What do you think about the idea that a male best friend equals a sexual partner?
On Weibo, the article "Media Interpretation of Male Best Friends: Simply Put, They're Extramarital Sexual Partners" sparked a heated discussion. The Weibo post quoted an article from the media outlet stating that "best friend" refers specifically to a woman's closest female friend, unrelated to men. Some women, especially married women, frequently discuss "male best friends," infuriating their boyfriends and spouses. This is because the term is not only inaccurate but also implies that the speaker is having a male friend who can be readily available for sexual intercourse—in short, an extramarital sexual partner.
The article explains in detail the terms "bestie" and "male bestie." The term "male bestie" originated from the internet slang "bestie" which emerged a few years ago, and its roots trace back to the pre-liberation term "boudoir." Dictionaries define "boudoir" as the inner room where women lived, where they did sit-ups, grooming, and dressing. Because it involved privacy, only the closest relatives were allowed to enter. "Bestie" is thus extended to refer to the closest female friend. For example, conversations can be public or private, heartfelt and open; postures can be sitting or lying down, feet touching, legs together. Such scenes and images, regardless of age, time, or distance, are forbidden to men; even if families are close and the women are childhood sweethearts, it is not permitted. Therefore, "bestie" specifically refers to women and has nothing to do with men with Adam's apples or beards.
The author argues that "this term is not only without justification and ambiguous in meaning, but also disorderly and provides ammunition against others, making it unbearable to look at or read." The author further points out that "some women, especially married women, frequently talk about their male best friends, infuriating their boyfriends, spouses, and in-laws. This is because it's not only a misnomer, but it also implies that the speaker has a male friend who can be with them at any time. No family can tolerate this. A male best friend, to put it bluntly, is an extramarital sexual partner."
The author may be quite "cultured," able to trace the origins of certain internet slang terms; their disdain for the use of certain internet terms also has its reasons. However, I can only chuckle at this. From a woman's perspective, is a "male best friend" really equivalent to a "sexual partner"? What is the significance of a "male best friend"? Why would they call themselves "male best friends"?
A male best friend is a friendship with boundaries.
The difference between a male best friend and a female best friend isn't just about gender. While same-sex friends can discuss some issues, such as relationship problems, their advice might not be as helpful as that of someone of the opposite sex, because they understand "the opposite sex" better. Therefore, we don't just consult each other about love and shopping; we even talk about "sex" with our male best friends.
However, male best friends definitely have boundaries. You can talk about love and sex, but you absolutely cannot talk about your own love and sex for the other person. The reason it's called a male best friend is that in actions and interactions, there is no gender distinction between the two people. There should be no discrimination based on gender, and the relationship is purely based on mutual affection.
There's a saying that, while hurtful, is rather honest: "A male best friend, to put it bluntly, is the man with whom nothing is likely to happen." Because of deep affection and trust, neither party would ever cross the line.
"Male best friend" is just an affectionate term.
In today's world where internet slang is all the rage, why be so fixated on a single "title"? "Tomboy" and "cross-dresser"—if you really want to get to the bottom of it, each of them could have a whole host of interpretations.
The female friends we call best friends are those with whom we have given our hearts, and whose feelings are deeper than those with others. The same goes for male best friends. If calling them male best friends is inappropriate, does calling them male confidants mean they are not "sexual partners"? Isn't "male confidant" an even more ambiguous term compared to "female confidant"?
Because of the deep affection and friendship, and not wanting it to sound like a smuggling affair, the most suitable term was found to be "male best friend".
I believe that for most people, the meaning of "male best friend" is not so sleazy. Of course, some fake "male best friends" are not included in this category. Please put men and women on an equal footing and look at the friendship between men and women with a simpler perspective.
Original content from www.39.net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited and will be prosecuted. For content cooperation, please contact: 020-85501999-8819 or [email protected]
The above content is exclusively authorized for use only and may not be reproduced without the copyright holder's authorization.
