Old men and Speedos

[sebbie]

I got to reading this series of posts last night. It takes awhile, because there are 661 posts on 27 pages:

http://www.amazon.com/forum/fashion/ref=cm_cd_pg_pg1?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx39I7IXNDNHMJ3&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx2ELV6PE2YQX63

The thing that always amazes me is the vitriolic posts by women who seem downright angry at any man who would dare to wear a Speedo.

A few men too, but far fewer.

I go to the stores nowadays and snug-fitting briefs and boxer-briefs totally dominate the underwear shelves. I also realize that many men are not perfect body specimens. I am scratching my head and wondering what reaction these vitriolic women have when they see their hubbies or boyfriends in their underwear. Not every guy who wears underwear is a perfect specimen of male anatomy nor are they all in their teens or early 20s. So what drives the vitriolic comments about seeing a guy wearing a Speedo at the pool, hot tub or beach? One has to wonder. Americans seem to have these hangups to a far greater degree than in most of the rest of the world, for what that is worth. Are American men always supposed to be ashamed of their bodies?

Interestingly, women in America wear tiny, barely-there suits and often these women are not perfect bodies either. You dont see 27-page blogs on the Web devoted to why American women wear smaller and tighter swimwear than they should. So this seems to be mainly anger directed toward men by a subgroup of women as well as certain other men who seem to be insecure in their own skins. At some point every guy is going to end up in a situation where he is nude or nearly so in front of someone else. Once should not be so scared of ones' own appearance in minimal or no clothing that one completely falls apart. Think about it.

Sebbie

[stayinspeedo]

I totally agree with your assessment. Women of all shapes and sizes wear bikini's nowadays and I don't see anyone rantin' on them.

And how about the beefy chicks wearing short shorts in the summer, sweaty thigh skin rubbing together as they walk, ewww. And the latest fad of wearing leggings (tights) in the winter, awesome on fit girls/women. Queen size gals should leave 'em at home but they don't, I see them everywhere!

I just don't get it....

[Byron]

King size men leave meggings at home too if tempted by the new 2013 men's fashion trend? (all the rage in NYC we are told)
http://freenewfashiondesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/front-look-of-meggings.jpg

[louis]

Bryon they should be in speedos nothing else.

[Torchwatch]

but baby it's cold outside .....

[Byron]

:D Yes, but not for Louis - crazy weather means comfortably sitting out for a coffee at the moment.

[Byron]

:eek: http://www.offerson.co.uk/sites/default/files/speedos-fail.jpg
Maybe not this time when it's been shorts for tanning Louis.

[Byron]

Welcome new member today (and a forum contribution without product promotion - that makes a change)

[louis]

well Il be darned they usually put them on top the speedo not under, unles its a new US fashion

[JamesSwim]

I got to reading this series of posts last night. It takes awhile, because there are 661 posts on 27 pages:

http://www.amazon.com/forum/fashion/ref=cm_cd_pg_pg1?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx39I7IXNDNHMJ3&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx2ELV6PE2YQX63

The thing that always amazes me is the vitriolic posts by women who seem downright angry at any man who would dare to wear a Speedo.

A few men too, but far fewer.

I go to the stores nowadays and snug-fitting briefs and boxer-briefs totally dominate the underwear shelves. I also realize that many men are not perfect body specimens. I am scratching my head and wondering what reaction these vitriolic women have when they see their hubbies or boyfriends in their underwear. Not every guy who wears underwear is a perfect specimen of male anatomy nor are they all in their teens or early 20s. So what drives the vitriolic comments about seeing a guy wearing a Speedo at the pool, hot tub or beach? One has to wonder. Americans seem to have these hangups to a far greater degree than in most of the rest of the world, for what that is worth. Are American men always supposed to be ashamed of their bodies?

Interestingly, women in America wear tiny, barely-there suits and often these women are not perfect bodies either. You dont see 27-page blogs on the Web devoted to why American women wear smaller and tighter swimwear than they should. So this seems to be mainly anger directed toward men by a subgroup of women as well as certain other men who seem to be insecure in their own skins. At some point every guy is going to end up in a situation where he is nude or nearly so in front of someone else. Once should not be so scared of ones' own appearance in minimal or no clothing that one completely falls apart. Think about it.

Sebbie

You make an interesting point that brief underwear is popular, so it's contradictory that brief swimwear is not. Here are some theories.

