# 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:** 2
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/21 "2012-11-23T18:45:32Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > 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.) I have even more difficulty micturating in public! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/22 "2012-11-23T19:31:46Z")
That is one thing I never have trouble with. Lately the flow isn’t what it was in my youth… but that is a different problem. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/23 "2012-11-23T19:45:49Z")
I do sometimes have a problem getting started, but mostly only if it’s a _very_ busy situation, where there are lots of guys waiting in line, like during intermission at a concert or hockey game. I just stand there patiently and wait; sometimes I will have to rapidly _squeeze-and-release_ several times to get the tiniest forced continuous trickle which takes several seconds to finally develop into the hoped-for full and relaxed relieving stream that one would expect after imbibing such copious libations. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/24 "2012-11-23T19:47:53Z")
I also wonder if it has something to do with the cuniculosity of my huge penis. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/25 "2012-11-23T19:59:59Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > 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. \* I haven’t noticed this. I wonder if it’s happening and I’m just unaware. Not sure I would care. ---
**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, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/26 "2012-11-23T20:21:43Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > 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.) I’ll have to try it next time, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/27 "2012-11-23T21:33:13Z")
Exactly once, and not at a urinal, and it was awful. I was about 15, we were in the car on a family trip, and I _really_ needed to piss. Like overly full, explosive stages. So my dad pulled over, I ran over to the grass, got into position, and nothing would come out. It was as if I had forgotten how to pee. It wasn’t really “stage fright,” as nobody was near me and I had peed countless times in the open. But nothing would come out. I got back into the car, bladder feeling like it was just about to burst, and went another 15 minutes before we pulled over again, and this time, thankfully, I was able to relieve myself. It’s a terrible sensation not being able to piss. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/28 "2012-11-24T04:39:06Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > I also wonder if it has something to do with the cuniculosity of my huge penis. The what of your what now? ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/29 "2012-11-24T06:54:23Z")
This phenomenon is a foreign thing to me. If I’m there, I have to pee, and when I’m “unit out” there will be pee. Not to be a braggart, but I can stop the stream at will to some degree of precision, and of course resume it When a friend of mine goes to pee, I often wonder if the door even shut behind him before he was on his way back out. He’s like a pee drag racer or something. Back in my college days, my band stopped at a rest stop to pee. I was at a urinal, and the force of the pee was quite strong. So, I backed up until the back spray relented, then I backed up some more, then some more. When I had hit my maximum distance, you could have ran 30 toddlers under my pee stream without being directly peed upon. I would suggest not doing that though. Sanitizer and lawsuits can be expensive given a certain quantity. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/30 "2012-11-24T09:56:38Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Not to be a braggart, but I can stop the stream at will to some degree of precision, and of course resume it Can’t most people do this? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/31 "2012-11-24T12:21:16Z")
I’ve heard of this, but haven’t experienced it myself. What’s the psychology behind it? A lot of people mention that it happens particularly at troughs…so is it based on a fear that someone will see your penis? Or that they’ll judge your urine flow…? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/32 "2012-11-24T13:08:48Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > TWhen I had hit my maximum distance, you could have ran 30 toddlers under my pee stream without being directly peed upon. I would suggest not doing that though. Sanitizer and lawsuits can be expensive given a certain quantity. Well, there was a time when our cruise ship lost engine power, so three or four of us with the largest streams just peed off the stern. Getting up to full speed wasn’t the tough part, it was drinking all that water for the six hour trip. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/33 "2012-11-24T14:10:34Z")
I don’t how you guys walk around those things. /elaine ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/34 "2012-11-24T14:41:09Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > This phenomenon is a foreign thing to me. If I’m there, I have to pee, and when I’m “unit out” there will be pee. > > Not to be a braggart, but I can stop the stream at will to some degree of precision, and of course resume it It would be more impressive if you could suck the last six inches of the stream back inside. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/35 "2012-11-24T14:54:33Z")
If it happens, start doing multiplication in your head. Really. I read once that concentrating on math frees up your brain and makes it stop hindering urination. I do the 3s. 3x3=9, 9x3=27, 27x3=81,… If I’ve had to resort to this, then by the time I get that far, the stream is flowing. ---
**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 24, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/36 "2012-11-24T15:25:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Can’t most people do this? You’re either female or a relatively _young_ male. If the latter, you will eventually become acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of your prostate. There once was a man from Rangoul Who soliloquized thus to his tool: “You spent all my wealth and you ruined my health and now you won’t pee, you old fool.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/37 "2012-11-24T15:31:14Z")
Interrupting the stream briefly is easy, but actually _stopping_ it, to the point where you could zip your pants back up and go about your business, is far more difficult. And I’m surprised to hear that there are some folks who have _never_ had shy bladder. It’s not common for me, but I thought it happened to everyone occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/38 "2012-11-24T15:35:07Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > You’re either female or a relatively _young_ male. I’m a 37-year-old male. I do dribble a bit after I’m done, so have to give it an extended shake, but mid-stream, it’s not a problem. I had no idea this was a “rare skill.” ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/39 "2012-11-24T20:43:38Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > 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. \* I remember one guy on my last boat advising a nub that if he had a shy bladder he should never admit it, because if they knew about it people would come up and look over his shoulder, or stand at the next urinal leaning over the divider to watch… ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900/40 "2012-11-24T20:59:00Z")
I sometimes feel like I’m going to need to pee soon and it’s more convieient to go now than later so I go to the urinal and give it a shot. Sometimes I get self concious if I stand there too long with nothing happening and someone else is at another urinal. When I really need to pee, I’m not shy at all. I could let it rip on stage in front of a crowd. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-you-ever-get-stage-fright-at-the-urinal/641900.md?page=3)