this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2024
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Asklemmy

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[–] neatchee 64 points 1 week ago (3 children)

No, it's not socially acceptable. Yes, I wish it were. I don't know if I'd go for full on snuggling but I come from a physically affectionate family and in general wish people were more comfortable with that kind of thing

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Interesting. I come from a family that wasn't very physically affectionate, and I hug most of my friends every time I see them.

[–] neatchee 10 points 1 week ago

I go for the hug when I see friends I haven't seen in a long time, or when I'm parting ways with someone I know I won't see for a while. But it's definitely not a regular occurrence

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

I mentioned in my other reply that my hiking group hugs when we meet, which started as a joke when the women did, then stuck. Now, when someone new joins you can feel the emotion of missing out when they arrive, and the acceptance when it happens as they leave.

Next time a mixed gender group meets, and the women hug the women and men, etc, start a ridiculous laugh and pretend to hug one of the dudes. If he does, you may have started a trend.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

No, it's not socially acceptable. Yes, I wish it were.

Like, does this mean you are afraid of other people you don't know judging you, or that you or your friends find it socially unacceptable?

Either way that seems to be more of an individual problem rather than a social one. I am physically affectionate with my friends and have never been confronted about it by a member of the public , not that I would really care if I were. People be dumb, I'm not going to let someone else's projected homophobia dictate my friendship.

[–] neatchee 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That it would be viewed as awkward and unwelcome by the other participants. Consent is key, yo

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[–] Chairsareoverrated 32 points 1 week ago

Wait, so you all are telling me that you don't kiss the homies goodnight?

[–] Fern 30 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I'm a big hugger. I wish that there was more affection between men, I often worry I'm making other men uncomfortable and then in turn I get uncomfortable about it. The whole thing makes me far more stressed than I wish it did honestly.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

There's one guy in my little group of friends who is an unapologetic hugger, even though the rest of us don't really hug he'll always hug everyone goodbye. I'd say it's possible some guys don't enjoy it, but I actually really appreciate it about him, it's nice getting a hug and sometimes I really need one.

For anyone who really doesn't like it they can always offer their hand first, but on behalf of all the guys who need a little affection from their buds sometimes I wanna say thanks for being there for the friends who need it. Even if they never say so I'm sure some of them appreciate it.

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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[–] friend_of_satan 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hugging, definitely.

Snuggling, maybe? Like maybe we both fell asleep in the back of a van and ended up snuggling a bit and when we woke up we're not weirded out by it.

Wrestling, maybe, but it would probably be with kids or pets around. I can't remember doing it but I wouldn't be weirded out by it.

It wasn't always this way though. I was raised southern Baptist. Becoming OK with male physical interactions and homosexuality was a journey, and I am much happier with how accepting I am now than when I said I was as a Christian who had this low-key hypocritical "I know the truth of god and accept everybody" while also looking down on sinners.

I have a gay friend who came to visit me and we went around the city and to a house party and had a great time and then fell asleep in the beach. The next day he said "that was one of the best dates I've ever been on" and it caught me off guard because I was just "hanging out", but if it had been a girl, it would have been a great date, and I thought "ok, sure, it was a 'date' with a guy friend and that's ok." It was a big step for me.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Not really a response related to the post prompt, but more your comment…

I grew up on a farm in rural NC. Graduated college with a film degree & headed west to LA. I wound up rooming with a friend a from high school, his girlfriend, & her friend from fashion school…

…who turned out to be a 6’7”, 225lbs, gay volleyball player & ex-cheerleader from Korea.

My friend only knew me as the little redneck kid who used to throw rocks at rabbits & swore too much growing up. He lectured me on behaving around a gay man & really made a big deal about not being ass to our roommate.

