When I was in my teens, a male friend of mine, Bob, had big "man boobs". He was razzed so much for it that he developed a "big associated problem" and would never take his shirt off in public, even prefering to wear a t-shirt when swimming.

As Bob's close friend, I was travelling with his family visiting friends in to another city. All the kids (five or six of us) wanted went to the local urban indoor pool and we were having alot of fun horsing around. That was until a "pool lady" came up to Bob and abruptly told him that he had to take his top off, as "males were not allowed in the pool with tops on". Bob was embarassed by being singled out, and rather than taking his top off, exited the pool in embarassment. We all left the pool with Bob.

Bob's father privately explained to the "pool person" why Bob could not take his top off...but to no avail, as "the pool rules were the rules".

When we kids were told that we could go back in the pool, but Bob coulden't, we all protested - if Bob couldn't go in the pool, then we wouldn't go in. Looking back, it is rewarding to relect on this and how kids, even at a young age, are sensitive to the feelings of others.