OKAY. An open question here

[serai]

In the aftermath of the Discovery of Cockzilla, I'd like to ask everybody a question:


Just what the hell is wrong with Speedos, anyway?


I'm serious. I really don't get the whole EWWWW reaction. We saw a damn fine-looking guy wearing a garment that shows off his assets. Assets that most of the folks I hang with on LJ at the very least have been wondering about for a while, if not writing intricate pervy fics about. We got a good look at Sean's entire physique here (well, except for his feet). Granted, he's not exactly svelte, but some of us like a man with enough flesh to hang onto, you know.

Yeah, there's the "guys who shouldn't wear them" idea. But what's that got to do with the garment itself? It's hardly more revealing than a fucking THONG, for gods' sakes, and we see those damn things on the beach constantly. (In fact, it's less revealing - at least it covers the guy's buttcrack, damnit!) Why is it ho-hum for a woman to hang all her bits out to dry but outrageous for a man to do the same?

And all this shrieking and turning green from women who amuse themselves by writing about men porking each other, creating pics out of gay porn, and squeeing endlessly about how hot and fuckable their guys are? I'd have thought you all would be hopping with joy to see one of your fantasy guys wearing something that revealing. What gives???

Really, explain this to me. And cite reasons, please, not just "They just squick me!" Because it makes no sense to me at all.

Comments

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Amen to that. This idea that sex and bodies are "dirty" is mostly a 'Murican hangup, at least in the civilized world. It's like other things that are "taboo" here. My grandson went to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and, I think Austria with a school group, and he was telling me about how kids of 17 and 18 can drink legally there, and to them, it's not about the drinking, it's about being with friends and talking. They drink a beer or two in an evening. Over here, it's about getting shit-faced and throwing up. I think we Americans are a truly fucked up people. But I could be wrong.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. Americans in general have no sense of proportion when it comes to things like this. Our society doesn't encourage moderation, or an appreciation of it. It's all or nothing, and that's both counterproductive and very sad.

Your example is great. My dad started my sibs and I on very weak wine coolers when we were little, which is the custom in Spain (where he's from). And we never developed a taste for alcohol except for wine and beer as an accompaniment to meals. I've never understood why Americans love to drink so much, especially hard liquor. Ick. Nasty stuff. And it's like that with everything here, whether it's alcohol or sex or drugs or money or whatever. Nobody knows how to take something only as much as you need or will add a little enjoyment to life. Either you roll around in it until you're sick, or you can't have ANY of it, EVER. It's a very weird illness, if you ask me.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

So right. I used to love mixed drinks, and wine, and when my daughter was just small, if she asked to taste my drink, I'd let her have a sip. She grew up realizing she could have it if she wanted it. Now, she'll drink a wine or a mixed drink on special occasions, but it just doesn't matter to her. Don't know why we all seem to have that "all or nothing" mentality here, but it's so pervasive. Maybe it has something to do with the fact we're bombarded 24/7 with advertising telling us we have to have everything, all the time, and right now?

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It's partly that, and it's partly the fact that this country was settled by a bunch of tight-assed Puritans. We've internalized that whole mindset, and since willful self-deprivation is not something Nature has any sympathy for, the result is a kind of societal paranoid dualism. We're constantly afraid of relaxing and unclenching, giving in to what we want without stressing over it, even though evidence shows time and again that if you stop with the prohibitions, the desired object loses its fascination and becomes just another thing. I think we've gotten to the point where Americans like being all wound up and paranoid and disapproving - it's a way to feel righteous about our fucked-up society.

*shrug* Gringos. Go figure.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I think you just summed it all up perfectly. Gringos. Go figure.