[memory-minus]

I'm gay and do, but a gym-going gay friend of mine says he never does and prefers to drive home sweaty and then shower. Another gym-going straight friend of mine says he does it all the time, no problem. I won't do a poll because of the sheer number of options, but I'm curious. What is your age or age range, gender, sexual orientation and do you use the gym locker room shower? Is it open showers or stalls? Comments?

[analogue SPRINKLES]

No and for me it has nothing to do with being naked infront of other men, gay, age, penis size etc.

The simple fact of the matter is I think it is gross sharing public showers with all that nice hot water for bacteria and warts to flourish.

[memory-minus]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

The simple fact of the matter is I think it is gross sharing public showers with all that nice hot water for bacteria and warts to flourish.

Good point, never really thought of it like that. Although I've had no traceable health issue associated with showering at the gym, I just kinda figured it was mostly whether or not people were shy, didn't want to be "caught looking," etc.

[Rumor]

It doesn't bother me. I wear flip-flops in the showers as to avoid jungle rot.

I'm a straight male in my mid-20's. I spend most of my summer weekends naked at the river, so nudity doesn't bother me any.

[Gossamer]

I live a block away from my gym, so I just come home.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by memory-minus 

Good point, never really thought of it like that. Although I've had no traceable health issue associated with showering at the gym, I just kinda figured it was mostly whether or not people were shy, didn't want to be "caught looking," etc.

When I was a kid I used to get warts all the time from being on the swim team so it sorts scared me off being naked or near naked in public spaces with not hot bacterial/viral breading grounds.

[Railroader]

When I worked for GM I took showers after work*. It was the kind of shower room that was one big open room with a couple poles and 6 shower heads on each pole. So when you showered you faced a couple guys. No big deal. 95% of the guys I worked with were over 55 years old. Of those who showered, all wore flip-flops. It was kept pretty clean. It was nice leaving work at a factory cleaner than guys who work in offices. I don't know that any of them that were gay. All of the guys who were openly gay or "seemed gay" didn't shower.






*Work could get pretty dirty. Sometimes I would change coveralls a few times during a shift because they'd be soaked in sweat or grease.

[marden]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

When I worked for GM I took showers after work*. It was the kind of shower room that was one big open room with a couple poles and 6 shower heads on each pole. So when you showered you faced a couple guys. No big deal. 95% of the guys I worked with were over 55 years old. Of those who showered, all wore flip-flops. It was kept pretty clean. It was nice leaving work at a factory cleaner than guys who work in offices. I don't know that any of them that were gay. All of the guys who were openly gay or "seemed gay" didn't shower.

*Work could get pretty dirty. Sometimes I would change coveralls a few times during a shift because they'd be soaked in sweat or grease.

So, maybe we could adopt a rule of thumb that if someone DOESN'T shower, they are more likely to be gay.

[Railroader]

They just didn't shower after work where I worked.

[mac128k-1984]

I'm not sure why one's sexual preference matters regarding hygene, but for me, I'd rather shower after a work out (and I'm straight).

This is needed especially given the fact that I work out either before work or at lunch hour and my co-workers would not appreciate my "aroma" if I didn't

[ghporter]

I've done both, and mostly it's been a matter of convenience. When I worked out early and had to go to work afterward, I would obviously shower after the workout. When I worked out after work, I'd go home and shower.

For what it's worth, I've noticed a number of men who seemed uncomfortable that I wasn't particularly hung up about being naked around other guys.

[marden]

Originally Posted by mac128k-1984 

I'm not sure why one's sexual preference matters regarding hygene, but for me, I'd rather shower after a work out (and I'm straight).

This is needed especially given the fact that I work out either before work or at lunch hour and my co-workers would not appreciate my "aroma" if I didn't

If you showered BEFORE you worked out you wouldn't aromate as much after the workout. Bacteria is what causes the aroma. A shower beforehand would eliminate much of the bacteria, wouldn't it?

