A true story from last night. See emails to the gym below....
Subject: RE: Mens changing rooms
I thought I would email in as it’s a subject I didn’t really want to bring up with the ladies on the desk last night.
I am a man of the world. I’ve seen a few things in my life. I would like to think I’m a pretty tolerant person. I’m not squeamish or prudish. I can’t say I’m a metro sexual, but am ‘in touch with my feminine side’ enough to understand most things. However, last night I was fairly gobsmacked (may be an inappropriate word considering what I saw), and a little disturbed by an activity of a fellow male gym user.
There are some men who are a little more laissez faire with their approach to nakedness than I am. I try not to flaunt around in the nude myself, but am accepting of others that do and just keep my head high and eyes at eye level. My attitude to male grooming is more the traditional approach (mostly due to my genetic predisposition to male pattern baldness and not overly toned physique). But am fully aware some men like to look good, do their hair, talc bits and pieces, shave, hair dry and style, and even plucking eyebrows and shaving chests. All of which I can accept as exercises that can be conducted in the public realm of a male gym changing room. But I do have my limits.
Last night, whilst going about my own business in the changing room (to clarify- I was showering and changing after squash). Just putting my coat on and turning around to see a man completely naked in front of the mirror. Not a completely uncommon site in the male changing rooms. In one hand he had a razor. Still nothing out of the ordinary, but that’s where it ends. In the other hand was his manhood, lifted to one side, whilst shaving around his genitalia presumably for a more efficient and closer shave. I honestly couldn’t believe it, and caught myself fixated at it in disbelief. But unfortunately it was not a fiction of my imagination (not that I would normally imagine that sort of thing). I looked away, thought to myself it couldn’t be true. Looked back, and confirmed my horror.
Now it’s not beyond me to understand why someone would want to do this. There may be medical reasons (a rash or some sort of infection), comfort reasons, for his partner (be that male or female), maybe as part of his profession, or just for his own personal reasons. I am open minded and will not judge him for whatever he chooses. But to be conducting this activity in full view of a group of men, some of who may be more sensitive about these things or maybe even children (mind you it was later in the day so is unlikely- but he may think it reasonable in the daytime) is a little strange. I’m not sure of his thought process or social boundaries to come to the conclusion that the rest of the men in that room would find such an activity perfectly normal for us to all view. But I for one think he has crossed a boundary.
I have no idea how you would go about tackling (no pun intended) such an issue. At the time I was not prepared to walk up to a man with his cock in his hand and tell him what he was doing wasn’t in my opinion acceptable/normal behaviour. But I really couldn’t just let the situation go unreported of fear of a reoccurrence and possibly children one day seeing this. I am not for one minute suggesting he would do it with children about; but he has shown his social boundaries are a little out of sync with mine, so am not sure to what limit he would go to.
Please let me know your thoughts and to what measures you think are reasonable to stop a reoccurrence. I certainly do not wish to see such personal grooming again in the male changing facility.
Regards,
Adam
From: @nuffieldhealth.com]
Sent: 27 January 2012 11:13
To: Adam
Subject: RE: Mens changing rooms
Wow – Hi Adam,
Thank you for your email.
I am sitting here at my desk and thinking I have heard about some strange things happening in clubs and this is right up there with them!!!
I am in a really awkward situation here and when faced with similar situations in the past I have asked the team (and members) to describe the facial description, time the issue took place and any other details so I can narrow down who this is and eventually we end up catching them and either putting right a wrong or banning the member.
The issue is so vague, additional signage simply wont help.
Unfortunately, with our scanners being down yesterday, I have no way of tracing the above and therefore if you could send me the details, I will at least have something more on record I can follow up with the team here.
I really apologise about the situation you have found yourself in and hope it has not left you too distressed.
I look forward to seeing you in the club.
Regards
Bob
________________________________________
From: Adam
Sent: 27 January 2012 11:03
To: Bob
Subject: Mens changing rooms
Bob,
You will understand my attention was not really on his face. If it helps I could describe other parts of his body, but think you would struggle identifying the culprit based on religious persuasion (hope you know what I mean), and tidiness of his pubic region. Suffice to say, he was well cared for looking guy one would assume with a reasonable body.
It was 7:45 last night and am assuming he would have left the gym about that time. But it is anyone’s guess what time he came in.
God forbid I see it again, but if it does I will try to make some more mental notes. But to be honest, right now all I want to is bleach my eyes and drink away the memories/flashbacks.
Regards,
Adam
