# Does the idea of being bathed by others appeal to you or squick you out? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410 "2008-10-24T18:51:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/41 "2008-10-25T17:19:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think Sarah Silverman made a joke about showering with a guy and how your breasts will never be cleaner. For liberal values of “clean” maybe, which allow for…well, never mind. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/42 "2008-10-25T17:19:42Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > What is a COF? I can think of one possibility, but it is entirely inappropriate and I apologize for even briefly thinking of it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/43 "2008-10-25T17:20:47Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > I can think of one possibility, but it is entirely inappropriate and I apologize for even briefly thinking of it. I demand to know and, being me, feel obliged to threaten you with an attack by light-sabre wielding velociraptors if you do not comply. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/44 "2008-10-25T19:29:17Z")
I regularly get ‘bathed’ by total strangers, hell, men! We have many public baths & saunas here and they always have some kind of…(how do I put this) scrubbing service available. You go steam in the 42C hot tub for a couple minutes and get all soft, and when you’re ready the guy pretty much scrubs several layers of skin (dead \*and \*living it feel like) off of you. I also do about 45 minutes of hot tub -\> really cold pool and back, and its the most refreshing thing ever. I always look forward to going every 2-3 months. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/45 "2008-10-25T21:42:23Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > Colour me confused. Married woman guilt? Non comprendo. As in, I enjoy it so much, I have to wonder if I’m cheating. 🙂 A little joke, maybe a dumb one. Maybe I’m weird for finding the shampoo thing sexy, but it feels so good!! I can probably trace it all back to the time when I was about 14 and a I had a hairstylist who looked exactly like Patrick Swayze. [In this scene.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97bWP33d8I) Anyway, COF…hmmm…Creepy Old Fart? I kid, I kid!!! I don’t mind washing my patients up except for the time it takes. I’d rather get someone cleaned up than tend to a patient with bad BO all day. And I’m happy to make someone feel better, that’s what I do. It’s got to be a little bit of a comfort, even though it’s no substitute for a real shower. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/46 "2008-10-25T22:41:06Z")
Happy ending? (only if I, a male, am being bathed by attractive females) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/47 "2008-10-26T00:17:00Z")
Depends on who’s doing the bathing. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/48 "2008-10-26T01:13:02Z")
Yes, if it is by an attractive woman. No, if it’s by a man or an ugly, old, and/or fat woman. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/49 "2008-10-26T01:15:58Z")
I’ve had this done a couple of times, in Istanbul and in Morocco. Both times it was far from erotic, it was more like being a kid and your Mum washing you. Here’s my blog entry from the Istanbul trip: > [@](#): > > But Miriam, we’ve only just met! > I thought I would visit one of the local hamams for a proper Turkish bath - there are several around the Old City that are more than 300 years old, and I thought it would be an excellent way to ‘soak’ up some culture (groan). > > After signing up for the full wash, polish and turtle wax at Cagaloglu Hamam, Miriam Margolyes gave me a very small towel, instructed me to strip off and escorted me into the giant marble hall fitted out with ancient columns and fountains where she mimed that I should splash myself with water to rinse off, and that she would be right back. Unsure of just what to do, I took a surreptitious look to see what the others were doing, and found they were…basically splashing themselves with water. OK, not that complicated! > > 30 minutes later, I was still sitting naked and wet in Miriam Margoyles bathroom, and with only the ability to order tea in Turkish, I was acutely aware that my negotiating skills were very much restricted. Luckily she finally returned, took me by the hand, and led me to the large heated marble platform in the centre of the room. > > There she proceeded to scrub the top layer of my skin off, then roughly kneaded my flesh, whilst I, all soapy slid over the marble dais like a ouija board pointer. At certain points she grabbed my arm and held it close to her to stop me moving, which left me very much at risk of feeling her up. The indignity not complete, she then sat me at her feet and proceeded to roughly wash my hair like I was 3 years old, with suds pouring down my face. > > Oh yes, needless to say, I giggled the whole way through. And emerged very clean indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/50 "2008-10-26T01:21:29Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > If a couple of reasonably attractive women wanted to bathe me, I think I could work it into my schedule. Seconded, IF I weren’t married. But I am, so no thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/51 "2008-10-26T11:06:27Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > What is a COF? Certified Old Fart. Cranky Old Fuck. Freekalette, more and more. Sheesh, Vetbridge. Pick it up lad. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/52 "2008-10-26T15:10:43Z")
I do not want to be bathed by anybody unless there is a happy ending involved- given that I’m heterosexual that leaves out Turkish men. Re that cylindrical thing Traditionally, your back was scrubbed with a platzah- a branch (I think usually myrtle) with herbs and suds. I assume the cylindrical thing is a plastic equivalent of a platzah. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/53 "2008-10-26T18:16:23Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I went to a Turkish bath in Istanbul last December. It had been highly recommended to me by several other people. It was…an experience. Not at all sexual, though. I’ll try to remember exactly what happened. > > First, I went into a dressing room and changed into a little robe and shower shoes they gave me. Then, the bath woman showed me to a marble (it wasn’t as fancy as that sounds though) room, where hot water poured out of a spout. I was instructed to sit on the floor and use a little bucket to pour the water over myself. After doing this for about ten minutes, the bath woman came back and led me to a massage-type table. > > Then she cleaned the ever-loving fuck out of my skin. I don’t think I had a single dead skin cell on my body after that. It was hard core. Then she gave me a “massage”, by which I mean she practically beat me up. This was no namby pamby new age massage. I think I was black and blue afterwards. It fucking HURT. > > Then I went back to the other room, rinsed myself off again, and was led back to the central room, which was heated by a wood-burning stove (this was winter, so it was pretty chilly). They gave me tea made on the stove (Turks are REALLY into giving people tea) and I sat there until I was dry, when I went back to my dressing room, changed, and left. I had a very similar experience in a Moroccan hamman, in which a large Moroccan woman sanded and then beat me to death. Or so it felt. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/54 "2008-10-27T13:45:47Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I demand to know and, being me, feel obliged to threaten you with an attack by light-sabre wielding velociraptors if you do not comply. [Ask the urban dictionary.](http://www.urbandictionary.com/)😃 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/55 "2008-10-27T14:11:16Z")
There’s a Korean spa here where they have a service where you soak in hot water for a half hour and then they scrub the crap out of your skin. It’s quite relaxing. And my skin feels great afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410/56 "2008-10-27T14:30:26Z")
On the day following my spinal surgery, I was bathed (wiped down with baby wipes, anyway) by a male orderly/attendant. And I mean wiped down ALL FREAKING OVER, which I wasn’t expecting at all. It was disconcerting, to say the least. He also shampooed my hair and shaved me, which didn’t bother me at all. I actually don’t remember the sequence of events but since I was very nearly helpless as well as drugged nearly senseless and needed the hosing off, I didn’t object. By the time I knew he was going to do the disconcerting parts, he was already doing them. As to if I would allow another male to wash me again, it would depend on conditions, I suppose. Situational morals and all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-being-bathed-by-others-appeal-to-you-or-squick-you-out/469410.md?page=2)