Nudity (Lack Of) at Gold's Gym Lockerroom

[Flanudedude]

I recentlty joined Gold's Gym to get in better shape and lose a few pounds. The very first day in the lockerroom, I engaged in a conversation with a man in his 60's, while I was changing out of my workout clothes. He showed me a terrycloth wrap he had purchased that wrapped around with a velcro snap that covered his midsection. He informed me that this was in response to the Gym's policy of limiting lockerroom nudity. he informed me to be careful not to expose myself in the lockerroom because members have complained to the staff about seeing nudity in the mens' lockerroom! How shocking! I couldn't believe my ears. The lockers are tiny and they have 3 very small individual showers that are just large enough to turn around in. If they had made open showers, more showerheads would be available and there would be much less cramping. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that men should take offense at seeing other men naked in a lockerroom. This is my only complaint about Gold's Gym and strangely enough, I bet that this lack of tolerance to nudity is a selling point for them.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Thanks for letting me let off some steam

[newton]

This may be a local phenomenon. I have not had that experience at any of the several Gold's Gyms I have visited in several states. I have never encountered any issues with nudity in the locker rooms.

[fredm74]

Flanudedude, good to see ya. I think this might be an isolated event. Nudity here in the Bay Area's Gold's Gym is a non-issue. But I do find it shocking that nudity is banned in a locker room in general. That's just ridiculous.

-Fred

[Journeyman]

This is absolutely nuts! (pardon the pun) Get a refund immediately (if possible) and join the local YMCA. Hopefully it will not be as ridiculously paranoid as that Gold's Gym.

[HabaneroSting]

It's a sign of the times; paralyzing fear of the human body. Keep in mind that it probably is not the gym management who has a problem with it, but they are trying to maintain as many customers as possible. In today's economic times I bet a lot of gym memberships are getting dumped. I got rid of mine for a while. It is a shame that there are so many people who are so insecure that they can't be around the natural body. It's too bad locker rooms can't be co-ed with open showers. That would be better. Why not?

[Naturist Mark]

If you think the nudity in the locker room is bad, you should see what people are putting into the toilets! EGAD! And the showers, with all that sudsing and rubbing -DISGUSTING! Oh the humanity!

what about the childrens?

[inudist]

I went to Golds gym for a while and did not notice anything like that where I live.

But I did observe one thing at a gym locker room recently that just floored me. As I went in the shower, there were two young men in there showering with their boxers on! They were reaching underneath and scrubbing and everything. How crazy is that! I"ve also noticed (and smelled) that many young men are skipping showers all together after hitting the gym. I can't remember where, but I heard that a fear of gays may be an issue too. Does any one know if this is more a fear of nudity or gays? Either way it seems kind of stupid to me.

[Pete Knight]

I've thought of the perfect solution, why not just ban people, they are obviously the route of all evil. Just send your membership subscription by mail and never set foot on the premises, all problems solved.

See, there's always a solution!

Pete Knight

[LamontCranston]

Either way it seems kind of stupid to me. So were these guys wearing flip-flops in the shower? It would seem the fear of athlete's foot fungus is much more real than any issues about seeing one nude. Likewise, I wonder if the fellow banning nudity in the locker room trains his attendants in CPR where there's a sauna and the elderly. Closed minds focus on the wrong things...

[Boreas]

Our local pool does not have such a sign that I could see. Women acted as if there was a sign saying no nudity. I was truly uncomfortable at the extreme modesty that was there. Heaven forbid anyone should see some bare skin!

[Triker]

I hear you. That happened to me recently. I work out on a regular basis. I have an excercise room set up in my condo. I'm used to working out alone and whenever I want to. Recently a buddy of mine, invited me to a gym that he just joined. He wanted me to go with him, to show him how to use the weights. After our workout, I got undressed, slung a towel over my shoulder,grabbed my shampoo and bar of soap, and headed for the showers. He says "shocked Hey dude, what are you doing? " I said " I'm standing here talking to you." Then he said, " You might want to get dressed and take your shower at home, THAT isn't done here. " I said " TODAY it is. "
Even if I wasn't a nudist, I would find that to be very sad and peculiar behavior. It made me realize how happy I am, that I am evolved and without hangups. :D

Triker

[Lord Drakkus]

I still remember the last time that I went to a public pool. I'd stripped out of my clothes to put my suit on, and couldn't help but notice that the majority of people in the room, young and old, suddenly turned the other way and shuffled their feet, LITERALLY! These people seemed to actually be ASHAMED of seeing someone else naked! I was a little shocked, to put it simply.

