WTF Is a jerk off buddy?
Sexuality is a lot like the climate: complex, not simply hot or cold. On the other hand, sexual behavior is like the weather, constantly shifting from day to day. In this light, jerking off with other guys doesn't suddenly change a straight guy's orientation, much like a rainstorm doesn't turn a desert into a rainforest.
Here's the thing about group jerking off with your buds - it's more common than you'd think. During teenage years, it's seen as a bonding exercise or a sort of rite of passage. Their could be some social and cultural significance of group masturbation in adolescence. It's all about exploration and self-discovery, and hey, sometimes it's a competition. But it doesn't necessarily indicate a shift in sexual orientation.
As adults, some guys continue this practice. It's like a throwback to their adventurous teen years, keeping in touch with their youthful spirit. Think of it as a recurring weather pattern, showing up every once in a while.
Hanging out naked with other guys can also promote camaraderie. It's not a new concept - remember the ancient Greeks working out naked in gymnasiums for body appreciation and male bonding (Scanlon, T. F. (2002). The Dispersion of Pederasty and the Athletic Revolution in Sixth-Century BC Greece)? It can also help boost body positivity, letting guys feel better about their own bodies (Calzo, J. P., et al., 2013).
Jane Ward, in her book "Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men" (2015), adds another perspective. She discusses the idea of "heterosexual homosociality" - that is, straight men engaging in homosexual behavior as an extension of homosocial (same-sex) bonding. It's a way of asserting masculinity without necessarily changing their orientation.
Today, as society becomes more accepting of diverse sexual behaviors, more straight-identified guys might feel comfortable exploring activities like group jerking off. It doesn't mean a shift in their orientation, but rather it indicates greater openness in sexual behavior.
Here's another interesting twist in our climate metaphor: there's a group often referred to as 'sides' within the gay community. These folks might not be into penetrative sex—neither pitching nor catching—but they find their fulfillment through other forms of sexual intimacy, such as mutual jerking off. As sex researcher Joe Kort discusses in his article "A New Sexuality: Not Straight. Not Bisexual. Mostly Straight" (2018), 'sides' appreciate the emotional connection and mutual pleasure that come with non-penetrative activities. It's less about dominance or submission often associated with penetrative sex and more about sharing pleasure on equal terms.
So, there you have it. Sexual behavior, like the weather, can be varied and ever-changing. Group jerking off among straight guys, or the preferences of 'sides' in the gay community, might seem like unique weather patterns, but in the grand climate of human sexuality, they're just expressions of its rich diversity. As we continue to evolve, let's respect and appreciate these diverse 'weather patterns' in the world of sexuality.
Sources:
Scanlon, T. F. (2002). The Dispersion of Pederasty and the Athletic Revolution in Sixth-Century BC Greece. In The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity.
Calzo, J. P., Corliss, H. L., Blood, E. A., Field, A. E., & Austin, S. B. (2013). Development of muscularity and weight concerns in heterosexual and sexual minority males. Health Psychology, 32(1), 42–51.
Ward, J. (2015). Not Gay: Sex between Straight White Men. New York University Press.
Kort, J. (2018). A New Sexuality: Not Straight. Not Bisexual. Mostly Straight. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/
