ARE MOST GYM GUYS SHY IN THE LOCKER ROOM?

[taylorky]

i'm not a muscle freak or a gym rat.but i do go to the Y in louisville 3 or 4 times a week.i also am not ashamed of my body nor do i think everybody wants to jump on it.we skinny - dip when my folks are not home,and we skinny-dip at the lake when we go alone or with friends. BUT i do not shower at the Y i always wait until i get home. i just don't like standing butt ass naked with people i don't know.no deep rooted reason's,no mystery; just a matter of personal taste............

[Guest lipstick]

OK, I admit that this is a salacious question meant to indulge myself shamelessly.

 

After about 15 years of goofing off and getting my cholesterol levels way up there, I have finally made a commitment to get into some semblance of health and decent shape by joining a fitness club. I signed up with 24 Hour Fitness due to the convenience of the many locations throughout the Bay Area.

 

Now I had not been in a locker room (at least naked...) in like over

25 years, since my college days. I'm 49 now, so I was happy as a bug in a rug to be around a bunch of naked guys. Well, as naked as they could be. Because a lot of these folks, the young, goodlooking ones, appear to be Pollyanna shy about parading around butt naked in front of other guys. Even when they DO shower (and a lot of guys seem to skip this option), they are so circumspect about revealing anything that they wrap a towel around themselves to and back from the showers, and they even keep the towel on while they pull on their shorts, so these Queer eyes of mine can only imagine.

 

Now lest you think that I am the locker room troll, well, you have to take me word for it that I'm not, but I have been to three locations in the Bay Area so far and the behaviors are about the same. You'd think with all the attitudes given off by some of these guys in the weight room that they'd be happy to show off their other assets, but no such luck. There was only one case so far where these two hunky guys took showers and these two didn't seem to mind being naked and soaping up themselves in front of other guys. But the rest of you....

(That was in the Van Ness location, but it's not as convenient for me.)

 

Back in my college days at State in the seventies, folks just seemed to be more "un-selfconsciously" naked in those days (and with no Gay overtones) than these better looking guys of today. So what the HELL is the problem? Is this typical straight guy behavior these days?

 

I know, I know, I should have joined Golds Gym near the Castro and SOMA and all that, but that's for the future.

 

"Inquiring minds want to know!!!"

 

[Guest Thunderbuns]

>Because a lot of these folks,

>the young, goodlooking ones, appear to be Pollyanna shy

>about parading around butt naked in front of other guys.

>Even when they DO shower (and a lot of guys seem to skip

>this option), they are so circumspect about revealing

>anything that they wrap a towel around themselves to and

>back from the showers, and they even keep the towel on while

>they pull on their shorts, so these Queer eyes of mine can

>only imagine.

 

Maybe if you wiped the drool of your lips, they would not be so elusive. :-) just kidding

 

>You'd think with all the attitudes given off by some of these guys >in the weight room that they'd be happy to show off their other >assets, but no such luck.

 

It probably caused by the same mentality that encourages straight hunks to go swimming in those hideous baggies.

 

I've even seen guys in the shower at a pool, with their bathing suits ON. I feel like asking them if they are doing their laundry.

 

>There was only one case so far where these two

>hunky guys took showers and these two didn't seem to mind

>being naked and soaping up themselves in front of other

>guys.(That was in the Van Ness location, but it's not as

>convenient for me.)

 

So what's a little car drive given the reward at the end?

 

>So what the HELL is the problem? Is this typical straight guy >behavior these days?

 

Yup - Also could be caused by too much exposure to Dr. Laura!

 

Thunderbuns

[Guest lipstick]

>Maybe if you wiped the drool of your lips, they would not be

>so elusive. :-) just kidding

 

Thunderbuns,

 

Actually, it would not be drool I'd be worried about but more so getting the wild woody.....wait a minute!!! That's it!!!! These seemingly straight bucks are afraid of getting a woody!!!!

 

(Yeah, I know...in my dreams.....)

 

Thanks!

[Guest CallMePapi]

Funny you should bring this topic up. A friend and I were discussing the same phenomenon the other day. Our conclusion was that there are two factors here. First, is that there are fewer guys in the current generation who have had military service than 25 years ago when we were in gyms. Another is interesting: My friend says that venues such as schools, in some politcal correctness, no longer require high school guys to shower after gym (wouldn't want to embarrass the boys who are overweight, etc.). So, my friend concludes, young men of the current generation have not developed the same comfortableness with being naked as our generation. An interesting theory, at least.

[phage]

Two theories:

 

One is that these hot young guys are very conscience of their appearance. Since hot body does not equal hot package, maybe they feel inadequate about any body part that can’t be pumped up by exercise.

 

Another is the fact that straight men have become very cognizant of the fact that even non-gay gyms attract queers like a bug to a porch light. Perhaps they believe that discretion is the best way to avoid sending any mixed signals to the mo’s that are certainly among them. (It is the bay area after all!)

[+ Hoover42]

I've noticed the same shyness at my own gym. It's only the older guys who use the shower at all. None of the young guys ever uses the shower, and they rarely even change clothes. They arrive at the gym in the workout clothes, and they leave the gym in the same (sweaty) clothes.

