SpeedoForum.org

I found this article from last year. Talk about hypocrisy. I wonder if women can wear thongs?

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British theme park Alton Towers has decided that guests wearing Speedos are no longer welcome in their park.

The iconic "show your bulge" swimming trunks are deemed unfriendly to families, and possibly scary to kids.

Of course, the whole argument is based upon standards gone crazy, because 20 years ago, beaches were full of men wearing their Speedos, and as far as I know, there have been no mass outbreaks of adults requiring mental care to suppress flashbacks of their childhood trips to the beach.

The park is so hell-bent on protecting the children, that they are even considering offering complimentary male waxing services, you know, so the poor kids don't see little hairs coming out the side of daddy's trunks.

I've got a much more "European" opinion of the Speedo - if you can pull it off, do it. My biggest concern is people who can not pull it off, yet do it anyway.

Wait....free waxing??? :-D

The world has gone mad!! - next we shall have to wear clothes to go to the beach!

It seems to be OK for women to wear the bare minimum of clothes or show every part of their body through flimsy materials but when men do it it is frowned on.

Isnt it time in this enlightened age that we all accepted what body parts we all have and not get so uptight about showing a bulge or two.

I actually wrote them:

To whom it may concern. On a holiday site, I read that anything else than shorts are not allowed in the waterpark anymore, as that should be considered provocative. I am really shocked to hear that. I have worn swimwear like swim briefs my entire life, and if one chooses an appropriate model and one has a groomed body, there is nothing revealing or provocative at all. On your own site I read: Please be aware: suitable swimwear must be worn at all times within the Alton Towers Waterpark, therefore excessively tight trunks and thong bikini briefs are not permitted. That thongs aren't permitted, I can of course understand, and that "excessively" tight trunks and briefs are not accepted, can be understood as well, as the word excessively carries an unwritten "purposely provocative" way of dressing. But by saying that an ordinary swimsuit, men have worn for decades is inappropriate all of a sudden, is basically the same as telling me I am a pervert? Women's breasts are often shown more clearly in a wet suit than a men's basic black swimsuit will reveil. In some religions showing an ankle will have you beaten to death. What I think is important to know, is that many people wear their UNDERWEAR underneath shorts nowadays. Underwear they have worn the entire day already, and they'll soak them in the public pools. Swimwear is meant for swimming, and just ask the French: it is much more hygienic, and ables the pool to contain less chemicals. I don't see what other swimwear than shorts should have to do with warmer countries like Spain only, as the intention of shorts in a heated pool area is definitely NOT to keep the wearer warm at all. Best regards,

This is what I got back:

Good evening Mr.

Thanks for getting in touch with us.

I do appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, as your comments are very valuable and I always consider any comments that helps us to improve our guest experience.

As a family friendly Resort, we have taken the decision to introduce some new regulations in terms of the type of swimwear permitted within our Waterpark. Tight fitting trunks and thong style bikini briefs (typically worn on beach locations) are not considered appropriate for the family friendly environment we proudly present. The new regulations have been introduced to protect our guests from embarrassment, and furthermore, to preserve the dignity of all.

However, I have passed your email to the appropriate managers and it will be reviewed by the area teams. Where possible, I can assure you, action will be taken to improve our overall level of service. Without customers, such as yourself, taking the time to inform us of issues we are unable to improve on our service and therefore your comments are very important to us.

Thanks again and I look forward to welcoming you to our Resort in the future.

Guest Services

Alton Towers Resort


I answered one last time, but I didn't get any response:

Thank you for your reply.

It is very interesting that in most Wallonian Belgian and French establishments the exact opposite is required, by law. Also in family parks, like Aqualibi. Have a look at Aqualibi's website. If you scroll down, you'll see:
For Hygiene & safety reasons, bermudas and shorts are not accepted. Only "Speedo-style" swimming trunks are authorized.

The problem is that otherwise lots of people will wear the shorts they have been wearing all day long - in the park or elsewhere - in the water as well. Hygienic purposes can be understood, but looking for problems that do not exist, or being overly protective, is quite difficult to understand in my opinion.

It is all a matter of a (one?) person's perception. What is good for you, doesn't have to be good for me. What is provoking me, doesn't necessarily mean it will provoke you. What if people consider obese people as undecent? Do people need to be protected against embarrassment? Isn't that an art in live, to respect eachother without biasing?

Those who are sexualizing things that are not, seem to have a problem. I think I would be embarrassed to be a place where a man was considered as a vulgar object, that needs to be hidden behind shorts because of "embarrassments". That is what your policy basically implies.

You are just doing your job, so don't take it personally, but you might understand that a policy to protect others against me, just being a man, is offending. It is the same as having women wear a veil, because they otherwise are sexual objects. Is that the world we want to live in?

Sincerely,

Bulges?..Women and kids dont want to see Bulges?.....What about women?...They have 2 bulges?.....On there chest..Its no differnt then us guys..Even worse.They also have Camo Toe....There are eye level so you have to see them when you have a conversation..Us guys only have 1 bulge and its below the belt..Plus its allot SMALLER..Then some of the bulges on women....