4 years later I transitioned & got my first makeup lessons from that roommate. He became my drag mom 🤣

Time is a mindfuck sometimes…

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

Thats a super cute story 😁

[–] MigratingtoLemmy 18 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I can't seem to shake off the loud "It's Gay" inside my head when something like that happens. Now if it's a kid or a senior at work patting me, sure no problem. Occasional hugs upon meeting friends after a while, handshakes etc are fine. Anything else is too awkward for me

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago

I dislike touching people or being touched. Not that I have a phobia is suffer from, I just don't like it and try to avoid it when possible. So no, I am not physically affectionate with other friends (male or female alike).

Before there was a pandemic, touching people for welcome or goodbye was common (i.e "shaking hands"). But fortunately this is no longer the case. There are still some disrespectful and non-considerate persons around who want to touch you just to say hello, but they're in the minority.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Hugging yes, but with a very limited range of friends, and I don't have much.

I'm okay with a guy initiating a hug, but sometimes it takes me by surprise. But it's a good surprise.

I feel it's acceptable, just doesn't happen often.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Nope. Nope.

I don't mind a hug, but I have zero desire to snuggle or wrestle with my friends, male or female.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

I have friends I will happily hug if we've been apart for a while.

Snuggling definitely sets off some kind of panic reaction in me however. Also, when unknown guys get too close, fight or flight immediately kicks in.

I'm sure there is nothing to unpack there.. nothing at all

[–] andrewta 13 points 1 week ago

No I'm not.

And honestly I'd say no I wouldn't want it to be.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

I'm not physically affectionate with anyone. I hate to be touched, especially by men.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yep, a greeting hug when you meet a friend is very common here. Sometimes it is a handshake with pat on the shoulder, or just a handshake.

Don't really think about it much

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

Hugging, definitely. No playful wrestling since high school, and what there was there was definitely more motivated by competition and testosterone than affection.

As for snuggling, I wouldn't want to snuggle with anyone that I didn't have at least some sexual attraction to, unless I was in serious emotional distress and just needed it for the reversion to childhood. So I don't snuggle with guys. I don't know of many straight women who snuggle with their platonic friends either, beyond like sharing a blanket for a movie.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

No.

Yes, I wish it was more socially acceptable, but I still wouldn't be physically affectionate. Because autism.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

Hug long term friends if not seen for a while or if any of us need a hug.

Wrestling and snuggling, erm nope.

Me and my homies always put kisses on texts and have for a decade at least. We will tell each other we love each other too.

[–] moonburster 11 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Hugging yes, "playful" wrestling no. When we wrestle we do it hard and I 8/10 times come home bruised

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[–] Reygle 11 points 1 week ago

I haven't had anything beyond a hug from my mother in 10 years.

A boss of mine some time ago would sneak up and pat me on the back, scaring me most of the time. Back then I hated it.

These days something like that would make my whole week.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (2 children)

When I was in highschool, it was normal for everyone in my mostly male friend group to greet each other with hugs. I remember my dad saying he found it weird. Didn't change anything.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I am bisexual and somewhat poly. With some of my friends I have a more publicly physical/intimate relationship. We may hold hands, hug, or kiss. In private, we cuddle and... do other things as well. I imagine the straights of Lemmy will largely tell you they don't cuddle their male friends while the queer folk will give a different answer.

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[–] hperrin 10 points 1 week ago

I hug my friends. I don’t want to snuggle with them.

[–] Grimm665 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I (from the US) visited my cousins in Italy, and as we were driving around, my cousin and his best friend were joking back and forth in Italian, and it ended with him just kissing his friend on the cheek out of nowhere. It was very cute and entirely non sexual lol. Got a kick out of it since i don't really see that at all in the US.

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[–] Modva 9 points 1 week ago

Snuggling? Uh, that's a hard no. I can't imagine that. I'd be extremely uncomfortable.

Hugging? Yup, lots of hugging in my friends and family.

I don't wish for more physical affection among males, seems good as is.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Is the implication here that adult women snuggle/wrestle with their friends? Outside of porn videos?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

Not necessarily. I've noticed female friends tend to be much more adept at physical affection on the whole. Men tend to have a much wider range, with some hugging you (male) like a 2x4, whereas others shimmy over to you and rest their head or arm around you on a chairlift.