I'll still get my suit on while in the locker room, and I will even shower nude. I don't see much point in a mens and womens locker room if you can't remove your clothes, it should just be co-ed once they ban nudity. Much easier on the janitorial staff and many other levels.

Nudity banned in a single-sex locker room. That's just absurd!

[Stu2630]

In my leisure centre, we have now installed cubicle-changing, so there is no need for communal nudity at all. They have done the same thing at my youngest daughter's school. Individual cubicle changing has to be the best solution in the long term.

Stu

[LamontCranston]

" Let's take acid, get naked, jump in the ocean, and pretend we're dolphins " Veering off topic... I happen to be reading "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy". The dolphins leave the planet just before it's destroyed. It turns out humans are the 3rd most intelligent species behind mice and dolphins. And just like us nudists visiting a resort, galactic travelers bring a towel everywhere they go.

"So long and thanks for all the fish." :D

[Pete Knight]

I still remember the last time that I went to a public pool. I'd stripped out of my clothes to put my suit on, and couldn't help but notice that the majority of people in the room, young and old, suddenly turned the other way and shuffled their feet, LITERALLY! These people seemed to actually be ASHAMED of seeing someone else naked! I was a little shocked, to put it simply.

I'll still get my suit on while in the locker room, and I will even shower nude. I don't see much point in a mens and womens locker room if you can't remove your clothes, it should just be co-ed once they ban nudity. Much easier on the janitorial staff and many other levels.

Nudity banned in a single-sex locker room. That's just absurd!
In Europe it's not unusual to have female cleaning staff in the mens changing rooms, and very common in men's restrooms, the guys don't bat an eyelid, standing at the urinal as the lady cleans around them, or just going about their tasks.

Pete Knight

[yitfs]

wow this is very interesting specially in Florida. for me on the other coast. here in California in the OC. I haven't encountered that. I've been to Yoga a few times, to my company gym and a few public gym tours and never encountered such a sign.

and people are usually very comfortable and ok with that. those r private showers with a curtain on them, but usually they come out of the shower area drying their hair and back with the tower and not covering their mid section. I noticed that at all the places I mentioned above.

I think that even if there is fear of gays like someone mentioned (sorry if those r not the exact words and anyone is insulted with my words). those same people should fear the gym completely, not just the shower (if you catch my drift).

[Stu2630]

In Europe it's not unusual to have female cleaning staff in the mens changing rooms, and very common in men's restrooms, the guys don't bat an eyelid, standing at the urinal as the lady cleans around them, or just going about their tasks.

That may occur in some parts of Europe. It certainly isn't the case in the UK and Ireland, and i haven't encountered it in Scandinavia.

Stu

[Lord Drakkus]

Individual cubicle changing has to be the best solution in the long term.

Best solution, in regards to what? I've been monitoring these boards for a few months now, and I think I understand the way you think on a lot of things Stu, but in this particular case I'm simply baffled. I simply cannot understand how, in a single sex environment, you can honestly believe that nudity is unwarranted. The most economical use of that area is to have communal changing rooms. As well as time. If you're sitting there wasting your time in a line, you're not going to be able to get to your next class on time. You're not going to have anybody seeing you in that communal area that doesn't have those parts themselves, although in slightly different sizes. Honestly, in that case, what is there to fear?

I myself had a very negative experience in the communal locker room at my high school, but even still, I realize that it was a positive experience for my overall growth. It's helped me become the man that I am today. Now, I didn't shower every day during high school, but I did when I knew that I had to. Would I have been more likely to shower if I'd have the choice of a private room? Maybe. Then I would've been even MORE afraid of my body though, and that is just a horrible thought to me. Part of who I am IS my body, and to fear my body, or anybody seeing it, is fearing a part of myself.

[Stu2630]

Lord Drakkus

I simply cannot understand how, in a single sex environment, you can honestly believe that nudity is unwarranted.

