AirmaxUK

Reminds me of a lifetime ago in the 90's I used to go to a gay pub in Ealing that was next to a graveyard - It was common for guys to have a few to drink in the pub and head next door for some cruising - that was until someone's body was found there - beaten and stabbed, if I recall. After that - not so much. There's lots of little things that make me think gay life peaked and we're headed back to where we were. I've experienced three physical incidents since Covid - and that's not counting any of verbal stuff or even everyday passive-aggressive resistance which seems to be on the rise.

In the past, I always felt safe at Tiergarten - had loads of fun there and never any trouble. There's usually a decent number of guys there - so safety in numbers... until someone scares everyone away and they can pick on individuals. Got me thinking back to the 90's - didn't we have 'Pink Angels' or something to help with this sort of thing?

Initially it was quite busy - I was hopeful - then when the noise started it got quiet real quick. Like me, I guessed people left the area to go home or try again later. When I circled back a bit later it was very quiet - which in hindsight should have been a red flag.

A few days have passed. Lots of G&T have been consumed. And a good night at Bull tonight. I'm getting back to normal...

Berlin is often seen as a paradise because of the culture, clubs, bars, and big events like BLF, Folsom, CSD, and Hustlaball this last weekend. It has a dark side too... Last Monday I was at a loose end in the evening and since there was nothing interesting on at the clubs and bars, I decided to go cruise the park at Tiergarten and had just arrived there when I heard loud voices from over near the ping pong tables. I didn't understand what was being said but you could tell it really wasn't friendly. I figured it was maybe some drunks or something and circled away from the area for a bit. After 15-20 minutes I cautiously headed back toward the cruising area, listening carefully, and could hear no more shouting. Then, suddenly, someone turned on a bright torch and was shining it at me and shouted 'hey hey'. I decided to exit to the nearest road and walked up a path to Altonauer Strasse. As I did, I was aware someone was behind me and closing in which made me really uncomfortable. I side stepped and stopped suddenly ready to confront him, but the guy hurriedly carried on past me up the path to the street. I figured he too was making a quick exit. I left a distance and walked up to the street, where he was stood still, playing with his phone. I walked past him trying to keep a distance to avoid him but he spoke to me and said something which again I didn't understand. I walked off feeling safer being on a brightly lit street. I must've only got a few steps away when a car pulled up sharp just ahead of me and two guys got out - obviously very angry. There was a confrontation - one held me so I couldn't get away. When they realized I don't speak German they switched to broken English - "I will kill you for what you did. I have a gun and I will shoot you dead right now. Admit what you did to him." He was pointing at the guy with the phone I passed moments before. Over and over with shouting, pushing, shoving and hitting. I got an opportunity to break free and ran into the road - figuring maybe someone would stop and help - or at least see what was happening. As luck would have it, the traffic lights had changed - so there was no traffic! The guys came for me again and this time he hit me hard at my temple. I went down and one of them - maybe it was the phone guy - was shouting leave him, leave him, go, go so they got back into their car and left me stumbling in the road toward siegesaule. I was in shock and my mind was all over the place. Somehow it then occurred to me to grab my phone and dial 112 - which I started to do -- but being in shock I struggled and fumbled around with it. Their car sped past me and then they must've seen the phone in my hand as it stopped abruptly and the door opened and they guy was screaming something about 'take a fucking picture'. At this point the traffic lights must've changed and the general traffic caught up to us - the car sped off again. Shaking, I walked in the bus lane and was waving at passing taxi's to try and get one to stop. None did. I spotted a bus stop where there was some people stood and I headed that way. I sat in the shelter and the people there were trying their best to ignore me. A bus came and I rode a few stops to get some distance between me and Tiergarten. No permanent physical damage - bruising, swelling, and a jaw that hurts to open wide. Mentally, it may take a time for me to be as comfortable as I was walking alone at night in the city. I went to Maneo/Man-o-meter today to report the incident as they encourage reports on this kind of thing. The guys there were sympathetic but said this kind of thing is happening more and more frequently. Reflecting on it, my initial reaction was 'I am being robbed' but they guys made no attempt to take anything. Honestly they could have beaten me a lot worse. I think this was done to scare and intimidate. I think it was a team with 'phone guy' marking me and tipping them off. I'm not here to say 'Don't go cruising in Tiergarten, it's too dangerous' - that way they are the ones who win. It does seem everyone I talked to who cruises has an 'I was attacked at Tiergarten' story. I think I'd become too comfortable with Berlin and my guard was down too far. Just be aware that this sort of thing is on the increase. Don't go alone. And if it seems a bit suspect or someone's behaviors is a bit off - err on the side of caution. I realize I am no longer young enough to outrun trouble - so risk has to be managed accordingly. There are plenty of safe places to cruise in Berlin, like Lab, Scheune, Bull, Woof, New Action to name a few. Sorry this is long and rambling but it has been somewhat therapeutic to write it down and get it out of my head. I just hope someone is more careful as a result of reading it and avoids trouble themselves.

Anyone up for pre-party drinks? Staying at the Riu.

Yes. People who're wasted cause problems for the venue staff and spoil the vibe for everyone else.

