Thursday, November 6, 2008

A few words for the gentlemen in the gym locker room


Fellas,

I think we need to set a few things straight.

You are allowed to be naked in the locker room at the gym, it is not required. However, it is not your home.

Maybe it's an attempt at voyeurism, but there are far too many people walking around in the locker rooms with their junk hanging out. This makes for an uncomfortable environment for those of us who don't want naked strangers milling about. I understand that you need to be naked to shower properly, and I'm not taking away from personal hygiene. All I'm suggesting is that you get covered up shortly thereafter.

Here's how I do it. After entering the locker room, I grab my soap and shampoo and transit to the shower in my shorts (towel in hand). I shower. After turning the water off, I reach for my towel and dry off (still in the privacy of my shower stall). I then wrap myself in said towel and return to my locker. I immediately put underwear on (under my towel) and finish getting dressed. In this whole process, nobody saw my junk. I don't want anyone to see my junk. That's reserved for me and the woman I love.

I am not sure whay anybody in their right mind would want to be naked in the presence of strangers. I'm at a loss for words here, but I can't stand when people do it.

There is no reason to do any of the following tasks whilst completely naked:
  • Engage in conversation
  • Put deodorant on
  • Weigh yourself
  • Sit around
  • Organize your gym bag
  • et-cetera
On a sidenote, I am not a homophobe. I am 100% secure in my self and sexuality. I just don't see the need for total strangers to be hanging around in the nude. Maybe it's a result of my generation's awareness of "stranger danger". Either way, it's inappropriate. Furthermore, I shouldn't feel the need to be in "urinal mode"* while using the locker room at my health club. My locker room tasks are well outlined. I put away my iPod, change my clothes, shower, and leave.

Urinal mode: The act of fucusing on anything but other men while using public restroom facilities. This usually includes the wall in front of you or a newspaper hung on the wall. This may include your own penis, but nobody else's as that would defeat the purpose (see meat gazing).

Meat gazing: The act of eyeing another man's penis (or scrotum, or both, usually both due to proximity), while in a public restroom. Origin: In military urinalisys tests, a member is assigned as the observer (usually a corpsman or medic) to ensure third-party urine is not brought in to the testing facility. It is this individual's responsibility to observe the urine leaving the urethra and entering the specimen cup. Most meat-gazers don't gaze at all, but turn their backs and use the honor system with the testee. Note: Testee was an unintended pun.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008



The following words are not interchangeable, as is indicated by their definitions. People are simple. I have seen "loose" used instead of "lose" on several blogs, message boards, and e-mails. Maybe people should be required to pass a grammar test before publishing anything on the internet.




LOOSE

Pronunciation:
\ˈlüs\
Function:
adjective
: having relative freedom of movement
: not tight-fitting
: free from a state of confinement, restraint, or obligation
loose·ly adverb
loose·ness noun


"This bolt should be tightened because it is loose"

LOSE
Pronunciation:
\ˈlüz\
Function:
verb
:to undergo defeat
"In most sports, one team will win while one will lose."

-OR-
"The Republicans' loose screws caused them to lose."
Where "loose screws" is being used figuratively to mean poor mental health.