It sometimes seems there is no shortage of threads within this forum when it comes to members both debating and lamenting why there is a shortage of men who feel secure enough to be more nude in gym locker rooms or showers. In fact, from observing the various repetition of topics over the years, this particular one almost seems neck and neck with ones where dudes are banking on sightings of ween at urinals and are disappointed when opportunities are few and far between.
So, one has to really turn the question around in order to possibly give a reason why and ask, why does it bother some so much?
I've not been on here long, but I did come here from Reddit because someone mentioned this topic was also being discussed here, and this is the second such thread I've seen in the few months since. So yes, it does seem to be raised a lot.
I'm not sure everyone who asks about it is particularly bothered by it, as just interested in why other people behave differently to themselves. Personally, it doesn't upset me so much as I just find it a bit weird, especially when a guy goes to the length of nearly falling over, because they're trying to put their boxers on while also holding on to their towel.
Personally, I choose not to strut around naked in the gym locker room for the simple reason that there is no need to. I can count on one finger the number of times I used the gym to shower (when the water was off at home due to a hot water heater leak) and thus was completely nude. Even if I sweated enough (I hardly ever sweat) to feel the need to be clean right after a workout, I can wait till I get home as my house not only comes with sanitation facilities, but one where I am much less likely to catch athlete's foot or worse than the grungy ones in my gym. In fact, given the fact 99.99% of dwellings have indoor plumbing, I often wonder why so many guys even take showers at the gym, especially given the potential for bacterial, viral and fungal surprises.
As far as changing, I also rarely need to as the clothes I wear to the gym are the same I go home with and sometimes even wear the rest of the day (again, I am not an avid perspirer). The few exceptions have been when going to the gym after work or if I have to go somewhere else afterward that required a change of clothes. And even then, my exposure has been limited to a shirt and pants switch, there being no need to get completely naked.
I've never seen anyone strutting around naked. There is a middle ground between being terrified of anyone seeing your penis and modelling your naked body.
I don't know about the state of the gym you go to, but the idea of throwing clothes back on without a shower after a gym session turns my stomach more. I just hope you travel there and back alone in your car, rather than someone having to whiff your body odour on public transport.
In my case, most of the people changing are coming from the pool, where they've been swimming in chlorine for the best part of an hour. So, yeah, my concern is less about wanting to see them naked and more about hygiene. I'd expect someone to shower before and after swimming, and certainly a full naked shower afterwards.
That's not just me. There are countries where you would be very much frowned up for not showering properly.
Personally, I couldn't care less if other guys are naked in the locker room as long as it's consistent with the necessity of changing and they are not making it sexual or even prolonging it by strutting around like they are on the fashion runway in Paris. Though given I've very rarely witnessed it, most of them follow the same discretion I would if I had a legitimate reason to. To me, whether more or less men are nude in the locker room simply doesn't register on a conscience level.
So, it again begs the question of why it bothers so many others here that the majority of the men at gyms chose to be discrete? This is obviously an obsession for some given the number of threads on the topic and the almost emotional let-down some have, especially in pining for the "good old days" when same-sex group nudity was more common. Of course, given the demographics of the site, that answer is obvious and thus when the subject of why some straight men are not comfortable with group nudity comes up, the question kind of answers itself.
To expound on the "wet t-shirt" analogy someone used upthread, this lament by guys over not seeing enough other men nude would be kind of like if straight dudes, who after going to the beach, constantly complained that not enough women wore thongs or other minimalistic bathing attire and endlessly debated why that was so on a public forum. That would certainly not aspire more women to wear more revealing outfits, having definite proof men are just wanting to perv on them (not that most didn't likely figure it out already).
I don't see a sexuality split on this, in all honesty. It tends to be more age-based, in my experience. The group I regularly see not being remotely bothered about nudity are the retired guys who are usually leaving as I come in of a morning. From their discussion of their wives, I'm pretty sure they're straight to some degree.
I have no idea of the sexuality of most others in there, but it's definitely the younger, the more likely to be nervous. That's not guaranteed though. There are plenty of times I've seen different behaviour within peer groups of about the same age. Some people are just more comfortable than others, I guess partly dependent on upbringing.
The lack of a simple answer is likely one reason it keeps coming up as a topic. Another is peer pressure; it's much easier to be relaxed about being naked in semi-public surroundings if it's the normal behaviour there. If you start to feel like everyone around you is covering up, then you start to feel that maybe you should be too, even though it goes against your own nature. I have no problem being naked in changing rooms - it's something I've been doing since long before I was even aware of my sexuality - but it still feels a bit awkward when you go into open showers where everyone else is covered up.
As a side note for anyone bothering to read this before they post: it should be noted that this thread is in "Ask a straight man", which means unless you identify as such, you should not be adding to it. I realize given this topic is popular with gay and bi men (again, given the number of threads on it) it has a tendency to drawl out those who might only pay attention to a thread title and not what section it is in. This is witnessed by the fact almost half the responses here has been from non-straight men or those suspected of being so, but who have no statistics listed.
I think that's maybe taking the category a little too literally. I'd agree if there were lots of guys identifying as gay trying to answer the question, but that's not what I see. The premise was fulfilled; a question was asked and a number of guys identifying as straight have attempted answers. It would be a very dull thread if there was then no follow-on dialogue debating the responses. Besides, if I'm going to be indirectly accused of being a dirty perv simply because I'm not ashamed of being naked, then I feel I have a right to reply on that.
