# Men who do the "underwear towel dance" at the gym: why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072 "2011-04-12T10:24:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/21 "2011-04-12T14:12:39Z")
I’m female, but I’m ok with people doing the towel dance. Most people naked are really nothing that appealing to look at, and it’s much preferable than the “let it all hang out, I feel like drip-drying today” types who must be naked for as long as possible. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/22 "2011-04-12T14:18:25Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > This is the most accurate statement ever made. When I was in Finland I used the pool at our hotel and I got changed in the locker room. It was different, to say the least. The locker rooms for both men and women were completely open and actually connected, so while they had signs indicating that women changed to the left and men changed to the right no one actually followed them, so there were nude people of every age and gender wandering about. It was a bit too much for me so I changed in a stall they had set up for that purpose (probably for the handful of prude Americans that they get every year) but it was surreal to see how nudity just did not matter to anyone there at all. Here in Sweden just about every changing room I have ever been in has a door that opens wide so everyone outside the changing room can see inside. You just get used to it after a while. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/23 "2011-04-12T14:29:04Z")
Is it possible that those men feel the need to do that when you are around, since you admit that you peak. Some gay men (and other people) subscribe to the notion of ‘gaydar’ or the ability to pick out other gay men, by the same token a straight man may feel this also and tend to cover up if they detect it. This would make it much more apparent and often to a person trying to peak as their efforts would be continuously frustrated by the men they are trying to see. I do find it telling that you state that no one is peaking, then you admit that you peak because you are gay, but say that can’t be the reason. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/24 "2011-04-12T14:48:49Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > My theory is that this all dates back to high school. When my generation went to high school the gym shower was one big tiled room with a shower head jutting out from the wall every couple of feet. When your session in the gym ended, everyone headed for the showers at the same time. You either quickly got over any shyness you had about exposing yourself to other guys or you faced eternal torment. > > It’s been a looooong time since I’ve been in a high school locker room, but I understand that this style of gang shower no longer exists. This. One of the biggest disservices we have imposed on the American Youth is the ending of required showers after PE class. We are now raising an entire generation of uptight little prudes. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/25 "2011-04-12T15:00:13Z")
I just don’t like being naked in a group of strangers, especially when they’re mostly straight. Usually I don’t “towel dance” though, I take my clothes to the shower area and change there. My gym is setup to make that easy enough. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/26 "2011-04-12T15:02:14Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > This. One of the biggest disservices we have imposed on the American Youth is the ending of required showers after PE class. We are now raising an entire generation of uptight little prudes. Who smell. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/27 "2011-04-12T15:05:39Z")
It’s just a reflection of different levels of personal space and self-disclosure that are common in one society as opposed to another. Americans may be generally less open in some ways but more so in others. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/28 "2011-04-12T15:18:50Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > I’m one of those old geezers who wanders around the locker room with his towel slung over his shoulder. Want to take a picture with your cell phone? Go right ahead, but you must be one desperate puppy because 63-year-old bodies just don’t look that good. > > My theory is that this all dates back to high school. When my generation went to high school the gym shower was one big tiled room with a shower head jutting out from the wall every couple of feet. When your session in the gym ended, everyone headed for the showers at the same time. You either quickly got over any shyness you had about exposing yourself to other guys or you faced eternal torment. > > It’s been a looooong time since I’ve been in a high school locker room, but I understand that this style of gang shower no longer exists. Because for every single **UncleRojelio** who can read a post and comment sensibly on it, there are a dozen 12 year-old adults (like me) who think: Huh huh huh… poster’s name is “Seven Wood” and he posted in a thread about naked dudes and dicks! huh huh huh! That’s only kinda a joke. Know how the evangelical gay-haters invariably turn up in gay bars buying drinks for 15 year old boys & such? And the theory that the reason they think The Gay is a menace is because, in their mind, NOT being gay is a constant struggle with temptation and so they think all dudes must feel the same way. The reality is much more likely: They’re really gay and just can’t accept it or haven’t realized it yet. I reckon a similar thing is going on in the locker room. If you have a propensity to peep despite believing it’s wrong to do so, you’re much more likely to assume other people are going to be peeping at you, and that they do so knowing it’s wrong. So you deprive them of doing something you really would do given the chance. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/29 "2011-04-12T15:27:21Z")
