Gays and Bodybuilders

wolffried · #1 December 3rd, 2004, 01:51 AM

Hi all!
I'm kinda new to bodybuilding. Beeing gay, I wonder how gays are seen by bodybuilders. Do they think they're a nuisance? Do they hate 'em because they stare at their bodies? Do they like it if they're getting stares or maybe a guy tries to flirt with them?
This applies both to gay and hetero BBs - will a agy BB even look at a guy with a lesser build?
Or are all BBs at least a little bit "gay" because they are into male muscles so much?

What's your experience in the gym?

Thanks
wolffried

bigtom · #2 December 3rd, 2004, 02:18 AM

Hey Wolffried -- let's face it, the ultimate goal of bodybuilding is neither strength nor athletic achievement (like fastest, farthest, although strongest can be a contender as in World's Strongest Man contests), but is a visual sport -- it's there to show off big muscles, the bigger the better, no matter where -- in public, private, or in semi-private gym situations. When I pump up I wanna show em off and see this in other muscledudes too -- my experience has been most of them get off or at least like appreciation by other guys, no matter gay or straight, cause that's the reason they're building huge bodies. If they show or react to this appreciation and how they react is another thing -- I've known some "straight" BBs who really got close to their musclebuds in the gym but they'd never say they are "gay". I like to see this as man-to-man appreciation, without any further labels on it.

Keep pumpin man.

ethernet_jock · #3 December 3rd, 2004, 06:59 AM

Quote:

let's face it, the ultimate goal of bodybuilding is neither strength nor athletic achievement

I think that's one of the reasons why I refuse to call myself a "body builder" rather I tell people that I enjoy "weight training". The asthetic purpose IS definitely part of my motivation behind weight training but I would say that it's not the primary purpose and that I've found this to be true in more than one "bodybuilder" type. So what I'm trying to say is - speak for yourself - but not for everyone.

That aside - to answer the question and agree with the response given - I ABSOLUTELY ADORE any kind of admiration or appreciation I get for hard work. I actually find it MORE flattering if it comes from a homosexual because I know that he is a person who is trained and tested in heavily examining the male physique. If there is a bodybuilder who's offended by gay attention and appreciation then he's just 'phobic' and childish and needs to have his issues dealt with in another way.

How's that?

brent · #4 December 3rd, 2004, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethernet_jock

...
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE any kind of admiration or appreciation I get for hard work.
...

Yeah, after putting in a lot of work, and a lot of hours at the gym, it is nice to have it appreciated. Just not in a weird way. After all, I like many people have a partner, and don't want guys constantly hitting on me. Also, some guys haven't come out of the closet yet. They are the worst because they workout, but they are defensive about their sexuality...

wbhunk · #5 December 3rd, 2004, 08:05 PM

Sigh....and some guys like myself who are single WISH we had more people hitting on us. (grin)

That being said, though, I have to echo Brent....there are a lot of guys who are, but the "jock culture" unfortunately doesn't breed a lot of respect for homosexuality, and their attitude shows it. That being said, though, I am a real stickler about peoples' right to stay in the closet if they choose....for those who are out, like me, you just let it roll off.

glammaman2000 · #6 December 3rd, 2004, 08:34 PM

...if you're gay&act straight,straight people assume you ARE straight,so you don't get any credit for being"normal".most bodybuilders are cool around gay people,they know where their fan base is.(as Arnold once said,"their money is as green as anybody else's")unfortunately,ignorant straight bodybuilders will sometimes see a few pests as"gay";unaware of the hundreds of gay fans at any contest that pay for tickets,have a good time&go home.my only problem as a gay bodybuilder,is some gay strangers seem to think that if you have a big body,you"owe them"a feel.

ethernet_jock · #7 December 3rd, 2004, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glammaman2000

my only problem as a gay bodybuilder,is some gay strangers seem to think that if you have a big body,you"owe them"a feel.

Seriously!?! Now that would be incredibly rude. Personal space is personal space and your body belongs to you. Wow... that's amazing to me. Kind of like people who feel like a professional musician or hockey player "owes" them an autograph simply for watching them play.