I used to shower before AND afterwards. My body was my palace, castle edifice, restaurant and we were as sanitary as possible.

[ink]

Yep, who cares?

We have a full locker room at work (and a small gym); it's convenient.

[marden]

Originally Posted by ink 

Yep, who cares?

We have a full locker room at work (and a small gym); it's convenient.

Who cares about anything? Don't get snippy, Skippy.

[finboy]

I've been to a couple of gyms where watching in the saunas and showers was a sport for the weird few. Creepy. But it didn't stop me from using the showers there -- otherwise I'd be grungy all day.

[marden]

Originally Posted by finboy 

I've been to a couple of gyms where watching in the saunas and showers was a sport for the weird few. Creepy. But it didn't stop me from using the showers there -- otherwise I'd be grungy all day.

Can we say, "Ex-hib-itionist?"

[Salty]

I shower before and after my work out. Helps loosen you up and makes me feel fresh before and after my work out. That said I know someone who I went to high school wish never showers at the gym, which I always thought was strange especially since he was a huge jock in high school. I recently heard that he came out, I still need to ask him about it next time I see him. If he did come out, he'll have no trouble finding lots of guys who wanna get in his pants, he's a bloody walking bowflex ad. I'm a lil surprised he doesn't shower at the gym. To me I'd just feel too bloody gross if I didn't. I mean, I avoid being in there when there's 50 year old naked men running around without towels on and stuff, I mean I can avoid looking and stuff, but I'm a bit of an ADD case and sometimes I catch a glimpse and die a lil inside.
My general rule is that I avoid being in the change room when I know it's packed full. Thankfully there are stalls for the shower, I don't think I'd feel entirely comfortable showering in front of a whole bunch of guys. It'd just feel awkward. I imagine I'd get used to it, but I don't think I'd spend so long under.

[alligator]

I was just waiting for someone to say they work out during their shower . . .

Personally, I'd shower and not stink.

[marden]

Originally Posted by Salty 

I shower before and after my work out. Helps loosen you up and makes me feel fresh before and after my work out. That said I know someone who I went to high school wish never showers at the gym, which I always thought was strange especially since he was a huge jock in high school. I recently heard that he came out, I still need to ask him about it next time I see him. If he did come out, he'll have no trouble finding lots of guys who wanna get in his pants, he's a bloody walking bowflex ad. I'm a lil surprised he doesn't shower at the gym. To me I'd just feel too bloody gross if I didn't. I mean, I avoid being in there when there's 50 year old naked men running around without towels on and stuff, I mean I can avoid looking and stuff, but I'm a bit of an ADD case and sometimes I catch a glimpse and die a lil inside.
My general rule is that I avoid being in the change room when I know it's packed full. Thankfully there are stalls for the shower, I don't think I'd feel entirely comfortable showering in front of a whole bunch of guys. It'd just feel awkward. I imagine I'd get used to it, but I don't think I'd spend so long under.

Then you would literally burst if you were in the military. The crappers are placed side by side in basic training, and sometimes even after that, with no wall dividers between them.

[Salty]

I'd probably just get comfortable with it eventually. Seems weird to me though.

[marden]

Originally Posted by Salty 

I'd probably just get comfortable with it eventually. Seems weird to me though.

Yeah. Same here. It was weird to me too, but I had to go and so did everyone else. So we just adapted.

[CreepDogg]

Originally Posted by Salty 

I shower before and after my work out. Helps loosen you up and makes me feel fresh before and after my work out. That said I know someone who I went to high school wish never showers at the gym, which I always thought was strange especially since he was a huge jock in high school. I recently heard that he came out, I still need to ask him about it next time I see him. If he did come out, he'll have no trouble finding lots of guys who wanna get in his pants, he's a bloody walking bowflex ad. I'm a lil surprised he doesn't shower at the gym. To me I'd just feel too bloody gross if I didn't. I mean, I avoid being in there when there's 50 year old naked men running around without towels on and stuff, I mean I can avoid looking and stuff, but I'm a bit of an ADD case and sometimes I catch a glimpse and die a lil inside.
My general rule is that I avoid being in the change room when I know it's packed full. Thankfully there are stalls for the shower, I don't think I'd feel entirely comfortable showering in front of a whole bunch of guys. It'd just feel awkward. I imagine I'd get used to it, but I don't think I'd spend so long under.

