Poll: Appropriate physical affection between heterosexual men.

[Dags90]

So an article [http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42672313/ns/today-relationships/] about a brouhaha over two basketball players being photographed holding hands made me wonder what this forum thinks about man on man physical intimacy. Standards vary widely between countries, and it's always interesting to hear different perspectives.

The poll isn't so much about what is appropriate as it is about how much intimacy two (let's presume heterosexual) men can have without it taking on a clear sexual connotation. From what I gather, the U.S. is probably one of the most conservative countries in this regard, which isn't particularly surprising. Not just because of homophobia, but also general attitudes about personal space. In fact two Ecuadorian immigrants were beaten, one to death, after being mistaken for a gay couple a few years ago in NYC.[footnote]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20009167-504083.html[/footnote]

I know whenever I visit other countries, I often find myself asking "Gay or European/Canadian?".

Edit: Yay! My poll didn't break.

Further edits: Feel free to include scenarios in which behaviors which would otherwise be considered too much affection are permissible.

 

[AngryMongoose]

I find kissing on the cheek weird for any reasons other than romantic ones (or affection for younger children), so ima go with that.
Probably because of the British "No Touching" attitude.
Big fan of bro hugs though, with the right people.

 

[tigermilk]

I heard in India it is common for two heterosexual men to hold hands in public. I think this is great but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

Looking at the poll again, no blowjob option? Prude

 

[biggles1]

I find that I dont care what other peoples sexuality is, as long as people, hetro or homo, dont do too much in public, kisses are fine, proper making out in public is just gross.

 

[Erana]

Its not just men who are subject to this; anyone else remember the recent tabloid fodder over a certain woman holding her grown child close and kissing him affectionately on the face?

Its all bullshit. No one should be considered guilty of sexual actions when they're showing affection, and the only evidence of them doing so is taking an image out of context and saying, "But it could. Possibly. If we twist it enough."

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Depends.

Assuming you are total best friends for life, hugging is fine. Cuddling.....Eh...only if one of you has had a REALLY traumatic event/breackup and needs emotional support.

Within family, a kiss on the cheek is A-ok.


@ captcha: Yes. There is "much omver" indeed.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Kissing on the cheeks is probably fine between a gay guy and a straight guy, but between two straight guys, that'd be just weird.

Manly hugs is as far as I go. Preceded by a high-hand clasp and succeeded by firm slapping of the back is how it should go.

 

[Dags90]

Its not just men who are subject to this; anyone else remember the recent tabloid fodder over a certain woman holding her grown child close and kissing him affectionately on the face? "

Yeah, but I thought male/male would make for the most interesting thread because I've noticed that there's a large difference between countries about it. Especially between the U.S. and Europe, and this forum has a fair amount of both categories.

 

[Wadders]

For me it all depends if you're sober or drunk/stoned.

Sober, I draw the line at hugging (in a manly way of course, accompanied by an equally manly slap on the pack )

Dunk, well, pretty much anything goes really, depending upon the state you're in, although kissing on the mouth might be a tad unsettling. Although, I have a mate who kisses guys when he's wasted, but he has a girlfriend so we let him off

 

[zehydra]

I draw the line at hand-holding. If you're holding a guy's hand out of affection, then I'm gonna have to say, guess what, you're not heterosexual.

 

[PatSilverFox]

It definitely depends on the culture of the area.
Here I would have no clue.

I'm gay so I don't think I could form an opinion :s

 

[SinisterGehe]

Well long as they don't go over the limit that is considered heterosexual, aka no sexual acts, everything above that just fine. In India, it is normal to even straight male friends to hold hands. Kissing is a common greeting in MANY cultures.

In Finnish general culture, it is found uncommon for anyone to touch anymore for more than a handshake, unless people has a longer or a deeper connection, family, known for long, extreme trust between them (team mates etc.).

So if I hug a a friend who is a girl, it is considered rather odd. If I would hug a male friend it would be considered even oddier.

But there is no limits on how to so affection, people automatically choose the right type of behavior between people.

 

[Woodsey]

The line is drawn at hand-holding (because, why?).

Nothing wrong with the occasional bro-hug.

 

[PatSilverFox]

Its not just men who are subject to this; anyone else remember the recent tabloid fodder over a certain woman holding her grown child close and kissing him affectionately on the face? "

Yeah, but I thought male/male would make for the most interesting thread because I've noticed that there's a large difference between countries about it. Especially between the U.S. and Europe, and this forum has a fair amount of both categories.

Also in hispanic countries people act much closer on a physical level.
No espanol aquí, aunque.

 

[Megacherv]

Manly bro-hugs as greetings and goodbyes are fine with me, as are proper reassuring bro-hugs (when shit's gone down, you need a bro-hug).

 

[BenFace]

None of those are too far for me. I frequently end up spooning as I sleep next to male friends of mine. It's nice =]
*edit* I also have brodates with my friends when we wanna catch up, one of which ended up with us having a nap together in a single bed.

 

[PatSilverFox]

I heard in India it is common for two heterosexual men to hold hands in public. I think this is great but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

Looking at the poll again, no blowjob option? Prude

I would say some kind of mutual masturbation would be okay, and some heterosexual males do that.
But kissing would be less appropriate.

A little odd but my opinion.

 

[loc978]

Honestly, I don't care how much physical affection other heterosexual men display towards each other. Knock yourselves out.
for example:
Totally straight. Hilarious... just please don't try it on me. I personally draw the line after friendly hugs... not just with men, but also with women I find unattractive. Kissing is reserved for women I actually want to fuck (since I hit puberty anyway. I haven't kissed my mother since I was ten).

 

[Cormitt]

Basically whatever the two doods are comfortable with. Hell it isn't my business what they do. Personally not my thing but given the handholding that goes on a clutch moments during virtually anything this isn't that big of a deal.

 

[kurupt87]

Hand holding, to me, is 'worse' than a kiss on the cheek/forehead. So that, but placed lower on the list.

Oh, I'm British; seems that's relevant.