I believe that in the UK connecting anything like a douche to the water supply is against the water regulations. This is because if the water supply fails, then water could be drawn from the douche into the water supply contaminating it. For similar reasons a shower head on a hose shouldn't be able to reach the bath because in a fault condition bathwater could be drawn back into it causing contamination. Standard non-return valves are only for up to category 3 use and a douche (or ablutionary shower) is category 5 due to the nature of contamination. Of course, in many private households this may not be the case, as householder will make changes unaware of the regulations, but with businesses that deal with the public - their insurers are all over this stuff to limit liability. [think before following links] https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/news/newsletter/categories/installer_news/dont_be_a_douche_about_hand_showers/

So I normally identify as a non smoker. BUT quite turned on by Dom/top guys who like to force their subs to smoke or inhale vape - especially if they're a non-smoker. I've done scenes with gas masks and smoke/vape and it's very horny. There was a guy on here from Wales who is sadly no longer a member who liked getting guys to sit on his cock and he'd force feed cigar smoke to make them cough. When you cough it makes your ass clench and that's what made him cum...

You can always call them and check beforehand. Many guys seem to do that - just don't ask "Is it busy today" as that really pisses the staff off! Having been a regular there for way too long, I think that their installation has a problem that the gas heater shuts down in high winds which affects the showers and the jacuzzi. So if it's very windy/stormy I'll not bother.

Jacuzzi was working on Sunday for Bears Day but a number of guys got wedged in it and wouldn't budge all afternoon and evening so it may as well have been out of order.

About 18 months ago, I went to Northwich a few times on a Tuesday when it was advertised as CumUnion - it was not like you'd expect a Cumunion to be having seen the CumUnion website. Once inside there was no mention of it and there was nothing different or special to make it a CumUnion... in fact they were more promoting it to be naked/no towels. The Tuesday crowd I'd say was quite blue collar and yes there were condoms being used - like I say for a CumUnion they'd made no effort - even the porn playing in the venue was 90s/00s condom porn. That said, I understand they are under new ownership now and have had a refurb in the wet area. I'd like to go again and see what's different, but I'm not making a trip just for that, so it'll be combined with something else. Sheffield was the other place that advertised a 'cumunion' party - I went to that to see how it was and it was really awful. Again, you wouldn't know it was CumUnion unless you'd seen it advertised on the CumUnion website. There were very few people in and I got the impression they were all regulars who knew each other. I didn't see anyone fuck all night - even the sling was empty. I thought I'd try my luck and climb in - but shortly after I did one of these 'regulars' walked by, tutted and rolled his eyes at me, and closed the door from the outside so nobody could see me there. It was really unwelcoming - from the customers to the staff (who were more interested in their phones than serving customers). I really would not recommend it. In fact I was sufficiently moved to email the CumUnion people and suggest they might take it off their list. I had more fun with a member of staff at the Premier Inn I was staying at than at the Sauna. These two things made me wonder if CumUnion's time has passed. Now it's only seen as a way to get a few extra bodies into the sauna on a quiet night. Long gone are the days when CumUnion packed out a basement in London. CumUnion's USP was Bare Back when it wasn't mainstream. Now it's not unusual at all, so maybe it's lost its edge?

I had to look it up - the definition I saw said that counting coups means touching the enemy - which I take to mean having some sort of contact with someone who identifies as straight. Maybe I am wrong. The OP's description of what they witnessed is non consensual - but I don't think that is the definition of counting coups as I understand it.

I've never actively hunted, as I know I'd feel really uncomfortable if I was targeted by a woman. That said... always open to opportunity: When I was at uni there were plenty of straight guys who were malleable and inquisitive enough to want to try stuff out. Some were more keen, some just happy to be led. All sort of types but typically Young Conservatives or religious group members. Never did anything without consent though. Most often it was to give them an inconspicuous blow-job. A couple wanted to get fucked. One just wanted to sleep naked and cuddle. Many were curious about the gay scene which in the early 90's was more underground and I took a few to the club Heaven or the London Apprentice. I bet at dinner parties they still recount those experiences. I remember I was dating a guy who lived in halls of residence and in his corridor there was a laundry room. There was a guy a few doors up the hall who went running most days and just left his kit draped over the drying racks. I often went in there for a crafty sniff of his pheromones - but one time someone must've seen me and told him. Next time I was around he cornered me and kinda said he'd tell everyone what I'd done if I didn't blow him then and there. I didn't need to be told twice (or even the threat) so I complied and it became a regular thing. In later life not so many opportunities. Probably the one that stands out were the two straight guys who sat next to me when I was a season ticket holder at Charlton Athletic FC and we shared a Travelodge hotel room for an away match to Manchester United. I went out on canal street in the evening and they wanted to come along and see what the gay scene was all about. They got an intro to poppers on the dance floor and I remember going into the bathroom and seeing one of them on his knees sniffing poppers and entertaining a few guys with his oral skills. The other guy was enjoying the dance floor and getting pretty drunk. We all went back to the Travelodge and although it was a twin room we all ended up in the same bed. Don't remember much but it was never spoken of again and the next season they moved seats to another part of the stadium so we lost touch. Does that count as counting coups?

Also going - got my tickets.