Hrm... wow... how did you resist hurting him?

wolffried · #8 December 4th, 2004, 04:05 AM

Thanks for all that insight, guys!
I'm a little less intimidated by all the "big guys" around me now

Of course, just grabbing and feeling someone is out of question! A gym is not a meat market.

brent · #9 December 4th, 2004, 10:51 AM

Yeah, also mind your own Ps & Qs in the locker-room. Most guys (gay & straight) probably don't want someone leering at them, or making small talk with them while they are changing.

ethernet_jock · #10 December 4th, 2004, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Yeah, also mind your own Ps & Qs in the locker-room. Most guys (gay & straight) probably don't want someone leering at them, or making small talk with them while they are changing.

It's been 9 months since I saw the guy in the lockeroom at my gym who was intentionally wearing a leopard-skin patterned g-string. I still can't forget how incrediby wrong that seemed....

I think HE was HOPING for some leering...

brent · #11 December 5th, 2004, 01:12 AM

OK, you can leer at the guys that are obviously begging for attention. However, I have to agree that leopard-skin is just plain wrong! Also, please bring a towel; I hate it when guys dry themselves off with the hand driers. If they were ever the attractive guys it might be OK, but they always seem to be the nastiest old troll that belongs to the gym...

wbhunk · #12 December 5th, 2004, 04:17 PM

I'm still trying to figure out how in the hell you dry yourself off....especially certain parts of you.....with a hand dryer.....LOL.

In general, EJ, I follow this simple rule of dress......those who call attention to themselves through their clothes are generally incapable of doing it based on their looks, personality, or work ethic.

(snarky, catty grin)

Buffling · #13 December 5th, 2004, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbhunk

I'm still trying to figure out how in the hell you dry yourself off....especially certain parts of you.....with a hand dryer.....LOL.

Oh, man. Consider yourself lucky. Picture the man you least want to see naked in the locker room, with one leg up on the counter top (if he's flexible) or up on some other raised surface, so as to spread his legs and maximize the exposed Groin Surface Area. Then imagine the same man pointing a hair dryer at the aforementioned Groin, blowdrying the, erm, carpet and trying to look casual.

Happens all the time... I think there's a college somewhere that teaches a course. Blech.

ethernet_jock · #14 December 5th, 2004, 09:52 PM

hell!!!! and here I always thought it was just MY old gym (the one I don't go to anymore) that sported the wrinkly 80-year-old guys who always use the air driers!!

sheesh.

wolffried · #15 December 5th, 2004, 10:51 PM

Ugh.. that's an image I didn'T need in my mind

Luckily I've never seen that... I mean, how little dignity do those guys have???

wbhunk · #16 December 5th, 2004, 11:26 PM

Sigh.....well, as someone who considers clothes to be at best a necessary evil, I try not to criticize anyone who is willing to show their body and be relaxed and open about it.

That being said, it's sort of like freedom of speech....means you have to take the bad with the good!

brent · #17 December 6th, 2004, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethernet_jock

hell!!!! and here I always thought it was just MY old gym (the one I don't go to anymore) that sported the wrinkly 80-year-old guys who always use the air driers!!

sheesh.

No, these guys are EVERYWHERE! They are also the last person you'd ever want to see naked, and make you never want to dry your hands ever again.

Mdlftr · #18 December 6th, 2004, 02:22 PM

My mind's eye! .....It's on fire! Augh! The image is making my eyes burn! Augh!...........

Mdlftr

Re: other gym locker room denizens:

How about the troll in the shower who keeps staring at you, fixedly, as you try to ignore him, finish washing up and get out!

You're reluctant to turn your back on him, because he's staring, you're reluctant to face him, because he's staring, you have to finish rinsing off and get the h*ll out of the shower because you're all soaped up!

I don't know anyone who would consider that sort of attention "welcome".