I’ll admit that I do the under the towel thing. I’ve gotten really good at it. I’m not really shy but I’m sure other people don’t want to see me prancing around with my wang hanging out. I’d rather be the youngin’ changing under a towel than that old guy walking around butt-ass naked for all the world to see. Really, the locker room is to change and get out, not to try to talk to me. That’s it, I guess. I don’t want to be like those old guys. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/30 "2011-04-12T15:45:08Z")
When did gang showers go away? I graduated high school in 2002 and we definitely still had them. ---
**Author:** ![Marc\_Xenos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Marc\_Xenos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marc_Xenos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/31 "2011-04-12T15:49:22Z")
Opinion? Two reasons, by my reckoning. Home morality, again as a kid. I’ve known some people who grew up with the mindset that being seen nude is a degradation worse than death. Teasing by the 'bullies" when you were a kid. Valid or not (the teasing), it still carries into adulthood. Okay, three reasons. Because #3 seems to be a common concern that everyone is measuring them. If YOU (whoever you may be) are checking out everyone’s junk, then maybe it’s you that has a problem. But most everyone else doesn’t care how you measure up. Let’s face it, they ain’t checking you out for a date. Or if they are, there’s already more than they’re checking out than just your equipment. If they’re self-comparing, there’s only two options. Either they’re smaller than you, so walk proud, or they’re bigger and they no longer care about your endowment. But in reality, guys range all over the map when limp, but stiff, they’re fairly much about the same. (Spare me the anecdotes about the occasional exception; I’ve been in the Lifestyle for 25 years and seen 'em all.) So my guess is it’s the reasons in the order I’ve listed them. I may be wrong; it’s happened before. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/32 "2011-04-12T15:51:57Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > When did gang showers go away? I graduated high school in 2002 and we definitely still had them. Playing rugby we used to all get in a big bath together after the game. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/33 "2011-04-12T16:01:57Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > I’ve seen at the gym or at a public pool sometimes guys who will do everything possible to not have their genitals exposed at any time, up to the point of wearing the towel wrapped around their waste and then putting their underwear on underneath it, requiring a little shuffling as everything is moved around (hence the underwear towel dance, or UTD). You’re reading way to much effort into this. I don’t find it any more of a chore to not expose myself in the change room as it is to not expose myself in the food court. But I don’t do the towel dance thing- I don’t go to pools very often, but I recall them actually having little enclosed changing stalls now. I suppose it is just a cultural difference between generations, with neither being inherently more normal than the other. > [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > I really have to question why people do this. You’re in a single sex changing room with other men, we’ve seen it all before, we’re not interested in looking But a guy who isn’t interested in looking _hasn’t_ “seen it all”, he’s just seen his own. I honestly don’t have enough observations of randomly selected naked guys to know how average or pathetic my genitals are. I’d expect the average woman to know more about what the average naked man looks like than I do. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/34 "2011-04-12T16:20:16Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > When did gang showers go away? I graduated high school in 2002 and we definitely still had them. But were you required to shower after PE class? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/35 "2011-04-12T16:21:49Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Playing rugby we used to all get in a big bath together after the game. I have that DVD! ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/36 "2011-04-12T16:32:54Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > But were you required to shower after PE class? I was in middle school (where we had gang showers), which I graduated in 2001. We weren’t in high school gym class, but that’s only because non-athletic PE (for kids who weren’t in sports) was fairly pathetic. You don’t work up much of a sweat playing badminton. And even then, I’ve talked to the janitors. They stopped requiring showers because it was getting to hard to keep them clean and fungus free. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/37 "2011-04-12T16:39:49Z")
