Where you come from, do men blow-dry their testicles?

September 20, 2004 11:06 PM

Where you come from, do men blow-dry their testicles? [more inside]

Here in Korea, I've started going to a gym regularly for the first time in my life, and I don't have a frame of reference. I'm... disconcerted by the habit of many of the men in the change room, once they get out of the shower, to fling one foot up on the counter in front of the mirror, nude, and use the blow dryer on their dangly bits. I use that thing on my head, before I go back to work.

Is this something that happens everywhere, or is it just here?

posted by stavrosthewonderchicken to health & fitness (36 comments total)

Never seen it in the UK, although I'll be the first to admit that my gym experience is minimal.
posted by chrismear at 11:46 PM on September 20, 2004

dear lord, no. I've been frequenting gyms for 5+ years (in texas mind you) and never encountered this.

Also keep in mind that blowing hot air on your testicles is a good way to lower your sperm count. Myself? I like to keep my testicles as cold as possible.
posted by bob sarabia at 11:53 PM on September 20, 2004

There was a dude at my gym in Boston who did exactly what you describe, stavros. He also insisted on shaving and applying deodorant, in front of the mirror, totally naked. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure he ever used a towel. He did all of his grooming naked. Getting dressed was the last thing he did before leaving the facility.

I do not think his behavior was widely accepted. He drew plenty of funny looks.
posted by Kwantsar at 12:10 AM on September 21, 2004

I have a, uh, friend, who's mentioned to me that he's done this in the privacy of his own home on days where he just didn't want any of that moist feeling 'round the pubes.
posted by namespan at 12:31 AM on September 21, 2004

My husband related to me, in horror, much the same thing happening at his gym. His position was that such a thing is fine at home with your own personal dryer, but to use the communal dryers at the gym for that is disgusting.
posted by Shoeburyness at 12:35 AM on September 21, 2004

Maybe the guy was drying his balls or the general area rather than simply his pubes. I don't know why that would make a difference, but it seems to at least in my mind.

pwb.
posted by pwb503 at 12:46 AM on September 21, 2004

Shoeburyness : Disgusting as a sight (and a thought, 'cos it hurts me just thinking about someone doing it), but as long as there's no contact between private parts and communal dryer, I don't really see where the disgust would prevent someone from blowing hot air in his hair afterwards.

They don't rub the dryer down there, right ?
Right ?

Ewww...
posted by XiBe at 12:49 AM on September 21, 2004

Not widely practiced here from what I am being told (couldn't resist asking) but its supposed to help prevent jock itch apparently.
posted by Tarrama at 12:52 AM on September 21, 2004

Change gyms or make your own official looking sign prhibiting such primitiv behavior and hang it next to the dryers
posted by Fupped Duck at 1:47 AM on September 21, 2004

i used to do this as a kid - it felt good but i had no idea why...
posted by triv at 1:53 AM on September 21, 2004

as a lifelong gymgoer,

WTF?

btw I also think warming up your testicles like that needlessly kills millions of poor spermatozoa
posted by matteo at 2:30 AM on September 21, 2004

Coming from the world cultural backwaters that is the United States, I have to say that's some pretty fucked up shit you got there.

Unless you've got yourself some truly mammoth-sized balls, where drying might actually serve a purpose. Like showing them off.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:31 AM on September 21, 2004

Is this nothing that patting dry and a little powder can't help?
posted by adampsyche at 5:07 AM on September 21, 2004

I've never seen it before and I've been at maybe a member of maybe a dozen gyms.
posted by substrate at 5:18 AM on September 21, 2004

Best of AskMe
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:28 AM on September 21, 2004

Man, that guy has balls.
posted by FreezBoy at 6:02 AM on September 21, 2004

Better to use a buffing rag, like a shoeshine boy.
posted by jonmc at 6:27 AM on September 21, 2004

Wait a second, Kwantsar...

He also insisted on shaving and applying deodorant, in front of the mirror, totally naked.

Down there?
posted by rschroed at 6:40 AM on September 21, 2004

Ah, but do you suck these balls?

/Dave Chappelle
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:04 AM on September 21, 2004

Is he especially hairy or of an ethnicity with thick hair? He may be doing this to fight rashes and other nasties that can happen if he leaves his pubic hair moist for too long. I dont think this is at all common, but hairy people (or with thick hairs) have to do odd things sometimes. Especially if they have sensitive skin.
posted by skallas at 7:37 AM on September 21, 2004

A blowdryer? how ridiculous. I use a shop vac.

Seriously, in a humid climate, I might consider this (not with a communal dryer and not in front of a lockerroom full of men), if nothing other than for the relief of not walking around with soggy pubes all day.
posted by m@ at 7:45 AM on September 21, 2004

Why not just -- and maybe I'm going out on a limb here -- towel dry the pubes? Are South Korean men hairier?

