It's not a confidence issue at all, it's a "I don't like creepy dudes staring at me" issue. You can cover that with anything you'd like, I don't need re-affirmation from other men that I look good (although I seem to get it out in public anyways). rnye, maybe you are that creepy dude, you're sure offering a heap full of reasons other men should willingly want to shower with other men.... I'm not opposed to it, but if there are better options I'll gladly take them... if I was walking down the street and there's a cross dresser outside of one bar, and the other bar has people dressed like I am.. .I'll probably go to the latter bar.

 

Please don't tell me that you're going to start equating being comfortable showering with dudes with being manly or something.

You telling people "If you're uncomfortable, you're the problem" is just as silly as someone saying "If you're fine with it, you must be gay." We can have a discussion about this without resorting to low-level stereotypes, right?

Ever stop and think that maybe different people have different comfort levels and boundary levels than you might for reasons you might not be able to generalize?

 

Next thing you know, if you don't kiss other men you are self conscious about your kissing abilities.

 

I've always held the opinion that guys who make a big deal out of showering with other dudes are far more "queer" than guys who don't give a shit. If you're on a sports team, or at the gym, or whatever, if you are thinking that hard about it you've probably got some kind of deeper issues. I've got average sized junk and a bit of a gut; you wanna look, have a ball, but keep your hands to yourself. I'll be the guy ignoring you, just taking a shower and minding my own.

 

I was always taught that people with narrow comfort levels were pussies. Maybe I'm intolerant. Maybe they really are pussies. But I'd rate "not being able to take a shower in the gym" pretty low on the manly scale.

 

[QUOTE=Chris Stack,Jul 26 2007, 05:25 PM]I was always taught that people with narrow comfort levels were pussies.

 

Hell no, I try to surround myself with breasts at all times.

I was taking a leak the other day at a public john. All the urinals were being used and the guy waiting behind me was standing way too close for my intolerant liking. Turned my head to give him a dirty look , and it didn't phase him . So I riped one that bounced off the bathroom walls. He sure as shlt backed away. Told him that was my anti-ghey device. What a idiot.

 

Its not about being "manly" - its about making more of a situation than there really need be.

See while most guys are in a locker room minding their own, wondering what theyre going to have for lunch, there are these few that have to bring in a formerly non-existant sexual element. They take something as practical and sensible as showering and changing and turn it into something "queer" or "nasty."

Queer to me has always meant thinking of guys in a sexual manner. "Is that creepy guy checking me out" - Why would this even cross your mind? Sounds gay to me...

I've noticed that all the opposition has sexual undertones. Thats why I believe those secure with themselves its a non issue, but evidently, something triggers a homosexual/homophobic thought process for some people. Why are these thoughts even crossing your mind?

IMO, its THOSE guys that creep me out and frankly, I'd rather you not be in the locker room. If all you're going to do is freak out wondering if someone is staring at your junk - please get out. And to answer your question, yes I recognize someone may have a legitimate fear - but being mauled on by crazed homosexual doesn't seem like one to me.

 

me too lol

 

i actually never had a problem with it either...worked out every day between class at the Y, took showers in a big open shower room, who cares? until. started noticing a guy that would show up every day, towel wrapped around his waist, and either sit or stand over to one side. figured i was imagining things, but was curious...so one day i noticed him head to the showers right before i was about to go in, so i decided to walk all the way across the locker rooms to the other showers. pretty long way. to my amazement (not to mention dismay), about 2 minutes later he showed up. off to one side. towel around his waist. watching. i realize that when showering with a room full of guys, some eye wandering is bound to occur, for some people. so now i try to avoid it. i'm not a homophobe, it's just not for me. i'll take the open shower with the women any day though.