Stuck with me for another month.

[stowe1]

I agree that a person should call out someone who offends them, but particularly for newbies who may not know the "lay of the land" here, often times it just makes them shut up, as it's easier and not worth the effort to them, feeling like an outsider calling out the establishment here.

I personally know of two specific examples of newbies feeling this way, and they both have persevered though the initial discomfort they felt and become established "core" forumites. My friend Peterh from Seattle has told me that when he first checked out the forum there seemed to be a core clique who didn't seem too interested in communicating with a newbie, and that the clique appeared to be ignoring his posts and just chatting with each other. That made me feel terrible to find out that as a core member, I was part of that clique and it was never intended that way by myself or any of my forum friends. That goes to show me that even a bright, funny, friendly guy like Peter felt slighted by the establishment.

I mention Peter's by name as he always tells me he has nothing to hide, and that his life is an open book, so I told the story to make a point. I heard the same thing from someone else who is now a senior member who told me that when he joined and asked a question or made a point, he was told by the clique in a dismissive way that we already discussed that topic. It intimidated him from posting again for a while.

And as I feel that we need more voices on the forum, I shudder when I think that one of us is being short or dismissive with a newbie who tries to venture into our "good old boys club", (and yes Beth is included in the boy's club. lol). I try to be extra polite and welcoming to a newbie, whether I agree or disagree with their point of view.

I guess it is all a matter of perspective. I was a member of the site for a month before I joined the forum. During that time, I read the forum just to see what it was since I had never participated in anything like that ever before. I saw people expressing their views on the scenes, models, and then general topics as well. So I thought to myself why not. And I did. I had a few questions about how things work and tampa and stimpy answered them for me. Then I was set to go. I review scenes, express my views because that is what I want to do as a forumite. I did not set out with the purpose of expressing myself to get the approbation of others on the forum. To state in it my typical curmudgeonly bluntness: I could care less what anyone thinks of me or my views, with one exception. If someone wanted to agree or disagree with me, that it is their prerogative, just as it is my prerogative to do the same. The one standard that I hold myself to is not to use "ad hominem" verbiage - and I admit that there have been a few times when I failed in that; and later apologized. I like the forum but I didn't come on it to win friends or influence people. But one of the pleasantly surprising things that has happened since I've been on the forum has been the relationships that I have developed with a few of the people here, and especially my close friendship with you, mikey. I never in a million years would have ever dreamed that I would be in a forum group on a porn site and meet someone whom I consider a friend even away from this setting.

 

[Leedwb]

I've been on this forum "forever", and this is one of the quieter periods in my forum history, with less folks commenting than at any time in the recent past. Over the last month or two, there are days when I spend ten hours away at work and return home to find less than a handful of new posts when I return. This is among the slowest periods I can recall in fan participation here.

I believe that it is mostly due to this current slow period with the porn, as the forum is driven by hot guys and hot scenes. We can have great discussions in the general forum regarding entertainment, holidays, sports or world events, but the heart of Broke Straight Boys is the porn. And Stowe, you yourself made this comment on the recent Ronan Kennedy & Ryan scene, "It's been quite a while since a Broke Straight Boys scene has given me the vapors, but boy they came rushing back watching with this scene. I'm still flushed --- in more ways than one."

My belief is that this site needs an infusion of young talent that will excite the base and attract new fans who are clamoring to sing the praises of the latest rising star, be it an Adam Baer, a Johnny Forza, or a new Vadim Black, a new Kodi or of course a Paul Canon. If you look at the first page of "the boys" showing the last fifteen newbies introduced since August 6th, there are not many to inspire the masses, and as the porn goes, so goes the forum, in my humble but experienced observations. So this is my long answer to your first question, on a scale of 1-10 on forum greatness, I would rate this current period as a "4". But I am in it for the long run and I'm always hopeful that the site will introduce some ultra hot newbies, which will in turn enliven the forum, and perhaps draw some new fans into joining in the festivities, and perhaps return the forum to an "8" or higher, based on the hotness of Broke Straight Boys in general.

As far as what constitutes being bullied, that is subjective, but I have seen new posters arrive on the forum, who are questioned, belittled and doubted by some of us old timers. It can be intimidating to join in to an existing "clique" so to speak and to be made to feel welcome, and I always choose my words carefully to try to make a newbie feel as a part of "the family", such as it is. Much as hot new models drive the site, interesting new forumites drive the forum, and I've seen how a sharp or condescending comment can shut up a new poster. I think we should be welcoming and not driving new and sometimes older members away.

