AirmaxUK

There's reopening and reopening with measures in place. Are these places doing things like enforcing social distancing, closing darkrooms, maximum occupancy of smaller areas, etc. like the bars have done? I can't imagine it'll be the same free-for-all it once was.

Staying in Salford Quays Holiday Inn Express - also visiting @RawPlug and planning a generally sleazy weekend. Into all sorts (see profiles with same username on NKP/BBRT/Recon) but Raw/BB/Breeding is the main course this weekend. Gen up for meets - no time wasters. Andy

Perhaps there is some good news and things have changed...I was there on Sunday afternoon with some friends. Being a geek, one of them wanted to do a little project to map all the unofficial paths using Strava, so we spend the afternoon walking all the paths and routes across the heath. As it was Sunday afternoon there were plenty of families and dog walkers about as well as a few guys obviously cruising. One thing we did notice was that the rubbish bins had been removed - but on the other hand there was very little noticeable detritus from Saturday's nocturnal activities. The whole day I didn't see one needle or condom. Lube packets - maybe a one or two in the more remote paths well away from the main areas. A few paper tissues here and there. But the area around the fuck tree was also surprisingly tidy and free of litter. Overall, given there were no bins it was surprising how clean and litter free it was up there. I don't know but at a guess I'd say there are people working to clean it up. It has also been very rainy recently so maybe it's just not been that busy. The number one litter item had to be discarded face masks - particularly on the main paths near entrances/exits. This was the same for Golders Green Park next door. But the ones we saw looked fairly fresh - perhaps from that day. If there is a crew doing cleanup then we owe them thanks as they seem to be doing so efficiently! Anyway we had a great afternoon up there - lots of walking - lunch at The Old Bull and Bush - and stopped at the Ace Cafe on the way home to ogle at the bikers over a mug of tea.

It's an epidemic top shortage, not just in NYC. Covid has taken a lot of guys off the scene. Just checked BBRT for some stats... Across London UK 85% of profiles identify as bottom or vers bottom (which is usually the same thing). That's six bottoms fighting over every top. In recent times I notice the top/bottom thing has become more binary which is a shame as versatile guys seem to migrate to being bottom and now there are fewer loads to go around.

After reading on here some testimonials about Adam4Adam I tried it out... it seems that usage in the UK is quite thin, but annoyingly I do seem to get hits from four or five profiles a day from 3000-4000 miles away - always twinky guys in their 20's with studio like profile pics and message text declaring their undying love at first sight. I experimentally engaged with one to see what the scam is, and it was a pre-canned sob story - needing a place for the night, and request for gas money. (Obviously not in the UK as we don't call it "gas") I asked what he is driving, as 3000 miles on $40 gas seems like great milage. That's when he vanished. I do wonder if there are scam-bots running on some of these sites that ping loads of profiles worldwide looking for someone to engage and then you're a mark.

Absolutely - I love being on the receiving end, so I know the pleasure it brings and I am more than happy to dish it out. But it's not risk-free - I've experienced both pinworms and shigella after rimming. Neither are pleasant. If you see someone itching or scratching his hole, my advice is to move on to the next guy.

The OP mentioned that Greenhouse has a special piss play area. This is true of both their Luton and Darlaston saunas, but I have never seen anyone use it. I've kneeled in both expectantly and gotten nothing. If it's piss play I'm after, SOP is the obvious choice. Laboratory in Berlin and The Boots in Antwerp usually can find piss play even if that's not the theme. Hampstead Heath too. I have a friend that's more into it than most and he'll pretty much kneel next to the urinals or lay on the floor under them in *any* gay club or bar (even fluffy ones) and usually comes home soaking.

