I bet this sounds like a stupid question - especially coming from a man. However, NoStupidQuestions doesn’t allow NSFW topics, so here I am - bear with me.

I genuinely don’t know what this feels like from the inside. I see so many men go to extreme lengths to chase women - sometimes even risking their careers or relationships just to get laid. Some are literally willing to pay for it. I don’t get it. What does that pull actually feel like?

I’m not judging - I’m trying to understand. I only know what it looks like from the outside, but I have no idea what it’s like on the inside. I’ve had sex multiple times, and it’s fine, but it seems vastly overrated to me. Clearly, I’m not getting out of it what most other men are, so I’m trying to understand the baseline experience.

My motivation for asking is that I’m working on myself and hoping that, eventually, I’ll be able to feel even a fraction of that same pull. However, with things like lifting weights, I at least have a clear image in mind of what I’m working toward - but it’s harder to define that when it comes to subjective experiences.

  • it_depends_man@lemmy.world
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    19 hours ago

    I would say it’s like a strong appetite for food.

    Imagine you just ate, you pass a street vendor and the food looks and smells delicious. You have the time, the money to stop and get some street food. Maybe it’s bad for your health, but it’s worth it in the moment.

    I see so many men go to extreme lengths to chase women - sometimes even risking their careers or relationships just to get laid.

    That’s dumb, it’s a strong desire and it can make you do dumb stuff like buying 2-3x the street food amount you can eat, but it’s not irresistible and the people who do dumb stuff just haven’t learned restraint.

    Someone who cheats doesn’t cheat because they’re horny, they cheat because they never properly valued the relationship they’re in to begin with. Same for the career stuff, they probably got away with it so far, and they go too far like people go over the speed limit with their car. Whatever risk exists, they think it doesn’t apply to them or that situation.

    eventually, I’ll be able to feel even a fraction of that same pull.

    I don’t think it’s a thing you can train or learn, it’s too biological. And it’s not worth chasing that much. Staying with the food metaphor, some people love food so much, they travel, learn to cook, experiment, it’s a whole hobby. And others are fine with mostly eating the same food every day, use little spices and never learn even to cook good simple dishes like pasta with a decent sauce.

    If it’s a problem in your relationship because your partner doesn’t feel valued that way, solve it the same way you answer what to eat: go along with what they want, surprise them with a visit to a restaurant you know they like etc… But also talk and explain to them that you will probably not change that way and they have to accept that.

    • spamfajitas@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      14 hours ago

      it’s not irresistible and the people who do dumb stuff just haven’t learned restraint.

      Just want to point out Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CBSD) is somewhat recognized depending on who you ask. The topic of sex addiction is a bit controversial and I believe usually gets lumped in with gambling addiction. This doesn’t really invalidate what you said, just tries to add some context around why people might be driven to self-destructive actions like that.

      • Mike D@piefed.social
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        5 hours ago

        I’ve often seen sex addiction added to other addictions when discussing ADHD or other mental issues. Gambling, alcohol, drugs, and sex.