Maybe I'm a little weird, but....

[Swimmboy]

OK, sorry this isn't Speedo-related, but thought some of you might find this interesting. My local paper carries the "Dear Abby" advice column, and today's question was titled "Group showers of sons has father feeling uneasy". A man wrote: "I am the single dad of two teenage boys (17 and 18) who are both in high school. I am wondering about something they do with their friends. The boys take showers in large groups. When they come in from running or sports, or if a group is spending the night, they shower in groups of 2,3, or 4. It's not like we have a huge shower - it's normal size. I know there's nothing sexual going on because I can hear them talking and joking around. When I asked the boys about this, they looked at me like I had two heads. They said it was just a social thing and the same as showering together after football in the school gym. They also 'air dry' after showers by walking around in towels, sometimes watching TV or goofing off for hours while in their towels. When going out, they get naked in the bathroom, fixing their hair, shaving, brushing their teeth, etc. It's like a big 'nude fest' with them and their friends. While I'm glad they are comfortable with their bodies and who they are, it still bothers me somewhat. Am I being a prude in thinking this is unusual or inappropriate?"
Abby replied: "I see nothing inappropriate about what your sons and their friends are doing. Nor do I want to label you a prude. You are just not as comfortable in your skin as your sons and their 'jock' friends are. Is it possible they take after their mother?"

Am I the only one who finds this letter somewhat erotic? Do teenaged guys really shower together at a private home? At school, communal showering is necessary, but it does seem odd to me that guys would do that while visiting each others homes. This letter to Abby almost seems 'titillating' to me, almost as if it was written by someone who 'gets off' on thoughts of teen guys naked together, but maybe I'm a little weird....

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

it just seems odd. I swam for years, age 7 or 8 through college), not to mention masters and stuff after. Guy swimmers are more okay with being almost naked than most athletes. Gang showers were one thing in locker rooms (where it was the norm), but we never group showered elsewhere... and on AAU travel and college, we stayed four plus to hotel rooms. We did, however, hang out in towels wrapped around us (naked under)... that is not a surprise. There is a funny story there, but I will leave that for another time (not erotic, just funny).

I agree this story just sounds strange... as does the reply.

[kumu]

I saw a pic on the internet the other day of two men in India walking down a street holding hands. The caption explained that although homosexuality is frowned on there, men have no problem exhibiting affection for other men. I see guys in Mexico holding hands, too. I think male affection is kind of normal and its good old puritanical America that has suppressed it. Go to a football or baseball game some day and check the stands after the guys have had a few beers and their arms are all over each other. No, its probably not homosexuality, but definitely male to male affection once the social barriers against it have been breached by alcohol. Its too bad it takes getting drunk, or being on the way, for guys to feel free enough to be affectionate with each other. I think its natural, males were always around other males in various stages of undress for most of the time the human race has existed. I have loved other men, not in a sexual sense, I'm sure most guys have, too, and it would be nice if we could express it more. Maybe someday...

[Byron]

I'm sure Abby must be aware that spoof letters often arrive but no doubt they meet a journalistic need to fill her page nevertheless, even if she suspects something.
(some agony aunts have been known to make up their own "readers' letters" anyway)
On the assumption that this is a genuine one I too can't understand the odd reply about the mother.

The age and upbringing of the father who writes here may be relevant - he seems to be overtly worried about some innocent and naive behaviour in the many facets of young male bonding which does not conform to the standards of his own youth. He has already checked on what might for him be most inappropriate sexual contact and he agrees every guy is having fun.
He just has to move with the times - has he never heard of what some young guys get up to in college fraternity initiations ? (probably far more for him to worry about there). Anyway if he is the head of the house HE should be making the rules about use of the shower under his roof and who gets invited to stay (sounds like a bit of a wimp to me).

[Torchwatch]

If you have read The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy you will be familiar with the planet on which the population subjected to painfully badly fitting shoes that fell apart (creating an archaeological layer) simply evolved wings, gave up walking and flew into the trees.
Clothing for young men has been so awful for so long; what with baggy trousers worn below the buttocks with a crotch close to the knees, that it seems these young men have given up cloths and returned to the native joys of the sarong, in the form of a towel around the waist.
The great thing about showering naked with a group of other guys is that it scares off the homophobes, the rest can be themselves without some guy with a problem with his sexuality spreading hate and division.

[louis]

Its something you get used to very fast, the firsr times I was very reluctany and felt very uncomfortable, then all of a sudden you realize that you are not the only one naked, all non gay swimmers and divers prof or not dont even notice the other guys in the shower, I should know that is the way it goes in the army and coastt guard where I served and all takes there showers severel at the time.

