Ever had a "Man Crush?"

I was watching a TV sitcom recently, and the wife accused her husband of having a "man crush" on one of his male friends.

I guess this question is mainly for all you "str8" dudes out there.
Have you ever had a man crush on one of your male friends or known a guy who has had one?

I suppose the term means something like this:
A mostly (or all) "str8" guy feels an almost subconscious "attraction" to another male friend who is good looking, well built, and perhaps well endowed. He likes hanging around this guy, and also wants this guy to be around him. He "likes" the guy a lot and wants the guy to like him in return.

So, any str8 guy out there ever had feelings like that toward another dude? Just wondering. I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!

I'm not sure. I know though that many psychologist assert that all friendships are based to some degree on mutual (physical) atraction.

This whole Strt8 thing is a bunch of bull shit. It makes me wanna put a wig and dress on all of them.

Maybe it's a psychological problem traced back to his early school days. He wants to be with the popular kids and he wants them to like him back. Popularity is mostly based on appearances/look.

Yes Mrs. Thomas... I'll go back to my reading and not disrupt the class.

Hellluuuurrrrr... it's called a "bromance."

I've experienced it before, yeah. It's as if there's such a rush behind meeting someone new; you're captivated, maybe not in the jump-your-bones kinda way, but you feel really really good and energized being around this person. Being in his company brings out the best of your personality traits, and in interacting with them, there's a really good camaraderie and fit. It's also a little disarming. Being so struck by this individual and knowing that there's good friendship chemistry present, you start letting down your guard/boundaries down a little more quickly than with most people.

Mind you, this is a lot of emotional stuff. I think the physical attraction might fit in there somewhere, but I think it's minimal and fleeting. I can acknowledge someone looks good, but you don't really take on a buddy just because of his muscles or dick, right? That's admiration. It can be present but not necessary.

Bromance or man crush, whoever this person is, he's a good guy and he's special. Whether it's an online friend or a real life one, you hope for these good feelings not to fade too soon and you hope that a friendship develops and grows stronger.

You're hilarious

Its totally true..
I have very few Friends.. all male.. I dont really have any female friends.. cause.. well guys are more fun to hang out with.. (most times)
anyway...
I feel that it is totally possible to have a 'mancrush' or.. as dee put it, a 'bromance' good one there dee.. ;)

A bromance goes beyond a drinking buddy, or a casual male friend, they are a special guy that you can pour your heart out to, and viceversa..

they dont have to be good looking, but most of my friends are..
hmmmm

anway.. i got off track..
they dont have to be goodlooking, or have a big dick...
im a totally straight guy, (except that im always in the gym and want to do hair) ;)
and I can say I really value the relationships I have with my 'special' male friends.

deeblackthorne, fantastically worded. i wanted to say something, but now i'm speechless ;-)

bromance, man crush, all fun, but allowing yourself the freedom to appreciate EVERYONE for what they represent is nothing to be ashamed of.

yes...I'm gay but have a str8 mancrush on DJG!..HE so funny

A great question. And the answers will vary according to one's sexuality, not just their sexual orientation but how much one "sexualizes" another person. The question is asked of "straight men" and since I am bisexual my answer may not matter much to BIGdkluver but I think it is important to know that all friendships can have a spectrum of reasons for the attraction, looks (virility as a combination of looks and self esteem too) certainly being one of them. I have often overheard or been in conversations with 100% "straight" male friends almost boasting how they are comfortable with their ability to find another man attractive, that appreciating male beauty is nothing to be ashamed of. So to a degree, a physical (boarding on sexual which is also physical) attraction can't be overlooked as a component of these attractions.

I've had these most of my life. I've always assumed it was because I'm bi, and not 'normal' for a straight guy so I'm kinda perplexed here. Of course, my mancrushes are usually sexualized. Not always, though. I'm jealous of guys who have strong friendships with other guys.

Is the OP in reference to "Scrubs" where the latina nurse, Carla, tells her husband that he spends too much intimate time with his friend JD (Zach Braphf)?

You rock, Dee! Bromance is my new favorite word.

I'm going to chime in from the other side of the rainbow line. Bromances happen between str8 and gay men all the time. I've had a few. I think str8 men get a bad rap when it comes to 'the ease with which they skate through life.' Str8 men live in a world filled with rules concerning social discourse and comportment. It can be a lot to live up to!

I've had many str8 men as friends and being 'str8 acting' myself (i'm gonna' catch shit for that!) there is a level of comfort between us. But, not being str8, str8 men tend to see me as something other than man or woman. BTW, str8 women do the same thing with me.

Anyway, with me my str8 friends feel free to 'drop the act' so-to-speak. They feel free to disarm and be open in ways that would be difficult with eachother or even with the opposite sex.

I have always enjoyed this part of being a gay man, of being 'outside of the game.' It gives a unique perspective and has made me prefer having str8 men as friends as opposed to gay men. Believe me, in the world of gay men and women we have our own rules and expectations to live up to that are equaly complicated and often arbitrary.

So, having a very close str8 guy friend is in its own way also a bromance for me. I get to put aside the rules of my world for a bit and simply enjoy an enjoyable person.

Did any of that make sense?

Oh yeah. I really like how you get this sense of otherness from the jive between your sexual orientation and how you conduct yourself around your in-touch friends. I was speaking about this with DJG earlier, and we were guffawing a bit at as much guys are changing socially, we still do all this macho posturing around each other. And I think you provide something unique being straight-acting; that you also don't do the typical exaggerated effeminate posturing that's stereotypical of gay men. Couple a willingness to let your guard down and feeling comfortable hanging out, you've got a good match.

Also...
"bromance" (c) DJG, 2007
though I like "man crush" just fine.

my friends and i in college would joke around about mancrushes...i dont believe any of us used it in a sexual way, it would usually be more of a way to describe a guy that we would want to be...if that makes sense...

like right now, i have a mancrush on Dave Grohl...its nothing sexual, i have no idea if he's hung or anything like that...i just think he's one of the coolest dudes on the planet, i love his music, i love his personality, and i'd love to be him