Sweet Lord, don't answer that.
posted by waldo at 8:14 AM on September 21, 2004

I'm laughing so hard, the front of my shirt is drenched. But here is something I'm curious about...why are you guys so concerned about killing off your sperm? Are you all in a great Fatherhood Race? Afraid that your testicles will look depleted? Afraid that lover at home is going to be standing by with a microscope in order to fully judge your technique? (Oooo that's a 7.9 on performance but a 2.3 on output.)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:44 AM on September 21, 2004

I've witnessed this happening in many commercial gyms in Texas. The worst offenders were the older men at the Cooper Aerobic Center. Leg up on the counter and all that mess, blow drying their nuts for far more minutes than could be healthy or needed for purposes of drying.
posted by Jeremy at 9:19 AM on September 21, 2004

There was a dude at my gym in Boston who did exactly what you describe, stavros.

Are you talking about the Naked Wolfman from the Copley BSC? I'm going to punch that fucker.
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:29 AM on September 21, 2004

Doctors actually recommend women blow-dry their pubes and vulva after showering if they have a yeast infection. Is there some kind of male equivalent they'd say the same for? Jock itch? Or also yeast infection (not that most men know it if they have one)?

Yeah, I realize it probably has nothing to do with medical advice. If it's that prevalent, though, you'd think some entrepreneur would start pitching ball-level blow-dryers to these gyms. "Now with a COOLSHOT button so you don't fry your swimmers! Removes dampness without risking your potency!"
posted by Melinika at 9:47 AM on September 21, 2004

What a stunning idea.

As in, I am somewhat stunned that anyone would ever think to do that. And completely stunned that someone would actually do that in public.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:52 AM on September 21, 2004

Sounds like a good idea. I think I'll try that one next time.

It's a public change area and unless he's touching his privates to things in the change area (or touching them in the more personal sense) I think it's safe to ignore it (in fact, that's what you're SUPPOSED to do in the change area, jeez!)
posted by shepd at 10:23 AM on September 21, 2004

I have short hair, so I haven't really used a blowdryer in a while, but are they really hot enough to kill sperm? It's not like they burn and singe your (head) hair when you use it, isn't it just sort of like a warm breeze?
posted by rorycberger at 12:30 PM on September 21, 2004

Body Dryers Rule

Towels are for space aliens.
posted by ewkpates at 1:31 PM on September 21, 2004

Towels are for space aliens.

Natch, 'cause they won't leave home without them.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 4:02 PM on September 21, 2004

Well, I'll call this one inconclusive, then.

Odd, though, how so many of you read 'one guy' when I wrote 'many of the men'.

I'm never in there when there's not some dude blissfully blowdrying his junk.

As far as ethnicity goes : this is Korea. There is only one (other than the occasional pale, hairy freak like me) -- Korean. And they aren't hirsute at all.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:13 PM on September 21, 2004

I have never, ever seen this behaviour in New Zealand or the UK. Discreet towel positioning or a towel wrapped around the waist is the done thing. Wandering around bollock naked is exhibitionist. Blowdrying your nutsack is an open invitation to ridicule and disgust, no matter how fine a speciment you are.

As to hirsuteness: it's much more important to dry the smooth areas to avoid chafing. This might even explain why Koreans do this, I imagine they don't enjoy the hairy scrotes we Westerners have.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 4:34 PM on September 21, 2004

Towels are for space aliens.

Funny you should say that, there's a Hitchhiker's GUide to the Galaxy post on the front page! Ford would agree.
posted by dmt at 5:06 PM on September 21, 2004

Unless you've got yourself some truly mammoth-sized balls, where drying might actually serve a purpose. Like showing them off.

Civil_Disobedient... jesus that's fucking funny. People in my office are staring at me as I piss myself...
posted by Bdave at 6:26 PM on September 21, 2004

I hate locker rooms because they are so humid, usually, its nearly impossible to dry well. At home I never shower with the door closed for the same reason. I blow dry my bits most days, or run around naked 'til I air dry. I blow dry my feet too, if I'm in a hurry.

Why? Because once upon a time, I had a case of jock-itch that lasted for years and was nearly impossible to cure. I am fairly sure it came as a result of the rigors of Navy life, and the poor ventilation provided by the then-new blue utility uniforms. And also because if I am really DRY when I dress, I sweat less.

I am aware of social conventions in locker rooms that make running around grooming, while naked, improper. Fuck that! Terminal jock-itch is even more improper. Bless the guys with the balls to go nude. If you can't deal with that, go see a shrink, you have issues.

As for the heat: The skill is in how you do it, and it helps having the chill button. Overheating makes sweat, which is counter productive.
posted by Goofyy at 1:56 AM on September 22, 2004