Further Thoughts

 

Morning

Wow. So many comments on Tuesday's post about nudity in the Men's locker rooms and showers at local gyms. And so many excellent points, from agism to fear of cell phone cameras. The agism thing has been around for...well, ages; it will never cease. As for cell phone cameras, personally? Go ahead, what do I care? As a male, I have exactly what I should have and --- what a surprise! --- it pretty much looks like every other circumcised cock I've ever seen.

Plus, as Jean pointed out, when I was a kid, we swam naked all the time in rivers, ponds, lakes, and at the Y (where clothing was prohibited in the pool). PE began in 6th grade and we had to change into jock straps, and we had to shower after class. No exceptions, no excuses. Then came the military barracks with gang showers. Add that clothes were prohibited in the pool and jazuzzi at the base gym, as it was at the gym I belonged to when I got out of the service. We have one place left in town that doesn't have a pool but does have both a jacuzzi and a cold plunge --- clothing not permitted. Men and women share the pools, jacuzzis, saunas, and steam rooms in the regular gyms.

The 24-hour news cycle brought stories of all kinds of horrific crimes, adding to the fears and creating more and more Helicopter parents.

I have to agree with the assessment of a few readers that naked selfies abound among guys of all ages, and there are tons of younger dudes on OF, etc 

So, what is the issue, really? Someone is going to look?

Everyone looks. Gay, straight, bi...doesn't matter. Even women look. It's normal, natural curiosity. When guys take more than a quick glance at mine, it's because my balls are so small due to really bad mumps and a case of scarlet fever. Some are even brave enough to ask what happened.

Further thoughts?

Covered At All Times

 

Morning

A question from a Reader:

"Monday, I went to my local gym and saw a sign on the locker room door. The sign said effective July 15, 2026, there is a new locker room nudity policy. About the third line down it stated all men must cover their private parts at all times. The hot tub has a sign, swimwear not required. There is also a sign stating 15 and under not allowed in locker room. They installed a privacy booth in the locker room to change in.

I asked at the front desk what caused the change and they said there were complaints. I stood there perplexed and the girl said it was half and half complaints about male nudity in a male only space. I never saw any sexual activity or anyone excited in the locker room. The majority of the guys who feel free to go nude in the locker room are over 50. We just take showers and soak in the hot tub and sauna nude. 

I notice most of the younger guys change under a towel or in the toilet stalls. The vast majority of younger men don't take showers. The locker room has the only male facilities. I know I am not unique in not covering up when changing, but what makes men uncomfortable about other men being nude in all male spaces. I pay a premium to attend a gym with a hot tub and sauna, now I have to cover my parts when in the hot tub.

Is this a new trend? Have other people experienced this?"

I know I've seen Reddit threads where younger guys say all they see are "naked old men" and they find it "disgusting."

This has been trending for the past decade or so. If there is Physical Education in schools --- there is no longer a requirement to wear jockstraps or to shower afterwards; that is strictly for the athletes. Blame it on overprotective parents who fear someone may see their son's genitals. Or that their son will be ridiculed for having a small dick, or (maybe) sprouting an erection.

Those fears and attitudes have slowly made their way to local gyms with the younger folks who, by the way, have also been warned that there may be men lurking who want to assault them if they see them naked.

It's ridiculous, of course. And I feel sorry for them because it's not "shame," it's fear. Unwarranted fear.

Sorry for the loss of freedom you (and others) now have to deal with in a male-only environment. The gym I belonged to, until 24-Hour Fitness invaded every city in the U.S., had separate locker rooms, showers, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, tanning beds, and pools. Clothing was NOT permitted in hot tubs or pools, and most just carried that forward to the saunas and steam room. Sadly, gone are the days.....

Readers, any thoughts?

Morning

 

Morning

Clothing-Optional

 

Morning

The A/C is fixed. Just in time for the temps to skyrocket back into triple digits this weekend. Gosh, I wish I lived where the temperatures were more stable...and ocean water was at a (fairly) constant 80°F, and there was a clothing-optional beach.

Instead, I'll have to be satisfied with the pool.

If only the damn thing would get warm enough to get in!