Posted May 04, 2013
Another sauna-etiquette problem, I think I've complained before too maybe even about a similar issue. I'm rambling, so bear with me:
Ok, so I was swimming today again. I went to the sauna, and there was this young athletic (Finnish) guy there, probably around 20 years old, and an older Somali man with his son. As is customary here, me and that guy were not wearing any swimming suit in the sauna, while the somalis were, probably being shy of being naked.
As soon as I sit down, the guy starts complaining to the Somali father something along the lines in loud voice (both speaking in Finnish):
"You know, you shouldn't be wearing your swim trousers in the sauna. Wearing them in sauna makes the bacteria on your skin grow faster, and it's very bad for your skin and all, you know? I hope you understand what I'm telling you."
The Somali father replied with something like (in Finnish): "Yeah, ok, I understand", trying to de-escalate the potential argument.
Ok, so the Finnish guy had sort of a point, there's a sign outside the sauna that you should leave your swimming suit outside the sauna, so one should do that (we Finns love rules, and expect everyone to abide). But his argument was total bs. It has fecking nothing to do with skin bacteria. The reason for the rule is that the swimming suit may contain chlorine, which evaporates from the swimming suit to the air, and some people are quite sensitive to it.
That's why it isn't even enough that you just take the swimming suit out and bring it into the sauna, you should actually leave it completely outside the sauna.
So when you are lecturing someone in front of his son, please fecking know what you are talking about first, ok?
Anyway, I decided not to say anything at that point, the guy was so puffed up mentally, I let it flow past. After awhile the Somali father and son left the sauna, and some older gentleman comes in to sit beside me.
This earlier complainer guy, who sits nearest to the sauna stove (heater), starts throwing water on the stove to get more steam. The problem is that he started throwing it like there is no tomorrow, without asking us others. Like four big scoops of water at a time, when normally 1-2 should be enough. And quite often too. At least he should have realized that when you throw water on the stove, the steam first rushes to the other side of the sauna room (= me and the old gentleman beside me), and only then goes back milder to him who is throwing the water near the stove.
After awhile, skin burning red, I decide to leave the sauna, and I make a snide remark in loud voice: "I fucking didn't realize this was some sauna contest.". The old gentleman beside me says "Starts to feel like that to me too.", and left with me at the same time. The young guy seemed dumbfounded as we left him alone in the sauna.
Too bad I didn't lecture him earlier about why exactly the swim suit should be left outside the sauna, he appeared to be a dickhead who should have deserved all the humiliation he can get. Now that I think of it, maybe I should have blocked the door to the sauna from outside when I left, or something.
Ok, so I was swimming today again. I went to the sauna, and there was this young athletic (Finnish) guy there, probably around 20 years old, and an older Somali man with his son. As is customary here, me and that guy were not wearing any swimming suit in the sauna, while the somalis were, probably being shy of being naked.
As soon as I sit down, the guy starts complaining to the Somali father something along the lines in loud voice (both speaking in Finnish):
"You know, you shouldn't be wearing your swim trousers in the sauna. Wearing them in sauna makes the bacteria on your skin grow faster, and it's very bad for your skin and all, you know? I hope you understand what I'm telling you."
The Somali father replied with something like (in Finnish): "Yeah, ok, I understand", trying to de-escalate the potential argument.
Ok, so the Finnish guy had sort of a point, there's a sign outside the sauna that you should leave your swimming suit outside the sauna, so one should do that (we Finns love rules, and expect everyone to abide). But his argument was total bs. It has fecking nothing to do with skin bacteria. The reason for the rule is that the swimming suit may contain chlorine, which evaporates from the swimming suit to the air, and some people are quite sensitive to it.
That's why it isn't even enough that you just take the swimming suit out and bring it into the sauna, you should actually leave it completely outside the sauna.
So when you are lecturing someone in front of his son, please fecking know what you are talking about first, ok?
Anyway, I decided not to say anything at that point, the guy was so puffed up mentally, I let it flow past. After awhile the Somali father and son left the sauna, and some older gentleman comes in to sit beside me.
This earlier complainer guy, who sits nearest to the sauna stove (heater), starts throwing water on the stove to get more steam. The problem is that he started throwing it like there is no tomorrow, without asking us others. Like four big scoops of water at a time, when normally 1-2 should be enough. And quite often too. At least he should have realized that when you throw water on the stove, the steam first rushes to the other side of the sauna room (= me and the old gentleman beside me), and only then goes back milder to him who is throwing the water near the stove.
After awhile, skin burning red, I decide to leave the sauna, and I make a snide remark in loud voice: "I fucking didn't realize this was some sauna contest.". The old gentleman beside me says "Starts to feel like that to me too.", and left with me at the same time. The young guy seemed dumbfounded as we left him alone in the sauna.
Too bad I didn't lecture him earlier about why exactly the swim suit should be left outside the sauna, he appeared to be a dickhead who should have deserved all the humiliation he can get. Now that I think of it, maybe I should have blocked the door to the sauna from outside when I left, or something.
Post edited May 04, 2013 by timppu