Old Masculinity and male bonding

[swimmerguydfw]

It still is very free and it's far from people not visiting nudist beaches anymore but I also see people in changing rooms and in the sauna of my gym trying to hide everything and even visit the sauna in swimming trunks.
In Germany several factors play a role in this (as people have pointed out for other parts of the world already):
1. The possibility of being recorded because of smartphones everywhere.
2. Cultural and religious backgrounds, especially with a rising number of Muslims although there are also many who are not afraid to be naked.
3. The rising consume of pornography in everyday life and already in early ages where teens or kids can't differentiate that porn is not showing the reality and real bodies.
4. Connected to that is the shift to a much more visual world where people see perfect bodies on social media and on big displays and hence are afraid of showing their "imperfect" body.
5. Being born into a smaller families where you don't need to share space and be naked around others.
6. The rising fear that you could be seen as gay hanging out with other naked men (I don't know where this is coming from though, it's like social pressure grew).

That being said it's very important that we protect spaces where you can be naked. I talked to a french guy some time ago who told me that some places like nudist beaches are being closed in France because of a prudish or religious mindset.

Yes...I've noticed that attitude starting to become prevalent in France as well.

I'm also wondering if the whole issue of "privacy" has become just too ubiquitous, worldwide. Here in the US, "privacy" has been used as the cudgel and legal remedy for so many things over the past 30 years...enough so that it has had a great deal to do with the fact that there isn't much "community" anymore. Hence, also, our fragmenting politics. It could be getting into the same state elsewhere as well.

It was the sole reason, basically, for the removal of communal showers in so many locations---schools, gyms, country clubs. And pretty much closed down single-sex nude swimming anywhere. Sad...

 

[swimmerguydfw]

6. The rising fear that you could be seen as gay hanging out with other naked men (I don't know where this is coming from though, it's like social pressure grew).

but this old and was around for many years.. I kinda of grew up with this... and in some cases it wasn't anything to do with 'naked' but if one guy was a known 'homo'.. it could rub off on you...
This is all crap of course and just a pressure to control...

but I had forgotten about cameras.. sort of.... unconsciously not maybe...mmmmmmmm

I mostly have to agree with you here, as I lived through some of that as well. But earlier, it wasn't quite like that.

However, I find it sadly funny now that "straight" men at the gym will stand for several minutes in front of the mirrors flexing their muscles to take selfies (not nude, but with a towel around their waist)...which is something that not to many years ago would have been labeled extremely "gay". I'm not sure that anyone knows what their "sexuality" is anymore...

 

[Janvier75]

Yes...I've noticed that attitude starting to become prevalent in France as well.

I'm also wondering if the whole issue of "privacy" has become just too ubiquitous, worldwide. Here in the US, "privacy" has been used as the cudgel and legal remedy for so many things over the past 30 years...enough so that it has had a great deal to do with the fact that there isn't much "community" anymore. Hence, also, our fragmenting politics. It could be getting into the same state elsewhere as well.

It was the sole reason, basically, for the removal of communal showers in so many locations---schools, gyms, country clubs. And pretty much closed down single-sex nude swimming anywhere. Sad...

It’s wild to me that nowadays, young guys can go their whole lives without seeing their close friends—or really any guy—naked. When I was younger, it wasn’t a big deal to see my friends or close buddies naked. Sure, it wasn’t like my grandfather’s generation, where communal nudity was totally normal, but even in the late '80s and early '90s, guys weren’t as self-conscious about it as Gen Z or even younger Millennials seem to be now. There were always those moments—changing at the public pool, sleepovers, living with roommates in college, gym locker rooms, or even sharing a bathroom with a buddy while he was showering. We didn’t think twice about it; we trusted each other, and it never felt awkward or weird.

 

[adude688]

It’s wild to me that nowadays, young guys can go their whole lives without seeing their close friends—or really any guy—naked. When I was younger, it wasn’t a big deal to see my friends or close buddies naked. Sure, it wasn’t like my grandfather’s generation, where communal nudity was totally normal, but even in the late '80s and early '90s, guys weren’t as self-conscious about it as Gen Z or even younger Millennials seem to be now. There were always those moments—changing at the public pool, sleepovers, living with roommates in college, gym locker rooms, or even sharing a bathroom with a buddy while he was showering. We didn’t think twice about it; we trusted each other, and it never felt awkward or weird.

