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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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10

Tiny, Tight, Humiliating: Speedos Are de Rigueur in France

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(Newser) – Mortified visitors can't believe it when continental pools insist that men wear tiny, tight Speedo swimsuits, writes Angelique Chrisafis in the Guardian. An Irish journalist was recently hauled out of a French pool and could only return in an "unbelievably skimpy" pair of Speedo trunks that were "bloody uncomfortable for me and anyone who had to look at them," he grumbled. Why the insistence on the booty-hugging briefs? Hygiene.

The French find American baggy swimming trunks as disgusting as many US men find Speedos. "I accept that some men feel very ill at ease wearing small trunks," said a Paris pool director. "But bigger swimming shorts can be worn elsewhere all day, so could bring in sand, dust or other matter, disturbing water quality."

Booty-hugging Speedos are the norm in most European countries.
Booty-hugging Speedos are the norm in most European countries.   (©feline_dacat)
Oo la la.
Oo la la.   (©albany_tim)
American male visitors can't use French pools unless they don a Speedo.
American male visitors can't use French pools unless they don a Speedo.   (©albany_tim)
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10 comments
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Laugh
Aug 12, 09 4:52 AM CDT
Well it is already a huge improvement on those nude European hikers. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
ruserious
Aug 12, 09 9:20 AM CDT
Nude hiking? That sounds dangerous. There are many thorns and poison ivy leaves waiting out there!
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0
IN RESPONSE:
kokuaguy
Aug 12, 09 9:51 AM CDT
Howzit ruserious. Hadn't heard about the Na Pali film. Guess I should Google. it. I'm on Oahu so there's not much chance of getting work as an extra ; ^)
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IN RESPONSE:
ruserious
Aug 12, 09 10:18 AM CDT
kkguy: it's called "A Perfect Getaway" and I think it might actually be in theaters? It's funny, because I hiked there and actually got off the marked trail and got a little lost, so it's kind of a joke that I could've been murdered...and then this movie came out. I'll bring it back to the topic: nobody was wearing speedos and we made it out safely.
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IN RESPONSE:
bewilderbeast
Aug 13, 09 4:52 AM CDT
There's a problem with nudity? Issues, issues. Try repeating this softly while breathing steadily: A body is a body is a body. What someone else wears is for fashionistas and designers to carp about. Normal people should be unfazed.
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