# Guys: You ever get stage fright at the urinal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900 "2012-11-23T15:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/1 "2012-11-23T15:18:31Z")
You know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/2 "2012-11-23T15:20:32Z")
The technical term is [paruesis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paruresis). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/3 "2012-11-23T15:37:04Z")
Not even in the slightest. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/4 "2012-11-23T15:49:07Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > The technical term is [paruesis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paruresis). Paruresis. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/5 "2012-11-23T15:55:34Z")
I used to at those trough urinals that some places have. Not anymore though. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/6 "2012-11-23T16:00:24Z")
Under [some](http://x77.xanga.com/26ef315251133235522386/b186019752.jpg) [circumstances](http://www.barnorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/0113.jpg), I could see that happening. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/7 "2012-11-23T16:02:45Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Paruresis. Darn edit window! And to answer the OP, yes - if it’s a trough setup. Those are just weird. No problem at a normal urinal. I’m not sure how to answer the poll, then. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/8 "2012-11-23T16:10:58Z")
Stage fright so bad I don’t even attempt it. Hell, sometimes I get stagefright in the stall, depending on the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/9 "2012-11-23T16:12:26Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > I used to at those trough urinals that some places have. Not anymore though. I heard of a trough at a local racetrack that consisted of rain gutter that led to a pvc pipe that drained outside and ran over the hill. That’s beyond weird in my book. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/10 "2012-11-23T16:17:40Z")
If I’m alone at a wall of urinals and someone comes in. It will dry up pretty quickly more than half the time. I’m usually ok if I’ve been drinking a little but usually I use the stall just to be sure i can finish quicker. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/11 "2012-11-23T17:11:59Z")
If I’m already going, it’s fine. Can’t get it started in that situation, though. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/12 "2012-11-23T17:16:43Z")
I never knew this phenomena existed, and can’t imagine a situation where I couldn’t use a restroom urinal if I needed to. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/13 "2012-11-23T17:45:13Z")
Under the right circumstances, yes. Usually, you don’t hear guys complain about people being creepy, but I’m going to deviate from the norm for a second. I DO NOT like it when the guy pissing next to me is staring at my penis. I’ve had that happen numerous times, and it’s extremely creepy. The entire time I’m thinking: \*Dude, I’m just trying to pee. Quit staring at my dick. \* ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/14 "2012-11-23T17:50:26Z")
Yes, very frequently. Trough urinals are an automatic no-go, and if things cinch-up there, moving to a stall won’t help. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/15 "2012-11-23T18:24:01Z")
I have a bad case of shy bladder, so I try to avoid urinals whenever possible. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/16 "2012-11-23T18:31:06Z")
I wonder if this is something you could train yourself out of. If you could, would you? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/17 "2012-11-23T18:31:38Z")
Troughs, yes they’re bad. The best cure I’ve found is to get drunk a lot (…and solution to…). At some point, you will be so sloshed you won’t care about the guy in the next urinal, or several away. Then next time you’re peeing sober, it seems easier for the brain to generalize it, and say “well if I peed okay back then…” Also do outdoorsy things like fishing. No urinals in sight, so first you can walk 50 ft away from the others, slowly decreasing the distance. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/18 "2012-11-23T18:40:00Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I wonder if this is something you could train yourself out of. > > If you could, would you? I have my own mental tricks that work most times. I suppose that’s some form of training. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/19 "2012-11-23T18:42:48Z")
Ah, bashful bladder! I advise patients who have to give witnessed urine drug screens, and claim this disorder (which is a real problem.) My cure: Stand at urinal. Exhale all the air OUT of your lungs, then hold breath. You will begin to micturate before you pass out (most of you will, anyway. If you’ve significant cardiac instability, check with your own doctor before performing this maneuver.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/20 "2012-11-23T18:43:18Z")
I’m a stall guy, but I remember having it happen once or twice when I was a younger man. It may have even contributed to my becoming a stall guy, though mostly that’s because I like a little alone time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900.md?page=2)