Many Straight Guys Say 'No Thanks' to 'Brokeback Mountain'

[kweerwolf]

It's true, the movie "Brokeback Mountain" does provoke what one researcher calls "a very strong ick factor" in some straight men.

What is it in this story of two cowboy pals in 1960s Wyoming who find themselves in lifelong love -- yet go on to marry women -- that elicits this response from heterosexual males?

The answers are as complex as the plot.

A psychologist who coined the word "homophobic" said the revulsion is precisely that. A scientist who discovered genetic links to sexuality said he simply does not understand the response. The author of "The Sexual Brain" said there is nothing on a neurobiological basis to explain the aversion.

http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/sefton010506.html

[DesertRat]

1. Brokeback Mountain is doing very well at the box office

Many heterosexuals (male and female) must be going to see it, don't you think?

[HockeyMom]

2. As a woman I just don't understand it

Why straight males are so ADVERSE to male homosexuality, yet FEMALE homosexuality not only doesn't bother them, it even turns them on.

As a straight woman, neither bothers me, nor turns me on. Different strokes for different folks.

[AwakeAtLast]

3. You have read my mind

almost exactly! Just the words "two chicks" send some men into a catcalling, beer-swilling frenzy.
Many straight males brag regularly about female homosexuality being a turn on. I never understood how
people are homophobic towards men, but the opposite towards women. Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

:shrug:

[soleft]

4. I read once that some men are afraid of being sexualized

or objectified. They're afraid that they will be viewed by a man the way they view women. Which means a man who would have an "ick" factor about BBM probably doesnt have the healthiest views toward women.

[Boomer]

5. Evidently women also recognize the "turn on" part

I've always been mildly amused and puzzled by the way straight women are turned on by male-on-male romance. There are legions of women fanfic writers who read and write "slash", the pairing of any (more or less) likely male characters from TV or movies.

Kirk/Spock, Blake/Avon, Starsky/Hutch, the list goes on and on, and the primary participants are straight women, not gay men.

[AnnieBW]

6. It's a love story

Some guys just aren't into love stories, regardless of whether they're homo or hetero love stories. That's why my husband isn't interested in seeing it. He's perfectly comfortable with his sexuality - I mean, he loves "Queer Eye". He just doesn't like schmaltzy love stories. Unless they're science fiction or comic book based. :D

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. Well, it's like this

I am a lesbian, trapped in a male body. I grew up in San Francisco and find gay guys, for the most part, enjoyable to be around. The ones I have known well, seem to be intelligent, Funny as hell, with excellent taste and as catty as I am or more so. I don't consider myself homophobic in the least. I have stated in previous posts that I, personally don't care if you fuck goats, as long as it is consensual, no body gets hurt, and you don't try to get me to do it. I feel the same way about gay guys. If that is what makes you happy, who am I to judge. On the other hand, I don't want to watch! Ikkkkkk!

As to women doing each other, frankly, aside from the fact that I always enjoy seeing attractive women naked, that dosn't do much for me either. Two women and one guy, that I could get into but lets face it, it's only a fantasy cause most guys have a hard time even satisfying one women.

As to my own sexuality, I am very comfortable with who I am and so in touch with my feminine side that my wife gets annoyed cause I love art, music and decorating. But, hey, I'm a Libra and Libra's love beauty in all forms. I get just as into china patterns or wall coverings or window treatments as she does. I am also a 240# construction worker. Some see a dichotomy here, I don't. I am definatly a mans man, not a pretty boy, but I can discuss Chagall with the best of them.

Edited to say that I will NOT be seeing Brokeback mountain any time soon.

[UncleSepp]

8. Are you really a lesbian trapped in a man's body?

Boy, that's rough. I've got the opposite problem!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. What? tou are a queer, trapped in

A womans body?

[William769]

14. Well from what I gather from your post

And all the other people in my house would say thats correct, he's a gay man trapped in a womans body from what you gave said in your post "I am a lesbian, trapped in a male body." that does make sense to what he posted.

I would post what I think but that would probably open pandoras box.

[UncleSepp]

17. Oh, go on and post it anyway!

Now you've got me really curious.

[UncleSepp]

16. Yes, precisely!

I believe this is the year I am finally going to do something about it, too!

[sui generis]

23. there's the problem

newsflash, the movie IS NOT ABOUT FUCKING.

It is NOT gay porno. It is a love story. Close your eyes for the 20 seconds in that scene if you're really that skeert of it and think about Chagall.

The rest of the movie is a love story, except that it happens to be between two people of the same sex - the rest is just social conditioning.

I'm a gay man trapped in a man's body, and I like it. I watch hetero love stories, occasionally hetero porno, and even lesbian love stories, although lesbian sex doesn't turn me off, it just bores me. I don't have that equipment so I can't relate.

If gay guys can suffer through your thousands of your monkey-love scenes to enjoy stories on TV and at the movies, shouldn't you be able to suffer through one twenty second scene with your eyes squeezed shut and thinking of giant flaming oysters?