What’s interesting about these generations where nudity among men was normal is that many of them say that when they first started using communal showers they felt awkward at first and didn’t want to do it but had no choice because privacy in showers only existed at homes, but after a few times of doing it they realized how normal and good at was and never thought twice about it again. The prevalence of private shower cubicles today means that most men will never try communal showers to like them or hate them in the first place. It’s amazing how in just a few short decades it’s become controversial to not provide private shower cubicles at gyms, pools and spas.

 

[jamiesux]

I mostly have to agree with you here, as I lived through some of that as well. But earlier, it wasn't quite like that.

However, I find it sadly funny now that "straight" men at the gym will stand for several minutes in front of the mirrors flexing their muscles to take selfies (not nude, but with a towel around their waist)...which is something that not to many years ago would have been labeled extremely "gay". I'm not sure that anyone knows what their "sexuality" is anymore...

Yes!! It seems like yesterday that a man shaving his legs would have been the ultimate in ‘gayness’ but riding a bike in the weekend seems to have changed that!! Guys started shaving their legs to ? Get more speed? Because they like it ??
So who is really behind the ‘you are gay if you . . . ‘ is a question for me.
it gets complicated I find and in the end I tend to return to the ‘what do I desire!’

 

[jamiesux]

It’s wild to me that nowadays, young guys can go their whole lives without seeing their close friends—or really any guy—naked. When I was younger, it wasn’t a big deal to see my friends or close buddies naked. Sure, it wasn’t like my grandfather’s generation, where communal nudity was totally normal, but even in the late '80s and early '90s, guys weren’t as self-conscious about it as Gen Z or even younger Millennials seem to be now. There were always those moments—changing at the public pool, sleepovers, living with roommates in college, gym locker rooms, or even sharing a bathroom with a buddy while he was showering. We didn’t think twice about it; we trusted each other, and it never felt awkward or weird.

I’ve never seen my mates naked.
It is mixed as to why:
Embarrassed
Strange
Scared of seeing something I cannot have - sexually or as simple as ‘gee that’s a big one’
Or even the ingrained ‘not wanting to appear gay ‘ - despite the fact we are anyway
Intimacy - I think this is the biggest.
And also

 

[jamiesux]

What’s interesting about these generations where nudity among men was normal is that many of them say that when they first started using communal showers they felt awkward at first and didn’t want to do it but had no choice because privacy in showers only existed at homes, but after a few times of doing it they realized how normal and good at was and never thought twice about it again. The prevalence of private shower cubicles today means that most men will never try communal showers to like them or hate them in the first place. It’s amazing how in just a few short decades it’s become controversial to not provide private shower cubicles at gyms, pools and spas.

Interesting mmm
We want more and more privacy but our Smartphone knows otherwise, our Social Media pages show otherwise and the difference is : one is digital and the other is being physically with other human beings !!!!

Normally when I finish my yoga session I leave my yoga gear on and pull in my jeans etc and leave. It is quicker.
The other week I deliberately dropped my yoga shorts so I was exposing my full naked legs and stood there in my underwear then pulled in the jeans. Then did the same with whatever I wore in the top.

I have wondered if we have pushed ourselves mentally into a corner generally where everything has become : living by associations rather than living ?
If I do X then they/it could mean I’m x, y or z!!!

The more I read here about this theme the more I realise that I missed out on learning ‘stuff’’..

It might be hot watching a guy wash in a communal shower but maybe he does something that I could do for myself? Might sound strange but maybe seeing a guy enjoy standing under running water might prompt another to enjoy washing/running water sometimes and this becomes a self care …
Also, I’m a grower not a shower and maybe if I’d been in more communal showers I might have seen more growers and accepted my own reality a lot quicker and just enjoyed Men!!

 

[nudistcock]

However, I find it sadly funny now that "straight" men at the gym will stand for several minutes in front of the mirrors flexing their muscles to take selfies (not nude, but with a towel around their waist)...which is something that not to many years ago would have been labeled extremely "gay". I'm not sure that anyone knows what their "sexuality" is anymore...