While I prefer not to see nudity in ANY environment, I do not object to it in single-sex environments like changing facilities. My point is that public sensibilities are evolving in such a way that nudity is becoming less and less desirable even in these places and so service providers such as swimming pools, gyms, schools etc have to reflect the public mood and cater for these changes. In short, people are now preferring to change in private and not to be around others who are naked, and so that's the way we should be going.

If you're sitting there wasting your time in a line, you're not going to be able to get to your next class on time.

That is remedied by ensuring there are sufficient cubicles to facilitate the numbers concerned.

You're not going to have anybody seeing you in that communal area that doesn't have those parts themselves, although in slightly different sizes. Honestly, in that case, what is there to fear?

It's not a matter of 'fear', but about sensibilities. Many of us prefer privacy when in a state of undress, even from those of their own sex. I respect your own personal philosophy and the fact that, so far as you are concerned, you have relinquished any "body fears", but that's the path you have chosen to take and it is not the one others necessarily want to follow.

Stu

[Sanslines]

It's not a matter of 'fear', but about sensibilities. Many of us prefer privacy when in a state of undress, even from those of their own sex. I respect your own personal philosophy and the fact that, so far as you are concerned, you have relinquished any "body fears", but that's the path you have chosen to take and it is not the one others necessarily want to follow.

Stu

Stu,

Irrational fears are what is behind this obsessive need to remain covered at all times. My gym's locker room is open. The older men tend to walk around naked to and from the showers and think nothing of it. Most of the younger , college aged guys won't even get undressed in the mainchanging area. Many will walk fully dressed into the private shower stalls, close the curtain, and then undress. I have seen a couple who have even resorted to taking a shower while still wearing their gym shorts! That's a very loud and clear sign that such a person needs psychological intervention!!

Young guys today understand that life is all about looking young and perfect (whaetever perfect is). They do not want to be seen naked for then their imperfections can be seen along with the rest of what is involved in being a normal human. They also have this irrational homophobia where they act as if some gay male is going to jump out from one of the toilet stalls and attack them. Even worse, they don't want somebody to be staring at their penis and laughing becasue of some perceived failure to meet standards (whatever standards are).

It's all about irrational fear. Such fears are constanly reinforced by the media. None of it is healthy and there is NO justification for any of it.

[Nude in the North]

I'm thinking the "Best Soloution" would be to tell the manager you will no longer be renewing your membership, due to the rediculous policy restraining locker room nudity.
Find a gym that isn't filled with Homophobic men that are so afraid of being seen nude they would rather offend the rest of us with their smelly, sweatty, odor while they go home to shower.

[Stu2630]

Sanslines

Your account confirms my own impression that it is younger people who are becoming less comfortable around nudity and so the public limits of acceptance to it are gradually evolving. You see this trend as illogical, perhaps even destructive, and therefore regressive and undesirable. I see it as innocuous, and even healthy.

People don't have to 'justify' the way they feel about such things. However they feel, their feelings should be respected and, so far as practicable, accommodated.

None of this in any way impinges upon the practice of nudism as you are perfectly at liberty to continue to enjoy your lifestyle. This issue only affects textiles and you nudists really ought to stop worrying about us. ;)

Stu

[Sanslines]

Sanslines

Your account confirms my own impression that it is younger people who are becoming less comfortable around nudity and so the public limits of acceptance to it are gradually evolving. You see this trend as illogical, perhaps even destructive, and therefore regressive and undesirable. I see it as innocuous, and even healthy.

People don't have to 'justify' the way they feel about such things. However they feel, their feelings should be respected and, so far as practicable, accommodated.

None of this in any way impinges upon the practice of nudism as you are perfectly at liberty to continue to enjoy your lifestyle. This issue only affects textiles and you nudists really ought to stop worrying about us. ;)

Stu

Stu,

I see this issue from all sides. There still are many communal showers from the so called 'old days'. In those days, men disrobed and all took showers together. No one was bothered or cared. In high school when I was involved in sports all guys took showers together in the communal shower. The coach was always present in the locker room and insisted that we all shower due to health reasons. No one was traumatized or gave a second thought to communal showering. On rare occassions, we even grabbed one of the high school girls and dragged her into the guy's locker room. She would routinely scream at the sight of a room full of naked jocks and yet we all knew that she knew fully well what the sight of a naked male looked like. Today, such an event would be considered sexual harrasment. Too bad!