This doesn't seem to happen as often as dodgy porn would have us believe, despite trying. Here's my experience of reality: A neighbour had some brickwork done in their driveway - it was the house on the other side of the road and two or three doors along. When the contractors started work I kept smelling weed smoke around my property - so I checked my cameras and found the guys doing the brickwork were coming into my garden and smoking behind my garage when on their breaks, which seemed to be once an hour or so... Anyway I decided to work from home one day and took a well timed break with a beer in the back garden. I found them on their break, and was friendly - complimented them on the brickwork and said I could smell their smoke and it was nice... They apologised for coming on to my property and I told them not to worry. The older one seemed quite friendly and comfortable, almost flirtatious. The younger guy a bit more skittish and scared. I suggested when they finish for the day to come over and share a beer and a joint, hoping it might lead to more, but they never showed again at my place after that. I guess I spooked them! More recently we had our electricity meter swapped out to one of those smart meters. They guy who came to do it was quite a nice bear-ey type. When he finished the job he gave me a scrap of paper with his number on it and said that if I have any problems to give him a call... It clearly was his personal number and nothing to do with our energy company. Anyhow after a day or so, I WhatsApp'd the number and said it was all working OK and thanks. It would seem he'd changed his mind as I never got a 'read message double tick' in WhatsApp and no reply. With lockdown we've been having a lot more deliveries of late. One of the Amazon delivery guys seems to be a regular, and gives off that over friendly vibe that there may be something possible. On one of the really hot days recently I did offer him a cold drink, but it seems these guys are on a really tight managed schedule and can't stop for a second. So he took a bottle of mineral water and sped off. Is it just me or does reality differ from what you read and see??!? Or maybe I am using the wrong tactics?

I was stood in the open in the middle of the room when we were told to put on the hoods. There was a rush to the edges of the room where there were a few benches, and the various slings and fuck benches. I had the idea in my head that everyone would stand around and the tops would mingle and take you to a place to do their thing. Turns out it was a bit of a fight for spots where you could bend over and be ready. Being in the middle of the room and unable to see you got bumped around quite a bit and it was very disorienting. Other parties may be different, of course.

I went to a Fickstutenmarkt party at The Boots in Antwerp last year. It was my first and had the Covid Apocalypse not happened I'd have been back for more. It was an interesting experience - they were very strict about being hooded and removing people who peeked. I made two mistakes on my first visit: one was not getting a good spot before the hoods went on and the other was trying to walk around and getting very disoriented trying to find a better spot. I found it to me more anonymous than darkrooms as you really could not see a thing and had all choice taken away. In a darkroom you can usually see a little bit and can exert some free will. Not here.

Ah yes, eye contact cruising, my nemesis. Being slightly 'on the spectrum', in my younger years eye contact from or with strangers made me really uncomfortable. I've learned to deal with it as it was a part of gay culture for so long. But even today, eye contact in conversation can be hard, especially if I am attracted to someone it becomes intimidating. I also tend not to notice if someone is giving me the look... fortunately my close friends will prompt me. Taps and Woofs on the apps are a great alternative, but if I receive one I usually reply with a message as tapping or woofing back rarely seems to go anywhere.

Personally, if someone writes me a message where some effort has gone into it (eg it is not just "hi" "oi" or "I'm bored") then I'll reply as I'd hope people would treat me the same way. Knowing how to put someone off without upsetting their feelings is a good life skill to acquire. If they've opened with a compliment but I'm not interested I'll thank them but not reciprocate, and if they persist I'm honest about not being interested. Not responding is something I am not comfortable with because if I am on the receiving end of a <no response> then I don't know why. Should I try again another day? I don't know. But the thing that comes across as the most cowardly response to a friendly message is blocking the sender totally. Sometimes I get a message on one of the apps and log in to read it - but because you appear online everyone thinks you're available now, so you then get a bunch of taps, oinks and messages... usually just a simple "just checking messages, and not looking to meet now. I'll be in touch another time when I'm free" keeps it positive and doesn't burn bridges.

Latex catfish do a rubber Burka which may also be useful attire in some circumstances.

I recall going to The Boots in Antwerp once - it was their "Yellow Facts" party - there was a guy in total coverage rubber chained to the urinals kneeling on the floor - the only thing open was a hole around his mouth - and I'm guessing some pepper pot holes at the eyes but you couldn't really see them. Alost 100% coverage. Anyway he was dead keen on sucking guys off and drinking their piss. I thought it was quite horny so obliged - first piss then BJ... but the BJ was incredible - probably the best I've ever had. He finished me off early - I would have normally been annoyed as it finished the night for me, but it was really good. Downstairs in the bar he removed his hood - this guy was well into his 70s and had not a single tooth remaining. Which explained the awesome BJ. I thanked him and bought him a bottle of Jupiler to suck on...

