Shower etiquette at the swimming pool

missbiggles1

I've never seen unisex changing room either, in the private or the public sector. That's why I've assumed we've been talking about single sex changing rooms and been surprised at some people's attitudes.

If I were ever to use unisex changing facilities I would definitely shower wearing a cossie and get changed in a cubicle - although I'm not averse to stripping off on naturist beaches, doing so in an enclosed space and at close range seems to me to be somehow totally different.

southoftheriver

Some people have way too much time on their hands...

Torry_Quine

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Given that you've said that you'd only get undressed in a separate cubicle, what difference would it make to you?

I may be using a cubicle but doubtless others wouldn't be

BNT

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I may be using a cubicle but doubtless others wouldn't be

I don't think that's the case. At the communal ones I have seen, you have to walk through a cubicle in order to reach the showers and pool and there isn't really anywhere else to change. You enter the cubicle from the entrance to the changing room, you get changed, exit the other side of the cubicle to the lockers and go through the shower to the pool.

Torry_Quine

BNT wrote: »

I don't think that's the case. At the communal ones I have seen, you have to walk through a cubicle in order to reach the showers and pool and there isn't really anywhere else to change. You enter the cubicle from the entrance to the changing room, you get changed, exit the other side of the cubicle to the lockers and go through the shower to the pool.

I wouldn't use the term communal changing room for what you describe as there is nowhere that the sexes are in a state of undress in the same place. Presuming of course that no one takes off their costume in the shower! :cool: I haven't seen that arrangement

BNT

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I wouldn't use the term communal changing room for what you describe as there is nowhere that the sexes are in a state of undress in the same place. Presuming of course that no one takes off their costume in the shower! :cool: I haven't seen that arrangement

To me that is communal because it is one changing room shared by everybody. Whereas, segregated male and female changing rooms are the opposite of communal. However, as mentioned above, English is not my first language and I might be misinterpreting 'communal'. Others seem to use it in the sense of 'open', even though they are single sex.

One reason I don't like them, apart from being made to change in a box is that you can't properly shower, as you have to (or are expected to) keep your swimsuit on. Wearing a swimsuit in the shower is OK if you are advertising walk-in bath tubs or sit-down showers for old folk in the back pages of the Saturday Telegraph magazine, but don't really work for me otherwise.

Grenage

I've never felt so unprudish in my life, as after reading this thread.

After swimming, it would never occur to me to shower with my stuff on in a communal shower. How can you wash properly?

I put a towel on when I leave, but don't rush myself getting changed. We've all got them, as they say.

missbiggles1

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I may be using a cubicle but doubtless others wouldn't be

Sorry, how does that affect you?

missbiggles1

BNT wrote: »

I don't think that's the case. At the communal ones I have seen, you have to walk through a cubicle in order to reach the showers and pool and there isn't really anywhere else to change. You enter the cubicle from the entrance to the changing room, you get changed, exit the other side of the cubicle to the lockers and go through the shower to the pool.

I don't think that's what most people mean by the word "cubicle" though. In most cases, you have an open area, with access to showers and loos and then some private cubicles for those that feel the need of them.

TBagpuss

theoretica wrote: »

I suspect the main risk of having kids in such situations is the embarrassment of kid very loudly and innocently saying something the parent feels they shouldn't.

Indeed. I recall having an *interesting* experience with my young cousin when he started to become interested in the fact that male and female bodies are different, and having to explain to him that asking complete strangers whether or not they have a penis is not considered polite..