Fast forward to today, and there is a very unhealthy obsession with the appearance of the human body. People today have cosmetic surgery options that did not exist 10 or 20 years ago. Also, people seem to have much more disposible income to be able to afford expensive cosmetic surgeries. High school girls today very oftern have cosmetic surgery in order to remain popular among classmates. 'It' has become all about appearance.

It is NOT healthy for young people to believe that their self worth relies upon some perceived image of skin deep beauty. It is NOT healthy for young men to be so afraid to be seen nude for fear that a gay man may see them. This is a sign of tremendous insecurity and is NOT healthy. It is NOT healthy or normal for young men to take showers while wearing gym clothes or avoiding showers altogether because they are too ashamed of their bodies. In short, it is NOT healthy for men or women to be obsessed with 'clothaphobia'.

[Boreas]

Young guys today understand that life is all about looking young and perfect (whaetever perfect is). They do not want to be seen naked for then their imperfections can be seen along with the rest of what is involved in being a normal human. They also have this irrational homophobia where they act as if some gay male is going to jump out from one of the toilet stalls and attack them. Even worse, they don't want somebody to be staring at their penis and laughing becasue of some perceived failure to meet standards (whatever standards are).

I was reading your post and it struck me that these young guys have been raised in a totally different world than the older guys. They grew up in an era where people were afraid of pedophiles, and protected their children differently than the parents of the older guys. They are also people whose parents likely drove them around more. Many are part of a culture where they were generally more protected and sheltered. They likely have not been exposed to communal nudity as the older guys were. Perhaps it is just this, and not anything more sinister. Just a thought.

[Pete Knight]

I was reading your post and it struck me that these young guys have been raised in a totally different world than the older guys. They grew up in an era where people were afraid of pedophiles, and protected their children differently than the parents of the older guys. They are also people whose parents likely drove them around more. Many are part of a culture where they were generally more protected and sheltered. They likely have not been exposed to communal nudity as the older guys were. Perhaps it is just this, and not anything more sinister. Just a thought.
We've had this debate before, there are no more pedophiles about today than there were in the good old days, the difference is it isn't cover up these days, not when there is a few dollars in compensation waiting to be grabbed.

The PC litigation crazy culture is making us all afraid of our own shadows these days, and I see no end to it, not while the media are feeding this obsession.

Pete Knight

[Stu2630]

Sanslines

On rare occassions, we even grabbed one of the high school girls and dragged her into the guy's locker room. She would routinely scream at the sight of a room full of naked jocks and yet we all knew that she knew fully well what the sight of a naked male looked like. Today, such an event would be considered sexual harrasment. Too bad!You can't seriously say that such behaviour was remotely acceptable. Grabbing a girl and dragging her into such an environment is pretty outrageous. For a start, it is assault and false imprisonment. If that had happened to one of my daughters, I'm afraid I'd be onto the police.

there is a very unhealthy obsession with the appearance of the human bodyI agree with you. People are overly concerned with the shape of their noses, the whiteness of their teeth, the presence or absence of a six-pack and the depth of sun tans. But this phenomenon has nothing to do with exposing your genitals to others of your own sex when showering. I have seen young guys at my gym showering in shorts - but they still rub the soapsuds into their private parts, so I have no doubt they come out reasonably fresh. There is no evidence that this type of bashfulness is physically or psychologically harmful.

Stu

[Sanslines]

Sanslines

You can't seriously say that such behaviour was remotely acceptable. Grabbing a girl and dragging her into such an environment is pretty outrageous. For a start, it is assault and false imprisonment. If that had happened to one of my daughters, I'm afraid I'd be onto the police.

Stu,

I am talking about high school aged students ie 16-20 or so. It was all done in fun and was harmless. No one was traumatized by the sight of someone of the opposite sex. We were all athletes and it was no big deal. Have you forgotten what it means to be young, carefree, laughing, having fun, and enjoying life? Life has become so out of control that a high school kid can't say anything to another high school kid for fear of parents filing lawsuits. Why even Prince Harry can't say 'Paki' without having to apologise for some perceived insult when I know for a fact that 'Paki's' use the word 'Brits' all of the time. Everyone needs to just relax and stop fussing over such trivial matters.

