Do you get hit on at the gym?

This totally does not relate to me, but I had to post on this thread...

The socialization of men and women are at varying ends of the spectrum when it deals with gyms, showering and open nudity. I was a high school athlete (and yes, cheerleading, in my opinion was a sport because we had to condition ourselves and prepare just like traditional student athletes) and we never had to contend with these types of issues. Our shower facilities were always enclosed and girls generally never walked around nude. This behavior or socialization for men is something that is strange for me to comprehend. I suppose that I probably never shall.

I am also a former pageant contestant; I have been in numerous pageants. The closest thing I can personally relate too that might be similar to this is having to change in open spaces with all the girls. HOWEVER, there is a HUGE difference... in pageants, you don't have time to be looking around and 2 people are normally helping get you dressed for the next level of competition. You may end up semi nude for a total of 2-3 minutes while you are getting dressed for the next round (usually swimsuits competition), but never just out openly. I would not feel comfortable with that.

It is just "different" for me. Anyway, I wanted to say that and I did. :P

Glad I got clarification on this one because there is a place called the tea room near my loft and I figured they serve tea but like I said had heard of tea rooms in this movie about a week ago...

I get hit on by guys a lot, and until recently I didn't know how to handle it, but I've matured somewhat and now I quite enjoy it!

Ah,I cant blame them really! :P

I agree with what an earlier person wrote about feekling wierd about commenting on another blokes dick. I can never believe it when someone makes a remark to me. Atthe gym I go to its right in the middle of a black neighbourhood and im one of a white lads who go there. I was in the steam room the other day and this little bloke comes in, black in his 30's, and sits down and literally after about 2 minutes he just starts talking to me about my dick, saying that hes always suprised to see a white lad with a long one. I didnt know what to say at all, I didnt really say and thing, I just smiled and kept nodding and shrugging, all the time hes looking down. The thing was it wasnt as if he was coming on to me, it was a very normal chat really I just got a bit embaressed.

My take on this is, and has been, that if your in the locker room your gonna see stuff weather you like or dislike it. Now looking and being looked at does not bother me in the least. However, the subject of manners, is another story. You can tell someone something politely, and get the point accross that your VERY interested in them without being a rude prick. I keep hoping someday i'll encounter a male who knows the difference between being rude and being polite/respectful.

Irishdong,
I always wondered what does "bloke" mean? I'm from the "States" and that term goes right over my head :unsure:

Irishdong,
I always wondered what does "bloke" mean? I'm from the "States" and that term goes right over my head :unsure:
[/b][/quote]

It's use is similar to that of the american "Dude" only it sounds less retarded.

Our gym has individual shower stalls and the urinals are very carefully concealed one from the other, so I suppose that prevents these episodes from happening very often. When I was much younger I never had any social life and both girls I knew strictly as friends and boys I knew in same context would wonder aloud to me why I didn't since both groups would comment that I was so good looking. Well the comments made be feel better but the social life was still zilch. I would get hit on by older women and many more older men, but I would just ignore them and pretend to be suddenly convulsed with an urge to vomit or something and leave the scene. As I reached middle age, this became less and less a problem but always wondered what would be an appropriate response in lieu of vomitus.

But then I read this interesting comment by Miss Manners. Her columns I read mostly for how cleverly she can get you gratiously out of compromising situations (e.g. how to introduce two people when you have forgotten either one or both names -- have used that successfully several times). She said that when anyone says something to you that is supposed to be funny or clever or whatever but that you find disgusting, you must never offend that person (assuming that there is nothing overtly malicious in the comment). Step 1 -- If the comment is a question or statement that demands a reply you say, Thank you (if a compliment) or no thank you (for unwanted service) and if no comment is required immediately move to Step 2 which is to smile only very meekly with a bit of tooth showing, but let the rest of the face show no emotion whatsoever and then turn away. That way both of you have behaved as properly as the situation allows -- the solicitor knows you are not interested, but is not crushed by silence or an insulting comment and you have been a perfect gentleman, always in control of the situation. It does take practice (especially the countenance that is expressionless) and mostly I have used this technique when someone tells an offensive joke in the presence of ladies who I know do not approve. Good luck in being flattered without a continuation of the flattery.

It's intriguing to see everyone's responses on this topic. I myself am trying to get started working out at age 29. Only time I've ever been in a locker room was probably freshman year of high school for phys ed, and I've actually never used a communal shower.

I was lucky enough to have a couple co-workers who introduced me to the weight room at our gym here, and that was a great icebreaker. But honestly, I'm a bit scared off by the prospect of going to the gym in the mornings (the only real workable time for me), which would require use of the showers before heading back to work. Having never learned the proper etiquette, I have no idea how to act. I would never know how to react if hit upon (fairly unlikely, given my ranking among the other guys there), but I also wouldn't want to get caught staring (which I have to admit, might happen, since I've never really been around too many athletic guys before).

Ugh. I just realized I use parentheticals way too often. Anyway, if I can muster up the courage to just do it, I'll let you all know how it goes. Any first-timer suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I was in the EXACT same situation as you are ( funny, but i have the habit of using to many parentheticals too! :D ) and just like you, I NEVER in my life been around nude guys. The first time I went to the gym to get regestered ( local gym), the guy showed me around, and brought me to the pool area. Well, to get to the pool area, you have to go through the locker room and I remember seeing all these nude guys walking around and getting dressed :blush:, I remember one elderly guy looking at me as if to say " what are you looking at".......pretty funny actually. But I just never been in that sort of enviorment before.
Anyways after the first few weeks you'll get used to it, and unless there really well hung, or well built, they ( and "it") all pretty much looks the same .

I personally don't do the whole "nude" thing ( I like privacy!) and I shower and change at home, but if you have to shower, you could always take your underwares with you to the shower stall ( you do have stalls there right?) and dry and put them on in there. When you come out there's not much left for them to see B)



Are you the "big boss"?

Are you the "big boss"?
[/quote]

:D Wow, that's an interesting and totally unintended way of taking that statement!

No, I was referring to my status as someone who has essentially never done anything to improve his physique in, oh, 29 of his 29 years on this planet. Ranking myself, therefore, as below the threshold of being hit on.

Suffice to say that the only parts of me considered "big" are those I could stand to make un-big at this point! :P

I go the the gym in the mornings as that is when I have the time and I am WAY too germ-phobic to use a public shower--so I come back home and wash before heading to work (my gym is 5 minutes from my house). I don't even really changer clothes in there.

In the end, if someone gets hit on in the gym and isn't interested, it's not too difficult to say, "I'm flattered, but no thanks." It's a short sentence that will usually do the trick.

That's just about the same thing I say to telemarketers...For the life of me I don't understand why people get so upset at them... It's not like someone is forcing you to answer the phone, let alone listen to them.

A quick and firm "No Thank You" followed by returning the handset to the cradle does the trick for me...[/end of off topic rant]

I have a better way of dealing with telemarketers: in my deepest baritone voice I say, "I'm wearing a black lace teddy and five-inch heels. Are you touching yourself?" They're the ones who hang up on me! Since the national Do Not Call list, I haven't had to bother.