S/O deck changing...

RE: S/O deck changing...

sydned — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:55:28 GMT

A few years ago, I took my son to an event at a local theater. He had to go, BADLY, as in ready to pee his pants. The line at the women's bathroom was really long and despite the fact that he was practically crying, not one woman would let him go ahead of them. I even made sure to say "I will not use the bathroom--it's just him!" But no go--no pun intended. We ran--literally--over to the men's bathroom where i told him he would need to go in by himself since I couldn't go with him. He started to cry, really nervous because it was his first time going to a busy public bathroom on his own. A man who was coming out of the bathroom looked my son and I, opened the door to the men's room and shouted inside "Men, there's a lady coming in." He then proceeded to escort my son and I into the bathroom, I found a stall, and then listened to the men at the urinals talk about how ridiculous it was that there weren't more bathrooms for women or families and how glad they were to help out. Not one man had an issue with it--and in fact, I think they felt proud to help. When my son was done, I shouted "We're coming out-and I promise not to look." Instead of being upset, my son was now laughing hysterically and it was a great story.

RE: S/O deck changing...

kristilynn — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:28:42 GMT

I swim a a YMCA facility that has separate locker rooms for those 19 and older. There are 6 curtained shower stalls as well as a dozen communal showers. There will be a line for the shower stalls while the communal showers remain unused. I often will be the only one using the the communal shower area while the ladies waiting in line try to look any other direction but at me. They never say anything, but I get the impression that they are completely shocked that I shower nude. Recently we've actually had more women swimming Masters in the morning, and we will usually all shower and chat in the communal shower area. I think that the line-waiters find this absolutely crazy. On another note, when I studied in France I swam at the local pool. It was a really nice facility with a 10 lane 50m and 8 lane 25m pool. It also had two huge locker rooms, one on each floor. What took me completely by surprise was that both locker rooms were unisex. My first time there I was really confused when I couldn't find signs, and when I heard male voices coming from both locker rooms. The showers were all communal, and most people showered with their suits on. There was one older gentleman who removed his suit in the shower, so I guess it was permitted even though not a common. There were many changing cubicles. I have never been much for modesty, so I adapted quickly to the French attitude. They are really not shy about the human form over there.

RE: S/O deck changing...

kristilynn — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:27:54 GMT

RE: S/O deck changing...

orca1946 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:59:30 GMT

I think the younger people tend to towel up or change in those rooms as to us older 50+. In fact there is a thread on going about nude swim classes in H S in the 50s & early 60s.

RE: S/O deck changing...

knelson — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:55:27 GMT

Most locker rooms don't have adequate changing areas, and I know the Mesa pool (site of 2011 nationals) only has space for about four people to change clothes in the locker room. I've never understood why pool complexes are designed like this. There are lots of really nice pools with terrible locker rooms. I remember Mission Viejo being minuscule. Probably similar to Mesa, I'm guessing. That was one of the nice things at Clovis. Although it required a little bit of a walk the locker room was huge with lots of showers.

RE: S/O deck changing...

swimshark — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:20:47 GMT

Deck change today at my age group practice. Boyfriend was deck changing, completely naked under a towel when girlfriend says "you know that's my towel". You could tell she was not that happy that he was using it to deck change. I have a feeling that towel will be getting washed tonight!

RE: S/O deck changing...

swimmj — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:08:11 GMT

RE: S/O deck changing...

cheakamus — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:07:07 GMT

When I was in Rome this past winter, one of the pools I investigated for swimming in was at the Foro Italico, site of the 1960 (?) Olympics. In the literature I was given, it stated quite explicitly that there was to be no nudity in the showers or changing rooms (!) I later came upon a discussion in a forum very much like this one (in Italian). It seems that Italian mothers are accustomed to bringing their boys into the men's changing room to supervise them while they change, instead of taking them to the women's changing room to change together. The women, often not just the mother, but her sister, teenage daughter, daughter's friend, etc., all stand around in the men's changing room while the child gets dressed and they do not want to be "offended" by any untoward sights. However, the same does not pertain in the opposite direction: under no circumstances do Italian men take their daughters into the women's changing room to change. The daughters go with their dads into the men's changing room! The discussion I read was very bitter. Many (men) complained that the policy was blatantly unfair. But apparently not all pools enforce the policy equally. Some men said they showered in the buff just as they pleased and anyone who didn't like it could lump it. And apparently, not all cities and towns have the same policy. Some commenters had never heard of it, but enough had to make me think that it was the norm in Rome, at least. In the end, I never got to find out first hand. The other requirements for swimming in a public pool in Rome—medical certificate from an Italian doctor, including electroencephalogram; various other papers and permissions; joining fee; monthly fee; various other fees; purchase of compulsory slippers and bathrobe for deck wear—made me think better of it, and I got my exercise walking. Incidentally, I've been told that one of the reasons the younger generation here at home are shy about changing in public is the omnipresence of cell phones and the ease with which clandestine photos end up on the internet.