I agree with you. People are overly concerned with the shape of their noses, the whiteness of their teeth, the presence or absence of a six-pack and the depth of sun tans. But this phenomenon has nothing to do with exposing your genitals to others of your own sex when showering. I have seen young guys at my gym showering in shorts - but they still rub the soapsuds into their private parts, so I have no doubt they come out reasonably fresh. There is no evidence that this type of bashfulness is physically or psychologically harmful.

It is harmful when someone is overly concerned about genitals and segregates them from the rest of the body. It is not considered normal by any stretch of the imagination to shower or bathe while wearing clothes.

[Sanslines]

From a High School Shower Forum:

Proud1p4
5th Aug 2006, 09:47 AM
Well this coming school year will be my last in middle school. I'm going to Grade 9, and here in Canada school goes up to Grade 12.

So in order to prepare ahead of time for the unknown, i was wondering if there were any other Canadian residents at this board (but please post your response regardless of citizenship) and if there are i would ask you this question.

In High School, i know it is manditory to take a shower post-physical education. My question is, are the stalls public (no-privacy) or have a curtain or stall of some kind.

I am aware that every school will probably be different and every province, even more different, but i hope to get a somewhat clear picture of what to expect. Merci, Blessed be.


<HR>Director
6th Aug 2006, 09:47 PM

They still do that in Canada? I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised! I'm from Toronto and there's no rule about that. My first day of P.E. my teacher said we're welcome to take a shower if we like, and that nobody had used them in years. I've always thought that making them mandatory was completely stupid. Good luck to ya!

NACHO
7th Aug 2006, 11:31 PM

I Didnt Know That It Was Mandatory!
Well For Me I Should Be Afrfaid Because Im Kinda Shy When It Comes To Showering In Public! And Yeah Every Highschool Is Diferent Here In California Were I Live They Are Never Used Only Like After Practise But Durning P.e. Never Well Yeah A Couple Of Times When Me And So Friends Just Get The Head Went But No Nudes! So It Should Be Interesting Just Dont Take Your Boxers Off!



<HR>Brandon
7th Aug 2006, 11:51 PM

When I was in High School, nobody used the showers, some people did, but then they showered clothed, and then changed in a corner when nobody was looking. Same thing happened in Middle School. This one guy came into the locker room, went into the shower, and everyone dressing up back into their normal school clothing just watched and said. "He's taking a shower!!!!"

Going back to High School, I never used the showers because P.E. for me was always the last period of the day, so I could go home and take a shower after school. Its kind of rare these days, since I don't see it or hear about it much.

Proud1p4
14th Aug 2006, 01:58 PM
And no, here in the US you don't have to take showers after sports/pe. But I can really only speak for my school because it's private so it runs on its own rules.

Well if the Americans said no im even more sure now that Canada wouldn't enforce it. I mean i'm sure the government recognise the gay youth population now more than ever and i wouldnt imagine them enforcing such a silly rule.

William
14th Aug 2006, 09:28 PM
With all due respect, please don't tell me to chill, im not mad or anything, it's just a pet peeve of mine (i just hate the expression & being told to "chill"), sorry.
O sorry, I just sort of picked up that word 'chill', and ur the second guy who said he dosnt like it. So I wont use it nemore. :icon_redf

But yeah, im not worried about people seeing me, im worried about seeing them, i mean, its almost more of a nightmare than a fantasy. I'm not one to respect whats "off-limits" so it'd just be too hard for me to be in there with that many goods.
O I see, like I never thought of that, but I know what u mean. LOL, lots of boys get hard and stuff, but evrybody pretends not to notice. And like Im so used to that stuff I never even think about it. Sometimes that happens to me but I just make sure I run to the shower and back, and like I wear a towel when Im standing around. And like I have to live with these guys so Im too scared to ever touch neone.

And secondly, i have major body image issues, kinda like that of an average teenage girl, so, thats a secondary reason why.

