Meditations on Male Desire (Introduction--Part 1)

[rfmcdonald]

Of late, there's been a fair bit of discussion, in my livejournal and in the livejournals of my friends, about sexual desire. So, I've decided that beginning today, I'll post a series of meditations about sexual/romantic desire, specifically about its male variant.

I know that there are specific facts about my person that would seem to make me an unreliable observer:

• I've not had any romantic relationships, or any sexual encounters. Most guys have had both, or at least have experienced one of the above.


• I've only lately come to realize that I have any sexual desires or romantic yearnings at all. Most guys haven't taken nearly as long as me.


• I'm currently identifying as bisexual, or--if that's too specific and suggestive a term--"not straight." Most guys don't identify that way.

But then, by the same token, these three personal characteristics of me make me well-placed to be an observer. Anthropological theory does hold, after all, that people who are on the outside of a culture or a situation are better placed to provide neutral and objective commentary. And if there's one thing I've been, it's been an outsider.

So: Here they come.