ICK!

brent · #19 December 6th, 2004, 05:37 PM

How about the crusty old man that stares at you as he plays with himself in the sauna? That's as bad, if not worse, but at least you can get out quickly...

ottomun6 · #20 December 6th, 2004, 06:44 PM

e-e-ye-w-w! you guys are making me loose my lunch

!
I tried a different gym a while back and there was a guy that looked like a perfect perv- -short, very-very fat, and looked like something that a cheap hollywood producer would put into a sex movie. I seemed to be the center of his attention when I trained there. I couldn't seem to avoid him, he worked there everyday of the week.

brent · #21 December 6th, 2004, 11:33 PM

Yeah, there was a guy drying himself off with a hand drier tonight... Made me think of this thread.

Mdlftr · #22 December 7th, 2004, 01:51 PM

Brent--

Yuck!

Sounds like a "1-Troller" to me!

Let me announce the new rating system:

Per the "Locker Room Troll" behavior we have been describing here,
they are rated according to levels of skankiness and stomach-churning, queasy feelings that they induce in the recipients of their attention or witnesses to their behavior in the locker room. Obviously, the more focused and "personalized" the behavior is, the higher the troll rating!

So, a "1-Troller" event is something like a guy drying himself with a hand dryer, or other inappropriate grooming behavior.

A "2-troller" is up the skank meter. It is behavior focused on someone else, and guaranteed to make them "uncomfortable". So Troll staring at someone in the shower is a "two-troller!"

A "3-Troller" is close to "Call Vice! The Perv is out!" Brent's example of the skank in the whirlpool diddling himself while he stares at you is a primo "3-Troller"

So, how many trolls have YOU seen lately?!

Mdlftr

P.S. Brent : NIIICE Avatar! --But didn't you make it too small?

I mean, modesty is all well and good, but you're that big already!!

ethernet_jock · #23 December 7th, 2004, 02:52 PM

seriously... I don't see any difference between Brent's HUGE arms in 2004 and Brent's HUGE arms in 2007.... set your goals a little higher man!

*snicker*

brent · #24 December 7th, 2004, 05:39 PM

For now, I think my goal of that by Summer of 2007 is pretty good. Since I refuse to use steroids, growth hormones, or the like (health reasons, not ethical, I'm fine with people that do use them) it'll take me longer to get big than some members of this forum, and I'm fine with that. BTW, I want to credit Atomic Muscle again for creating that pic, he does great work.

ottomun6 · #25 December 7th, 2004, 06:47 PM

Brent, maybe you better start looking for combs with a long handle, I figure when you DO get gigantic in 2007 that you won't be able to comb your hair!! Nice avatar!
EJ, your new avatar is nice too. Looks like your son is swimming around a mountain range! Nice shoulders and traps there!

ethernet_jock · #26 December 8th, 2004, 10:07 AM

hahaha... thanks Otto. The stark contrast between a 1-year-old and me I guess is what makes me look larger than life. He is a big kid but... not compared to a 6'4" adult.

I still think you guys are too nice.

kymarcin · #27 February 24th, 2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brent

How about the crusty old man that stares at you as he plays with himself in the sauna? That's as bad, if not worse, but at least you can get out quickly...

You mean like Herbert??

YouTube - Family Guy Best of Herbert

YouTube - Herbert the pervert - "I Know what boys...

BIGJOEY · #28 March 5th, 2009, 06:53 AM

well speaking as a competive bber its part of the sport. guys more than girls understand size and power. doesn't matter if str8, bi, gay. guys understand the work involved and appricate it. you will have your trolls but thats to be expected , and you learn to deal with it. But i appricate and and happy then people come to comps ,cheer for bbers , and appricate the whole thing. Its one of the hardest things i have ever done and you can be timid in this sport so a outgoing personality is very impt.
to me in the sport there are no lables thats where it get confusing as hell. guys like muscle for the most part except the very few ( stick people) and they liketo be seen with it , and hang around it , work it, flex it, and what ever else coms to mind. Its no less in any other sport where people have the fav players. some get obessive but thats in anything in life . the trick is to keep a healthy balance. as for me hell yea i want people to appricted me and what i have done .

arpeejay · #29 March 5th, 2009, 09:56 AM

Checked your stats, BigJoey, very impressive! You need to post some pix!