Theres a bunch of guys that where together at a gym started to mesure there penises with a ruler and not one single one of them where gay just keep in mind that teen agers will do juist about anything just for the fun of it so dont worry about your son, hmm... I wouldnt of bene surprised if the biggest penis got congratulations from the outher guys manhood obliges, lol many wish there zizi s where bigger and longer thinking that girls will appreciate it and will increase sexual pleasue of course this has not bene proven experts on that matter the sz has nothjing to do with that btw... such postings should be in the general topics section below the page, anuyway dont worry about it your son is ok.

[Byron]

post #6: Well put by Torchwatch and I am trying to remember ..........Bishop.
Showing my age, but can anyone remember the good looking well-built and always tanned young guy in the mags. of way back, to be seen frequently posing in what I believe was called a Hawaiin Wrap? (seemed to be his trade mark - never recall other physique models wearing one).

post#5: This idiot has returned under another name and spread EIGHT posts around the forums this time. Have asked Mike if he can be deleted.

[Byron]

I hope I am not hallucinating but within seconds Torchwatch's post has just been renumbered 5 and new member LeandroRangel has disappeared on all eight posts promoting alldvdsonline again. Well done Mike !

[Byron]

Glenn Bishop and the Wrap:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyjdusWwCw1qazanuo1_500.jpg

[jackk78]

As I've said in other posts (http://www.mensswimsuitboard.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2870&postcount=12), my friends and I were often naked at my house during high school. Unlike the Dear Abby writer, however, my parents didn't have an issue with the nudity. We had an outdoor shower. My friends and I would cram in there together after soaking in the hot tub. It was never overtly sexual. There was an erection or two, but that was it.

[PSDave]

I have to admit that if my son was in a normal size home shower with several boys showering, I would find it a bit odd. Skinny dipping in the pool, sitting in the jaccuzzi, sunning by the pool or screwing around in the yard nude is one thing, but 4 or 5 guys squeezed into a space 2'x4' has a more sexual overtone than sharing a 10'x10' jaccuzzi. If I share a shower with someone (or a group of someones) I am out to get clean and dirty at the same time.
On another thought, if my kid was showering with other guys like that in my house I think I would put a stop to it. With the current attitudes, I'd be afraid that some other parent would lose it and have me arrested for contributing or some other child protection thing.

[jackk78]

I guess it depends on the situation. It doesn't have to be sexual.

I spent about a week camping with my family towards the end of one summer. There's a campground near a river we go to almost every year. It's a beautiful spot.

We got up the first morning and walked to the bathrooms together. The owners of the campground were in the middle of upgrading the bathrooms and had put in a family restroom. The sign on the door to the men's room said it was closed during construction, but that the new family area could be used instead. We walked around to the door. My mom and sister were coming out of the women's area. They'd forgotten a few things and were going back to the campsite to get them. We told them about the men's room being closed.

The sign on the door to the family restroom reiterated what we'd read previously. Inside, there were benches in the middle of the room, sinks nearby, and an open shower area along one wall.

We got undressed. There were voices outside. Shortly thereafter, a woman walked in with her younger son and daughter. She was surprised to see my dad and I naked. We informed her that the men's restroom was closed and that there was a sign on the door. She apologized and said she wasn't paying close enough attention. She was about to leave when her husband came in. He echoed what we'd just said. The woman said she would take her daughter to the women's area and told her son to shower with the dad. When she started to leave, he chased after her saying he wanted to go with her and not his dad. She told him no, but he started to cry and make a scene. Her husband turned to us and asked if we minded if they stayed together. We said no and made our way over to the shower.

The guy talked to his wife. She seemed reluctant, but agreed. They got undressed and joined us in the shower. My dad made a joke, which broke the ice and made everyone more comfortable.

The door opened again. This time it was my mom and sister. They'd decided to join us, though they didn't realize we had company. By this point, no one minded, so they tossed their clothes on the benches along ours and crowded into the shower. We were all joking and messing around. At one point, a woman opened the door. She got a panicked look on her face and backed out as quick as she could. We all burst out laughing. No on was in a rush to get dressed even after we'd finished in the shower. Everyone continued to walk around naked as we got ready.

Our families spent a bunch of time together during the rest of the vacation. Even when they opened the men's bathroom, we continued to shower together in the family area every morning. My parents still keep in touch with them, though we haven't seen each other for a while.

[SpeedosRule]

It's funny reading this. Growing up, we used to sleep over at my friend Ben's house. We'd spend the day running around outside and be dirty when we came inside. His mom always made us shower off before dinner. They had an open shower in the basement. She'd actually yell at us if we didn't share the shower, because we were "wasting water."

[California Dolphin]

The post mentioned they were 17 and 18 so it looks like a case of teenagers fooling around as usual.

Recalling my days in PE class in the 60s and 70s, I've seen everything in the way of erotic conduct, but nothing XXX. So what you're seeing is plain vanilla.

As long as there were no adults involved in the shower scene, there isn't anything unethical or illegal about consenting teenagers engaging in erotic behavior.