It kinda shocks me why you wouldnt see me in a room with 30 naked teenage boys problematic:lol: .
I dont understand about body image, but u only got to look at me. Im small and skinny and funny looking, so I bet ur Brad Pitt next to me.:icon_bigg


<HR>tired_of_lying411
16th Aug 2006, 09:18 PM

eee.. im not a big fat slug who sits around and wines about gym class. Its not that I dont like exercise, I just hate school exercise. In fact, Im actually taking charge of my weight, which is at an all time low and getting in shape. Im starting by running an hour every other day, and i keep going further and further each time, its great! ive really made a life change and I love it. I am finally turning myself into the person wanna be.

It would be silly to be gay and not able to meet of all the hot guys out there. I want to look perfect and have someone who looks just as good! Im 15 and 145lbs, I dont really care about the number, its all about the way i look to me.

The way I see it, I have 3 more years to get hot so when I move away from home I will be the way I want to be.

thanks for all the support tho.

http://emptyclosets.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-694.html


As anyone can see, the whole physical education situation is completely out of control. After reading all of this, is there any wonder why childhood obesity is so prevelant in our society?

The whole high school shower issue seems to revolve around body issues (which are somewhat natural for high school aged kids who are not comfortable within their own bodies yet), being seen and made fun of (which a gym instructor or coach should interveen and prevent), rampant homophobia (which again comes back to someone feeling uncomfortable within their own body) or other assorted adversions to the whole concept of participating in any form of physical exercise, or rampant gymnophobia. Instead of teaching high school kids body acceptance and self acceptance, adults are determined to allow advertising to influence them into feeling that they are inferior and that they should be ashamed of their bodies. This is NOT healthy for children!!!!

[Boreas]

We've had this debate before, there are no more pedophiles about today than there were in the good old days, the difference is it isn't cover up these days, not when there is a few dollars in compensation waiting to be grabbed.

The PC litigation crazy culture is making us all afraid of our own shadows these days, and I see no end to it, not while the media are feeding this obsession.

Pete Knight

I totally agree with you. There is no more sex abuse now than in the past, arguably, there may be less because people are more willing to talk about it, and smash secrets. My point is more that young adults today have been protected more than previous generations, and therefore may not have had the experience of communal nudity, and so are uncomfortable or whatever with that idea.

[Sanslines]

I totally agree with you. There is no more sex abuse now than in the past, arguably, there may be less because people are more willing to talk about it, and smash secrets. My point is more that young adults today have been protected more than previous generations, and therefore may not have had the experience of communal nudity, and so are uncomfortable or whatever with that idea.

Has anyone ever questioned if all of this protection is healthy? In my opinion such excessive protection delays entering full adulthood with all of the restrictions and responsibilities that adulthood incurs.

[Boreas]

Has anyone ever questioned if all of this protection is healthy? In my opinion such excessive protection delays entering full adulthood with all of the restrictions and responsibilities that adulthood incurs.

I totally agree. I also think there is a little bit of a relaxation of the protection in some circles. I hope so anyway.

[MoonShadow]

I wonder. Is it really protecting or paranoia? I do find people today more paranoid than anything else. It is quite bad in some circles and to the point people literally lived behind locked doors 24/7 and include their young children to live in their paranoid fortresses.

We need to teach young children to not live in fear. Adults need to do the same. When you live in fear, you are controlled and easily manipulated.

[LamontCranston]

Adults need to do the same. When you live in fear, you are controlled and easily manipulated. Which makes me wonder how much of the "economic meltdown" these days is real.

Michael Crighton wrote the book "State of Fear". It's a novel but has many many references to global warming research. One of the characters talks about how governments *always* work up a new fear when the old one fades.

Once the Cold War was ended and the Soviet Union broke up, the fear of global warming took it's place. (Crighton's idea) That hasn't taken root (difficult to advance the agenda during winter) so maybe now it's economic collapse (my idea).

Back on topic.. the Internet is a vehicle for people to do research independent of what's taught in public classrooms. To keep children *on message* perhaps the pedophilia and on-line predator news is a way to have parents restrain that independent research.

No I'm not paranoid or a conspiracy theorist but I'm quite sure everything we're told is at most a half-truth. :sneaky:

[NudeAl]

I too think we are over protecting our kids to their detriment. My brother has gone so far as to home school his kids, that is his wife is home schooling thier kids. I think the kids are socially retarded I mean half of going to school is leaving the nest and learning how to interact and paly well with others. These social skills further deteriorate in this impersonal internet age we live in. No one has face to face interaction and the skills of conversation and how to interact socially how to be polite respectful and just get along with out appearing highly introverted are being lost. Kids need to learn these things teyneed to learn how to cross the street by themselves how to figure things out how to deal with difficult things like bullies and how to get over being embaressed about everyday stuff.