 

I think young guys are just too self-conscious these days; especially the straight guys, who have now been made well of the existence of gay men, and are all just too damn worried about being hit on.

[+ deej]

There are actually a couple of things at work here.

 

There IS the worry the str8 boys have that the fags might be enjoying the show. I know a kid who is the epitome of what you'd like to throw against the wall and ravish. He refuses to shower in the gym in my neighborhood because he's afraid of exactly that. So instead he comes to my place to shower. (!)

 

But another thing I've noticed in recent years, among gays and str8s alike, is that guys aren't hesitant to meet you at Starbucks or wherever fresh from the gym. Unshowered. Still in their workout clothes. (Yummy!)

 

As soon as the str8 boys figure out we actually LIKE this, they'll be back to showering at they gym in no time.

[Chuck50]

And tell us of the the fun you have had with him Deej <g>

[+ Lucky]

>As soon as the str8 boys figure out we actually LIKE this, they'll be back to showering at they gym in no time.<

Hurry up and figure it out guys, cuz secretly I DON"T like smelly guys!

[+ deej]

LOL! So you've noticed it too?

[+ deej]

He sometimes asks me to towel off his back, and of course I reach around too.

 

He *has* to have noticed the stiffy pressed against his pretty little butt. But I don't press the issue.

 

He feels safe with me. I'd rather have the chance to paw him regularly than lose it all because I couldn't control myself.

[Guest TexasTaurus]

I have noticed this very thing.....

 

In the gym where I go. Most of the young men leave without showering but those who do either opt for a private shower (we have two) or cover themselves. Several young men I have seen strip to their underwear, wrap a towel around themselves to get to the showers and, if the private showers are full, shower in their underwear. They will then cover themselves with a towel, return to their locker, discreetly remove their wet drawers then dry (with a second towel)and dress. They pulled their pants up "below the towel" and only removed the towel when they fastened their pants. I saw three men do this in one night!

 

Also, I attend a lot of basketball and football games here in Texas and know many of the players and their families. I am NOT into highschool boy (MEN only for me) but MOST of the players DO NOT shower after the games! If they are muddy after a football game, they will wipe themselves off with a wet towel but will NOT strip down and shower. Figure that one out!

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Nudity

 

I am with Phage's Theory #2 and with Deej on this one, and only add that I think men are comfortable with nudity among their own close peers, but a gym is far too diverse a crowd. Modern life has given straight and gay men both the same kind of a complex that some women have had for generations, of being concious of their bodies and not just genitals.

 

For me, I am one of these walk two blocks to my gym and walk back all sweaty and, if I do not have a client, I often stay that way and simply do not shower. Like tonight, for example.

 

However, I also do have clients who PREFER this.

[Rick Munroe]

>None of the young guys

>ever uses the shower, and they rarely even change clothes.

>They arrive at the gym in the workout clothes, and they

>leave the gym in the same (sweaty) clothes.

 

That's what I always do. There are gyms everywhere in Chelsea so whichever one I belong to is close enough for me to just go home & shower there. Plus I sweat a lot at the gym (I work out hard) & I like to walk home in my wet T-shirt. I was born without that "stink" enzyme so my sweat is always fresh & clean (which is why I often disappoint those clients that ask me to come straight from the gym!) If there's a hot guy in the locker room that I like, I will, however, drop my pants to "adjust" stuff (& show off) before I leave.

 

>the straight guys, who have now been made well of

>the existence of gay men, and are all just too damn worried

>about being hit on.

 

Or...as Derek just said to me, can it be the gay guys are getting a little too aggressive? I think there are two sides to this story. We shouldn't always assume it's the straight guys necessarily being homophobic or worried. I mean, how many of us would be thrilled to go to the gym and have women (real ones with vaginas and tampons and everything) coming on to us strong?

[+ Hoover42]

>Or...as Derek just said to me, can it be the gay guys are

>getting a little too aggressive? I think there are two

>sides to this story. We shouldn't always assume it's the

>straight guys necessarily being homophobic or worried. I

>mean, how many of us would be thrilled to go to the gym and

>have women (real ones with vaginas and tampons and

>everything) coming on to us strong?

 

That's a good point.

 

I suppose that what bothers me about this situation is that women often get unwanted sexual attention from men who feel that there is nothing at all wrong with that. However, as soon as these same men catch one gay man smiling at them they run from the room, or worse, run for the nearest baseball bat.

[Guest Jocoluver]

RE: Nudity

 

Interesting.

 

As I read the thread I thought of all the discussions at the time when Clinton wanted to change the rules to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

 

Maybe it wasn't just the old homophobes who worried about showering together.

 

Don't ask, don't tell.}>

[+ Charlie]

I read an article about this phenomenon recently in a major newspaper (I think it was the Philadelphia Inquirer). The gist of it seemed to be that as straights became more aware of the gay world that used to be invisible to them, they also became more self-conscious about the possibility they were providing unintended stimulation for us. Even in elementary and high school, so few boys want to shower in public that the newer schools are removing showers to save money (and incidently to prevent opportunities for lawsuits over same-sex harassment). New fitness centers are designing minimal shower facilities, because prospective members indicate they don't care about them.

