You Are Viewtiful
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I'm a 24 year old virgin, and usually I'm okay with that (I didn't accept that I was gay until last year), but a few months ago I met a 23 year old (straight) guy who was extremely depressed about his virgin status at his age, and it made me feel like something was wrong with me too. So I signed up on Grindr about two months ago. And I guess I have to ask... does anyone else feel a bit dehumanized? Also, do you feel bad when you turn other people down, and feel like you're doing the same thing (dehumanizing others)? Am I overthinking this?
When I started out, I had a complete baby face, and I wasn't getting many messages from people my age. I got really depressed, because I always thought I was above-average looking. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror anymore, because I would just pick out flaws and feel bad. I took a break from the app, grew out a beard, got a more mature haircut and started lifting (I guess those are good things that came out Grindr), and decided to try my luck again. My fortunes turned around and I started getting a lot of messages... but this didn't help. The messages were very direct... sending dick pics, asking for blowjobs, even got a few racial comments ('terrorize my pussy'). I tried to act casual and reply with vulgarity in kind, but then I'd feel embarrassed, chicken out and close the app for days, and when I'd come back I'd tell them I wasn't interested anymore. The whole process just felt so dehumanizing, like I was just a sex object to them (especially considering the difference in treatment between my two 'faces'), and it felt wrong to have my body be treated that way. The worst part is when I'd get genuinely decent people talking to me in a polite way, but... I simply wasn't interested in them based on their looks. This felt terrible, because I was in their position just a few weeks ago and I knew how it felt, and I realized I wasn't any better than the people who were only talking to me because of my looks. The whole experience made me feel like a hypocritical shallow person.
One experience went down so bad, that I felt so guilty and deleted my profile. It was a huge weight off my chest.
But... I still get really sad and lonely. I still want that level of intimacy with someone, and while I'm young too, especially with the way people talk about gay death. I just don't think casual sex is for me.
Am I overthinking this? A part of me tells me my logic is really circular and I'm getting worked up about nothing, but I don't know if I can go back on Grindr (or other hookup apps) ever again.
Sorry for the long post. I wish I had a gay friend to talk this through with IRL. :<
When I started out, I had a complete baby face, and I wasn't getting many messages from people my age. I got really depressed, because I always thought I was above-average looking. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror anymore, because I would just pick out flaws and feel bad. I took a break from the app, grew out a beard, got a more mature haircut and started lifting (I guess those are good things that came out Grindr), and decided to try my luck again. My fortunes turned around and I started getting a lot of messages... but this didn't help. The messages were very direct... sending dick pics, asking for blowjobs, even got a few racial comments ('terrorize my pussy'). I tried to act casual and reply with vulgarity in kind, but then I'd feel embarrassed, chicken out and close the app for days, and when I'd come back I'd tell them I wasn't interested anymore. The whole process just felt so dehumanizing, like I was just a sex object to them (especially considering the difference in treatment between my two 'faces'), and it felt wrong to have my body be treated that way. The worst part is when I'd get genuinely decent people talking to me in a polite way, but... I simply wasn't interested in them based on their looks. This felt terrible, because I was in their position just a few weeks ago and I knew how it felt, and I realized I wasn't any better than the people who were only talking to me because of my looks. The whole experience made me feel like a hypocritical shallow person.
One experience went down so bad, that I felt so guilty and deleted my profile. It was a huge weight off my chest.
But... I still get really sad and lonely. I still want that level of intimacy with someone, and while I'm young too, especially with the way people talk about gay death. I just don't think casual sex is for me.
Am I overthinking this? A part of me tells me my logic is really circular and I'm getting worked up about nothing, but I don't know if I can go back on Grindr (or other hookup apps) ever again.
Sorry for the long post. I wish I had a gay friend to talk this through with IRL. :<