1. Fashion appearance - women now like to wear bikinis, but they don't like to have their husbands or boyfriends wear something too similar (perhaps they think it's feminine?) in public. If she's wearing a blue bikini, and her boyfriend is also is wearing a blue brief, she may think he's wearing something that's too similar to what a women would wear? Women's clothing tends to more attention getting than men's, so they may expect men to be different.

2. Age issue - if men who are most comfortable wearing briefs are older (they got used to it a few decades ago) they don't want their boyfriends to look like they are older. I presume men's casual clothing used to be more revealing a few decades ago too? So if this is true, women don't want their boyfriends to wear say, their shirts unbuttoned too far down?

3. Getting attention -- women like the attention they get wearing bikinis. but women don't like to see their guys getting attention by others. Men don't mind seeing their girlfriends getting attention since they feel good they have an eye catching girlfriend? I think guys are more easily turned on by visual cues, but girls less so. Girls probably care about modesty for their boyfriends and not have other girls look at their guy?

4. Private vs public -- that's the most odd thing . If brief men's underwear is popular, why not swimwear? I think it's an issue of being private so the girl's the only one who gets to see the guy -- and nobody else, so she's happy with that.

[Byron]

....understand this phenomenon either - such vitriol from the "fairer" sex can be surprising.
I shall have to go with JamesSwim's no.3 - some sought of attitude which says "how dare you infringe on our rights - we only are the ones permitted to expose our bodies to the maximum".

[JamesSwim]

....understand this phenomenon either - such vitriol from the "fairer" sex can be surprising.
I shall have to go with JamesSwim's no.3 - some sought of attitude which says "how dare you infringe on our rights - we only are the ones permitted to expose our bodies to the maximum".

There's a modesty issue with worn out suits. If you have a lycra/nylon suit that is either too thin or worn out, it can show the contours too much -- and some suits look OK when dry but after a swim they stretch out. So one needs to be careful about that.

I realize people have suits with a pouch sewn in front, but I'm talking about regular swim briefs. But I think most of the discussion on the Amazon's site isn't about that.

[PSDave]

I have contended for years that the age has nothing to do with clothing choices - it is the person wearing them. There are many men out there in their 50's and 60's that look good in a speedo and guys in their 20's that shouldn't be seen in a speedo ever. (rule of thumb: If you look down and can't see your swimsuit under your gut -- you should be A. wearing another suit B. heading to the gym (and not via McDonalds)

Point in case:
http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_9ojjah6k/

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

regarding the video....not the best looking dude in a square cut, but he's not dreadful awful, either. Sure he is thick in the middle, but not fat. I think it is okay for average guys (those with no six pack abs (or even no packs) or some thickness around the middle to wear suits that are not board shorts. If more guys like him accepted suits like we all like... issue solved. :)

[Byron]

Yes - take a crowded beach on a hot day of the holiday and calculate how many mr averages fall short on the six pack and toned proportion standards of the type expected on male fashion and exercise magazine covers.
Likely to be the majority so male peers should be careful not to express extreme disdain for those who enjoy being free in their speedos regardless of age and shape - and so effectively add credance to the vitriolic female assessments referred to.

[stayinspeedo]

I don't get the anti speedo thing.

Everyone's saying he shouldn't be wearing a speedo because he's got a gut.

How would wearing swim shorts or board shorts change that? It wouldn't.

What's really going on here is a display of the way young people have come to expect each other to act. If a young person doesn't react with "eewwww" he'll be seen as not conforming and thus jeapordizing his social status within the pack.

[Byron]

Exactly - and make a disparaging homophobic remark and they can show they are right-on alongside their macho mates.

[Byron]

http://www.squidoo.com/best-mens-swimwear

Are you inspired by the best sellers for the summer ahead ?(remember you can now have Block the Burn 50 in your Speedo Marina Watershorts)(no mention of the obvious precaution of putting on a T-shirt however).

Quite appropriate for this thread is from the menu for Best Men's Bikini Swimwear.
Quote: "Regardless of age size or body type bikinis can be worn by all men"

[KenjiBoh]

So this is my perspective, keeping in mind that i'm kinda young compared to the rest of y'all.

I think its a case of people are likeing and hating what they're told to Like and Hate rather than what they actually hold an opinion for. Media isnt exactly kind to speedos or the men who wear them, yet when a fit man wears one, no one denies that he looks good...its just a case of people being brainwashed by media.

