uk public pool minimum "dress code"?

[cadwalladr1]

When I swim on holiday, if I cannot swim naked I have always worn a tanga type suit, i.e. a suit with a reasonably covered rear and front but with extremely thin strap sides, and of course cut very low, so low that the top of my butt crack is often visible. I used to also wear this when swimming in a public pool, although I have not been one for years. However, my wife now tells me that I am indecent. At the moment, though, I have been advised to swim for exercise. I refuse to wear baggy shorts. Would I be asked to cover up more now that I am over 70? I would be rather embarassed to ask beforehand, but at the same time I would not want to be publicly ejected because, in the opinion of the pool staff, I would be indecent.

[roaddog]

Personally I hate to wear "Swimming costume" so I always go for the skimpiest pair of speedos I can find, I have to admit as I get older it is increasing difficult to do so, it seems they just don't make them in my size. However this is a little off the topic. How can any one complain that your swimming trunks are indecent when you consider what is "acceptable" for a bikini, this isn't anything to do with decency, it is pure "Agist Discrimination". Were I requested to chance my attire in such a circumstance I would protest most loudly, perhaps threat of a discrimination law suit against the local council that runs the swimming pool would make them see reason, or everyone will end up swimming in burka's.

Sorry rant mode slipped in when I wasn't looking, but this sort of agist crap always winds me up, as far as some parts of modern society are concerned once a person reaches the age of 30 they should be locked in a cupboard under the stairs because they are far too ugly to be see in daylight.

Sometimes this rant mode just wont go away.

Cheers
Mick

[narod]

If women are OK in a bikini, then a Speedo or string side suit should be acceptable for men. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[Caipora]

It's interesting that at the local public pool (Brazil) the posted rules specify the minimum that women must wear, but also the maximum that men can wear. That is, no "dental floss" bikinis - the ones that fit between the buttocks in the manner that dental floss goes between the teeth. But, on the male side, the rule is no Bermuda shorts.

The pool is separated from the neighborhood's busiest avenue by a chain-link fence, and the kids have no trouble waiting in line for the waterslide in Speedos, in full view of passers-by.

- Caipora

[Stu2630]

When I swim on holiday, if I cannot swim naked I have always worn a tanga type suit,

Why don't you ask if they can run a weekly naturist session? Some pools do that, especially if you can show a demand.

I refuse to wear baggy shorts. Would I be asked to cover up more now that I am over 70? I would be rather embarassed to ask beforehand, but at the same time I would not want to be publicly ejected because, in the opinion of the pool staff, I would be indecent.

I don't think it's so much an age issue as ensuring that other bathers aren't made uncomfortable by your attire. You wouldn't want them to, would you?

Actually, I agree with you about the baggy shorts. I have started wearing two pairs of brief-type shorts when swimming at a pool, as worn by serious swimmers. So long as they cover the important parts, including the rear cleavage, nobody will be remotely concerned.

Stu

[roaddog]

Hey Stu,
Are you saying that "Buttock Cleavage" is fine for women but not for men, especially those of us over 30?
Cheers
Mick

[Stu2630]

Mick

Certainly not. I don't think anything resembling cleavage should be visible in a public swimming session.

Stu

[zharth]

Frankly, I'm skeptical of how much this is an agist issue, and how much it is just simply a case of "beauty discrimination". If you're young and relatively fit, and probably moreso if you're female, people will likely have less complaints because they like what they see. But if you don't have the body of a magazine model, suddenly people are saying, "we don't want to see that." It's a tricky situation.

[bgnaked]

The pool is separated from the neighborhood's busiest avenue by a chain-link fence, and the kids have no trouble waiting in line for the waterslide in Speedos, in full view of passers-by.

Honestly I'd have no problem wearing speedos here in the USA if everyone else wore them, though. It's a lot easier when others around you don the same thing.

however, not many people do... so I usually just wear them when I swim laps. It sucks, I'd love to wear it at the beach but it's not so easy

[jon71]

I wore speedos the year I was on the swim team in high school, it was the uniform. It was all very naturally accepted. The girls wore one pieces, not for modest, but because it was more streamlined (the fewer changes in surface the faster you go). I remember one of my best friends was a cure little Mormon girl and I'd be there in my speedos talking to her and she never batted an eye. I tried to talk her into joining the team but she never did. I don't know if it was she didn't want to be in a bathing suit herself in public or because her legs don't work (she uses crutches).