 

At my own gym, there is only a single private shower, but I have rarely seen it used. Even after a heavy, sweaty workout, most guys seem to change quickly back into their street clothes. Only the guys past middle age seem not to be bothered about stripping in the locker room. Soon all the porn movies with shower room orgies of hot young studs will just be historical period pieces.

[Guest Thunderbuns]

>I read an article about this phenomenon recently in a major

>newspaper (I think it was the Philadelphia Inquirer).

 

What a strange subject for a mainstream metropolitan daily to cover! I wonder what motivated them?

 

>The gist of it seemed to be that as straights became more aware

>of the gay world that used to be invisible to them, they

>also became more self-conscious about the possibility they

>were providing unintended stimulation for us.

 

Where are all the straigh cock-teasers who used to get off on getting gays all hot & bothered?

 

>Only the guys past middle age seem not to be

>bothered about stripping in the locker room. Soon all the

>porn movies with shower room orgies of hot young studs will

>just be historical period pieces.

 

Does this mean they will be shown in high school history classes?

 

Thunderbuns

[+ Hoover42]

By the way, I just asked a straight co-worker about this, and he says he does not use the showers because:

 

1. He hates walking on dirty shower floors,

2, Doesn't want to carry a lot of "shit" with him, like towels, etc. to the gym, and

3. He doesn't like carrying wet clothes in his gym bag.

 

All of which seem quite reasonable.

[Guest lipstick]

>By the way, I just asked a straight co-worker about this,

>and he says he does not use the showers because:

>

>1. He hates walking on dirty shower floors,

>2, Doesn't want to carry a lot of "shit" with him, like

>towels, etc. to the gym, and

>3. He doesn't like carrying wet clothes in his gym bag.

>

>All of which seem quite reasonable.

 

 

 

Oh Jesus!!!

 

Since I do carry all that "shit" with me, plus the wet clothes afterwards, then it means I really am a predatory slut!!!!

[Guest lipstick]

I think the ironic thing about this locker room phenomenon ( can I call it the Seventh Veil Syndrome?) is that when I go have a workout, I sweat and grunt and sometimes tire a bit of the routine and constant effort. But at the end of the workout, I really do feel revitalized and I do have a bit more energy than what I first started with. So I do feel relaxed afterwards.

 

But then we have this tension about being checked out or oogled. Some folks seem to be so bothered by it that they are in and out of the locker room in a flash. Even on the workout areas, I've noticed that folks rarely, if ever, even look at each other in the eye. There seems to be a purposeful tendency to not look directly at anyone (other than surreptitiously) which makes it a bit difficult to make any sort of conversation, such as: "Are you finished?"

 

This is especially true in the locker room. I've have several occasions where guys who are using a locker next to me will just wait until I'm about finished before they even move in to get their gear. This is especially true if one party is naked. It's like some guys just don't know how what to do in front of a naked guy, as though they can't even say, "Excuse me, please."

 

But the mystique of the free weights room is something else. I've used the weights near the end of my main workout, and the guys there DO check each other out, sometime directly and also via the wall to wall mirrors. But these same guys will avoid any sort of eye contact when in the locker room. So go figure!!!

 

And what about the sauna???? Frankly, I haven't tried that yet, but the area looks small enough so that some sort of eye contact is inevitable, or even accidently brushing up against another person. So are the sauna guys an entirely different breed of guys??

 

My experience has only been in "straight" fitness clubs. Are things entirely different in Gay-clientele clubs like Gold's near the Castro?

 

Thanks!

 

"Inquiring minds would like to know."

 

[foxy]

The gym I go to changed the showers a few months ago. They originally had tile walls that went chest high and you had privacy for showering. Now they are open in front with frosted glass partitions in between. No real privacy. Since there is a co-ed pool most men seem to shower in their bathing suits. I do see plenty of nudity in the locker room. Unfortuantely the most uninhibited are the older and not very attractive guys. I have noticed an interesing cultural difference, however. About a third of the clients at this gym are Asian. They seem to have no problem walking around naked. Yesterday there was this really cute guy, looked in his early 20's, I think he might have been Korean. He was walking around naked having this very intense conversation on his cell phone for about 10 minutes. The way he carried himself you would have thought he was in a business suit instead of his birthday suit. I found it very amusing.

I do have to say, and I don't mean this as a racial slur, it is (mostly) true what they say about Asian men.

[phage]

>I do have to say, and I don't mean this as a racial slur, it

>is (mostly) true what they say about Asian men.

 

What? That they are good at math?

[Guest lipstick]

>I do have to say, and I don't mean this as a racial slur, it

>is (mostly) true what they say about Asian men.

 

So Foxy, how does that "feel" to you? Does it make you

feel good about yourself, or does it make you think how much

"engorgement" is possible, or what?

 

Tell us all, bro....

 

 

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