[Torchwatch]

If everyone on a beach were wearing speedos, then the older or larger guy would be noticeable because he is older or larger. If the older or larger guy is the only person wearing speedos on the beach then he will be noticed first because he is wearing speedos and then for being older or larger.
Advising older or larger guys not to wear speedos in public begs the question where to put the limits. Should we suggest that anyone over 25 or who can't fit into a 32" suit shouldn't bother?
I think we should wear our speedos when we can and when we want to, taking into account that unless we are very self confident it might be best to avoid being the only speedo wearer on the beach. Of course once a self confident and good looking speedo wearer appears on a beach all the guys with secret speedos under their board shorts may be tempted to strip off.
Try to get and stay as fit as you can, if the main beach is full of board shorts then go to a quieter beach, the walk will do you good and that is where you may find the speedo wearers.

[Byron]

Quite so - and rather alarming sometimes to see the power it has . It is often said that's what's important in the news is not what you have done but what you have been perceived to have (or have not ) done.
Take the rather awful ITV show Splash (as discussed in another thread ), from which you might believe that the nation has gone absolutely crazy over the young Olympic diver Tom Daley. Not so, but put a few dozen screaming teenage girls in front of a tv camera and that's what you're led to think.

(and I will have a rant also about my pet-hate , ie canned laughter in sit-coms)

[Torchwatch]

The makers of tv sit-coms go to a lot of trouble adding canned laughter to their shows, how else would those for whom the comedy has been dumbed down know where the jokes are?

Similarly Splash needs a few dozen screaming girls in the front row to show that Tom Daley is both sexy and heterosexual.

Big Bang Theory is filmed before a live studio audience and is not dumbed down. I love it, would like to see Sheldon learn to swim in water and wearing speedos.
Anyone for Physics Fiesta?

[Byron]

New one to me so had to look it up (and checked puerile in the dictionary whilst I was at it)

[Fred #1]

Wear what makes you happy! Life's too short to worry about what the neighbors think.

:D

[Byron]

To be out snorkelling with this guy in a matching black speedo would make me happy:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdi37vVbf31rzgs9oo1_500.jpg

[Mollyk]

Me too! Yes!!

[HEYALLWHATUP]

I totally agree with your assessment. Women of all shapes and sizes wear bikini's nowadays and I don't see anyone rantin' on them.

And how about the beefy chicks wearing short shorts in the summer, sweaty thigh skin rubbing together as they walk, ewww. And the latest fad of wearing leggings (tights) in the winter, awesome on fit girls/women. Queen size gals should leave 'em at home but they don't, I see them everywhere!

I just don't get it....

So I just started wearing some speedos I had we I was a bit younger, so they are a size 34, but as you see in this video they have been a bit stretched lol So if you want to comment I would like to hear what everyone has to comment on how they look, but I have ordered new ones, pics coming soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5rJ3Qtx068&ab_channel=heyallwhatup

[microbikinidave]

I work to stay healthy and fit, wear what pleases ME in appropriate situations or locations, am an exhibitionist at heart, am forever cultivating my sensuality and sexuality, and recently turned 70. Screw "ageism!" :eek: https://flickr.com/people/188479393@N06/

[PSDave]

When stating all sizes of women wear bikinis while out of shape men get slammed for wearing speedos. Keep in mind that when you are in a store there are racks and racks of bikinis with little or no selection of more modest suits for women. While in the mens department there are racks and racks of board shorts and seldom a speedo on display. In recent years there has been much said about a normal woman is considered overweight and often risks health to lose weight. On the other hand, Men with middle age spread or beer bellies are considered lazy and out of shape. In other words, an out of shape or +size woman can wear a bikini and while offensive to some eyes, it is acceptable. While an overweight man in a speedo appears to be trying to grasp a long lost physique and sees the man he wants to be in the mirror and not the man he actually is. Lets face it, according to social norms, a man in a speedo. anywhere away from a swim meet, is either gay or old and sadly often past his years in a speedo and overweight.

[PSDave]

Tom Daley in married to a man. I think that eliminates his being heterosexual

[Glenda]

I'm 65, 6 feet plus tall, and try to maintain 170 pounds, but I am under it and in great shape. Speedos always fit great.

I have yet to meet any overweight women or men whom live year around at our postal zip code which has an average elevation of 9,900 feet (3 kilometers) above sea level. I am always surprised how out of shape people are when we visit lower elevations. Must be a higher metabolism or something at our high elevation.