Old Masculinity and male bonding

[adude688]

I recently visited a bath house that allowed nudity, it wasn’t a gay bath house and any sexual behavior was not allowed. As I went in I saw a very diverse group of men in terms of age, body type, ethnic background and sexual orientation. Some of the men were naked, others wore towels around their waste that they would remove once sitting down in the steam rooms or when they took a shower, and some men kept their bathing suits on.

As I was sitting down in the steam rooms I took my towel off. A man (not gay) sitting opposite to me started to have a conversation with me, he was also naked, we talked about normal every day stuff, we decided after that after we were done to have some coffee to continue the conversation.

Before we left we needed to shower, so we went to the showers and showered next to each other, dried ourselves off, head to the locker rooms and got dressed.

I learned a lot from that experience. Even though it was such a homo erotic experience, it wasn’t sexual at all. It felt very masculine, men just being men. I remembered than men have been doing this for thousands of years until only a few decades ago. I also understood why many professional sports teams and military trainees use communal showers. When men socialize in the nude, they are basically seeing each other as they are, and it develops a more intimate yet platonic bond between them.

Recently, nudity has been tired exclusively to sex, sometimes it’s just men being men together.

 

[swimmerguydfw]

I recently visited a bath house that allowed nudity, it wasn’t a gay bath house and any sexual behavior was not allowed. As I went in I saw a very diverse group of men in terms of age, body type, ethnic background and sexual orientation. Some of the men were naked, others wore towels around their waste that they would remove once sitting down in the steam rooms or when they took a shower, and some men kept their bathing suits on.

As I was sitting down in the steam rooms I took my towel off. A man (not gay) sitting opposite to me started to have a conversation with me, he was also naked, we talked about normal every day stuff, we decided after that after we were done to have some coffee to continue the conversation.

Before we left we needed to shower, so we went to the showers and showered next to each other, dried ourselves off, head to the locker rooms and got dressed.

I learned a lot from that experience. Even though it was such a homo erotic experience, it wasn’t sexual at all. It felt very masculine, men just being men. I remembered than men have been doing this for thousands of years until only a few decades ago. I also understood why many professional sports teams and military trainees use communal showers. When men socialize in the nude, they are basically seeing each other as they are, and it develops a more intimate yet platonic bond between them.

Recently, nudity has been tired exclusively to sex, sometimes it’s just men being men together.

Exactly. There's a level of bonding that you just don't find in other male/male situations. And, as you noted, it need not be sexual at all. It's too bad that we've lost that avenue for interacting...

 

[adude688]

Exactly. There's a level of bonding that you just don't find in other male/male situations. And, as you noted, it need not be sexual at all. It's too bad that we've lost that avenue for interacting...

An interesting observation that I made was when I realized that some of the guys who were wearing bathing suits at the beginning ended up taking them off once they saw that most men were naked, which indicates that more men are open to the idea, which brings some hope that positive social nudity can be revived if it became more normal. But that does face some obstacles, one being the popularity of shower stalls and private changing rooms, another one is the lack of awareness of the benefits of social nudity in certain venues, not only does bathing in the nude foster a sense of camaraderie and openness among bathers, it encourages a more relaxed atmosphere where people can feel free and connected, not to mention boosting confidence and body positivity. Bathing and steaming is also more hygienic in the nude than doing it with a bathing suit on. There also needs to be more awareness regarding inappropriate sexual behavior in these venues, unfortunately some men can’t separate nudity from sex, which ironically is a direct result of the lack of positive social nudity, prompting many venues to make wearing a bathing suit mandatory.

 

[Jon1971]

An interesting observation that I made was when I realized that some of the guys who were wearing bathing suits at the beginning ended up taking them off once they saw that most men were naked, which indicates that more men are open to the idea, which brings some hope that positive social nudity can be revived if it became more normal. But that does face some obstacles, one being the popularity of shower stalls and private changing rooms, another one is the lack of awareness of the benefits of social nudity in certain venues, not only does bathing in the nude foster a sense of camaraderie and openness among bathers, it encourages a more relaxed atmosphere where people can feel free and connected, not to mention boosting confidence and body positivity. Bathing and steaming is also more hygienic in the nude than doing it with a bathing suit on. There also needs to be more awareness regarding inappropriate sexual behavior in these venues, unfortunately some men can’t separate nudity from sex, which ironically is a direct result of the lack of positive social nudity, prompting many venues to make wearing a bathing suit mandatory.

Exactly. For example, in the Korean spa thread there's always someone asking how much action they are likely to get at a particular place. Its not for that.