[luvnaturism]

Help me out here. How would someone whose legs "don't work" be able to compete on a swimming team? And you tried to "talk her into" trying for the team?

What on earth were you thinking?

[jon71]

Help me out here. How would someone whose legs "don't work" be able to compete on a swimming team? And you tried to "talk her into" trying for the team?

What on earth were you thinking?

She's a friend of mine and I thought it would be fun. For the record she told me she can swim. What she can't do with her legs she can do with her arms, she even drives (an adapted car). I doubt she'd be the top competitor but so what, I certainly wasn't but it was still fun. Btw it wasn't something you had to try out for. If you wanted to join and was good enough not to drown you were on the team. We had kind of a small to medium sized high school (1500 for all four grades) and I think except for football and basketball most of the sports were like that.

[Smiley]

I've known a number paraplegics over the years, most have adapted to the lives they have to lead quite well. They all have impressive upper body strength due to having to compensate for the loss of use of their legs. One was a very strong swimmer and hard to stay up with in the water. Another was a scuba diver, same story. They can really surprise you in an aquatic environment. And then there are those that regularly compete in marathons. .

As far as swimming, I prefer fairly snug fitting trunks, rather than those long baggy bermuda types if I have to wear anything at all. I'd much rather swim nude. Fortunately I live in an area that has rivers, lakes and reservoirs that don't have a lot of crowds so when I feel like taking a dip I can always find a secluded spot and dive in :lol:

[nakedstudent]

Help me out here. How would someone whose legs "don't work" be able to compete on a swimming team? And you tried to "talk her into" trying for the team?

What on earth were you thinking?

Swimming is a wonderful sport for paraplegics, partially paralyzed, even mentally disabled athletes. When I swam in high school (not as long ago as Jon71) a pretty mildy autistic student swam for a different school that I competed against once a year.

Swimming is one of those rare high school sports where the athletes focus more on improving their own times. Places, etc come secondary except in the (rare) case of an extremely tight race.

There were times when my worst swim would be good enough for 1st place. There was also a meet where the best swim of my entire career was only good enough for about 14th. It all depends on the level of competition.

Swimming is one of the few sports in the high school environment that can accommodate those with disabilities and I wouldn't have expected anything less than what Jon71 discussed earlier from any swimmer I know.

[nakedstudent]

Back to topic,

I have yet to swim in the UK (except Ireland and I'm not even sure that it counts?). I'd like to take a trip to Britain eventually but haven't had the time, resources, or travel partner.

When I do swim (which I do quite frequently as a pool manager during the summer), I wear a speedo briefs or the "jammer" under my board shorts. I would rather swim in just the speedo/jammer but I prefer not to draw too much attention to myself at a place such as my work place. I couldn't wear just a speedo at the beach though. too much sand and chaffage in the surf for my taste. I would much rather wear shorts over or nothing at all.

[northlondoner]

I suspect that if someone was offended you would be required to wear something more substantial, and the comment someone made about objections being made because of appearance not being 'model like' is true. I find speedos uncomfortable, so wear board shorts if I have to be clothed to swim.

[Fitz1980]

Mick

Certainly not. I don't think anything resembling cleavage should be visible in a public swimming session.

Stu

And it's comments like this that make me still think that Stu is a sock puppet for a pro-nudist person trying to create a strawman of the type of person who opposes nudism and nudity.

[CCNude]

I don't even own a swim suit, so I don't have this problem. I refuse ever to wear anything when I am swimming. If I get invited to a clothed pool party, I show up in T-shirt and shorts, grab a beer, and say I'd sure love to go swimming but I'm allergic to chlorine. Also I think a lot of swimwear is more suggestive and exhibitionistic than just going bucknekkid.