# If a stranger approached you in the locker room, and asked you to rub lotion on his/her back.... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441 "2016-03-18T19:58:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/21 "2016-03-19T00:04:15Z")
No. Unless it’s the guy who dresses up in just a thong and goes and flexes in front of the mirror, in which case, _hell_ no. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/22 "2016-03-19T00:08:45Z")
This would be so inappropriate in a U.S. men’s locker room, I can’t imagine someone asking. It would need to be a medical emergency before I’d consider it. Even with a severe sunburn, I’d figure the guy could find someone he knew. It’s not so much that I’d mind doing it; it’s that any normal person would know it wasn’t an appropriate request for a stranger, so something isn’t right with the guy or his reasons for asking. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/23 "2016-03-19T02:26:22Z")
Even in a woman’s locker room it would be a very strange request. Even if a friend instead of a stranger asked you to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/24 "2016-03-19T02:33:58Z")
Let me say what every guy is thinking: Not only would none of us do it, but all of us would be very put off just by being asked. It would be near impossible to not take that request as a sexual come-on. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/25 "2016-03-19T04:39:37Z")
I would also assume some sort of flirting. That’s just the context I know it in: some girl asks the guy to put lotion on her, or sometimes vice versa. Since I would not want to lead them on, I would say no. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/26 "2016-03-19T05:49:41Z")
It depends ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/27 "2016-03-19T08:41:17Z")
Anecdote: In the mid-1960’s, when I was in Junior High School in Los Angeles (all the boys showered together in P.E. classes in those days), any such request would be _utterly unthinkable!_ Fast forward one year: My family packed up all our bags and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. There, in 10th grade P.E. class, I found that the boys there routinely asked one another to scrub their backs with soap in the showers – it was a totally unremarkable thing to do. That took me a while to wrap my mind around. I participated in that a few times, but I was never very comfortable about it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/28 "2016-03-19T09:08:44Z")
Why the hell am I in a locker room? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/29 "2016-03-19T09:14:48Z")
A friend? Probably, and in fact I think I have. A barely known acquaintance? Possibly. A stranger? No. I wouldn’t expect it done to me by a stranger either. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/30 "2016-03-19T09:40:33Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > It would be near impossible to not take that request as a sexual come-on. Well, in that case I’d do it. 😉 But I’d let him know that I’m married. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/31 "2016-03-19T10:35:09Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > It would need to be a medical emergency before I’d consider it. Medical emergency, the fuck? I’m not heartless, I’d offer to call an ambulance. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/32 "2016-03-19T12:52:33Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If it was a woman, yes. A guy, probably not. > > But what’s a woman doing in the men’s locker room? “The backstroke.” _\_ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/33 "2016-03-20T02:40:00Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > “The backstroke.” _\_ Or the breast stroke. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/34 "2016-03-20T03:56:20Z")
I’d do it, and wouldn’t think twice about it. There is a strange woman in our gym who likes to spread lotion on the backs of _others_ without asking. That’s a bit more weird. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/35 "2016-03-21T06:12:06Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Is he screaming in pain from thousands of jellyfish stings all over his body? > Sucks to be you, pal. See-ya! That’s the “If a stranger approached you in the locker room, and asked you to urinate all over his/her body…” thread. > [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](#): > > Since she was having some difficulty trying to only hike up just the back portion of her shirt, I suggested that she remove the entire work shirt so I could apply the lotion appropriately. Dear Penthouse Forum… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/36 "2016-03-21T06:13:09Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why the hell am I in a locker room? What is a “locker room”? ---
**Author:** ![Hayden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/91b2a8/32.png) [@Hayden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayden)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/37 "2016-03-21T08:30:52Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/38 "2016-03-21T16:00:10Z")
Sure. There is nothing skeevy about (most) people’s backs. I’d do it for anyone on the beach who was having trouble with their sunscreen or lotion, why not in a locker room? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/39 "2016-03-21T18:18:28Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I would also assume some sort of flirting. That’s just the context I know it in: some girl asks the guy to put lotion on her, or sometimes vice versa. > > Since I would not want to lead them on, I would say no. I too would not want to touch a pretty lady. > [@gigi](#): > > What is a “locker room”? I grow my own locker rooms at home and they are much tastier than what you can buy at the store. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441/40 "2016-03-21T18:30:14Z")
Funny. I’m a firm no on this, but am okay with kissing a dude (at a price) for the scavenger hunt lady in the other thread. I’m guessing because in that case I’m assuming me and the other guy wouldn’t really _want_ to do it, but $50 is $50. Some strange guy asking me to lube him up is completely different, for me, apparently… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-stranger-approached-you-in-the-locker-room-and-asked-you-to-rub-lotion-on-his-her-back/749441.md?page=3)