Why Shonen-ai (Boys Love) and Yaoi (hardcore boy's love)???

[Rcmonroe]

So, can anyone explain why guys dig lesbians? Because I sure don't get that, either...

A. Some guys dig 'em, some guys don't.

B. The ones that do don't necessarily dig 'em them for the same reasons that others do (ditto for the ones that don't dig 'em).

Like almost everything else in life, it's too complex a question to answer with a "oh, it's because…".

Different strokes for different folks.

[Dr Legostar]

So, can anyone explain why guys dig lesbians? Because I sure don't get that, either...

A. Some guys dig 'em, some guys don't.

B. The ones that do don't necessarily dig 'em them for the same reasons that others do (ditto for the ones that don't dig 'em).

Like almost everything else in life, it's too complex a question to answer with a "oh, it's because…".

Different strokes for different folks.

was it really necessary to use the word "strokes" given the content of this discussion?

[TheSuburbanLetdown]

I have no interest in lesbians at all in the context of this thread. Some of my friends are lesbians and they're pretty cool. I guess that means I'm not a man because I don't fit in a little box definition.

[TRI]

Throw in the potential of a threesome and not having to look at another man in your porn (See mange stricken bear comment) and your have the perfect storm of attraction.

except for the fact that by definition a lesbian is not physically attracted to men... at least not to the extent a man would want them to be a attracted to them.

Unfortunately what many men think about lesbians has a lot more to do with porn than with actual lesbians.

Anyway....

I never thought it was that much of a mystery really. Actually it always made sense to me, but then I'm weird like that. As others have pointed out: it's basically the same reasons that men have for liking lesbian porn, but with gender-appropriate fantasy material.

But in reading other people's thoughts on the subject I've come across a couple observations no one's made yet here: that if both partners are the same sex it eliminates the inherant inequality of power caused by traditional gender roles, and that if the relationship is (slightly) taboo it eliminates the possibility of pressure of conform to society as a motive. Thus making shonen-ai a supposedly "purer" form of love.

Granted those observations were on why Japanese women like shonen-ai and yaoi, and make more obvious sense in the gender-role and conformity driven world of Japan, but there are similar inequalities and pressures in this society too.

Also, as anyone who's ever known actual gay people can tell you, those observations have nothing to do with real life relationships. But this is fantasy we're talking about, not reality... and more than that, it's cartoon porn, which has even less to do with reality.

[Guildmaster Van]

Lesbians are cool because they have boobs. And, like, they have two boobs each. And it takes two to be lesbians, so two times two is four boobs. And if they invite Candice? That's, like, six boobs. SIX!

But yaoi? That's, like, zero boobs

[Rcmonroe]

was it really necessary to use the word "strokes" given the content of this discussion?

Totally. If I couldn't have used a tired cliche that also worked as a lame pun, I wouldn't even have bothered posting.

[Bass Master Fei]

I don't really like that sugary BL stuff (artwise or plotwise), which means my tastes are limited. But I do like yaoi with two characters who aren't uber-uke/uber-seme and are drawn well. In this case, it's like other people have been saying... twice the hawt. Yaoi can have some really nice art.

Also, a lot of male/female anime or manga pairings just aren't very interesting to me, because I don't like a lot of female characters.

As for watching regular gay porn... gay, lesbian, and straight porn are all generally aimed at guys (yes, yes, I know there are women who like porn, and I am one of them. But look at the clientele of your average porn store, and I think you will know what I mean).

BL is aimed at chicks and ranges from PWP to an actual story + sex, with the added benefit of smoking hot guys and little to no... er... issues that an average (American?) guy might have. Like not showering, mumbling, kicking puppies, etc. It's fantasy, pure and simple. You can mock pretty boys all you want, but you can't change the fact that a lot of girls out there dig them :).

[The Neko]

I never figured out why girls tend to like shounen-ai or yaoi. They're handsome, intelligent, and sensitive men that THEY'LL NEVER HAVE.

What I find funny is that the girls in the bookstores who talk about yaoi or the ones at conventions who wear things like "I <3 yaoi" are the least attractive. It's like the fat girl in high school who makes up for her lack of physical attractiveness by pretending she's sexual, which instead just makes her even worse.

[Grabmygoblin]

yes. hilarious.

[RPin]

I never figured out why girls tend to like shounen-ai or yaoi. They're handsome, intelligent, and sensitive men that THEY'LL NEVER HAVE.

But what's the point of fantasizing about stuff you can have?

[Rcmonroe]

I never figured out why girls tend to like shounen-ai or yaoi. They're handsome, intelligent, and sensitive men that THEY'LL NEVER HAVE.

