I wrote - jokingly - in a recent post that if they ever open an academy of masturbation then the following line from D. H. Lawrence (in Latin) would make an excellent motto above the main entrance and on the school crest: Paradise is in the palm of your hand.
Now someone writes to tell me that whilst they don't know of any such academies, there are, in fact, a growing number of wank clubs springing up in cities here in the UK and in the US. And to provide textual support for his claim, he has kindly provided the following link to a recent article in GQ magazine on why heterosexual males are increasingly forming and/or joining circle jerk societies or masturbation networks: click here.
Unsurprisingly, the article is framed within all the usual touchy-feely language; group wanking is said to be powerfully liberating; transforming a traditionally solitary and shameful vice into an affirmative expression of masculinity and a communal bonding experience that allows men to explore their sexual orientation and identity in a safe and supportive space.
Maybe it is: maybe it does. Or maybe that's over-egging the pudding somewhat and the simple fact is that perversions give pleasure. Whatever the case, one wonders why the individuals who join such clubs can't simply take up some other hobby, sport, or pastime in the company of other men - like fishing, for example (and no, that's not a typing error).
For homosociality needn't involve getting your cock out and masturbating, watching others masturbate, or engaging in mutual masturbation with strangers - although, note, I'm not saying it shouldn't and nor am I judging anyone who likes to engage in sexual games involving exhibitionism, voyeurism, onanistic fantasy, and/or bi-curiosity.
If you like that kind of thing - or even enjoy giving brojobs - then that's fine with me; but please, cut the crap surrounding such activities; wanking doesn't empower, set free, or provide a transgressive and healing form of transcendental fulfilment. These are as much myths as the stories that Victorians liked to tell themselves about masturbation causing madness, blindness, or hairy palms.
For homosociality needn't involve getting your cock out and masturbating, watching others masturbate, or engaging in mutual masturbation with strangers - although, note, I'm not saying it shouldn't and nor am I judging anyone who likes to engage in sexual games involving exhibitionism, voyeurism, onanistic fantasy, and/or bi-curiosity.
If you like that kind of thing - or even enjoy giving brojobs - then that's fine with me; but please, cut the crap surrounding such activities; wanking doesn't empower, set free, or provide a transgressive and healing form of transcendental fulfilment. These are as much myths as the stories that Victorians liked to tell themselves about masturbation causing madness, blindness, or hairy palms.
That said, wank clubs do, I suppose, accelerate the queering of culture, counter homophobia, and increase the sale of lube ...
The 'Sisterhood' of women have been perfectly open for years about their use of (even preference for!) so-called 'Rabbits', and seem to find it fun to laugh and joke together about no longer expecting men to provide their sexual pleasure and fulfilment.
ReplyDeleteThe whole current situation would profoundly sadden D.H. Lawrence. That men, or rather emotionally stunted, adolescent remedial/retarded young male cases, are now involved such unwholesome activity serves to indicate how much Lawrence's ideas have fallen from grace, despite all efforts to keep them alive.
The above post doesn't mention the corrupting effect of pornography in this area. Or the way Lawrence, and other thinkers, such as Germain Greer, have feared that coitus itelf can be mastabatory in nature.
It needs mentioning however, that males who are not in a sexual relationship might consider that masturbation can, apparently, protect against prostate disease.
Whatever men choose to do, readers of this post should be advised that all animal welfare campasigners around the world would beg them NOT to seek 'male bonding' as anglers. Fishing inflicts the most unnecessary suffering on animals. It's not just the fish are tormented and injured and killed. Fishing tackle discarded by blokes in pursuit of this cruel 'hobby, sport or pastime' injures and kills other wildlife.
There are many wonderful women out there who are still looking for a cruelty-free friendship with a man who is gentle, sensitive, intelligent and kind.
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