You "die a little inside" when you catch a glimpse of 50 year old naked men? Ouch. If you're lucky, someday you might make it to be one of those 50 year old men.

[torsoboy]

So how does a gay person feel okay with showering with other guys? It seems like it would be about the same as a straight man showering with a bunch of girls. Would it be okay if a the girls didn't know there was a guy in the shower with them? Doesn't it seem a little deceptive to do this? Aside from that, I think I would have a tough time not getting an erection if I was showering right next to a bunch of naked girls... does a gay person not have this problem when showering with guys?

Anyway, to answer the original question, I am 28, straight, and have always showered at the gyms that I have worked out in.

[Jawbone54]

I showered once in a gym in an open shower, and I'll never do it again. My dad got "wiggled at" that night in the same shower. I'll leave that open to interpretation...I will NOT elaborate. It wasn't an uncommon thing. A lot of people stopped going to that gym.

Luckily my church built a family life center that has private showers for after workouts. They don't have the wide variety of a health center, but there is plenty of free weight options, as well as a few machines that you'd find. I get on the treadmill, work out for a while, and enjoy a nice private shower afterwards. Less options, but free and private. You can't beat that.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by marden 

Then you would literally burst if you were in the military. The crappers are placed side by side in basic training, and sometimes even after that, with no wall dividers between them.

Sounds like the men's locker room in my high school. It was not a pleasant place to be right before wrestling weigh-ins.

[Salty]

At least for me, growing up gay you just get used to the fact that you're around people that could turn you on. You just get used to it. In my first year in dorm, yah it was awkward when a bunch of hot guys would randomly rip off their shirts and just sit around talking like that. I remember one time leaving my iBook on my lap not because I was typing but because I was scared they'd notice my erection. Now? This last semester I had a talk with a guy who has a really great body, who was only wearing a towel for over two hours. You just get used to it, and you chose to limit what you'll let arouse you. Besides, lusting after straight boys is just silly. It can be fun, but it's silly. Not to mention you're assuming all the guys in the shower are hot. There are lots of guys I know who could strip down in front of me, and I'd feel NOTHIN. My last room mate's girl friend has said how happy she is to hear that I'm not the least bit attracted to her boy friend.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Salty 

In my first year in dorm, yah it was awkward when a bunch of hot guys would randomly rip off their shirts and just sit around talking like that.

It's funny you mention that since just tonight my friends and I were discussing politics, religion, global warming, and theater. Suddenly someone mentioned, "You know what would take this conversation to a whole new level? If we took our shirts off." He was right.

[Railroader]

This thread is now about 40 Year-Old Virgin quotes:

You know how I know you're gay...

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Gossamer 

It's funny you mention that since just tonight my friends and I were discussing politics, religion, global warming, and theater. Suddenly someone mentioned, "You know what would take this conversation to a whole new level? If we took our shirts off." He was right.

Paging SWG to the Lounge…

Oh, and as for me, I never shower in public. I just don't feel comfortable with it, and it's not like the 15 minutes it takes me to pop home to shower is going to kill me.

[memory-minus]

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

So how does a gay person feel okay with showering with other guys?

Generally too busy actually showering to notice much, although admittedly I do glance if there are hot guys in there with me.

Originally Posted by torsoboy

It seems like it would be about the same as a straight man showering with a bunch of girls. Would it be okay if a the girls didn't know there was a guy in the shower with them? Doesn't it seem a little deceptive to do this?