I think it would be better if people just didn't care as much about their looks and just be in the moment not caring how others might see them (like in a locker room situation). Just keep yourself fit and be thankful of being healthy. I feel like the shift to a much more visual world since the internet and social media really made people care about their looks much more and not live in the moment as men did in the old school pictures posted here.

 

[Janvier75]

I’m both fascinated and curious about communal showers. Where i grew up, nudity among men was unthinkable.

Even now I’m still very curious. I always wanted to know what men who are used to it are thinking about when they are in a communal shower full of other naked men, especially straight men. I know it’s not sexual, and I know it’s a bit awkward when u first do it, but what goes on in the minds of men when they are doing it? Are they conscious to the fact that they are naked and other men can see them? Are they curious about the other naked men and will have a subtle look at them? Do they like it?

You're not alone. Communal nudity seems unthinkable to many guys today because it has become rare. A lot of guys today feel weird or shy about being naked in communal showers or around other men, but that’s mostly because they are not used to that, the world has changed.

The thing is, we humans all tend to think that the way we see the world today is how everyone sees it—or how it’s always been. But our views are shaped by how we were raised, our personal experiences, and the social rules of the time. If those things change, people see things differently. This applies to everything: religion, political views, and even sexuality. A lot of guys today can’t imagine being naked around other men and not thinking it’s awkward or sexual, but that’s because they grew up in a world where things like nudity, modesty, personal space, privacy, and sexuality are seen in a totally different way as how was it in the past.

 

[jamiesux]

It’s wild to me that nowadays, young guys can go their whole lives without seeing their close friends—or really any guy—naked. When I was younger, it wasn’t a big deal to see my friends or close buddies naked. Sure, it wasn’t like my grandfather’s generation, where communal nudity was totally normal, but even in the late '80s and early '90s, guys weren’t as self-conscious about it as Gen Z or even younger Millennials seem to be now. There were always those moments—changing at the public pool, sleepovers, living with roommates in college, gym locker rooms, or even sharing a bathroom with a buddy while he was showering. We didn’t think twice about it; we trusted each other, and it never felt awkward or weird.

I think there is a change in society to be more individual but reading your comment I think it has been carried 'maybe' to far into society.. who tells us 'what is to far' is one thing but being individual and respecting someone else's individuality is one thing but communal showering is another and if someone doesn't like it, then maybe a single shower is all that is needed. not changing the whole setup. !!!

 

[jamiesux]

You're not alone. Communal nudity seems unthinkable to many guys today because it has become rare. A lot of guys today feel weird or shy about being naked in communal showers or around other men, but that’s mostly because they are not used to that, the world has changed.

The thing is, we humans all tend to think that the way we see the world today is how everyone sees it—or how it’s always been. But our views are shaped by how we were raised, our personal experiences, and the social rules of the time. If those things change, people see things differently. This applies to everything: religion, political views, and even sexuality. A lot of guys today can’t imagine being naked around other men and not thinking it’s awkward or sexual, but that’s because they grew up in a world where things like nudity, modesty, personal space, privacy, and sexuality are seen in a totally different way as how was it in the past.

maybe it is a bit like the so called Adam and Eve story, where they become conscious of their own physical presence with each other but with God. I"m not trying to turn this into a religious exercise but one of 'becoming aware of ones surrounds' and each other. A certain innocence is lost but without thinking, evaluating the situation. I wake up to 'oh I'm naked' and turn it into a 'this is a bad thing'. That is extreme, but.... it is only now involved in this blog that I remember a time after sport and in the showers with dividers but no doors and afterwards getting changed and seeing a fellow sports colleague naked. His cock was huge and I liked it. He noticed me staring and after that I felt very awkward being in those showers and communal change room.. but to late, I couldn't hide. I was seen..

 

[lesshake]

This thread is so funny.

"Why aren't men comfortable naked around each other any more? It's a way to bond! Nobody cares! It's not sexual! Who cares who sees your dick? Nobody's interested anyway!" ~ People masturbating so hard their dicks are smoking

 

[xemo]

And when did wrestling naked stop being a thing?

I don’t know the origin or date of this photo, but I like it, and I upscaled it.

I wish I had been there for the original nude Ancient Greek Olympics. That would have been a time when mass communal nudity was just a Tuesday.