Men hugging men

Triathlon Forum
1

In this day and age it’s much more acceptable for men to hug other men, but most people still don’t do it. After watching football yesterday I was struck by how often male athletes hug each other during competition and after winning or losing. In any other venu I would expect the same people to be very “hands off” in expressing their emotions, if emotions were expressed at all.

I don’t really have much of a point with this, other than I find the effects of sport to be pretty interesting.

I’m sure someone will add that women hugging women, especially in triathlon costumes, is far better than men hugging men in football uniforms. In that case, I’ll agree.

Adam

2

I’m sure someone will add that women hugging women, especially in triathlon costumes, is far better than men hugging men in football uniforms. In that case, I’ll agree.

Gosh, it’s hard to tell it’s the off-season isn’t it? Everyone is hornier than hell. I know my wife can’t hardly wait for the season to start already.

3

It depends. If it’s more of a pat on the back kind of hug, then sure. Those only last a second and our very acceptable. The two people don’t even have to press stomaches together. These are fine as long as they are done in moderation (ie when you greet a good friend you haven’t seen in a long time, or after a sprint-finish in a race etc.)

Now hugs that last longer that make the guys come closer together are out of the question. These should only be between guys and girls, or family members.

5

wiseguys kiss each other full on the mouth all the time;-)

Kim
.

6

I say, unless it’s your dad, brother, or grandpa, just say no to men hugging men! If you want to get sentimental, the right hand firm handshake while left hand/forearm clapping on back of shoulders is as far as it should go! C’mon, were triathletes here, not metrosexuals!

7

I played college baseball and I’ll say that baseball players are the huggiest, back-pattinest, ass-slappinest, chest-thumpingest, handshakingest, guys in tight pants you’ll find.

In real-life, I’m one of those people that has that 3-foot box around them and I don’t want it to be invaded. The exceptions being my wife and son.

We can talk without you standing 6 inches from me. we can talk without you putting your arma round me or touching my shoulder.

But sports is different. You’re clsoer to your teammates than certain members of your family. You live with these guys (dorm), eat with these guys (cafe), train and practice with these guys, drink with these guys, and fight with (i.e. for) these guys. Then, when you apply the combination of the emotion and the commonlaity of a goal with the above, you get all sorts of “male bonding”.

I don’t know if it’s “channelling homosexuality” as Annie says in Bull Durham or what.

Heck in the dugout, a teammate could smack your rear, give it shake, and you think nothing of it. Some guy does that on the street and it’s “fight night”. I don’t know why that is.

Again, outside of my immediate family, I’m not a touchy-huggy person, but in sports, I never seemed to mind.

I think this is why athletes never seem to retire, you share things with teammates that friends in the “Real world” never seem to be able to fulfill.

The emotion of a sporting event is like nothing else I have experienced. Imagine at work, occassioanlly you guys up and get $10,000 bonuses. If this happens regularly b/c of your hard work and cooperative goal achievement, you and your co-workers might start some ass-slapping and chest-bumping too.

Why is it okay to kiss your mom on your lips (or is it? Frued?), but your dad gets it on the cheek? Most guys I know don’t kiss their dads, I do.

8

yeah…metrosexuals would have more sense to shave their legs and run around in spandex and “bra” tops for guys…:stuck_out_tongue:

i don’t think its a huge deal…can’t say i partake in the practice as there aren’t that many guys that im that close to…but it depends on the situation…

that and being comfortable with one’s sexuality definitly helps…its funny how many of the older guys are so incredibly homophobic they can’t even think about touching another male…

10

At the LTF race this year I snapped a photo of Simon Whitfield (second) and Greg Bennett (third) hugging in the finish chute. Maybe they hugged because they’re pals, maybe because they just won a ton of money… Either way, it happened (in a triathlon no less).

http://www.triathlete.com/forum_msg.asp?ltn=0&msg=8111

-gc

11

One thing white guys need to learn from black guys is “how to hug” … y’know put the forearm to your chest (or clasp hands, whatever) and keep it as a barrier, so the hug doesn’t involve too much body touching.