I think it's not an ironic statement in the same sense as "asking for blindfold anon, but insisting on pics". These people are expressing a preference - there's no unwritten rule about skinny guys should only like skinny guys and bears only like bears. There's a whole bear 'chaser' thing where non-bears like bears... As someone who probably qualifies for the bear tag in most people's eyes (although it's not a label I like), I like all sorts, and sometimes a skinny runt is just what I need.

In England we have a town called Scunthorpe. There is a known phenomenon called the Scunthorpe problem since the Town's name often triggers decency filters. I don't know much about contract law but if a site had a policy that resulted in accounts being closed and subscriptions voided, wouldn't the owner have to define what constitutes acceptable/unacceptable in a clear and unambiguous way? Context is important, too as many words have multiple meanings depending on context.

318 - an improvement on last time I did this, so must be on the right track !

Yes! ...or "profiles without face pic ignored" from one without any pics... Also what's with guys in their 20's who have "Only interested in guys my own age" on their profile and then message me (in my 40's)...?

Pigboy Ruben / Ruben Litzky (sp?) Met him at Snax in Berghain / Laboratory once... nice guy.

This is why I like the stricter fickstutenmarkt parties where you are not allowed to see the tops at all. Some places have tried to copy the parties in the UK but they're not quite the same as the rules aren't enforced. The rules are what makes it horny.

Thanks for your input, guys: There may be some misunderstanding as I didn't say I was offended by anything or anyone. And I'm not. Perhaps I could have have worded my query more clearly... Anyway: My thinking was that if the software had a feature to hide certain forums, it may be useful to hide those that are not of interested in from the "unread content" feed. Turns out this is not necessary: Thank you @viking8x6 for a practical solution, I hadn't realised you can set up your own activity streams. That's a nice feature. I am grateful that @RawTop and the moderators who endeavour to keep the right content in designated places. This enables us to choose what content we want to see. I liked the "unread content" feed as a way to quickly catch up - but it is a firehose of *all* the content. The solution suggested by @viking8x6 enables us to choose - and as @dirtyarizona suggests: "If there are certain things you do not want to see [or read], Then Do Not Look At Them."

I note that some of the forums have a pinned note that says something like "if you're in recovery and don't want to see this, let me know". So I gather it must be technically possible to mask forums from a user's view. When I scroll through the recent activity to catch up on what's been going on here, there are certain things that appear that can *really* dampen my mood. Would it be possible to opt out of the politics forum and straight forums? I'm just here for the m4m bareback deviancy - thanks. Andy

It is likely that putting yourself out there on Grindr etc. has replaced the need for visual codes. Without a visual cue that suggested someone's orientation I'd feel exceptionally uncomfortable approaching them. In SoHo, Vauxhall and parts of Berlin the odds are in your favour, but outside these bubbles things are still a long way behind and I'd worry about getting my ass kicked for being forward. I'd like to think that the old eye contact thing still worked - but people are so engrossed in their phones that isn't viable. Maybe someone needs to use the technology from the Covid tracking apps so that you get a 'gaydar' ping or a notification if someone is nearby! (Although in the wrong hands, that could be dangerous)

Most of us are probably aware of the iconic clones of the 70's and 80's. I remember London in the mid 90's the typical gay clone uniform was a white t-shirt, black 501's, white socks and black Caterpillar boots. You could always spot guys on public transport or on the street and it was a great way to recognise others and cruise them. These days I tend to only frequent places where clothing is fetish or not required at all, so I'm out of touch. Left me wondering in 2020 does the gay clone exist? Or have we merged with mainstream culture and it's disappeared?

Absolutely - my first fetish: Now this is going to date me but I think it comes from when I was at school we were into breakdancing and high-tops were just beginning to come in to the UK from the US. Being a less affluent background, not everyone could afford them, and I remember one of our gang got to go to Florida one summer and came back with a pair. Everyone was in awe. But he was quite generous and let his friends wear them at lunchtime/breaktime to dance in. I found that quite a turn on and started asking lads I secretly liked to borrow or swap their kicks - that worked a lot better after I got some Jordans for my birthday... but to this day the feel of swapping kicks with a guy hot off his feet - still moist and warm is very powerful feeling for me. Add in some aroma of the sweat and it's heaven. Over the years, it goes a lot further and interests have spread to cover socks, boots, getting trampled. Before Covid lockdown we were organising successful monthly parties in London for guys into feet/footwear. Add in BB and it's the perfect scene!