 

[swimmerguydfw]

Exactly. For example, in the Korean spa thread there's always someone asking how much action they are likely to get at a particular place. Its not for that.

Yes...it is indeed funny how guys will start removing their bathing suits, towels, or underwear once they see others doing it. As was noted at the beginning of this thread, there seems to be both a fear and a feeling that it is somehow "evil" or "gay" to be naked---and comfortable with it. And, until they've done it, most guys don't realize how freeing it really is...

 

[Janvier75]

Army Men

 

[ZuhayrKhan27]

Good old days

 

[Janvier75]

 

[Janvier75]

A man with an athletic build by 1930s standards.

 

[adude688]

I’m both fascinated and curious about communal showers. Where i grew up, nudity among men was unthinkable.

Even now I’m still very curious. I always wanted to know what men who are used to it are thinking about when they are in a communal shower full of other naked men, especially straight men. I know it’s not sexual, and I know it’s a bit awkward when u first do it, but what goes on in the minds of men when they are doing it? Are they conscious to the fact that they are naked and other men can see them? Are they curious about the other naked men and will have a subtle look at them? Do they like it?

 

[misterfm]

I’m both fascinated and curious about communal showers. Where i grew up, nudity among men was unthinkable.

Even now I’m still very curious. I always wanted to know what men who are used to it are thinking about when they are in a communal shower full of other naked men, especially straight men. I know it’s not sexual, and I know it’s a bit awkward when u first do it, but what goes on in the minds of men when they are doing it? Are they conscious to the fact that they are naked and other men can see them? Are they curious about the other naked men and will have a subtle look at them? Do they like it?

Innocence used to exist. For sure nobody cared that much about their own body in comparison to other people´s body. Maybe....for example.... 1 out of 10 was curious or was feeling attracted to a man´s body. "Everybody" was straight that time. Things like that.

 

[adude688]

Innocence used to exist. For sure nobody cared that much about their own body in comparison to other people´s body. Maybe....for example.... 1 out of 10 was curious or was feeling attracted to a man´s body. "Everybody" was straight that time. Things like that.

What do u think it felt like for the straight guys? Did they prefer it over individual showers? Did they give good but subtle looks at other naked guys? Did they see it as a great way to bond?

 

[misterfm]

What do u think it felt like for the straight guys? Did they prefer it over individual showers? Did they give good but subtle looks at other naked guys? Did they see it as a great way to bond?

I dont know. I think they didnt think about sex that much Just like us nowadays. They were not pornographic like us.

 

[nudistcock]

I would like to share my story about my shift of mindset according nudity. I was born in the beginning of the 90s. I live in Germany where nudity is a lot more common than in the US although it shifted in the last thirty years and especially in the last ten years. I used to be very insecure and shy about my body in my teen years and early 20s doing the towel dance as well. I thought that my body in general wasn't fit enough and my dick not big enough. I did do sports but that didn't change anything in my head.
About ten years ago I went to a sauna with my ex boyfriend which I had never done before. In Germany you go into the sauna nude. Being there was a game changer for me because it put all my thoughts about my body and dick into perspective. Most men had more body fat and there were guys with dicks like mine and everybody was very open about their body. I talked to some guys there too and first it felt a little weird but normal after some time. After that I really enjoyed going to the sauna and I was much more open myself.
About two years ago I also started visiting nudist beaches and I also did a lot more nudist activities like hiking on a nudist trail, camping on a nudist camping site or visiting a nudist bath in my city. Can just recommend it. (In Germany it might be easier though because it used to be much more common.)
Looking back it shows me that you actively need to work on your mindset and that you have to take action to change it.

 

[swimmerguydfw]

I would like to share my story about my shift of mindset according nudity. I was born in the beginning of the 90s. I live in Germany where nudity is a lot more common than in the US although it shifted in the last thirty years and especially in the last ten years. I used to be very insecure and shy about my body in my teen years and early 20s doing the towel dance as well. I thought that my body in general wasn't fit enough and my dick not big enough. I did do sports but that didn't change anything in my head.
About ten years ago I went to a sauna with my ex boyfriend which I had never done before. In Germany you go into the sauna nude. Being there was a game changer for me because it put all my thoughts about my body and dick into perspective. Most men had more body fat and there were guys with dicks like mine and everybody was very open about their body. I talked to some guys there too and first it felt a little weird but normal after some time. After that I really enjoyed going to the sauna and I was much more open myself.
About two years ago I also started visiting nudist beaches and I also did a lot more nudist activities like hiking on a nudist trail, camping on a nudist camping site or visiting a nudist bath in my city. Can just recommend it. (In Germany it might be easier though because it used to be much more common.)
Looking back it shows me that you actively need to work on your mindset and that you have to take action to change it.