RE: S/O deck changing...

Jeff Commings — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:03:19 GMT

Deck changing at USA Swimming meets is rampant, and quite scary to see. Most of the kids are one inch away from showing off their, um, endowments, and the women have a tougher time with it. I understand that most don't want to walk all the way across the pool to the locker room, but I don't know why deck changing among kids is just so commonplace. I have done a few deck changes in my life, but not since joining Masters. When I was a member of the USA national junior team in 1990, a swimmer on the team was "setting up" to do a deck change. When he removed his suit and leaned over to grab his underwear, one of the coaches reached over and yanked off his towel. The kid, surprisingly, wasn't embarrassed, and no one outside of our team who witnessed it was shocked. I thought it was funny, but I swore to never do a deck change within arm's reach of anyone. Most locker rooms don't have adequate changing areas, and I know the Mesa pool (site of 2011 nationals) only has space for about four people to change clothes in the locker room. I'm sure we'll see lots of deck changes next spring. But not from me. Since I live 20 minutes away, I'll probably just wear my racing suit home and shower there.

RE: S/O deck changing...

That Guy — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:16:49 GMT

No kidding. I would have laughed in her face had she reported that to me... I thought it was ridiculous. I expect to see naked people in locker rooms. Maybe we can introduce your ultra-prude teammate to the Pink Thong Exhibitionist. He struts around the locker room with this horrible EDACTED] on his REDACTED] there for all to see. I guess he watches people's reactions to see who doesn't flinch or vomit. But I suppose it does explain how he his hideous swimsuit. Have a day! :bolt:

RE: S/O deck changing...

Former Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:24:08 GMT

I think it depends a lot on age. The college kids (and younger) seem oddly conservative. My personal theory is that high school gym class has changed in the decades since I experien. ced it, and not as many kids these days get their modesty forcibly trained out of them. :lmao: So true!! I think where we live, kids from birth are having modesty forcibly trained into them..... I have witnessed a number of moms in the locker room holding towels up round their kids (4-8 yr olds or so) while they change, or ushering them into the toilets :eeew: so no-one sees them...and then people wonder why there is a such a body-image problem among young girls these days. And there's me, stripping the girls down, drying them off and putting clothes on all in the open - much quicker overall. I am now having to explain to my 6 year old that some people just want to cover up all the time, and that really all girls are the same, just slightly different shapes and sizes. :sigh:

RE: S/O deck changing...

knelson — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:29:37 GMT

My experience in men's changing/locker rooms is that nearly everyone changes in front of their locker and walking from the showers to the changing area nude is commonplace. My wife tells me the women's changing room actually has a couple privacy closets, so I have a feeling women tend to be a little more modest. Back in college our locker room didn't even have enclosed toilets! Also it's commonplace at the pool I swim at for parents to take young kids (maybe under 5) into the opposite sex locker room (i.e., women take boys into the women's, and men take their daughters into the men's).

RE: S/O deck changing...

Former Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:21:39 GMT

There is no normal. It varies by region, age group, and gym culture. One pool nearby has a G-rated locker room where almost everyone showers in their suit and does a "deck change" under a towel, even though they're in a single-gender locker room. Another pool, not 5 miles away, has an NC-17 locker room where it's almost obligatory to strut around and have a conversation with a complete stranger with all of your parts flapping in the breeze. I think it depends a lot on age. The college kids (and younger) seem oddly conservative. My personal theory is that high school gym class has changed in the decades since I experienced it, and not as many kids these days get their modesty forcibly trained out of them. Changing cubicles are definitely not the norm in the US, though. Lockers and benches are standard.

RE: S/O deck changing...

swimmj — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:58:25 GMT

I think the only acceptable response to this would be "and your point is?" This is right up there with noodlers complaining that their hair is getting wet. No kidding. I would have laughed in her face had she reported that to me... I thought it was ridiculous. I expect to see naked people in locker rooms.

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Rykno — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:38:33 GMT

when my family was back home in texas visiting my parents, I was planing on taking our youngest daughter just under 2 yrs in the mens locker room with me and my wife our 4.5 yrs old daughter with her. since my mom works at the YMCA she knew the rules and told us kids that age were not allowed (or it was not liked by members) in the main locker rooms and there was a family changing room. ok we could deal with that, but the funny thing was it was on the other side of the building. we had to walk nearly 100m through the halls in our suits (wrapped up of course in towels as to not scare the locals by walking around in our suits ;) But I've changed over the last 9 yrs. through my entire swimming carreer in the US I don't remember ever showering naked. in HS I would come to the pool in my suit and go home in it. in college I changed in front of my locker and that was it. after practice showers could take 20-30 minutes but I changed at my locker. but now I don't seem to have as much of a problem to take a real shower at the pool, even in a 16 shower stall. I don't seem to care as much about changing either. and over here we have both men and women that service the men's changing rooms.

