OVER THE WORLD IN AUSTRIA THE MEN AND GIRLS ARE IN THE SAME AREA NAKED EVERYTHING HANGING OUT,JUST BECAUSE AMERICA OR AMORICA IS UPTIGHT OVER NUDITY MEANS NOTHING... IF I WANT TO RUN AROUND NAKED I WILL. I DONT CARE IF YOU DONT LIKE IT. GET CHANGED AT HOME...BUT THE GYM IS ONE PLACE I CAN BE NAKED IF I CHOSE TO BE....GET OVER YOU..NUDITY ISSUES

Posted on 08/21/2008 at 9:36 am EST

Rating: n/a

atlhockey says:
Hey Rye 3111, don't get me wrong. There is a point when too much nudity is too much. But I think it's an imprecise definition. It's like you know it when you see it. That ONE GUY who insists on nudity until it's not feasible to be naked anymore. He can throw off the whole equilibrium of the locker room -- can, in effect, make the rest of us naked guys actually feel naked. And that ends up feeling weird. I pay no attention to the exhibitionists. I am nude for an appropriate length of time. I'm not embarassed in the least to be nude but the locker room is not a place for me to flaunt my body. It's a place to change and wash and, frankly, socialize. It sounds like your lacrosse team is a good example of what I would call healthy locker room behavior. Guys being guys.

Posted on 08/19/2008 at 10:40 pm EST

Rating: n/a

Rye3111 says:

atlhockey:
so guys being guys is hanging out for extended periods of time with our pieces dangling for all to see.
I think I know what you mean, rather that guys being guys is hanging out, just not really worrying too much about what other guys are doing, i agree with you on that front.
Listen, I've been in locker rooms since I was 2. I've probably seen more naked men than Madonna. I really don't care what you do and it doesn't actually make me uncomfortable. Maybe it just seems the new social norm to at least toss a towel on when trancing around the locker room.
I don't know, the right answer, probably isn't really a right one. but considering how easy it is to put on your skivies, or wrap a towel, why do you think these guys seem to want to be naked so much?

Posted on 08/19/2008 at 11:00 am EST

Rating: n/a

atlhockey says:
What makes a locker room comfortable is people who are relaxed. That usually comes from familiarity -- either with using locker rooms in general or using the same locker room every day. I generally see the same 20 or 30 guys every morning at my gym. We know each other by sight, we strike up conversations in the showers, while we're shaving, getting dressed/undressed. The fact that we might be nude is superfluous. I feel sorry for guys who are uptight in locker rooms because they are number one, a fact of male life, and number two, the last places on earth where guys can be guys and not worry about females getting pissed off about it. As for inappropriate/weird behavior -- I've been using locker rooms for 30 years and can recall only three instances in which I was uncomfortable.

Posted on 08/19/2008 at 9:27 am EST

Rating: n/a

Monday says:
Older guys were in the military. That knocks the modesty out of you.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 9:58 pm EST

Rating: n/a

Leonhardtx says:
One more thing about Rye3111's last comment that just struck me, then I'll shut up: He said a locker room is a public place, and implied we should be modest or whatever there. It just hit me -- I don't agree with that at all.

The only reason men and women don't change together, to me, is that we don't want to expose women and girls to the possibility of guys getting aroused and hitting on them when their clothes are off.

There are no similar reasons in a men's locker room to say that a guy should cover up. Historically men didn't do so -- they went skinny dipping, they crapped & pissed in full view of each other in communal pits or outhouses, etc.

So it isn't a "public" place where we need to be modest. That said, it's still weird to prance around naked all the time.

Posted on 08/18/2008 at 9:43 pm EST