Further I think that one of the reasons there have been more men than women interested in social nudity isthat we grew up in the era when taking showers after PE in school was mandatory. We faced our fears got over them and got on with our lives. I fully believe facing ones fears head on is the most effective way to banish them forever.

Finally I would not be a member of any gymn which had such a policy. In fact if the sauna wasn't clothing optional I would not join. I see it as almost a form of discrimination or homophobia more appropriately though it is gymnophobia and that offends me. I won't support that.

[Pete Knight]

From a High School Shower Forum: There must be some real smelly kids in America if that forum is anything to go by.

The media are playing with our minds, both politically and socially, it's good to see that some of you over there are switched on to this.

The favourite past time of our newspapers is bringing government ministers down, or better still, the whole government.

The Daily Mail (I don't buy it, honest!) is currently trying to scare the simpletons away from energy saving lights with scare stories of radiation, mercury contamination and they even tried to tell us that they don't use less electricity, of course some people will believe all this crap.
http://www.bltdirect.com/images/categories/3Pin-MEM-15W-Multi-Tube-Thumb.jpg

In the past the media has caused its own prophesies to come true, just by scaring the simpletons into going out and buying whatever item they write is going to sell out in the shops, the one i remember from a few years ago was bread, I knew people who stockpiled bread becasue they'd heard there was going to be a shortage, they didn't realise there WERE the casue of the shortage.

Some of the reports I read about here are exactly the same, like the teacher in Texas who appeared naked on the web, she was hounded out of her job by the mass hysteria created by the press. Nipplegate was a classic example, the TV company could easily have played it down, but the media played it up, whipping up a storm of protest, stirring up the liberal do gooders.

Pete Knight

[Pete Knight]

In that case I hold you responsible for the half million people who lost their jobs in December - a greater loss than in any single month in 70 years.

Or perhaps it isn't just an illusion?

-Mark
I don't think that he meant it was in our minds, what has happened is mass panic that brought down financial institutions all over the world, not unlike the run on the Bailey Bank in the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life)', but on a bigger scale. Yes there were problems, but they have been exacerbated by media frenzy IMHO.

Pete Knight

[Naturist Mark]

I don't think that he meant it was in our minds, what has happened is mass panic that brought down financial institutions all over the world, not unlike the run on the Bailey Bank in the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life)', but on a bigger scale. Yes there were problems, but they have been exacerbated by media frenzy IMHO.

Pete Knight

Pete and I are continuing this off topic discussion on another thread (http://www.clothesfreeforum.com/showthread.php?t=13919)


-Mark

[Stu2630]

Sanslines

It is harmful when someone is overly concerned about genitals and segregates them from the rest of the body.

That sounds painful! As I'm seeing the urologist tomorrow, I'm not sure I want to dwell on that thought. :confused:

Seriously, though, I confess I'm scared stiff about going. :eek:

It is not considered normal by any stretch of the imagination to shower or bathe while wearing clothes.

At most public swimming pools, people shower in swimwear before entering the pool. What is and is not normal is subject to fashion, religion and convention.

Stu

[Sanslines]

Sanslines



That sounds painful! As I'm seeing the urologist tomorrow, I'm not sure I want to dwell on that thought. :confused:

Seriously, though, I confess I'm scared stiff about going. :eek:



At most public swimming pools, people shower in swimwear before entering the pool. What is and is not normal is subject to fashion, religion and convention.

Stu

If that's the case then why even bother to bathe or shower? Why even bother to change clothes? Just keep wearing the same clothes day in and day out and never take a shower. Problem solved.

[hommenudist]

If one cannot be nude in a locker room, how are you suppose to change clothes? Geez, I can only guess that it is homophobia forcing people to shower with their clothes on. Just before I retired my former employer had gym facilities and locker room with a sauna. About this time a lot if the I.T. contractors were from India, Pakistan, and etc. Those that used the gym facilities showered and sauna'd in their underwear of swim trunks. Never bothered me, I chalked it up to cultural difference and continued my unabashed comfortable nude stroll from locker to shower to sauna to shower to locker. Wonder if they are influencing our culture. Have noticed in my current fitness club more men are wearing towels around their waists than in the past but the nude for all to see still out number the shy ones.