RE: S/O deck changing...

bzaks1424 — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:20:32 GMT

So what is normal? and am I the only female living in Texas not afraid to strip down in the women's locker room? :afraid: Well I changed in the women's locker room once and was arrested... in fact ... I'm not really supposed to talk...... never mind..... At least at any of the pools I've swam at, people are not really all that modest, but I'm on average 15-20 years younger than any other guy on my team. However - I do deck change, not because of any modesty issues, but mostly because I just like keeping my stuff on deck and don't mind coming to practice already wearing my suit. When practice gets over around 9:30 at night, I don't really think about anything other than just going home at that point. -Michael P.

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Former Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:13:14 GMT

When I was 14 another boy put on a parka - including the hood - walked into the women's locker room with his head down and had a 5 minute peep session until he was caught. To this day I am 49% amused by this. If my kid does this, the other 51% will be all that he knows of course...

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Former Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:48:35 GMT

My gym has a policy where young children of the opposite sex over the age of 18 months are not allowed in the ladies locker room. I'm assuming there is a similar policy for the men's locker room, but I haven't asked. Seems a bit extreme to me. Definitely extreme - where I take the kids, the cut off age is 3 - above 3 you need to use family change with opposite sex kids, but there's only 2 or 3 rooms so you can have to wait around at weekends, or I just take the girls in female change while hubby uses the mens and he then waits for us! 8 was the cut-off age at one pool I swam at in the UK, which I thought was a bit high considering they had a good number of family change cubicles.

RE: S/O deck changing...

knelson — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:37:41 GMT

In my home pool women's locker room a teammate had another woman swimmer (with kids) complain to management about her walking around the locker room nude. I think the only acceptable response to this would be "and your point is?" This is right up there with noodlers complaining that their hair is getting wet.

RE: S/O deck changing...

swimmj — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:29:01 GMT

Where can I get those signs for my house? No clue. Any Scots masters swimmers have ideas? I loved the pool, by the way. And my stay in Scotland. Would go back in a heartbeat.

RE: S/O deck changing...

pendaluft — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:10:07 GMT

... you were not allowed to shower nude (signs posted) . Where can I get those signs for my house?

RE: S/O deck changing...

swimmj — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:19:51 GMT

It does seem to vary greatly locker room to locker room and place to place. I tend to rise off my suit and then take it off in the shower - the exact same thing I did as an age group swimmer and in college. I dry in the shower area, in an attempt to keep the main locker room dryer. I do take my towel with me to my locker, but rarely keep it on me (I never figured out how to wrap a towel so it doesn't fall down - too tapered, I think....). It seemed about 3 years ago we had more age group kids changing under a towel (in the locker room) but now most of the girls just change, which makes sense to me. This pool allows children 5 and under of the opposite gender in the locker room, which seems fine to me. There is a family changing room on deck, so if your 6 year old needs help changing, you send them through the correct gender locker room and then meet them on deck. In Scotland at a pool I visited you were not allowed to shower nude (signs posted) and were supposed to change in tiny curtained cubicles. Same in the men's locker room - my hubby and I giggled hard about that. In my home pool women's locker room a teammate had another woman swimmer (with kids) complain to management about her walking around the locker room nude. Her response - I wasn't nude. I had my shower sandals on.... I expect to see folks changing in the locker room. Not a big deal at all.

RE: S/O deck changing...

swimshark — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:54:00 GMT

I practice with an age group team so I'm older than the kids by 20+ years. I have no problem changing in front of them but you should see how hard they work to cover up in front of me. Makes me :D every time. There is one lady who swims in the lap lanes and is easily 60 years old who changes in the sauna where the whole door is a window and all of us females can see her.

RE: S/O deck changing...

pendaluft — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:49:24 GMT

My gym has a policy where young children of the opposite sex over the age of 18 months are not allowed in the ladies locker room. I'm assuming there is a similar policy for the men's locker room, but I haven't asked. Seems a bit extreme to me. I agree -- I have 2 boys and a girl -- When my girl was 3 or 4 I wasn't supposed to let her come to the pool without her mom? I'd feel weird if someone brought his 10 year old daughter into the men's locker room but not a 5 year old. I think a policy like that is not family friendly. Likewise -- what is a mom or dad traveling alone supposed to do in a public restroom situation with a 5 year old? Obviously they need to stay with the parent. I've notice my 12 year old boy much shyer about changing in the locker room than I ever remember being -- and his friends all do the towel thing in the men's locker room. I don't get it. Its strange when you see how overtly sexualized images in available media are (or maybe its a reaction to that). I'd like my kids to grow up more comfortable with themselves and their bodies but I see that, as usual, a parent (at least this one) has a lot less influence than he'd like to think he has!.

RE: S/O deck changing...

debaru — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:01:15 GMT

... kids from birth are having modesty forcibly trained into them..... My gym has a policy where young children of the opposite sex over the age of 18 months are not allowed in the ladies locker room. I'm assuming there is a similar policy for the men's locker room, but I haven't asked. Seems a bit extreme to me.