Oh boy do I have fond memories of International Male! I first saw a copy in the early 80s and it was incredible for me. Even though it would be a long time before I finally came out, my gaydar was working well. There was something "unique" about the models - not your typical JC Penny catalog swimsuit models. That article brought back... uhm... memories.

i am glad that it brought great memories for you :D but yes i do look at the ads in the paper or gym workout books to see the guys half naked. i have an art history class gotten to see lots of naked men :D wwwwoooo

I took life drawing in college too... hard to concentrate, made me sweaty. All of the publications with half-naked men just made me more frustrated. No wonder I'm so nearsighted with all the years trying to examine every bump and contour.

I think I still have a couple of those books somewhere!

@Eracstus i believe that us gay men still do this regardless of what it is lmao

Yes, I remember those. I don't think I ever really wanted to be a replica of those, but I did try some of their fashions (briefly for the sake of humanity). I looked ridiculous and very unlike me.

In terms of image, I think it's just like with women's magazines and advertising for women. They seem to present this image of what they are supposed to be, like, dress and look. In their case is to find/keep their man happy. In our case is more sexual, about getting into somebody's sack.

@Hippo thanks for the observation i am an advertising major ;)

with this article not just bring back memories, but i am also stating regardless of our age or generation we all do this

@Hippo thanks for the observation i am an advertising major ;)

with this article not just bring back memories, but i am also stating regardless of our age or generation we all do this

I was never so motivated to work out as I was after I bought the Working Out book in this article. This whole thing is kind of like coming home. Jim Palmer's pink Jockey ads, "American Gigolo" and my 'subscription' to International Male: Brian Buzzini got me through some pretty rough times!

Besides NOT having a body that would look good in an International Male speedo or "fishnet" underwear (way too embarassing to think about or imagine), I am not that kind of guy. Over the years I came to appreciate how much I like what I look like in jeans and "blue collar" wear.

I am an uncomplicated guy with simple tastes. I have a thing about not spending a lot of money of things I won't wear for longer than a year or two. I'd rather go and buy some clothes that are always basically the same from Good Will, than some high priced boutique.

If I have to spend $50 on a pair of slacks and $30 on a shirt and finish that off with excessories that will bring the total to $100 or more, then I don't want it.

IM was nice to look at, but in the end I just wasn't me <sigh>.

@Jovianlight you are missing the whole idea of what i was saying, but thumbs up to you about your comment

I am quilty too. I started buying exercise magazines and GQ for the same purposes. I then started buying Playboy, but later switched to Hustler since in this last a could see a man fully naked.

These magazines liberated me when I was a teenager.

i know right man