Mikeyank, you are my new hero

 

[mikeyank]

I guess it is all a matter of perspective. I was a member of the site for a month before I joined the forum. During that time, I read the forum just to see what it was since I had never participated in anything like that ever before. I saw people expressing their views on the scenes, models, and then general topics as well. So I thought to myself why not. And I did. I had a few questions about how things work and tampa and stimpy answered them for me. Then I was set to go. I review scenes, express my views because that is what I want to do as a forumite. I did not set out with the purpose of expressing myself to get the approbation of others on the forum. To state in it my typical curmudgeonly bluntness: I could care less what anyone thinks of me or my views, with one exception. If someone wanted to agree or disagree with me, that it is their prerogative, just as it is my prerogative to do the same. The one standard that I hold myself to is not to use "ad hominem" verbiage - and I admit that there have been a few times when I failed in that; and later apologized. I like the forum but I didn't come on it to win friends or influence people. But one of the pleasantly surprising things that has happened since I've been on the forum has been the relationships that I have developed with a few of the people here, and especially my close friendship with you, mikey. I never in a million years would have ever dreamed that I would be in a forum group on a porn site and meet someone whom I consider a friend even away from this setting.

I too never in any way shape or form expected to form any real personal off site relationships by joining Broke Straight Boys, followed by the newly formed forum way back when. But much to my surprise I became very close to several, but ultra close to then forumite Ms. Kianna, followed by actually talking to you Mr. Stowe on the phone. As you know you were my "maiden voyage" at becoming personal phone friends with anyone through this forum experience.

And it all lead to a wonderful week last October when Peter came to visit as we toured New York City and even spent a particularly wonderful fall day driving upstate to bucolic New Paltz, New York and meeting the wonderful Betu. I've also met Tampa in person, and now I have a very close friendship with sweet "little Johnny" from San Francisco, as well as speaking to a few others and having many forum friends who I regularly message and exchange email's with. This is why although the porn has been mostly sub par to my taste, I would never think of leaving the site as long as this forum is in existence.

And while I do question, criticize and disagree with some decisions Mark has made, I do thank him for creating this forum and for the most part allowing us to express ourselves honestly with very little censorship of what we have to say, even when it is negative towards his site.

 

[mikeyank]

Mikeyank, you are my new hero

Thank you kind sir. I am humbled by your kind words!!!

 

[rafe59]

I too never in any way shape or form expected to form any real personal off site relationships by joining Broke Straight Boys, followed by the newly formed forum way back when. But much to my surprise I became very close to several, but ultra close to then forumite Ms. Kianna, followed by actually talking to you Mr. Stowe on the phone. As you know you were my "maiden voyage" at becoming personal phone friends with anyone through this forum experience.

And it all lead to a wonderful week last October when Peter came to visit as we toured New York City and even spent a particularly wonderful fall day driving upstate to bucolic New Paltz, New York and meeting the wonderful Betu. I've also met Tampa in person, and now I have a very close friendship with sweet "little Johnny" from San Francisco, as well as speaking to a few others and having many forum friends who I regularly message and exchange email's with. This is why although the porn has been mostly sub par to my taste, I would never think of leaving the site as long as this forum is in existence.

And while I do question, criticize and disagree with some decisions Mark has made, I do thank him for creating this forum and for the most part allowing us to express ourselves honestly with very little censorship of what we have to say, even when it is negative towards his site.

I agree whole Heartily with Mikeyank on this as well as Stowe....I came here to look at straight guys having gay sex period, and to my surprise thru the forum I met some really great folks starting with Mike, Peter, and Frisco Johnny.....all from different parts of the country, all with unique view points, and all terrific people that have made me a better person just from knowing them a little while.
I used to view this as a porn site where I could chat with other individuals about the subject matter, but it has quickly become a site where I can chat with friends about the porn we viewed....Thanks to Mark and Broke Straight Boys for this...all though I do not like every scene that I view, it doesn't mean that others don't, as Mike has stated in so many previous posts, " we all have different taste in our men", and what I don't like, others may like...so who am I to criticize....just my worth...................

 

[mikeyank]

I agree whole Heartily with Mikeyank on this as well as Stowe....I came here to look at straight guys having gay sex period, and to my surprise thru the forum I met some really great folks starting with Mike, Peter, and Frisco Johnny.....all from different parts of the country, all with unique view points, and all terrific people that have made me a better person just from knowing them a little while.
I used to view this as a porn site where I could chat with other individuals about the subject matter, but it has quickly become a site where I can chat with friends about the porn we viewed....Thanks to Mark and Broke Straight Boys for this...all though I do not like every scene that I view, it doesn't mean that others don't, as Mike has stated in so many previous posts, " we all have different taste in our men", and what I don't like, others may like...so who am I to criticize....just my worth...................

