I am familiar with Montjuic, and a few similar cruising grounds in Spain.

What keeps them alive and kicking is the sheer number of their gay patrons. You go to MJ or any other big and popular cruising ground knowing that you have good chances to hook up and have sex. You also know that you won't be alone, stuck on a trail with one or two guys who you may care as little about as they do about you. You know that you may see familiar faces; people whom you know well, or even guys who always nod with their heads when they see you because they know you 'from seeing'.

The Apps, Internet, Craig & Co. destroyed small, less popular cruising sites, theaters, smaller spas, quite a few clubs and bars, too.

Just like the use of Apps, cruising in public parks is perceived to be free of charge. This is a very significant part of their charm, especially in a country like Spain which is still having record numbers of unemployed people. If there is no direct, out of pocket expense, people are more tolerant when it comes to the conditions of use and the possible failure to get what they were hoping to get.

It is also true that public park cruising scores big time over the Apps on at least two counts.

First off, more and more folks are realizing that the apps show the pix that may be 10 or more years old. The stats shown are still using the old AOL M2M chat rooms' measurement system that had an 8 incher as the least you could offer to an interested bottom, who usually portrayed himself as a vers top...

Second off, the Apps are meant to foster communication. Good in itself, communication is not what each and every man wants. A few are happy to unload, or get some action and move on... The apps do not really work for them that well.

KD

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I remember that sense of familiarity and -- if not certainty, likelihood -- at San Diego's San Clemente Canyon when I lived in SD County from the mid-90s to early 2000s. I'd see some of the same guys at the part of Balboa Park I could walk to from one apartment where I lived.

Those were the days. I honestly can't deal with the Apps and the loss of personality in most interactions. Even the web sites, prior to Apps, were rarely a good venue for me. Nothing's quite like face to face or at least seeing something tangible and interested.

Sometimes, except when I edit and read the better Reviews on the Sex Listings, I feel like Rip Van Winkle. Because of personal relationships and issues that are finally being resolved, I was sort of asleep (or at least just watching from the sidelines) for years. Now I'm "awake" or at least becoming free, and the world has changed while I was taking a break.

I could go on at length but I'm late on work and must get on with it.

~ Bob

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Indeed, there is quite some loss of personality in those interactions.

People who are willing to make the effort, dress up or down, walk or drive to a specific cruising venue are effectively investing their time and energy and possibly even some money to hook up, see other dudes, etc.

Like it or not, such guys have a vested interest in hooking up, or at least treating everyone as real people whose advances they are free to accept or reject as the case may be.

Now, the apps/sites are taking away much of that minimal investment. People feel free to post fake pictures, fake stats, and they feel free to waste everybody's time if they choose to. They did not invest anything into their attempt to hook up, cruise whatever.

If is is for 'free' it ain't usually good either

KD

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The other thing about the apps - it is like shopping on Amazon - everyone goes for the new model with the highest reviews - leaving a lot of us who are getting older feeling like a museum exhibit.

But in person maybe you realize that "last years model" works just as well and perhaps even better since he is willing to put more effort into the hook up!

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I like that analogy a lot! I've always said, both in personal life and in work, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

That's not to say there aren't a lot of broken things on CFS, but we'll deal with those in due time.

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I agree with Bob. I like the analogy, too.

I also see every reason for any cruiser to keep on testing his daily fresh meat market value. The chances are that we do very much so in real life cruising, too.

The Apps however, presuppose a degree of verbal communication. Real life cruising is often rather nonverbal, and if possibly very personal it tends to be very NSA.

Most guys are cruising to get their rocks off, I daresay... So, a willing and cooperative partner out there is whom you are after. You are not marrying the guy today. No promises are being made, and hardly anyone has to know... So, his and your fresh meat market values are of somewhat lesser importance.

Once you hook up via an App, this other guy 'knows' you. He knows how to get in touch with you over and over again. You may or may not block him, but he may be posting under yet another profile, etc.

Verbal communication is rarely bad per se. But it can ruin a perfectly good sexual vibe. Whom you find sexually attractive may be very different from whom you find socially desirable.

When it comes to NSA m2m sex, there is no place like here and no better time than now!

KD

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You know, if I'd programmed a "Like" or "React" button as in Facebook, I'd be "Liking" every post you guys have made here.

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