If I Could Write The Locker Room Rules...

[Kitsune06]

Keep in mind that the emotional scars held by child that was assualted in a public changing room, restroom, etc. would run a lot deeper that the ones you may sustain because your goodies were checked out by a little kid.

Absolutely. What we consider scolding can be really traumatic- this kid is having a total stranger raise her voice at him for just acting on his (or her!) natural curiosity.

By the same token, the nudist bath house/sauna I go to over the summer is very liberal that way... Kids certainly get an eyeful but after a while it loses a lot of its novelty after parents say "Well, that's what people look like without clothes on... we all look basically the same..."

And what actually really gets me is how open and understanding people can be. Year before last there was a girl there with a foot and a half spiked mohawk (pink, she was cute ) going to the nude sauna, had lots and lots of pierces- more than I do- and had a little boy, maybe 5 or 6 ask her about them. She was very straightforward and honest, not shy or taken aback. His mom was *mortified* that he asked, but very relieved at Mohawk's response.

[HappyAnika]

Do not walk into the gym throw your stuff on a treadmill to reserve it, then disappear for 30 minutes.

Do not hang on equipment and/or weight benches you're not using while talking to someone for 30 minutes.

Do not sit on the bench while completely nekkid. The bench isn't clean, I don't think you are clean, and now I really don't want to even set my gym bag down on the bench on the outline of your bum.

[Kitsune06]

...eww. why sit on the bench completely nekkid anyway? the bench is probably dirtier than their bum (statistically and bacteriologically speaking) but who *knows* what kinda creepies are lurking there?

[AllezGirl]

Queen, I agree, but I remember trying to control a two year old while getting myself out of a wet swimsuit after "mommy and me" swim class and it was next to impossible. Luckily, by the time he was old enough for it to be an issue, the Y built family changing rooms.

The club I belong to now doesn't allow kids under 16 at all...

How about those lovely people who leave big gobs of sweat on the machines for the next user.

[Veronica]

It's not the two year old boys, or even the four year olds. It's when they are 7 or 8. And yes its natural that they are curious... but go look at your mom, not me please!

V.

[annie]

Whoa, after reading this thread, I am glad I did not re-join my gym! I agree with most of the comments, but here's one more that I haven't seen yet. When you are there to workout, you don't necessarily have time to dawdle! What about friends/aquaintances you see who want to do nothing but chat?! That used to drive me crazy. I would try and be polite, but yikes! Are you there to socialize or to get a workout?

Annie

[SouthernBelle]

Yep. My experience was with boys WAY too old to be in there, 8-10.

[Mr. Bloom]

If you sprinkle when you tinkle
Be a sweetie, wipe the seatie !

I thought this was a man problem

[Trek420]

I thought this was a man problem

sad to say, no

another rule; if your quads are to weak to "hover' over the seat do some reps on the leg press but sit the &*^% down if you can't aim.

[Starfish]

Baton twirl.

Fortunately, I don't have one, so I guess I'm just walking!

[carpaltunnel]

I thought this was a man problem

And you never know if it's residue from "hovering", or swimming pool bum prints.

[mimitabby]

I hate to be the one to take it out of the locker room and into the gym
but what about these guys that groan and groan during and after lifting weights.
I had a groaner on each side of me (three benchs in a row, I was in the middle) both guys were fit looking and both had 35+ pounds of barbells in each hand
(you know, when they put them down the earth shakes) But they kept groaning LOUD.. what's up with that? if it's too hard, lift lighter weights!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I hate to be the one to take it out of the locker room and into the gym
but what about these guys that groan and groan during and after lifting weights.
I had a groaner on each side of me (three benchs in a row, I was in the middle) both guys were fit looking and both had 35+ pounds of barbells in each hand
(you know, when they put them down the earth shakes) But they kept groaning LOUD.. what's up with that? if it's too hard, lift lighter weights!!!

Mimi, next time you should go get a couple of tiny little weights and start groaning really loudly while you lift them. That should bust a few guts and make them think.

[lph]

I have a small boy - not so small anymore - and had to go through just this situation: what do you do when you want to go swimming at the indoor pool with your kid, but he's small enough to get seriously worried about going into the mens locker room alone (he was afraid he'd get lost in there ), but big enough that he might offend somebody.

He was about 6 or 7 and pretty clueless about nudity and gawping actually, but especially other girls his age were getting shy.

We solved it this way: I sent him into the mens locker room, reminded him to shower, and promised I'd go straight through and be waiting at the pool door the whole time in case he needed me. He could just crack the door open and ask.

FIVE minutes later, max, a worried, soaking wet small boy came out through the pool door, carrying ALL his stuff. And without a stitch on

Luckily I was there to hustle him back in so he could put on his bathing shorts before he even noticed what he'd done wrong...

[Mr. Bloom]

And you never know if it's residue from "hovering", or swimming pool bum prints.

Well, I guess that there is "potty parity" in the locker room. I though men were the most disgusting...ladies, you've popped my bubble!!!