I've got an idea. Let's have the gay men get a standardized identification number tattooed on their arms, so they can be identified by gym staff and allowed only to shower with other gay men. I feel this would make everyone more comfortable. If the tattoo idea seems a bit drastic, maybe we could get by with just an armband with a certain symbol on it.

Originally Posted by torsoboy

Aside from that, I think I would have a tough time not getting an erection if I was showering right next to a bunch of naked girls... does a gay person not have this problem when showering with guys?

I'm perfectly capable of exerting self-control over my erection.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by marden 

Then you would literally burst if you were in the military. The crappers are placed side by side in basic training, and sometimes even after that, with no wall dividers between them.

In the Air Force there is "privacy" in Basic Training only when using the commode. The showers and urinals are all "divider free." After that, facilities vary, depending on where you are, but the gist is that it's a Bad Thing® to "watch" your fellow Airmen in that way. It's not as "nudity is often seen but never noticed" as it should be, and it's something that some people are pretty uncomfortable with. But it's part of the environment and you have to adapt to it. Which is why I just stopped worrying about it and merely noticed that some people (well after Basic) were uncomfortable, as much with my lack of discomfort as with the overall situation.

[marden]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

In the Air Force there is "privacy" in Basic Training only when using the commode. The showers and urinals are all "divider free." After that, facilities vary, depending on where you are, but the gist is that it's a Bad Thing® to "watch" your fellow Airmen in that way. It's not as "nudity is often seen but never noticed" as it should be, and it's something that some people are pretty uncomfortable with. But it's part of the environment and you have to adapt to it. Which is why I just stopped worrying about it and merely noticed that some people (well after Basic) were uncomfortable, as much with my lack of discomfort as with the overall situation.

There were no commode dividers when I was at Great Lakes, Ft. Jackson or MCRD San Diego.

[wallinbl]

It's a shower - just clean yourself up and move on. The straight guys aren't looking, and what do you really care if a gay guy does look? It's not like he's going to ram you when you pick up your soap.

We had open showers in the dorms when I was in college. No big deal. Only real drawback was that it wasn't a coed shower.

[torsoboy]

Originally Posted by memory-minus 

I've got an idea. Let's have the gay men get a standardized identification number tattooed on their arms, so they can be identified by gym staff and allowed only to shower with other gay men. I feel this would make everyone more comfortable. If the tattoo idea seems a bit drastic, maybe we could get by with just an armband with a certain symbol on it.

Yeah that's what I was saying. Good way to bypass the question though while making yourself feel victimized at the same time.

Originally Posted by memory-minus 

Generally too busy actually showering to notice much, although admittedly I do glance if there are hot guys in there with me.

So basically you sometimes oogle naked guys in the shower and feel that it is appropriate that they don't know that you are gay and looking at them because it turns you on. Got it. So I guess that means that it would probably be okay for a straight guy to oogle girls in the shower if they didn't know he was oogling them because they are "hot". That pretty much answered my question.

[torsoboy]

Originally Posted by wallinbl 

It's a shower - just clean yourself up and move on. The straight guys aren't looking, and what do you really care if a gay guy does look? It's not like he's going to ram you when you pick up your soap.

I don't know... why do people not like it when someone looks in their windows when they are getting dressed? Same deal here, someone is looking (for sexual satisfacition) at you while you are less than fully clothed when you are not aware of it and did not invite it.

So I guess if you feel that it doesn't matter when random people look at you in this way you would probably be okay with just leaving the curtains of your bedroom window and leaving the door open when you shower with strangers in the house?

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

Yeah that's what I was saying. Good way to bypass the question though while making yourself feel victimized at the same time.

So basically you sometimes oogle naked guys in the shower and feel that it is appropriate that they don't know that you are gay and looking at them because it turns you on. Got it. So I guess that means that it would probably be okay for a straight guy to oogle girls in the shower if they didn't know he was oogling them because they are "hot". That pretty much answered my question.

I think you interpreted his post quote well.

And I think he needs to tone down the hyperbole a little bit. Sheesh!