Why does it have to be more than self-consciousness, like others have said? And obviously, you _are_ staring. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/38 "2011-04-12T16:41:01Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I’ve talked to the janitors. They stopped requiring showers because it was getting to hard to keep them clean and fungus free. And if there’s one thing you do **not** want to see, it’s a fungus-covered janitor. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/39 "2011-04-12T16:58:29Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > When did gang showers go away? I graduated high school in 2002 and we definitely still had them. > [@UncleRojelio](#): > > This. One of the biggest disservices we have imposed on the American Youth is the ending of required showers after PE class. We are now raising an entire generation of uptight little prudes. > [@sevenwood](#): > > …It’s been a looooong time since I’ve been in a high school locker room, but I understand that this style of gang shower no longer exists. High schools still tend to have communal showers (at least in the boys’ lockerroom); it’s just that nobody uses them. I graduated in 2003 and almost nobody showered after gym. Some of the sports teams did shower after practice. My school have a dance after most home games (football & basketball) and apparently the wrestling coach was really stict about hygiene. I didn’t shower, not because I uncomfortable with nudity, but because nobody else did and I didn’t want to be first. Most boys wouldn’t even take their t-shirt and pants off at the same time (ie stand in just boxers). I also had it drilled into my head since kindergarden that my “private parts are private” and I should never show them to anybody except a doctor (from teachers at school, not my mother). Even at the doctor’s office all my physical exams were conducted fully clothed. The only time I remember having to drop my pants was when he was filling out a school medical form that asked for a hernia check and a Tanner stage. It is really strange. When my father was my age any boy who did get the slightest bit upset at having to strip was branded a sissy, now it’s the opposite and the boys who do shower naked get called gay or a fag. Of course hey also had to swim naked (in school, at the Y, & at summer camp and had regular mass physicals courtesy of Uncle Sam once they reached draft age. Oddly the boys who transferred in from the “Christian school” next-door had zero hangups showering, didn’t understand what the big deal was, but stopped anyway because of peer pressure. And the same guys who though showering with other guys was “gay” didn’t have the slight inhibition skinnydipping or playing truth or dare or as long as girls were present ('cause if at least one girl is present it can’t be gay :rolleyes:). Or getting drunk at parties and streaking. I’m not one of those guys who goes to far as to shave at the sink naked or use the hand dryers on my pubes, but I don’t bother coveruping to and from the shower (especially _to_ the shower, why would I wrap a clean towel around my sweaty nether regions then use it after I showered :dubious:). Also unless it’s a coed sauna (which I avoid) I just bring a towel to sit on. Lack of enforced showering leads to more than stinky students. Poor hygiene has also been linked to increased skin infections, staph infections, poor body image (since the only other nudity they get exposed to tends to be from porno). And then there’s those reports of people refusing to strip for decontamination after potential being exposed to lethal biochemical agents even when the sexes are seperated. PS, I have a friend who works in “institutional” interior design and she says that new schools still prefer communal showers over private stalls. They’re cheaper to build and maintain, us up less space, and are usually required to meet building codes. Most don’t expected them to actually be used. Often having the water disconnected after an initial test and a locking gate installed so they can be used for storage. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072/40 "2011-04-12T17:02:52Z")
I just don’t like to look at my body, and I assume others would rather not see it as well. I mean, I don’t even go without a shirt at a pool. I always felt that, if I were in really great shape, I wouldn’t give a crap, except on one small part: I don’t know about every other guy, but, in the rare times when I’ve seen any other penis than my own, I feel a little bit disgusted. Something about penises is gross to me. And, again, since it’s gross to me to look at someone else’s, I don’t show mine to any other male. ETA: alphaboi: I didn’t know you were the same age as me. I graduated in 2003 as well, and I had the exact same experience in high school. The community showers existed, but no one used them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-who-do-the-underwear-towel-dance-at-the-gym-why/578072.md?page=3)