All the best...

Richard

Eager Muscle · #30 March 6th, 2009, 10:39 AM

It depends on the bodybuilder. It's nice to be admired but not so nice to be interrupted or pestered, particularly in a gym setting where you're either focused on or spent from your workout.

Before you road test your admiring glances, maybe you should pose the same questions in the General threads of more traditional bodybuilding forums like www.bodybuilding.com and www.steroidology.com. The feedback will definitely be more unbiased.

BIGJOEY · #31 March 6th, 2009, 02:40 PM

people see to feell that others owe them something. Like i am suppose to answer their questions in the gym when i am training and when i don't i'm the jerk or the smartass. They never think that they might be bothering you because its all about them. doent matter what they are to me except at that point they are rude as hell .

Mdlftr · #32 March 7th, 2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGJOEY

people see to feell that others owe them something. Like i am suppose to answer their questions in the gym when i am training and when i don't i'm the jerk or the smartass. They never think that they might be bothering you because its all about them. doent matter what they are to me except at that point they are rude as hell .

BigJoey,

Well said! At the point of interruptions, it IS all about the person doing the interrupting. The guy working out becomes "unfriendly" if he doesn't drop everything and answer basic questions.

As a service to a fellow Evolution Forum member, here are my "Stock answers to typical 'interrupt-your-workout-with-a-stupid-question'" :

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: Yes, I do work out.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: Yes, my muscles are big.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: [Smile] Thank you.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: Lift progressively heavier weights with good form.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: Protein, with a mix of fats and carbs.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: 2 to 3 times a week. You don't want to overtrain.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: No, I just eat healthy foods and strive for a well-balanced diet.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: Try for 6-8 hours of good quality sleep every night.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: No, I've never taken steroids.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: No, I've never heard of your cousin's neighbor's friend who won the Mr. East Poughkeepsie in 1983.

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: I'm sure once you finish school/start school/lose weight/gain weight/move/stay/get around to it/stop /get organized/ get settled in/ find the time .... you'll be a regular at the gym!

Q: Blah blah blah blAH?
A: Yes, we can train together sometime -- when Hell freezes over!

Mdlftr

BigLittleTim · #33 March 9th, 2009, 01:48 PM

How true, that last item!

EVERYone avoids me because they think I'm an unapproachable muscle head... until they realize I'm really a NICE guy. Then the questions come fast and furious... and they all want to work out with me! "It would be really great for me to have someone like you to motivate me and make me huge." What they don't realize is that working out with them would be completely unmotivating for ME, and we'd have to keep shifting tons of plates between our respective sets.

That said, I'm still a NICE guy, and it has been the frustration of me more times than I can count.

-BigLittleTim

xythan_shadow · #34 March 9th, 2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigLittleTim

How true, that last item!

EVERYone avoids me because they think I'm an unapproachable muscle head... until they realize I'm really a NICE guy. Then the questions come fast and furious... and they all want to work out with me! "It would be really great for me to have someone like you to motivate me and make me huge." What they don't realize is that working out with them would be completely unmotivating for ME, and we'd have to keep shifting tons of plates between our respective sets.

That said, I'm still a NICE guy, and it has been the frustration of me more times than I can count.

-BigLittleTim

I'm only replying because I'm in the situation you're talking about, except I'm the guy working out with the bigger stronger guy. And to be honest, that is my constant fear right there, that I'm holding him back because he is a good bit stronger than me. I'm about a plate behind him on all our lifts except legs, and the nerd in me is paranoid about it.

Thankfully, he's a good guy and tells me often that I'm not holding him back, that he does draw some energy from me (I have a habit of pushing him hard) and eventually we'll be lifting the same weights.

And to be honest, even though I'm not in the league that most of the big guys on here are in, I would still like to lift with you guys. And I have to admit, I am one of those guys who always asks questions in the gym. I just know better than to do it when they're doing a set.

Also Md, you forgot the question that I hear asked most "How much do you bench". It's never how much you can curl, squat or deadlift, it's always bench. Makes even less sense when they say, "Dude, your arms are huge! How much do you bench?"