No, I don’t usually go physically affectionate with them, male, female, or whatever. I reserve that to close family; unless there is some special situation of course, like loss, or celebration, or something.
And honestly, I don’t miss it at all. I get enough affection at home.
Bloody oath! My brothers and my closest mates all get hugs, and my near 18yo stepson and I still hug goodbye or goodnight too.
Hugging friends – yes and easy. Snuggling – never. And this doesn’t apply only to men, it applies to women whom I don’t find attractive as well.
Physical affection from someone I don’t find attractive is super akward. Now I’m a cis straight male, so this principle applies to essentially all men.
P.S. OP, if you like more actual physical affection from your male friends, it’s maybe just time to come out of the closet. This is lemmy, nobody is really straight around here anyways
Oh, I’m quite open and queer, but I know that not everyone is. Different cultures around the globe handle things differently, too. But I even see the difference on the more local scale, where some friends are quite physically affectionate, whereas others hug me like a frozen fence post, haha.
It’s interesting that women generally are fairly physically affectionate with friends, but men kind of run the gamut depending on family and social culture. And yet, even some of the most awkward are super physically affectionate with animals and pets, sometimes even at the same event.
I find stuff like that fascinating. Cultures evolve and change, with some aspects being more seasonal, and others more glacial. :)
Snuggling – never. And this doesn’t apply only to men, it applies to women whom I don’t find attractive as well.
What about nonhuman animals? Do you dislike cuddly dogs?
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.
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.
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 who 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…
Thats a super cute story 😁
In Dubai and India I saw male friends holding hands together while walking down the street, and I thought it was really nice.
I hug my male friends often.
I think this is always kinda sweet :)
Wait, so you all are telling me that you don’t kiss the homies goodnight?
Local culture is not touchy feely, but we have no problem being naked around strangers in sauna/spa environment.
I hug my friends. I don’t want to snuggle with them.
A hug is a standard greeting between well-acquainted men in Sweden, so yeah. I hug my friends and family.
I wish it were more acceptable, but personally I’d just rather not be touched by anyone.
Hugging ✅
Snuggling - Not really a problem
Playful wrestling - Guaranteed the guy who instigated it is in the closet, same with most people who watch actual wrestling
You guys have friends?
Nope. Too likely they’re either a toxic two steps from blatant homophobia, or an actual incel these days. I kinda wish it was more socially acceptable, but at the same time? A lot of these dudes make me regret/resent the gender I was born as.
Hugging is cool. I’m not wanting beyond that from my male friends.
I am a boomer.