Mostly, I wanted to hear how male-male friends and family treated each other physically, without the complication of SOs or romantic partners fuzzing the responses (since people tend to already be physically affectionate with romantic partners).

It's been really interesting to hear, the responses are much more diverse than I was expecting, and it's really heartwarming to see.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

I'm not no. I'd give my buddies a hug if I haven't seen them in a while, but that's really it. I think it should be more socially acceptable but I don't personally feel like anything is missing from my own relationship with them. It's fine for me how it is.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I hug my guy friends when I haven't seen them in a while (e.g. my friends who live far away). Snuggling is super weird, and I don't know of any guys who have done that. Feels like if I did, my wife would not be very happy. Affectionate fighting seems just over the top. Seems like something limited to children and movies.

I think the amount of physical affection I get from other men is fine. Don't really need more

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

I'm becoming more comfortable with shoulder pats n shit, hugs too. Wrestling isn't my jam anymore. Gimme a dagorhir sword, or some other foam sword and let's have a no-holds-barred swashbuckle.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

I started going to raves shortly after high school in the late 90s. The culture is all about love. I hug all of my friends (male or female) when I see them. I tell them as often as possible that I love them too.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

Eons ago, in my twenties, some friends and I had a party. There were a lot of people there, so it was pretty crowded in the couch.

A friend of mine arrived, and he was having trouble finding a place to sit, so I sat back and told him half as a joke "You always have a seat in my lap". He took me up on the offer.

After a while of him sitting there, both of us enjoying the spectacle around the table, one of us (I don't remember who) said:

"This was surprisingly pleasant"
We're both straight dudes.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

No, I don't have close friends. I prefer not to touch or be touched anyway, particularly by other men.

I don't mind if it became more socially acceptable, probably would be healthier overall. As long as it's also acceptable to be able to request no touching.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have hooked up with several of my friends, we cuddle often, and are not afraid so show affection, but we're all homos so I guess that's less odd. But I have met straight guys who are very confortable being platonically affectionate with us. I feel like society prevents me from being touchy out of fear of being called gay. It's not gay to lay your head on your bro's lap. Those thick tights are comfy af.

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[–] DV8 6 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I do more than playfully wrestle with my friends. As I do BJJ. I actively try to choke them out or try to break their limbs or try to tear their ligaments apart. It's very fun for all. Though while it's open to anyone I do get most people wouldn't enjoy it. It's personally physical to the extreme since on top of the close physical contact you're also sweating all over each other to the point sweat dripping in your eyes or mouth will statistically happen at least once.

Honestly if you feel like you miss playful fighting with friends, do a trial class of it.

[–] hexabs 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Very poor phrasing at the start there.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

You guys have friends?

[–] MudSkipperKisser 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I was just watching Love Island (don’t judge) and noticed two of the guys who are very good friends were sitting with their legs sort of crossed together. Like the way girls who are close friends would. It stuck out because you don’t really see that much but I was like hey that’s pretty cool, kinda more masculine (at least from my girl perspective) than guys that are all afraid to touch each other

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[–] random_character_a 6 points 1 week ago

Local culture is not touchy feely, but we have no problem being naked around strangers in sauna/spa environment.

[–] Carighan 6 points 1 week ago

Usually hugging for saying hi or bye, just like with women.

Beyond that, not really? But then I'm not a very physically affectionate person with anyone, independent of gender. Except Pepper - my cat.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

I’m not very physically affectionate with anyone anymore and I don’t know why, but I used to be very affectionate. Now, like, when I want to hug someone, throw my arm around them, or… anything, I freeze up and internally panic unless I know the person pretty well and they invite the contact first.

With that said, meh. I don’t care if it’s a man. I don’t enjoy wrestling, but other forms of affection or physical contact are fine. I have no sexual interest in men, so I guess I don’t even think about it that way.

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