[LamontCranston]

As I'm seeing the urologist tomorrow ... I confess I'm scared stiff ... Stu makes a pun ! :D

[Lord Drakkus]

At most public swimming pools, people shower in swimwear before entering the pool.

This is a misleading statement. The reason for showering off in your swimwear before entering the pool is to remove some of the chemicals on your body AND your swimwear, which may be damaging to the water in the pool. There is in fact debate over the effects of laundry detergent in pools, and whether or not said detergent could actually be harmful to the effectiveness of the chlorine and other cleaning mechanisms. A quick shower beforehand actually lessens the amount of detergent in your swimwear and lessens the chances of contamination. This is a good idea no matter what your opinions on nudity.

SanslinesAs I'm seeing the urologist tomorrow, I'm not sure I want to dwell on that thought. :confused:

Seriously, though, I confess I'm scared stiff about going. :eek:

I can't help but notice that, for a man who seems so against anything involving nudity or genitalia, it seems a bit out of character to be making a joke about erections.

I have seen young guys at my gym showering in shorts - but they still rub the soapsuds into their private parts, so I have no doubt they come out reasonably fresh. There is no evidence that this type of bashfulness is physically or psychologically harmful.

Actually, there seems to be evidence of exactly that. I've been looking for the actual studies of the effects of growing up in a society where nudity is considered obscene. From the few things I've been able to find out, it has far reaching effects that seem outwardly to have nothing to do with the body or genitalia. I'll look around over the next few days and I'll send you what I do manage to find via PM.

If that's the case then why even bother to bathe or shower? Why even bother to change clothes? Just keep wearing the same clothes day in and day out and never take a shower. Problem solved.

That's going a little far. Now I agree with Stu (scary as that is) when he says that he believes these young boys showering in their suits will come out "reasonably fresh." Any washing at all is better than none, but that's not the true issue anyway. The real question is, how clean can you really get when you're still wearing something that's already dirty? This isn't like showering beforehand, to keep household chemicals out of the pool. Showering afterward is to remove the pool chemicals (and sweat) off of your body. No matter how much scrubbing you do under the suit, those same particles are going to go right back on as soon as the suit comes back into contact with your body!

[Stu2630]

Lord Drakkus

The reason for showering off in your swimwear before entering the pool is to remove some of the chemicals on your body AND your swimwear, which may be damaging to the water in the pool.

I'm not sure about that. In all Danish public swimming pools, you are required to shower naked, and they sometimes even check that, while your skin and hair are wet, your swimwear is dry before you enter the pool. There are even notices in the shower area indicating the bits of your body they expect you to wash with the gel provided - including the groin and anus areas.

I can't help but notice that, for a man who seems so against anything involving nudity or genitalia, it seems a bit out of character to be making a joke about erections.

That wasn't a "joke" at all - you may regard it as a Freudian slip. When I typed "scared stiff", I didn't have erections in mind at all.

it has far reaching effects that seem outwardly to have nothing to do with the body or genitalia. I'll look around over the next few days and I'll send you what I do manage to find via PM.

Yes, please do. So long as they are peer-reviewed, value judgment free academic studies, I would be interested to see them.

Stu

[beachfun1002]

I am not a member of a gym, but was recently at a YMCA pool and took notice to how few people actually shower, or even change out of the swim suits (the local Y does not offer nude swims). Some wrap a towel around themselves and change like you would at a non-nude function, others just slipped sweat pants over there wet bathing suits.

Off the subject slightly, a friend with children told me recently that his kids are not allowed to shower after gym, nor any off the after school events (wrestling, baseball, football etc.). Have we become so fearful of nudity that children can not even see others of there same age nude, no wonder youth is so uncomfortable with there bodies.

[Kari P]

In all Danish public swimming pools, you are required to shower naked,


And in Finland, too. You must shower naked before entering the pool. And here the showers are in the open in a single-sex shower room. Visible nudity is expected.