ericv

Dude I was going to write the same thing!

Reply ● 1 year

timosworld

Shouldn't it be natural to present one's body as an immanent part of one's identity and being? I can tell you from the perspective of someone who doesn't show his body that I feel uncomfortable showing off this part of myself, which I consider flawed and ugly.

Reply 1 year

scorpius

Many factors: it even stems way before social media with early western gay culture where the “idealized gay body” that was seen everywhere was just muscular, tall, masculine, etc types of bodies. Many people see these and might even develop a certain attraction to just these attributes where many people try to achieve that type of look. Flash forward to social media age where you get instant gratification from posting shirtless pics instead of regular pics. Some guys even work on their bodies for personal reasons or to show to others maybe get a compliment or two. 😅 It’s a subject matter that stems pretty far back, though social media makes it even more apparent. Hell, I like my body rn and would share a shirtless pic once in a while. I just feel myself.. 🤣

Reply ●●●● 1 year

ericv

@scorpius thanks for sharing the history. I agree but the majority of pics I see here are shirtless, legs, or almost nude. A smile is also beautiful. A book, gardening, places, etc.

Reply ●●● 1 year

scorpius

@ericv that’s how the algorithm works. if you see too much of those types of posts click on the X under them then select not interested. especially For You, then refresh you’ll see less of that and more of what you like to see. I changed mines into art/artists that are on here under the sea of thirst traps, it helped. 🤣

Reply ●●● 1 year

scorpius

Agreed though @ericv , Im all for thirst traps but I could go on another app instead if I wanna see that lol The one up collective has over others is the unedited tag, match connections, I could post whatever in my feed without the followers/like status, etc. Though shirtless pics are always gonna be on a queer based pic sharing app as long as people breath.. 😅

Reply ●●● 1 year

ericv

@scorpius agreed buddy and thank you for the counsel

Reply ● 1 year

basile

I feel like many gay guys have entered a logic in which a body is worth exhibiting only if it fits certain prerequisites, mainly muscled, masculine, beefy shapes are praised, so it seems. And Images of self somehow appear more through images of its naked body. So I made this hypothesis : once a guys pays himself a body (by investing in rarely cheap gym subscriptions and personal effort), then he wants to get his return on investment, which is public approval by the likes online, which satisfies the ego trip and self confidence complex, encouraged by the social media scheme and strategy. All this is topped by the varnish of body positivity and queerness imagery, when it all boils down to transactional images in an era of capitalist exploitation of bodies. In the meantime a structural desired to perfect a sometimes discriminated identity by mastering a sense of physical “perfection” has been shown by sociologists that studied gay history (Eribon for instance). Getting in shape is having agency on oneself and saying “I reached a high standard dispite stigma”. Maybe Social medias just funnelled down all those problematics in the ego trip obsession we can see in maaany profile here. But then I couldn’t help but wonder (🙃), algorithm follows trend, so why do we collectively put so many likes to this kind of ultra derivative, and sometimes void, content ?

Reply ●●●●● 1 year

miosz

We live in a time of cult of body worship and ideal life. We all want to be beautiful, rich and young as long as possible. Souls disappear, appearance counts. Even if you don't want to participate in this "race", you are forced by your surroundings to run in it.

Reply 1 year

yocko

Man. So grateful for all your responses. And yes I have tried to train my algorithm. But I am trying to get to the deeper truth of it. Of course if you have a gorgeous body, show it! But what if it is the only thing you show. Does that mean you believe it’s your only asset? If there were a ‘straight’ collective would there be as many shirtless pics. I don’t see them very often on say tinder or bumble. Is it a gay thing to be so obsessed with bodies and especially showing them off? I would so badly like to hear from those who post nothing but naked selfies.

Reply ●● 1 year

tristian

Not a complete thought but I think it has to do with validation. Having a “desirable” physique brings respect from straight men (and some women) and desire from other guys. People use it as a quick tool to access favour amongst others because it works. It can sometimes be vanity, but I think people have figured out that socially, their body will get them more, faster, than other facets of their personality. On collective, it has become the dominant trend to show off your body and little else (and appears to be more prevalent than IG). Additionally, whatever people post beyond their body is often status related (expensive meals, vacations, status items like clothes, cars, etc). People want to be desired and to present themselves as desirable.

Reply ●●● 1 year

ahmacdon

if someone posts mainly thirst traps, I’m not interested in their content, unfortunately that means I Don’t follow many cis-males on here. That content doesn’t feed the soul or offer meaningful interactions. I want to see hobbies, passions, politics, interests, and opinions. My close friend who invited me to this platform posts many shirtless pics, I only like the pictures that are not skin deep because that’s what brings me joy to consume. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Reply ●●● 1 year

psaltair

I think about this too, esp in regards to the history of queerness/gayness. As gay and queer folk, I think we’re so used to analyzing our every move and effort and those around us. But what if we each just leaned into our own personal desire without question? How would we move through the world? And how would the world move through us? social media’s such a vacuum and it’s impossible to showcase every part of you all the time. Hard to not get wrapped up in the race. But we’re each just doing our own magic💙

Reply ● 1 year

scorpius

@ahmacdon meeeee ! I purged my following list because it was like a sea of non stop (pushing the limits) thirsts traps. I open this app in public cmonnnn 😅 Then I keep a small group of my regular friends, people that make cool art, or spam about their day and 10/10 better experience. Even when I post something a little risqué I keep it Demure, Very Mindful.. for everyone else 🤣

Reply ● 1 year

hidden

Vanity, need of validation, wanting to be desired, being proud of your progress, our bodies being constantly censored and us slutshamed… Many reasons, each is valid and if that’s not you, that’s cool too :)

Reply ●● 1 year

fiinn

It's so hard to train the feed not to show the big pectoral, oiled up six pack abs 🥵🥵... no but seriously I've been x'ing and "i dont like this" and "this post makes me feel bad" for over a week now

Reply 1 year

missdrakis

Because of the privileges they come with. Sad but true.