The guys in that picture are involved in more an “embrace” than a hug. When we said “hug” I thought you guys meant like an arm draped over the shoulders form the side or an arm on the shoulder.

I hug my dad like those guys are in the picture and I’ve hugged my best-friend-for-life like that, but I’m not hugging a competitor like that. The tri guys don’t wear enough lower body clothing to hug that close. I mean heck, one brush of certain bodyparts and you could turn gay.

On a serious note, I would not be comfortable hugging someone like that. For me, that’s too much. If were not teammates and I don’t really know oyu, don’t hug me, don’t pat my fanny … I can handle a hand on the shoulder during conversation (maybe), but anything else it oo much (for me). Shake my hand, hit my fist, gimme five, whatever, but don’t “embrace me”.

Again, this is just about my personality … if those guys are fine with it, I’m fine with it … okay not really … but as long as they are. Heh Heh.

12

It is time for men to give up their homophobic idiocy. Mankind will never be happy until men can embrace both their masculine and feminine sides. Get out their and spread the love.

13

“One thing white guys need to learn from black guys is “how to hug” … y’know put the forearm to your chest (or clasp hands, whatever) and keep it as a barrier, so the hug doesn’t involve too much body touching.”

This is perhaps the stupidest thing I’ve ever read.

14

It was suppossed to be stupid. It was a sarcastic comment. A joke.

I’ve never done that type of “hug”, but it seems like a real quick and impersonal type of thing, maybe it’s not.

I reserve hugs for family and close friends, just as I reserve the “I love You” phrase. I don’t need to go hug everyone (regardless of gender) I see. As for the picture in the link of the 2 guys after the race … much too close for my preference. I’ll hug my dad like that, but not someone I just raced. We can shake hands, hit fists, etc … and the respect shown and felt would be the same.

As much as folks classify “non-hugging” as caveman, homophobe, type behavior, I don’t understand why there’s a need to be huggy. I’m not saying those that do are gay or unmanly or anything like that, so please don’t read it that way.

Can we chalk this one up to difference in personalities? Can it be okay for a man to not want to embrace other people that are not family or close friends, and still be a nice, polite guy?

15

Dude we got to hang out. I am the most huggy dude on the planet. I would love to see you survive 5 minutes with me.

This is by far one of the funniest things I have read. Granted it’s funny because it’s the polar opposite of me, so I don’t expect anyone else to find it funny. I laughed loudly and for quite a long time after I read this. I meant to respond to it earlier.

Tonight, damn that Mr. Tibbs, I will probably dream about meeting Mr. Tibbs, him running up to me jumping into my arms, wrapping his legs around my waist, rubbing chests together, and him squezing his arms tightly around my neck, saying “So nice to meet you”. I’ll jump up in a cold sweat, rush into the bathroom to take a schalding (sp?) hot shower, and not be able to sleep for 3 days. Okay, so i exaggerated a little.

I still found his comment hilarious … and completely honest. It still makes me laugh. That will be my penance for mistreating some of my classmates as a youngster … “5 minutes with Mr. Tibbs, the most huggy dude on the planet”.

16

Who the hell cares? If you’re so inclined, hug the bloke. If you’re not, don’t. How many awkward hugging situations do you get into anyway?

I’m a big hugger myself. If I know you well enough, you’re getting a big hug. (I hope you realize that there are studies showing that a lack of physical touching is one cause of depression in older people. That’s part of the reason why pets do them so much good.)

17

At the LTF race this year I snapped a photo of Simon Whitfield (second) and Greg Bennett (third) hugging in the finish chute. Maybe they hugged because they’re pals, maybe because they just won a ton of money… Either way, it happened (in a triathlon no less).

I think I would probably be looking for someone to hug too, if I had just come in 2nd ($50K vs. $250K for 1st) by only 400 meters, after running 4.7 miles at a 4:19 (!!!) pace. Of course, if I ever run a 4:19 mile, I be hugging everyone in sight. :slight_smile: Chris