[Captain Obvious]

I've belonged to some gym since I was 16 and the only time I didn't shower there was when I was going to go out after and it was just easier to go home and get ready there or when I was in Madison and it was the middle of winter and I drove the half mile from the gym on a scooter. I don't think the possibility of gay guys being around ever dissuaded me from wanting to shower at a gym. I don't even know what that has to do with choosing to shower there it is not like you are going to get gang raped if you turn your back. Hell the possibility of there being some insanely obese SOB in the adjacent shower is more disgusting than gay guys being in proximity.

Who cares if some dude checks you out. It is the same as some ugly girl checking me out. In either case its not going to happen so what does it matter if they look.

[Aron Peterson]

Gym is for girls. I lift rocks and trees Rocky IV style.

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

So how does a gay person feel okay with showering with other guys? It seems like it would be about the same as a straight man showering with a bunch of girls. Would it be okay if a the girls didn't know there was a guy in the shower with them? Doesn't it seem a little deceptive to do this?

If you think you're surrounded by only straight guys all the time then you're just kidding yourself and to blame that on gay guys is pretty stupid. Why don't you stop being straight instead of asking gay guys to stop being gay? The sign on the door says 'Men' not 'Straight Men'.

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

So basically you sometimes oogle naked guys in the shower and feel that it is appropriate that they don't know that you are gay and looking at them because it turns you on. Got it. So I guess that means that it would probably be okay for a straight guy to oogle girls in the shower if they didn't know he was oogling them because they are "hot". That pretty much answered my question.

What would you suggest. Blindfolds for gay guys? A third or fourth shower room? How about you just shower at home if you're so uptight and the secure straight and gay guys can all just shower together like normal people without the paranoid accusations.

[marden]

Originally Posted by Aron Peterson 

Gym is for girls. I lift rocks and trees Rocky IV style.

Ugg! You no beat meat and choke chicken like Rocky 1? You not real man!

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

So I guess that means that it would probably be okay for a straight guy to oogle girls in the shower if they didn't know he was oogling them because they are "hot". That pretty much answered my question.

If the girls chose to shower in front of men, yes, I think that would be A-OK. If you're attractive, people are going to ogle you no matter how much you are wearing. If you're not comfortable with people looking at your naked body, don't show it to them.

[torsoboy]

Originally Posted by mrtew 

If you think you're surrounded by only straight guys all the time then you're just kidding yourself and to blame that on gay guys is pretty stupid. Why don't you stop being straight instead of asking gay guys to stop being gay? The sign on the door says 'Men' not 'Straight Men'.

What would you suggest. Blindfolds for gay guys? A third or fourth shower room? How about you just shower at home if you're so uptight and the secure straight and gay guys can all just shower together like normal people without the paranoid accusations.

I'm not suprised that none of my questions were addressed by the openly homosexual, and instead someone attacked me for asking them. That seems to be the norm with some people around here... if you don't have an answer for a question, say something to try and make someone feel bad so that you can feel better about yourself. But whatever.

I have never said anything about myself being paranoid or afraid a gay person would see me naked, I just asked why it is any different for a gay person to shower with guys then for a straight guy to shower with women.

Who the heck asked for the "gay guys to stop being gay?" You're getting a little defensive there I think.

"The sign on the door says 'Men' not 'Straight Men'."

This is one too easy...

[ink]

Originally Posted by alligator 

I was just waiting for someone to say they work out during their shower . . .

Hygene to the max!

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

I have never said anything about myself being paranoid or afraid a gay person would see me naked, I just asked why it is any different for a gay person to shower with guys then for a straight guy to shower with women.

Because naked women need protection from horny straight guys but straight men don't need protection from gay guys. Gay guys don't jump straight guys.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by mrtew 

Gay guys don't jump straight guys.

Better ask a few Catholic boys about that.

See you on page 28.