Reply 1 year

chrisangus

Beauty has and will always play a role in our lives but the modern ‘ideal’ male body was largely shaped by the aids epidemic which created a culture where health was aspirational which influenced 1980s gym culture, the bonds man, and not just the queers but ultimately changed the standard for hetero male body as well I cant speak for the individual but as a collective (no pun intended haha) sadly the ‘ideal’ body of today may stem from a multi generational subconscious place of fear rather than love and nurture and maybe that’s why we can be critical of ourselves and obsess

Reply ● 1 year

henryttjva

being active is a great way to burn off stress and calm the mind plus u can get a euphoric non drug induced high and I won't speak for everyone but I share selfies because then I can track my changes over time and share the positive takeaways and lessons learned...going to the gym or being active 10-15 hours a week is good for ur mental and physical health and well being, u get a project where ur making changes to the glob of clay to see what u can sculpt over weeks months years and a lifetime. i think taking shirtless or more revealing selfies is js a way to accurately track ur progress and to see the changes ur gradually making plus it has an incredible way of leveling the playing field so to speak cause clothes have a way to differentiate and isolate ppl based on what they can afford, what their tastes are, etc

Reply ● 1 year

henryttjva

@scorpius very true and a gay app is not much different from any gay centered environment whether Pride event or club or whatever else where u can see lots of costumes, shirtless or next to naked guys whereas others r js wearing everyday clothes and some create a look that's a creative expression of themselves

Reply 1 year

henryttjva

@yocko straight girls and guys love showing off skin too js look at all the fitness or influencer or everyday accounts where when it gets warm many pics vids and reels become shirtless at the pool gym or at home to enjoy the warm weather and a reverse hibernation by getting to shed off some of the layers and bulk to reveal what's been hiding under all the hoodies and jackets

Reply 1 year

henryttjva

@sonwalker beauty is also in the eye of the beholder and not everyone is going to be the preference for everyone else, some may def be chasing likes and followers to feel good about themselves but I know for me I'm more apt to post shirtless on here than my insta with all my friends from school and sports because I think it's a safe space to do it without ppl think im being a douche or attention seeking or trying to become an influencer...I think social media whether it here or elsewhere gives u a mechanism to try out a way of being that u might not do in ur everyday life where ppl u know might judge u or read into what ur sharing for reasons that r furthest from the truth

Reply 1 year

xochipili

@basil I absolutely, love this hypothesis, I believe you are right on the money. One does ask onseself, a plethora of questions pertaining to, said topic.

Reply 1 year

xochipili

@chrisangus wow… I appreciate your insight and perspective! This makes a lot of sense; at least speaking for myself, in previous years, I’ve felt so insecure about my body. I obsessed to fit an outdated, unloving, unkind and unrealistic standard.

Reply 1 year

jamthebigbear

Because why not? It’s not all we are, but certainly a fun part. My body looks like this and not everyone has to love it, but that’s no reason not to share it and enjoy it. I don’t think it’s that deep. I post lots of naked selfies simply because I enjoy the attention. But nobody on their deathbed ever said “gosh I wish I had more likes and followers.” But I do know, by posting lots of naked pictures of myself, that I will get to the end and think, “Yeah, that was fun. I had a good life.”

Reply 1 year

yocko

Hey guys, Way more reactions than I expected. Thanks so much for it. A few observations. I have nothing against (semi) nudes. Some of them are just stunning to watch and I really like them. But I might have posed the wrong question. Maybe it should have been more along the lines of ‘why do you only post body pics?’ There is this whole theory that we were bullied by jocks when we were young and as a reaction to that trauma we spend the rest of our lives turning into those jocks. Seems some plausibility in that. But doesn’t it also demean us if we ONLY post body pics? Doesn’t it also say ‘this is all there is to me?’ But I suppose that is a question only the exclusive ‘body-posters’ can answer. I am pretty sure that in spite of what we see here (or even more so in the dating apps) the majority of us gays don’t have such displayable physiques.

Reply 1 year

yocko

That’s also what I LOVE about @collective and what really really made a difference how I perceive my own sexuality and how I perceive queerness in general. The realisation there is so much more to us than what I thought being gay was all about in this time and space. What an eclectic bunch we really are. The music people like, the books they read, the movies we love, the million different ways we like to express ourselves, the art we watch or make, the way we react to the outside world. And I really believe therefore we become more honest than we are in any other form of social media. Fuck. Where else do you find people who even dare to be vulnerable? But that curiosity remains; that’s what fascinates me: in general, what else is going on in the lives of those who exclusively post body pics? Without any form of judgement I’m still curious about the answer to that question. But I love, really love all the replies above. Thank you!

Reply 1 year