In The Pole Closet

sailor started this discussion · 9/20/2012

One of my co-workers printed out this ecard and everyone was having a good laugh over it; http://static.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/MjAxMi1jNmNmMWI4YjRhZjQ5Njg4.png I got a giggle out of it for a different reason- none of my co-workers know that I pole. I work with 12 people in a small business, all of them are women. We are all close, as we often spend more time with each other than we do our own families. I decided to keep the pole a secret from them, for now. I wanted to be sure it was something I'd stick with before announcing my new hobby to everyone. I have this fantasy of giving them a surprise show some day, and it would be all the more fun if they had NO idea that I pole. So, how about you? Do your co-workers know that you pole?

17 replies

TiaMaria27 · 9/21/2012
Haha love it! Everyone knows that I pole. My manager, my executive officer, my colleagues. It's not really something that is taboo around here. In fact, they actually enjoy looking at my pics/ videos and are usually curious about it, asking a lot of questions and being amazed over the strength, etc it takes! I love it so much I couldn't keep it a secret even if I tried! Well done on being able to keep that one quiet!! :P
Beckypolegirl · 9/21/2012
i am the same i couldnt keep it a secret if i tried lol all my family friends and co workers know and thankfully i Havent had any negative comments. A few thought i was a stripper but soon changed their opinion and was impressed when i showed them some photos of the things i can do. Maybe i wouldnt be so open about it if i had faced negative comments but i guess i have been lucky so far :)
Karencanclimb · 9/21/2012
I work for a very large, very conservative company. There are a small handfull of people who I discuss pole with on a regular basis, but overall, most people do not know that I pole. I am slowly convincing my friends that pole is wonderful and awesome (as we all know). I'm even doing a pole party for a dear friends 40th birthday and I can hardly wait! All of the attendees are excited too.
adAstra · 9/21/2012
No at work knows I pole, and it is easy to keep to myself since I can't do much yet so there's not much to brag about plus I'm sure I would find myself without a job with the type of boss I have. It's funny because my co-workers comment that I have "stripper-long hair." Then there are the shoe comments, lol. So if they knew I poled I would automatically have to be a stripper, as if that's the worse thing, but whatever. A couple of my co-workers I get along with better were discussing that it would be fun to learn to pole dance and how much strength and endurance it takes. We actually came to a consensus that once we are stronger we will all take a pole class together. I am not holding my breath because it was a lot of just chit chat but there are always possibilites :)
aliceBheartless · 9/21/2012
hehe I got my pole shipped to my office when I bought it. And when I came in late after work a few days later, they had taken my desk chair away and set it up at my desk. My co-workers also came to watch me in a burlesque show, where I performed a pole piece. For some reason, my coworkers all know, most friends know, but my family doesnt really know. I have slowly let the cat out of the bag on that one, but its not really something that we talk about as a family, other than my sister, who took class with me when we lived together, and my mom because she also came to see the show.
echo234 · 9/21/2012
Corby thats great stuff! Everyone knows I pole even work lolol But they keep asking where at work at night? lol Ummmm here!!!!! People are so silly sometimes. That made me laugh thank you
Jag5303 · 9/21/2012
I tell anyone and everyone possible! I'm a proud pole pusher!!! Lol Stick with it, you'll see! ;)
sailor · 9/21/2012
I totally WILL tell them, I'm just a control freak and want it to be just right. Hah! My MIL found out when she came over and discovered my pole promenantly displayed in the middle of our tiny apartment. She said, "Um... what is that?" I said, "It's a fitness pole." Of course the next thing she blurted out was, "You're not going to start stripping, are you?!" Luckily my husband jumped in, "No, but once she's really good at it maybe she'll open a studio to teach others."
sailor · 9/21/2012
prominently^ We can't edit comments here? Ouch.
Panama Trixter · 9/22/2012
Ha, I told pole friends I was in the pole closet and they thought that was a weird term, glad I'm not the only one using it. My friends know, and my coworkers, especially since 2 of them got me started and I did a class with two of their wives. I'm just not "out" on Facebook yet. As not everyone knows...yet. But I was shocked other people in my office know..it's a rather big office and one of my friends that got me into it has a big mouth. It doesn't bother me, I was just shocked they knew. I just don't need my division chief to know...
echo234 · 9/22/2012
I just recently started sharing links of performances and stuff on face book but i don't say it there. My pole never comes down and I don't care who comes over!!! If you don't like my pole you don't have to be at my house. That's just me, its my castle and you don't have to like it. lololol I don't sound like a very nice person by saying that but I've waited along time to have something to call my own and I believe we should be happy in our domain. And I am. When the in laws come over they watch movies around the pole just like we do! and haven't mentioned it... to my face anyway lolol 🙂
Bob Zamora · 9/22/2012
Yes my co-workers know. The reception has been chilly. I'm out to everyone. The reactions range from, "That is so cool." to "Gotta run, nice seeing you." 😉
MariYabe · 9/22/2012
It all depends. I have a long vast and diverse athletic background. My family and friends know I'm a circus freak and love to perform even though I'm older than most. I'm a kid at heart and ever since I can remember I've doing somersaults or cartwheels. So pole is not a huge leap but they dont' really understand or know, or want to know because it makes them uncomfortable.
echo234 · 9/22/2012
Some of the employees I work with treat me like a stripper, cuz they are shallow and don't understand. Everyone has to make a living and who are they to judge to begin with! Only a couple of the guys still treat me in a way that is offensive, no matter how many times you say they don't want to hear it or just don't care, they have their mind made up, so what. Mostly it's not a big deal, a few have wanted to learn too. It depends on the people in general I guess
TiaMaria27 · 9/22/2012
Echo, that's crap, you should report them for harassment or something. In this day and age I don't see how pole dancing can be taken offensively or negatively by anyone, considering the type of crap people engage in elsewhere (ie all the Facebook groups dedicated to "naked selfies", sex confessions and general idiocy). I'm ruthless with anyone who even hints at taking my dancing negatively. For example, a distant cousin commented on Facebook that it was amusing that two of his cousins had poles in their houses. BAM, just like that he's gone and deleted from my life, I have no tolerance for ignorance when it comes to pole!
echo234 · 9/23/2012
Tonight I was asked to give a lap dance to a party of girls cuz it was her birthday......... I just said no. I don't do lap dances I do contemporary pole dance................. DUMB ASS!!!!
Empty · 9/23/2012
TiaMaria, I do the same exact thing! My friends on facebook are very limited cause i have very little tolerance for stupidity. I have people not on my feed, blocked from my status updates, and hell, i'll delete anyone if they annoy me enough. I don't need it in my life. Either support/respect me or GTFO. I love my facebook now cause I have all you lovely ladies on it like a little Pole Army. Makes all my other "friends" look lame. lol.