Pooftah

[Blind groper]

I was watching the humorous British quiz show on TV the other night, called QI. Steven Fry is the host, and he is a well known gay guy, who came out of the closet a long time ago. He showed a photo of two British soldiers arm in arm, in mid 19th Century army uniforms.

Fry pointed out that it was common for British men up to that time to show friendship in physical ways, like walking arm in arm, or even holding hands, and there was nothing sexual about it. What changed the culture was the act of parliament that made homosexuality illegal, and the very highly publicised trial, and conviction of Oscar Wilde as a homosexual. After that, men avoided touching each other like the other guy had the plague! That attitude seems to have spread to every English speaking country.

I found this interesting, since I spent a couple years as a young man in Fiji. Of all cultural differences I observed there, the one that disturbed me the most the habit of male friends touching.

Of course, here in the down under zones, men tend to be paranoid about pooftahs. To be accued of being a pooftah is one of the worst insults. That is changing, with tolerance for gays increasing, but the fear is still there.

Do you think we may ever return to a time when two men holding hands will again be accepted, and not a sign of homosexuality? What is the culture of the future in relation to male bonding?

[JimC]

As a side note, the spelling seems variable. I have seen it as poofter...

Holding hands, possibly not. Hugging more often than was acceptable in the past, sure...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

When, oh when, will we return to those halcyon days where two people could fuck each-other senseless, simply as an act of mutual respect and friendship, without the artificial sexual overtones thrown up by modern society?

[FBM]

Male-to-male touching is covered under "skinship" here in Korea, and it was by far the hardest thing for me to get used to. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=skinship

I grew up in the US Deep South, where homophobia is the norm. It was a huge and unexpected relief to be free of the aversion to non-violent male contact. Or at least partially so. Strange, but it doesn't bother me to have physical contact with a Korean man, but if it's a western man, it's still pretty creepy to me.

When, oh when, will we return to those halcyon days where two people could fuck each-other senseless, simply as an act of mutual respect and friendship, without the artificial sexual overtones thrown up by modern society?

[JimC]

A lot of it gets sublimated in sport.

A rugby scrum is a case in point...

[pErvinalia]

I was watching the humorous British quiz show on TV the other night, called QI. Steven Fry is the host, and he is a well known gay guy, who came out of the closet a long time ago. He showed a photo of two British soldiers arm in arm, in mid 19th Century army uniforms.

Fry pointed out that it was common for British men up to that time to show friendship in physical ways, like walking arm in arm, or even holding hands, and there was nothing sexual about it. What changed the culture was the act of parliament that made homosexuality illegal, and the very highly publicised trial, and conviction of Oscar Wilde as a homosexual. After that, men avoided touching each other like the other guy had the plague! That attitude seems to have spread to every English speaking country.

I found this interesting, since I spent a couple years as a young man in Fiji. Of all cultural differences I observed there, the one that disturbed me the most the habit of male friends touching.

Of course, here in the down under zones, men tend to be paranoid about pooftahs. To be accued of being a pooftah is one of the worst insults. That is changing, with tolerance for gays increasing, but the fear is still there.

Do you think we may ever return to a time when two men holding hands will again be accepted, and not a sign of homosexuality? What is the culture of the future in relation to male bonding?

That's interesting. In Turkey and other places in the middle east, it is very common to see men walking with their arms around each other and the like.

Sport here in the west is the funny one. We are so paranoid of being seen to be gay, but on the sports field it's perfectly ok to pat your team mates on the bum and to have giant hugs on the field. Even sort of orgy like pile ons in soccer!

[Citizensmith]

As a Brit in the US, it amuses me that admitting to liking Abba and the pet shop boys is enough to have people assume you are gay.

[FBM]

Well, that is pretty gay, after all.

When I first came to Korea, the song "YMCA" was still popular here. People kept trying to get me to do the dance and couldn't understand why I refused. Even now, people are surprised when I tell them about the group and the song.

[JimC]

I would dance in public to YMCA, just for the lols. I'm too old to give a stuff...

[Tyrannical]

Thank God for the Oscar Wilde trial then.

[JimC]

Thank God for the Oscar Wilde trial then.

Fuck off.

[rainbow]

Thank God for the Oscar Wilde trial then.

Does your boyfriend agree?

[mistermack]

Thank God for the Oscar Wilde trial then.

Fuck off.

You've got to admit that was funny.

[rachelbean]

How

[laklak]

Only a poof would say "pooftah" instead of "poofter".