[Salty]

For the record, most guys that are worth ogling are used to it and don't care. The vast majority of really hot guys I know know that I'm gay and don't care. Keep in mind most of the really hot guys are strong enough that they have no fear of another guy. As a friend once said, it's always the holmly guys that think you want in their pants. Like in all seriousness, I may think another guy's hot, but it's not like I'm imagining having sex with him. And if I were which I don't, you wouldn't know about it so why do you care?
I had a room mate once who said that he'd want to know if he room mate was gay. So eventually I told him, and he flipped out. You wanna know that I'm gay? Ask me, otherwise don't worry about it. Again, unless you're insanely hot I'm probably not gonna give you a second look.

[memory-minus]

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

So basically you sometimes oogle naked guys in the shower and feel that it is appropriate that they don't know that you are gay and looking at them because it turns you on. Got it. So I guess that means that it would probably be okay for a straight guy to oogle girls in the shower if they didn't know he was oogling them because they are "hot". That pretty much answered my question.

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

I don't know... why do people not like it when someone looks in their windows when they are getting dressed? Same deal here, someone is looking (for sexual satisfacition) at you while you are less than fully clothed when you are not aware of it and did not invite it.

So I guess if you feel that it doesn't matter when random people look at you in this way you would probably be okay with just leaving the curtains of your bedroom window and leaving the door open when you shower with strangers in the house?

Now who is using hyperbole.

The record will show that I never used the word "oogle" (which by the way is spelled "ogle"). I used the word "glance." All men, regardless of sexuality, size each other up and that involves, at a minimum, a glance. I glance because I don't care to cause an incident with someone noticing I'm looking. By your logic, any man who has ever received any amount of sexual arousal from seeing another man naked in a locker room (meaning, anyone who is not a 0 on the Kinsey scale) is, in effect, flagrantly violating the other man's privacy and is tantamount to a peeping tom. You are naked in public for chrissake.

Besides, the guys at my gym are rarely hot as I work out in a gym that caters almost exclusively to the stuffy corporate offices surrounding it. I always seem to end up in the shower at the same time as the obese, hairy-backed guy who always stands at the shower head closest to the exit. Is he checking me out? I avert my gaze so I'm not sure. Do I care? No.

Then there are the men who shower in their shorts and ironically draw the most attention to themselves. Do you go to the beach or pool fully clothed? When shirtless, do you worry a gay man might be observing and studying every inch of your bare torso as it glistens in the sunlight and who cannot wait to take that mental image home to ... do whatever it is we do?

Originally Posted by torsoboy 

I just asked why it is any different for a gay person to shower with guys then for a straight guy to shower with women.

I will answer your question. It's no different. But you have a choice to NOT shower in public and I would accept the idea that many men choose not to simply because another man might check them out. These are the risks, if you can truly call them that, you run by showering with other men you don't know. There have always been gay men in locker room showers and I imagine there always will be.

I imagine if there were coed open shower facilities, 98% of women would choose not to shower there. It would be a sausage fest unlike the world has ever seen. The other 2% would be butch lesbians. Lesbians so butch that I as a gay man would be incredibly turned on by them until realizing my horrible mistake.

The difference is gay men can generally go incognito, whereas women generally cannot. What you don't know usually can't hurt you.

[memory-minus]

Originally Posted by Salty 

As a friend once said, it's always the holmly guys that think you want in their pants.

Haha, preach!

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Better ask a few Catholic boys about that.

See you on page 28.

Gay Catholic MEN jump Catholic BOYS.

There is no equality in that situation as there would be with adults in a gym. As for me, when I worked out in school and afterwards I had no problem using a communal shower as long as it wasn't gross and was kept clean. Hell, one time I encountered one of my English Lit professors--Regency Period literature was his specialty--in the shower and he was hung like a horse. The guy was in his 60s and packing some serious lumber. A little bizarre but it's not like we hung out in the shower talking about William Morris and his utopian literary style.

[Salty]

I remember once catching one of my teachers coming out of the shower in the change room in Jr. High... that was awkward...