Thanks for sharing your experience! It just points to everything we've been talking about in this thread...that it's actually a very "free-ing" experience, rather than something to be insecure with.

Sad to hear about things changing in Germany, though. I always found that the attitude toward nudity in Germany and Austria to be extremely refreshing---not repressed like here in the US. I wonder what's causing the shift?

 

[xemo]

 

[RoarLionRoar]

I recently visited a bath house that allowed nudity, it wasn’t a gay bath house and any sexual behavior was not allowed. As I went in I saw a very diverse group of men in terms of age, body type, ethnic background and sexual orientation. Some of the men were naked, others wore towels around their waste that they would remove once sitting down in the steam rooms or when they took a shower, and some men kept their bathing suits on.

As I was sitting down in the steam rooms I took my towel off. A man (not gay) sitting opposite to me started to have a conversation with me, he was also naked, we talked about normal every day stuff, we decided after that after we were done to have some coffee to continue the conversation.

Before we left we needed to shower, so we went to the showers and showered next to each other, dried ourselves off, head to the locker rooms and got dressed.

I learned a lot from that experience. Even though it was such a homo erotic experience, it wasn’t sexual at all. It felt very masculine, men just being men. I remembered than men have been doing this for thousands of years until only a few decades ago. I also understood why many professional sports teams and military trainees use communal showers. When men socialize in the nude, they are basically seeing each other as they are, and it develops a more intimate yet platonic bond between them.

Recently, nudity has been tired exclusively to sex, sometimes it’s just men being men together.

So true and very well said. I would very much like to see these times return. We men need them.

 

[nudistcock]

Sad to hear about things changing in Germany, though. I always found that the attitude toward nudity in Germany and Austria to be extremely refreshing---not repressed like here in the US. I wonder what's causing the shift?

It still is very free and it's far from people not visiting nudist beaches anymore but I also see people in changing rooms and in the sauna of my gym trying to hide everything and even visit the sauna in swimming trunks.
In Germany several factors play a role in this (as people have pointed out for other parts of the world already):
1. The possibility of being recorded because of smartphones everywhere.
2. Cultural and religious backgrounds, especially with a rising number of Muslims although there are also many who are not afraid to be naked.
3. The rising consume of pornography in everyday life and already in early ages where teens or kids can't differentiate that porn is not showing the reality and real bodies.
4. Connected to that is the shift to a much more visual world where people see perfect bodies on social media and on big displays and hence are afraid of showing their "imperfect" body.
5. Being born into a smaller families where you don't need to share space and be naked around others.
6. The rising fear that you could be seen as gay hanging out with other naked men (I don't know where this is coming from though, it's like social pressure grew).

That being said it's very important that we protect spaces where you can be naked. I talked to a french guy some time ago who told me that some places like nudist beaches are being closed in France because of a prudish or religious mindset.

 

[SwissSwede]

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Beautiful pictures. Perfect for a Jan 1st! Thx for sharing.

 

[jamiesux]

It still is very free and it's far from people not visiting nudist beaches anymore but I also see people in changing rooms and in the sauna of my gym trying to hide everything and even visit the sauna in swimming trunks.
In Germany several factors play a role in this (as people have pointed out for other parts of the world already):
1. The possibility of being recorded because of smartphones everywhere.
2. Cultural and religious backgrounds, especially with a rising number of Muslims although there are also many who are not afraid to be naked.
3. The rising consume of pornography in everyday life and already in early ages where teens or kids can't differentiate that porn is not showing the reality and real bodies.
4. Connected to that is the shift to a much more visual world where people see perfect bodies on social media and on big displays and hence are afraid of showing their "imperfect" body.
5. Being born into a smaller families where you don't need to share space and be naked around others.
6. The rising fear that you could be seen as gay hanging out with other naked men (I don't know where this is coming from though, it's like social pressure grew).

That being said it's very important that we protect spaces where you can be naked. I talked to a french guy some time ago who told me that some places like nudist beaches are being closed in France because of a prudish or religious mindset.

6. The rising fear that you could be seen as gay hanging out with other naked men (I don't know where this is coming from though, it's like social pressure grew).

but this old and was around for many years.. I kinda of grew up with this... and in some cases it wasn't anything to do with 'naked' but if one guy was a known 'homo'.. it could rub off on you...
This is all crap of course and just a pressure to control...

but I had forgotten about cameras.. sort of.... unconsciously not maybe...mmmmmmmm