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

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

stavrosthewonderchicken — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 23:06:27 -0800

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?

By: chrismear

chrismear — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 23:46:20 -0800

Never seen it in the UK, although I'll be the first to admit that my gym experience is minimal.

By: bob sarabia

bob sarabia — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 23:53:13 -0800

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.

By: Kwantsar

Kwantsar — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:10:12 -0800

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.

By: namespan

namespan — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:31:03 -0800

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.

By: Shoeburyness

Shoeburyness — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:35:46 -0800

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.

By: pwb503

pwb503 — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:46:12 -0800

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.

By: XiBe

XiBe — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:49:24 -0800

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...

By: Tarrama

Tarrama — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:52:27 -0800

Not widely practiced here from what I am being told (couldn't resist asking) but its supposed to help prevent jock itch apparently.

By: Fupped Duck

Fupped Duck — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 01:47:16 -0800

Change gyms or make your own official looking sign prhibiting such primitiv behavior and hang it next to the dryers

By: triv

triv — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 01:53:36 -0800

i used to do this as a kid - it felt good but i had no idea why...

By: matteo

matteo — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 02:30:56 -0800

as a lifelong gymgoer,

WTF?

btw I also think warming up your testicles like that needlessly kills millions of poor spermatozoa

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 03:31:04 -0800

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.

By: adampsyche

adampsyche — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 05:07:24 -0800

Is this nothing that patting dry and a little powder can't help?

By: substrate

substrate — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 05:18:50 -0800

I've never seen it before and I've been at maybe a member of maybe a dozen gyms.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 05:28:05 -0800

Best of AskMe

By: FreezBoy

FreezBoy — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 06:02:18 -0800

Man, that guy has balls.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 06:27:13 -0800

Better to use a buffing rag, like a shoeshine boy.

By: rschroed

rschroed — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 06:40:06 -0800

Wait a second, Kwantsar...

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

Down there?

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 07:04:30 -0800

Ah, but do you suck these balls?

/Dave Chappelle

By: skallas

skallas — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 07:37:27 -0800

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.

By: m@

m@ — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 07:45:19 -0800

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.

By: waldo

waldo — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 08:14:54 -0800

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.

By: Secret Life of Gravy

Secret Life of Gravy — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 08:44:23 -0800

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.)

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 09:19:17 -0800

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.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 09:29:33 -0800

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.

By: Melinika

Melinika — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 09:47:43 -0800

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!"

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 09:52:34 -0800

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.

By: shepd

shepd — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 10:23:27 -0800

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!)

By: rorycberger

rorycberger — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 12:30:34 -0800

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?

By: ewkpates

ewkpates — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 13:31:18 -0800

Body Dryers Rule

Towels are for space aliens.

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:02:50 -0800

Towels are for space aliens.

Natch, 'cause they won't leave home without them.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:13:04 -0800

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.

By: i_am_joe's_spleen

i_am_joe's_spleen — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:34:19 -0800

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.

By: dmt

dmt — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 17:06:37 -0800

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.

By: Bdave

Bdave — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 18:26:11 -0800

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...

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 01:56:08 -0800

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.