But what's the point of fantasizing about stuff you can have?

Because even though you can have it, having it may have undesirable consequences, so you choose not to. Except in a fantasy.

[Kris X]

Maybe because girls don't like watching the porn girls who always appear fake and gross. Better to have two men, than even one porn girl. Bleh...

[Nanda]

I never figured out why girls tend to like shounen-ai or yaoi. They're handsome, intelligent, and sensitive men that THEY'LL NEVER HAVE.

What I find funny is that the girls in the bookstores who talk about yaoi or the ones at conventions who wear things like "I <3 yaoi" are the least attractive. It's like the fat girl in high school who makes up for her lack of physical attractiveness by pretending she's sexual, which instead just makes her even worse.

I see that I'm going to have to introduce 'Fat Chick' into the Ugly Girl cast so that I can humanize her.

[Mvmarcz]

when I was in highschool I had a friend who was extremely into yaoi...I thought it was interesting as I am very into pretty much anything romantic, but the buck stopped there for me. I just like love stories...but my friend...I don;t think I've met anyone more into yaoi than her. And she was thin and pretty but she had very low self esteem and was afraid of real men. I'm serious the sight of a penis scared the crap out of her. But she was obsessed. All of her stories had gay male characters not even of the standard gay variety but obviously of the yaoi sort. She'd show me all these yaoi fan comics and get all excited and I'd just kinda go "heh isn't that neat..."
I'm pretty sure I still have the same outlook at this point. But I know now she not only has a boyfriend but lives with him so I assume her penis fear is gone. As far as I can she's still into Yaoi..don't know how much though.

[Ahaugen]

i can remeber where i read it, but i found this article that talked about how humans (male and female) are conditioned at an early age to find the female gender more appealing because of maternal bonds in upbringing

(i.e. we need mom to help us survive when we are young, so we find her more appealing than dad)

[Tim]

Why do men like lesbians?

That’s simple. You have girls that are actively interested in sex and they think that other girls are hot. Men think about sex and hot women a lot. We have large portions of or brain solely dedicated to these topics. A lesbian is someone that your average man would have a lot in common with. Men are just looking for someone to form a deep emotional bond with. Someone they can spend hours with talking about hot women, sex and sports. Throw in the potential of a threesome and not having to look at another man in your porn (See mange stricken bear comment) and your have the perfect storm of attraction.

except for the fact that by definition a lesbian is not physically attracted to men... at least not to the extent a man would want them to be a attracted to them.

Which is why bisexual/bi-curious women are where it's really at.

[Corgan_dane]

I never figured out why girls tend to like shounen-ai or yaoi. They're handsome, intelligent, and sensitive men that THEY'LL NEVER HAVE.

What I find funny is that the girls in the bookstores who talk about yaoi or the ones at conventions who wear things like "I <3 yaoi" are the least attractive. It's like the fat girl in high school who makes up for her lack of physical attractiveness by pretending she's sexual, which instead just makes her even worse.

I see that I'm going to have to introduce 'Fat Chick' into the Ugly Girl cast so that I can humanize her.

Also, so Stinky can draw good fanart of her for the general enjoyment of those who like girls who aren't sticks with to oranges attached to their chest.

[Princess]

It's like the fat girl in high school who makes up for her lack of physical attractiveness by pretending she's sexual, which instead just makes her even worse.

I think I need to introduce you to my roomate:

She has thick glossy ringlets down to her shoulders, legs up to her armpits and smooth caramel coloured skin. She is overweight, but that doesn't stop her looking like a greek goddess!

[Bass Master Fei]

It's like the fat girl in high school who makes up for her lack of physical attractiveness by pretending she's sexual, which instead just makes her even worse.

I think I need to introduce you to my roomate:

She has thick glossy ringlets down to her shoulders, legs up to her armpits and smooth caramel coloured skin. She is overweight, but that doesn't stop her looking like a greek goddess!

QFT .

All I can say is... holy cow. I'd hate to see what happens when the old love handles start creeping up on this guy.

[Stinkywigfiddle]

I never figured out why girls tend to like shounen-ai or yaoi. They're handsome, intelligent, and sensitive men that THEY'LL NEVER HAVE.

What I find funny is that the girls in the bookstores who talk about yaoi or the ones at conventions who wear things like "I <3 yaoi" are the least attractive. It's like the fat girl in high school who makes up for her lack of physical attractiveness by pretending she's sexual, which instead just makes her even worse.

I see that I'm going to have to introduce 'Fat Chick' into the Ugly Girl cast so that I can humanize her.

Also, so Stinky can draw good fanart of her for the general enjoyment of those who like girls who aren't sticks with to oranges attached to their chest.

And of course I would.