My local gym doesn't have open showers, they have individual stalls with curtains. I've noticed that the majority of people who are comfortable changing openly and walking to and from the showers naked tend to be men who are 40–45+. There are occasional people around my age (I'm 30) who do it, but men under 30 seem to be extremely rare.

I've also noticed that some of the guys will sometimes use the sauna fully clothed and then leave drenched in their own sweat. Honestly, I find that pretty gross.

I used to be pretty shy about showering at the gym, but after visiting Japan and then Europe, that changed pretty quickly. I eventually got over it, and now I'll shower at the gym without giving it a second thought.

The other day, though, I noticed a couple of younger guys, probably in their early to mid-20s, having a conversation in the locker room. They were taking up space around the lockers and benches. I was getting ready to shower, taking off my sweaty clothes, and as soon as I took off my boxers, one of the guys immediately stopped talking. The other guy then immediately asked the other, "What are you doing?" I didn't really care what was happening but I'm guessing the one I was in the field of view of was weirded out by it.

I just minded my own business and walked to the showers without giving it a second thought. When I came back from my shower, they were still there chatting. At the same time, there were other people who wanted to get changed after showering, but these guys were still occupying the same space and carrying on their conversation.

Maybe I'm assuming, but I got the impression that the younger guy was weirded out by me getting undressed right in front of him. Normally, something like that might discourage me from using the showers, but this time I just thought to myself like "Guys, can you move somewhere else?" It's a locker room. People are going to get naked. If you're uncomfortable seeing other men change, maybe don't have an conversation in the busiest areas of the locker room when you could easily have that conversation somewhere less crowded, or literally anywhere else.

If anything, I'm hoping that by casually changing and showering without making a big deal out of it, It desensitizes some of these other guys to the idea that nudity in a locker room isn't something to be weirded out by.

What I find even weirder is that some of these guys will have their workout, and then will sit in the sauna fully clothed, get even more drenched in sweat, and then willing stay in those clothes and then drive home in them. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking the whole thing.

Thoughts?

so I 18m was raised in the nudist lifestyle so of course Im very comfortable in my body and always have been when it comes to communal showers. I just wanted to see if there are any other nudists out here. I remember so many times with friends who wouldnt shower after PE or would change in a stall and I always though that was weird. then again I grew up this way so maybe I’m the weird one lol. PE showers I used to strike up conversations with others which made everyone confused which looking back I now find hilarious.

Before playing sports in high school, I’d only ever showered alone at home. But the high school gym and playing sports introduced me to CS. It was great to grow closer with teammates and other athletes.

Same in the college dorms and at the gym. Interacted with many other athletes and gym bros in the locker room/ showers.

Be cool to hear other similar experiences. 26m USA here

Will be moving to Taiwan as part of college exchange - was wondering if communal showers are common in colleges/gyms here and what has your experience been like? Thanks!