Swimming In The Good Old Days

[California Dolphin]

What's better than swimming in speedos?

Swimming in nothing at all!!!

http://closetprofessor.blogspot.com/...maraderie.html

[Bede735]

It's women to blame. I know of plenty of guys at my local pool who shower and walk around the male-only changing room naked, but wear board shorts in the pool. Obviously can't show too much to the opposite gender.

[Bede735]

Outrage over naked swimming

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....wimming-948817

From a few years ago. Sign of the times.

[California Dolphin]

The complaint about the pool being used for nude swimming was from a group in the UK.

Maybe it's just my perception, but it seems that prudish thinking originates tin the UK similar to the Puritan era in the colonial days of the U.S.

[PSDave]

when I was in high school we used the YMCA pool and everyone swam naked. In fact I think it was required by the Y. In my own pool I always swim naked and most of my friends do too. Its not a sexual thing, just an enjoyment of the freedom. Unfortunately with the advent the Homophobic and Pedophile there is a mistrust of a room full of naked men. Narrow minded or uninformed men think if they are naked with other men it implies they are gay, or asking for rape. However, I do have to agree with the people that are apprehensive about having young boys in a room full of naked strangers -- it is only prudent as a parent. At any rate, socially acceptable or not, I have drawers full of unworn speedos because I never bother to wear a suit.

[Torchwatch]

The Duke of Wellington said that "The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton." All the other public schools (fee paying) and grammar schools (selective) emulated Eton in an academic and team sport curriculum.

The Edwardians believed that a boy who masturbated would grow up to be weak and effete (camp). If you were weak and effete it was your own fault. Lots of outdoors stuff and team sport made a young man fit, healthy and manly. A group of manly young men could swim and shower naked together without fear. Unfortunately fit young men kept getting caught in compromising situations leading to the theory that the effete homosexuals were corrupting them. Oscar Wilde for example was sent to Reading Gaol after an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas son of the Marquess of Queensberry (who wrote the rules of boxing).

It wasn't until the 1950's that Kinsey researched human sexuality and discovered that anyone could be gay however much they masturbated or played team sports. Gradually the straight male population lost confidence in being naked together while the gay community became interested in sport, fitness and being naked. Meanwhile the fear of homosexuals corrupting young men has changed to a fear of abusers corrupting children. These days a man that enjoys being naked or nearly naked risks being accused of being gay or a child abuser, so families rarely go to naturist beaches any more.

Has anyone else noticed how young males are now wearing rather tight trousers and even winkle picker shoes this winter?

[California Dolphin]

History shows that attitudes toward sexuality have been subject to the proverbial "Pendulum Swing" phenomenon.

Periods of promiscuity have been followed by periods of prudishness, then back toward the other extreme. The 1940s and 50s were an era of extreme modesty while the 1960s, 70s, and 80s were a period of sexual liberation.

However, sexuality is phenomenon that is not going to become extinct and no matter what the prevailing attitude is, people will always pursue an outlet for their feelings.