Aw that sucks!
EfeE, Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:00

Why not wear speedos under your shorts .. Problem solved .. I'll bring a glass
britabroad, Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:07

Well, this strange rule is applied everywhere in France, and I once asked the guys who would not let a friend wearing shorts approach the water - their answer:

it is indeed for hygiene reasons, and the idea is that you may have been wearing your shorts all day, having thus sand in the pockets / grass on your bottom /tons of bacteria everywhere, whereas nobody would ever wear a "real" swimsuit elsewhere than in the water, and it is thus supposed to be the more hygienic. I have some doubts if it is scientifically  proven that there is less bacteria on a slip (which you maybe already wore under your pants the whole day?), but I think on french territory you can only swim in lakes and in the sea in your good old shorts...

Never heard about such a rule in any other coutry btw - in a German swimming pool most guys will wear shorts, and there might be less topless girls than in France, but that's another topic
Isa_G, Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:11

Dean, Get your doctor to write a note saying in the interests of human decency you can't wear budgie smugglers
britabroad, Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:16

Dean, Please don't post any photos..
britabroad, Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:24

I liked Isa G's reply and explanation (but still no Moet I'm afraid) - pockets full of sand, grassy bottom etc (actually I like your profile title too..German that likes neither beer nor sausages... very funny!)

So...if that's the ONLY reason, could I approach the attendant in my towel, get him to witness me open a sealed bag containing new shorts with tags, put them on under my towel, and be invited to enter the pool?  Those that know me know I would do such a thing... so if that's the only reason, lets all go to the Divonne swimming pool and try it.  'New shorts in a bag with tags' there's an event that should get us a yellow highlight if posted!!

Seriously...it's a very, very stupid rule... If I was French I would hope that I would not be bullied into such a stupid rule and petition my local pool either into surrender or out of business.  This is just total and utter crap!  What about long unwashed hair?  Foot fungas?  Dirty knees?  Unwashed hands?  Anyway...

Budgie smugglers...that made me laugh trev

Another point, so that women get my point a bit clearer...I'm not too keen to parade the proportions of my budgie in public....so how would you feel, as a woman, if you had to wear 'camel toe only' costumes.... because of hygiene laws!  ??  I'm sure the thought now puts this into perspective!

Further thoughts welcome...post all queries to Trev if you need Camel toe explaining!
Deano1uk, Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:53

As I understand (after reading up on the topic) it also has to do with hair. The tight fit of the 'speedo' type of swimwear allows less room for escape and thus keeps the pool cleaner... or so they say.
EfeE, Jul 25, 2008 @ 18:00

But I thought he was thrown out for peeing in the pool .. I know normally acceptable for a 5 year old boy.. But not from the 10 metre board :P
britabroad, Jul 25, 2008 @ 18:10

And if you are wearing speedos don't draw attention to yourself













britabroad, Jul 25, 2008 @ 19:29

britabroad, Jul 25, 2008 @ 19:34

I laughed hard when I read this post and the witty replies...(-;

But seriously: I now understand (thanks Isa) why some pools require a speedo. But Dean's point - about just asking people to bring a clean bathing suit from home instead - holds well. Maybe it's just one of those things that we got to file under 'it's just like that cos it's french..."...:)

I wouldn't wear a speedo to a pool. Don't want to scare away the little kids with those big "keys" I carry in my pockets.

Trev: what's this camel toe thing? When I looked it up on Google all I found was this:

Nir Ofek, Jul 25, 2008 @ 20:18

>>>>What's this camel toe thing? When I looked it up on Google all I found was this:









Beware! Verbier taught me how to post pics!
Casuistik, Jul 25, 2008 @ 20:41

Deano, try going with your regular swimming trunks, and then strip down into your briefs.. that should meet the French standards according their 'rationale'... but of course, should this lead to you getting incarcerated, i take no reponsibility, but will make sure to come visit you. :satisfied:
YouMeCo, Jul 25, 2008 @ 20:49

And for the true fashion guru, the way to dress on the way back from the pool...




Casuistik, Jul 25, 2008 @ 20:56

[quote][b]



A bottle of Moet to anyone who makes me say "Oh, ok fair enough, that's understandable!" (Not going to happen I think...so safe bet!)



[/quote]



ummm...because its FRANCE...
floydmarks, Jul 25, 2008 @ 21:38

the hygiene reason about trunks having been worn outside is correct, but they don't tell you why that's a problem. here's why:



if the pool has chlorine in it, any unclean organic material that comes into the water reacts with the chlorine and produces a gas, the name of which i can't recall, but which is actually not incredibly safe to inhale. problem is the gas 'floats' just above the water and makes people more susceptible to having breathing problems, which is why a lot of people feel a little out of breath when they swim (not, it's not just the effort). a very serious study has been done on this, but obviously, they're not too keen on everyone knowing. there's not real damage unless you swim everyday for several hours, although kids are more at risk of developing asthma... people are trying to develop cleaner pool that don't use chlorine but instead run on a copper filter, for example, but it's a lot more expensive...



this is also the reason you should actually wash before entering the water...
Minda, Jul 25, 2008 @ 22:00

Do you think this will pass ?




britabroad, Jul 26, 2008 @ 01:54

I know about swimming pools where swim caps are mandatory when you wear "long hair"

Wouldn't apply to Dean.

Never experienced that I couldn't enter the water with my swimming shorts - indeed never tried a French swimming pool.

And while the hygiene theory advanced by Minda might be scientifically proven, I don't understand why French men are so hygienically suspect, and nowhere else.



NB The posted pictures of swim suits are hilarious - :P
jasper, Jul 26, 2008 @ 02:07

Scoop picture: Deano caught in his speedo yesterday: 

Nir Ofek, Jul 26, 2008 @ 12:26

 

Excellent... That should pass the French inspection at the pool!  In fact if you look at this picture from a distance your handy cut and paste work kinda gives me a typical Balding Frenchman bouffon too... you know the one...nothing on top but a fetching 80s style perm at the back and sides... often found in street cafes, cross legged with flared hem over the ankle boot, a cigarette in one hand and a thimble sized coffee cup in the other... or at your local pool of course!
Deano1uk, Jul 26, 2008 @ 23:54