Guy Camaraderie
Closeness among guys is central to GC. Hello! My name's Ryan, the founder of Guy Camaraderie. We welcome guys from any background. Whether you identify as straight, gay, bi, or otherwise, there are no expectations or criticisms here. Please allow me to give you a brief overview of the core concepts and philosophy of Guy Camaraderie (or GC for short). The central focus once again is closeness...
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Men Being Affectionate
Return to DiscussionsI saw a BuzzFeed video and I want to pose a question:
What do you think of men having an extremely affectionate relationship with one another? The video I saw was of two men kissing each other on the lips and I thought that it's really cool that men are that comfortable with themselves to be that affectionate with one another and not have it mean anything more than showing that you care about them. In a world where same sex relationships are becoming more accepted I think it was only a matter of time before norms started to relax for straight people because of it.
I have kissed a couple of my other straight male friends (I am straight too) and we all have thought nothing of it. Now even though it was not on the lips, I wouldn't be horribly offended if it did end up on the lips.
So my question is: In bonding and showing affection, do you kiss in a friendly way? Id be okay with that.
I would be interested in knowing where the video was filmed. If in Europe of it is of Europeans for example, two men kissing is already accepted gay or straight. But you are right things formerly taboo are now being more accepted. I would not care or assume anything by it since I have spent time around Europeans. Also, for nudists we always say its about nudity, not sex. And two guys kissing can be about kissing, not sex.
I'll see if I can post the link
You pose an interesting topic. My answer is that it touches on a lot of issues. I differentiate public from private affection. Two lovers making out in public or having loud intimate conversation is too much for me regardless of gender or orientation, and public lip kissing is borderline as well. And that's just me, perhaps a bit orally repressed as I find gum-smacking and other very public oral activity mildly offensive. Hugs and cheek kissing can be warm and genuine, but I always make a differentiation between giving and taking a hug as many are not comfortable.I have been kissed by gay friends on the cheek and found it to be a public blessing. Today I gave a street vendor a hug when she waved at me to get my attention and then continued. So I say go ahead and give your buddy a smackaroo on the lips if you want, just please don't it blocking the sidewalk as I rush to catch my train home.
I kiss. But it's never sensual to my bros. It is affectionate because I care for them. Ocassioinally there's a resistance when they are around other guys. But alone it seems many of my close men friends share the same desire to express their affection as well.
In a world where same sex relationships are becoming more accepted I think it was only a matter of time before norms started to relax for straight people because of it..
As a gay man, I would have to disagree with this statement. I have not seen American cultural norms change in this direction. If anything, the lines between gay and straight have become more defined as homosexuality has become more accepted in the mainstream.
As a gay man, I would have to disagree with this statement. I have not seen American cultural norms change in this direction. If anything, the lines between gay and straight have become more defined as homosexuality has become more accepted in the mainstream.
That is an interesting observation - do you think that it is a "don't want to be perceived as that" reaction to the increased social visibility of gay men? I don't hug and kiss as much as I used to, but Canadians tend to be reserved, too, so that muddies the waters.....
Preach! I did my postgrad in the United States and I was taken aback by the toxic masculinity culture, where affection between men was viewed negatively in the mainstream culture. It's a shame. Men need affection too, they need touch, and cuddles. I am straight, I enjoy affection in a platonic way. Except when it comes from women. I always like blush or feel slightly shy and a little ambiguous about it. Nature, and a repressive education maybe.
Preach! I did my postgrad in the United States and I was taken aback by the toxic masculinity culture, where affection between men was viewed negatively in the mainstream culture. It's a shame. Men need affection too, they need touch, and cuddles. I am straight, I enjoy affection in a platonic way. Except when it comes from women. I always like blush or feel slightly shy and a little ambiguous about it. Nature, and a repressive education maybe.
Everyone wants and enjoys affection. We want to be held, touched, cuddled and kissed. Not all the time nor by just anybody but we do want it. The problem is many men and women don't know how to ask for what they want. People often trade sex for what they really want , which may be to just be held. Unfortunately two straight guys aren't going to have sex with each other so they can't trade that for what they really want which is truly expressed affection. Talk to your close guy friends about this when the time is right and you may find they want the same thing as you.