Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

From the Editor

To tops: You are not in a Machofucker gay porn film

Some tops do it just to please themselves; and some bottoms actually just find pleasure in gratifying others. Is it time to talk about aggression, and how – partially through porn – we’ve normalized this?

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels.com

“You’re sexually… lacking.”

That’s what he said to me, this guy I met.

I was surprised, it goes without saying, mainly because:

  1. I thought I was doing just fine, thank you very much – e.g. I did everything, including bending backwards (literally) just to make sure he is/was satisfied/always satisfied; and
  2. Looking back, I realized that there were even times when I sacrificed MY gratification as long as he got his.

Urged to elaborate, he said that what’s “lacking” in my part was – apparently – because I couldn’t “stretch” myself (figuratively, and yes, literally) the way he wanted his partners to do. For instance, when under the influence of whatever (say, alcohol), he could go on for hours and hours and hours; but the human me has physical limitations, and mentally, I sort of zone out after… say, 12 hours of nonstop action (I’m gay, I need my beauty sleep, ha!); and when he tops, he expects his bottoms to “just take it… loosely, yet gratefully”.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels.com

I am certain there are bottoms whose raison d’être is just to please; whose pleasure lies in making others happy. In sex, that’d be the “I am happy when my partner is happy” kind of person.

Now, let it be said that if this is what tickles their fancy, hey… who am I to judge?

But this still got me thinking about aggression, and how so many of us are expected to “enjoy” the experience. This version of “reality” is mimicking a Machofucker porn flick; and am not sure we’re the better for it.

Now, for those who do not know, Machofucker is a studio that produces gay porn. The difference? They pair usually lithe bottoms with big (in all ways) tops for an aggression-filled romp. Here, viewers are treated – and thus expected – to get gratification from seeing pain.

Now some things to consider…

Porn in itself has been criticized for “numbing” people’s way of seeing, feeling, acting, et cetera. This needs extensive unboxing, obviously, though… nowadays, people tend to shut down when reading “heavy” discourses on what should be considered a relevant issue including in the LGBTQIA community.

Besides, it’s so easy to dismiss this as overreaction to what may well be just fantasy. Though I always wonder where that line is that separates fantasy from truth. After all, a fetish I’ve seen surfacing in a number of Facebook- and Telegram-based GCs is “frape”, short for (GASP!) “fake rape”. Apparently, some are “attracted” to this idea of doing the act to someone unable to give consent.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Note that studies have already been done to ascertain the impact of aggression as seen in porn films. A 2010 study, for example, found that:

  • in popular porn flicks, 88% of scenes contain physical aggression and 48% contain verbal aggression
  • in 94% of cases, this aggression is directed towards female performers, with the research finding that bestselling pornography commonly shows women gagging, being slapped or choked, and called abusive names – and, significantly, enjoying the experience.
  • only 9.9% of scenes analyzed contained positive behaviors (like kissing, laughing, embracing, caressing, verbal compliments, and statements of “making love” or “I love you”)

Here’s the sad – even shocking – part: Even now, there is actually difficulty in defining “aggression” because “acts where the target appeared to enjoy the harm or aggression, or where there was no active attempt to avoid the harm, were not coded as ‘violent’. This is particularly important, as frequently targets of pornographic video aggression do not actively resist the aggressive act”.

Meaning: The abused are often portrayed to have been pleasured by the abuse. This is – in a gist – what’s being taught us; and am not sure of the implications this has.

Now… back to that guy and his blunt assessment – i.e. that I am “lacking”.

Now… am I? Admittedly, to some, I may be (he counts as one already). But to others, I could be/may be too much. And truth be told, I’m okay with this; I can live with this.

The issue for me, however, should go beyond “what are you willing to do to satisfy me?” Instead, it ought to be “what do we do to gratify each other?”.

Because dear tops, life isn’t a Machofucker gay porn flick where those who bottom solely exist only to gratify sadomasochistic tops. Because darling, if we’re in such a gay porn flick, so many of you’s won’t even qualify to top in the first place… 😛

Advertisement
Advertisement

Like Us On Facebook

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Editor's Picks

We need to not only reclaim spaces, but make all spaces inclusive of all members of our community. Otherwise, things only get better for...

Health & Wellness

Most of the influencers talked about stopping hormonal birth control, with 92% saying they were using it or had used it and 74% saying...

From the Editor

People have numerous sexual aspects, with nuances dictated by our wants and needs… and our longings and desires, and so on. And simplistically brandishing...

Op-Ed

There are a few things to be abhorred in the alter world; let's check out some here.

Advertisement