Quote:
Originally Posted by infopop
From what I see in the Sex Listings, there's still a lot of what you might call "opportunistic cruising," especially by men who simply like the experience of having sex with anonymous strangers in a public or semi-public place. Some of them pre-arrange meetings using Apps or Craigslist, some simply go to well-known beaches, parks (there's one in Hemet, California that seems like the only place in town to get off), ABSs (this one by the Interstate in Kentucky is especially busy), and some of the Korean- or other Asian-style "mens' spas," bathhouses, and sexclubs in medium-sized and big cities, too. Of course, the Sex Listings Reviews reflect just a fraction of the activity that happens in a place but I see reports every day.
There's also the thing with men who might be married to women and/or who identify as straight or as some other label. Many can't meet at home, don't want to reveal their true identity, etc., etc. They might make a connection online or they might be in a cruisy location, but either way it's compartmentalized from other parts of life. I see this also in the Escort Reviews where many clients are married men of some means who hire men.
It's not really that different from straight men, married or not, having opposite-six hook-ups (or affairs or sex-work engagements, too) that they don't want to keep in a special part of their private life, unrevealed to spouses, partners, close friends, or whoever. This has been going on for thousands of years. It's simply human behavior, except that men who have sex with men may have more opportunities and less inhibitions. |
I very much agree with you that 'opportunistic cruising' continues to exist, and that it even may be going on pretty strong at specific locations across the country. Yet, I am afraid that the gay mainstream, as in your 'out and about' metro gay guy hooking up for sex now relies mostly on online resources for his daily hookup needs. No doubt, some of these hook ups may then physically take place at one of the known cruising areas, too.
I also agree that a number of people of whatever sexual orientation may be using some of the cruising spots for their DL encounters, too. The fact that some bars, spas and clubs survive confirms that they, too, must be having some sort of public, too.
I have been traveling on both business and pleasure throughout Europe extensively over the past several decades. Both the public and the commercial based cruising continue to exist. Yet, I have seen a very significant reduction on at least three levels.
First off, many even relatively popular bars and clubs have closed, mostly because they stopped being financially viable. Formerly very popular public parks are now largely empty with one or two guys looking around, where we used to have dozens of folks cruising on the popular nights.
Second off, the surviving clubs, bars, etc., are mostly barely making it. You go there, see three guys sitting and talking; you have a drink and you move on. The three dudes are still sitting there... I guess. You need numbers in order to get the game going.
Third off, many sites are now open for everyone, and frankly are not really that gay anymore. Cruising at such spots is a very different animal altogether.
KD