Thank you Rafe. You are certainly on my list of forum friends and you too have become another important person to me whom I met all because watching straight boys get sucked off by another guy makes my willy hard. lol

But I also realize that we've been commenting on this thread while Peter has been at work on his graveyard shift and when I receive too many complements, Peter will have some choice words for me to "knock me off my high horse". That's another old man expression, Peter, and so I fully expect when I return home from work late this afternoon, to have already received my comeuppance from Peterh of the Pacific Northwest.

 

[rafe59]

Thank you Rafe. You are certainly on my list of forum friends and you too have become another important person to me whom I met all because watching straight boys get sucked off by another guy makes my willy hard. lol

But I also realize that we've been commenting on this thread while Peter has been at work on his graveyard shift and when I receive too many complements, Peter will have some choice words for me to "knock me off my high horse". That's another old man expression, Peter, and so I fully expect when I return home from work late this afternoon, to have already received my comeuppance from Peterh of the Pacific Northwest.

No worry's MikeY...I have found over the years that's what brothers do to each other, whether its Brothers of the same Mother or Brothers of a different Mother, we keep each other grounded....out of pure Love and Respect...guess that means Ole peter really likes and Respects you !!!!!!!!

 

[johnny]

I too never in any way shape or form expected to form any real personal off site relationships by joining Broke Straight Boys, followed by the newly formed forum way back when. But much to my surprise I became very close to several, but ultra close to then forumite Ms. Kianna, followed by actually talking to you Mr. Stowe on the phone. As you know you were my "maiden voyage" at becoming personal phone friends with anyone through this forum experience.

And it all lead to a wonderful week last October when Peter came to visit as we toured New York City and even spent a particularly wonderful fall day driving upstate to bucolic New Paltz, New York and meeting the wonderful Betu. I've also met Tampa in person, and now I have a very close friendship with sweet "little Johnny" from San Francisco, as well as speaking to a few others and having many forum friends who I regularly message and exchange email's with. This is why although the porn has been mostly sub par to my taste, I would never think of leaving the site as long as this forum is in existence.

And while I do question, criticize and disagree with some decisions Mark has made, I do thank him for creating this forum and for the most part allowing us to express ourselves honestly with very little censorship of what we have to say, even when it is negative towards his site.

Thanks mike
Never thought it would happen. It has been my honor and privilege too become such close friends with someone I met on a porn site.
One of the worst things to happen too me. The loss of my own real brother. But I feel I have gained three new brothers.
With You, Peter and now rafe. I am so grateful.Thank You Guy's. xoxo Johnny...
Now if you all would send checks.lol.That is what brothers do.....xoxo

 

[peterh6308]

Give it a rest you sissy's!!! hahaha I too came for the porn and staying for the porn! but not surprisingly to me I've met some great guys and gals (beth only VAG left) and I look forward to getting home and checking out our own little porn FB forum. We have lost some great forum members over the years but the backbone members of this forum have stayed ie: Tampa, Jon, Joeychuck, Another1, Elyot and vicekid sorry if I missed any other 2008 folks oh yea Mikeyank lol I'll promise to keep coming back as long as you all do.

 

[vicekid]

Give it a rest you sissy's!!! hahaha I too came for the porn and staying for the porn! but not surprisingly to me I've met some great guys and gals (beth only VAG left) and I look forward to getting home and checking out our own little porn FB forum. We have lost some great forum members over the years but the backbone members of this forum have stayed ie: Tampa, Jon, Joeychuck, Another1, Elyot and vicekid sorry if I missed any other 2008 folks oh yea Mikeyank lol I'll promise to keep coming back as long as you all do.

Peter,

It seems like we are off topic again? Thanks for the compliment Peter! I am not sure I am a "backbone" maybe a historian. I too agree the friendships here led to getting to know members (forumites) more closely. My first contact was with MarkyMark (TQMOTF) and had several opportunities to speak with him. Then I got to speak to and meet, the one and only Jayman. I also had numeous conversations with Gremlin. Now these are names, ghosts, of the past. Plus I've met and spoke to the King of the forum: Mr. Tampa! In addition, there were a couple of members that I communicate with via personal e-mail, with Dennybear one of them. So out of coming to watch Porn, we were given a forum to "talk" to each other and in those special cases this has led to unique friendships resulting in more personal or special friendship.

YES Broke Straight Boys has take us from one level of being a consumer of a product into a special community of friends from around the world. Perhaps one day we can have Broke Straight Boys Gathering of forumites and models. Until then, we have this forum to keep us entertained.

Live Long and Prosper,

Vicekid

 

[tampa24]

You guys are so right that the this forum has far exceeded it's original intent and limited expectations when it was first set up. It really became an online community of friends. What started out as just a gathering place for people to discuss their mutual fondness for gay for pay porn (and give real-time member feedback to the site) turned into a virtual social life where some of us have become friends not just online, but in the real word too.