/biz/ - Business & Finance

>>55354475
I shouldn't say accepted but widely accepted. It only needs to be tolerated superficially by a small subset for male friendships to be ruined.

Let's say Bill and Steve are friends and have been since childhood. In a previous era, they could have an intimate relationship which might include things like going on long trips alone together, occasionally sleeping in the same bed, showering or swimming nude in each other's presence, or even saying "I love you" in a completely platonic sense. They could do this openly because the notion of this being a sexual relationship would be absurd. Today, anyone witnessesing two men behaving this way would immediately conclude they are homosexual. In the same way that male/female platonic friendships are often perceived as romantic, the same thing is happening to male/male friendships. Every male friend you have has become a potential sexual partner. Even if you're married, now your wife has to wonder is she's "cover" for a gay relationship if you're too close to another male.

So, if you want to avoid appearing gay, you need to keep male friends at an arm's distance. You can never be alone with them for any extended period of time. You definitely don't want to cry in front of them or appear emotionally vulnerable in any way, or hug and provide consolation if they're the one who's crying. "His friend's brother died and he's hugging him? What are they, gay?"

https://www.dennyburk.com/how-homosexuality-undermines-male-friendships/