Come on dude, be a man.

[SushiFan]

10. "ick" is just what they told the researchers. Ick is just a lie,

No straight man will admit to be interested in BB Mtn. But in the back of their minds, I'm sure they wouldn't object to seeiong the film. They just can't admit that to wives, girlfriends, other guys, ett., etc.

Double standard here, believe me, I've "known" maybe THOUSANDS of straight men. They are always first in line for the free blow jobs, last to admit to anyone that they're getting the gay sex for free.

[William769]

12. How right you are.

When I was single, I had better luck having sex with straight guys than I did with homosexuals. Go figure.

[SushiFan]

13. LOL! I must have a straight guy magnet cuz they STILL always bug me nt

[ronnykmarshall]

28. and news guys

:evilgrin:

[closeupready]

15. Thousands? Is that all?

:D

[OffWithTheirHeads]

20. uhhh, sorry, wrong

I like women. I don't like the idea of guys doing it with each other. My wife already suspects that I am gay because of my interest in decorating so I don't need to impress her, and I like to be blowen by chicks. I don't really care what your "thousands of straight guys" do. So what are you raelly saying? No one is really straight? That's as bad as "no one is really gay. Wrong on both counts.

[xchrom]

11. ok -- i think a lot of straight men don't want to shake their booty

and do a strip show for a bunch of women who would objectify them also.

some random thoughts here -- and the first is that the sexual revolution is really in it's infancy.
both sexes are just beginning to confront -- not just ideas about roles in straight relationships but about the idea that sexuality is something happens on a continuum.

think about the changes in child rearing alone -- i.e. how many parents today wouldn't dream of interefering with their children and masturbation. it wasn't so long agon that parents didn't even want their kids touching themselves.

second is -- men are just now being confronted with the idea that they can be sexually objectified.
and within that idea you have the notion of men who are sexy that androgynous -- i.e. mick jagger, little richard, david bowie, and yes brad pitt or tom cruise{not a comment on their talent or what you think of them}.

third is the outing of the idea that a man can be passive sexually and enjoy it.
you see more straight men who enjoy the idea that a woman can be sexually dominate to the point of introducing ''toys'' into the sexual act and the guy receives.

lastly -- isn't also remarkable how many straight men see brokeback?
which importantly is a love story -- and within love stories -- any love story -- is also the idea of friendship.
which starts to get into some classic greek ideas regarding the depth of male friendships and sex and the rather powerful mystery that resides there.

[booley]

18. When do straight guys ever go for romantic dramas?

Maybe I am missing th epoint but don't straight guys normally describe any romantic movie as a "chick flick"? In other words, a movie they wouldn't go to see on thier own?

So could it be that this aversion is the same kind that keeps straight men from seeign terms of endearment or Steel magnolias?

There probably is some homophobia involved but i think a lot of this is also just that most guys aren't into romantic movies (but this is about a gay romance so that brings in us)

Just a thought..

[kevinbgoode]

19. Yawn. .. and straight guys happen to be a MINORITY

in this country. . .so they need to STFU about their little "ick" feelings. Since almost EVERY movie seems to be about THEM, even though they represent only about 45% of the population (and that would include CHILDREN who may NOT become straight males, so the percentage is likely even less) they apparently are so flush with their god-given right to rule over others that they continue to believe we need to see depictions of them exclusively in every media outlet. Yawn.

[Duncan Grant]

21. I'm inundated with straight romance movies yet no 'ick' factor from me.

Am I some superhuman mutant because I can watch a straight love story and empathize with the characters?! Wow! I thought it would be just as easy for a straight guy to empathize with gay characters. Silly me.

How's the film being received in KC, kweerwolf? :hi:

[kweerwolf]

24. It seems to be doing well here ...

... at least at the gay-friendly midtown art theatre where I saw it. I don't know about the two more "suburban" theatres where it's playing.

It's been highly reviewed locally, so I think there's a certain amount of "must see" factor to it that trumps the "ick" factor for a lot of folks. Surprisingly, the people I've heard talking it up have been straight folks. A lot of the gay men I've talked to who have seen it are luke-warm about it ... but then I think when Hollywood tries to make a gay-themed movie for the mainstream, a lot of LGBT folks feel like the story gets dumbed down and filtered through a straight perspective.

One of the things I've found about Brokeback playing here is that there really hasn't been any opposition. There have certainly been no picketers and surprisingly there have been no comments at all on one of the local message boards I read occasionally. I've only seen two letters to the editor about it ... a positive one and the predictable "it's a sin" one.

I suppose all the fundies' heads could have exploded and that's why we aren't hearing from them locally, but frankly I'm more than a bit surprised at the lack of moral outrage and gnashing of teeth that has accompanied the film here in KC.

[Smarmie Doofus]

26. Talk about hitting the nail....

>>>>Am I some superhuman mutant because I can watch a straight love story and empathize with the characters?! Wow! I thought it would be just as easy for a straight guy to empathize with gay characters. Silly me.>>>>>

... on it's proverbial noggin.

