Boners have been around since before most of us were born – the above photo was taken in 1921, after a swimming competition in the Delaware River. We like how the original caption explains how this man won the event “by default after the first-place finisher was disqualified for completing the 10-mile event in the Delaware River without a swimsuit.” Perhaps that explains the boner?

Credit: Jeff

Can you blame him?

Credit: Big Daddy

When you get an awkward boner at a public swim meet, there’s not much you can do except laugh it off.

Credit: Anthony

How awkward is it to have a boner when you’re surrounded by your younger sister and her friends?

Credit: Carlos

For some people, swimming in cold water causes shrinkage. For others, it causes boners.

Credit: EG

One of the dangers of falling asleep outside, especially when wearing almost no clothing, is that when you get a boner while sleeping you can become a victim of photos like this.  The interesting thing is that, other than the guy beside him, no one else at the pool seems to have noticed his pants tent.

Beach parties are always a problem area for awkward boners, especially when bikini-clad girls dance with guys like this.  To this man’s credit, he is being inventive.  While the waist tuck is normally done in one’s own pants, he appears to be attempting to do a waist tuck into the girl’s bathing suit.

At least he gets points for trying…

Not only are boners natural and healthy, but they often have practical uses.  This photo was submitting by one of our readers, and clearly demonstrates that a boner can be used by champion swimmers as a keel/rudder (see diagram 2) to keep them steady as they swim through choppy waters.  Proof once again that boners are not to be feared, but embraced.