[swimmernsecretsea]

22. Maybe it's because I live here in San Francisco

and just everyone is Metrosexual. But I know quite a few straight men who've gone to see it. And why would this matter in any event? When the movie "Love Jones" was being made, did anyone think "Gee, I wonder if this movie is going to draw anyone besides the African-American audience?" Who the hell cares--make the damn movie for us. We'll go.

PS: I've read about stats like this. They're used as justification in court trials when a bunch of 18-25 year old males decide to club a gay man for fun. No fair. Whatever kind of justification we have come up with for our prejudices, we are able to rise above them as thinking human beings.

[Glorfindel]

25. I can actually understand their viewpoint, though I hate to say it...

I won't watch any movie about boxing, even though I might enjoy looking at the guys, even though it might actually be a great movie. I detest boxing so much that I just won't have ANYTHING to do with it. Call it the "ick" factor or whatever. If straight guys don't want to watch "Brokeback Mountain," who cares? Their loss. I'll never see "Cinderella Man" or that thing about the female boxer from last year for which Hillary Swank won her second Oscar. I didn't see "Boys Don't Cry," either, because I knew I would and I didn't want to. For me, the perfect romantic gay movie is "Latter Days," and I don't think any of my straight male friends have seen it.

[Rowdyboy]

27. Well put! I don't like movies about sports, so I've never seen....

"Chariots of Fire", "Raging Bull", "Field of Dreams" or "Hoop Dreams" and only saw "Rocky" reluctantly. I just don't give a damn about the subject so why force myself to sit through two hours of irritation? If straight guys find the subject matter of "Brokeback" "icky" and don't want to see guys kiss, more power to them. Let them stay home-they're not hurting anyone but themselves.

Just remember that the ones that make the biggest fuss about it have the most to hide.

[Meldread]

29. Agreed.

I'd even go as far to say that this movie wasn't made for straight guys. It's target audience was women and LGBT people.

Everyone has their own opinions and tastes, and just because a straight guy doesn't want to go see Brokeback doesn't mean he's homophobic or even the least bit anti-gay. It just might not be a movie he's interested in seeing.

I personally don't take a particular interest in sports movies, as was mentioned above, but that doesn't make me anti-sports. In fact I *RARELY* go see *ANY* movies at all, I mostly wait for them to come out on DVD and rent them or if I love them enough buy them. The only movie I went out of my way to see was Lord of the Rings, and I bought all three DVD's plus the collectors edition.

I'll likely do the same for Brokeback, not particularly because it is a great movie but because of it's subject matter and content.

I'm a big movie renter, not a big movie goer.

[Kerrytravelers]

30. I live in a very liberal area. The local theater (run by a family of libs)

had a sold-out shows all day Saturday and Sunday! We bought the last availalble tickets on Sunday when Mr. kt and I saw BBM. The crowd was very diverse in terms of ages and ethnicities/race. There were couples and groups there.

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sui generis]

31. short answer is: they're profoundly threatened by it

really.

I can watch lesbian porno and it doesn't turn me off and make me run screaming from the theatre - it just bores me because I really can't relate, not having that equipment myself or any great interest in that equipment.

I think those weak puny girlie-men are just skeered little fellers. Awwww. Too bad they can't be a man and watch it because they're too fraidy cat.

Neener neener neeeeener. dumbass one-nutted homoPHOBIC motherfuckers pretending to be "real men". Yeah we're mocking you. Don't start crying about it or anything.

:rofl:

[Puglover]

32. As usual Sui you and I agree...

I think many(not all) but many straight white men are shallow weak teats. They've had it their way for hundreds of years and haven't had to adapt like alot of us have. I also, in a more militant way think they are threatened by it.

While I totally believe that there are alot of "str8" guys out there I think a whole bunch of them have had "thoughts" of what it might be like and because our fucked up society teaches us from birth how wrong that is, that thought simply turns into the "ick factor" or worse homophobia rather then acknowledge the fact that we are all sexual beings and by nature curious. Hell I'm a big ole homo and have had fantasy's of what it might be like to be with two women. (Not a whole lot of fantasy's but I have had them.) :evilgrin:

As I said in a previous thread and Sui sez above, why is it that I can watch a str8 couple kissing or a lesbian couple kissing and not been grossed out or even "icked" out. How sophomoric and shallow and just fucking weak and my patience for that kind of crap is nil.

On edit. As one poster said a few weeks back, if str8 men are so goddamned offended by watching other men why in 99.99 percent of str8 porno films (of which 99.0 of the audience is str8 men) is the "money shot" always there for all to see. :eyes: You can tell me all you want that it's str8 porn but just the fascination of that speaks volumes.

[Touchdown]

33. 3 straight sex scenes and 1 gay scene.

More tits than dick shown (in fact none). Eh' it's their loss.:eyes: