Sexual Relationships 
Sexual Health 
This take has been a long time coming. I promised myself that I wouldn't do another take for quite some time after my last one, but recent trends have pulled me back into the myTake writing arena. I was hoping that someone else would step up to the plate and write about this, but I haven’t noticed any commentary on it so I guess I’ll have to do it. So where should I begin? I've been on GaG for quite a number of years now, and I must say that there has been no point in my time here on GaG where I've seen so many "who's the hottest GaG'er" questions. During the days of the old version of GaG, i don't even remember these kind of questions being asked once a month. We've slowly moved from these questions being asked once a month, to once a week, to once a day, to multiple times a day. My fear is that we've long since passed the rubicon on this trend, and have no way of turning back the clock. So why do I say that GaG has become a narcissist? I don't blame any one individual for this trend, but rather the community acceptance of this "new normal." GaG itself as a community has become very narcissistic....looking inward perpetually, looking outward occasionally.
Lets first analyze what these questions look like typically. Well, the asker tends to be anonymous 90% of the time, which is a convenient way to keep themselves protected from moderation removing their question for being a duplicate. It’s asked so often by so many, we really don’t know how many times anyone has asked it individually. Also from my experience, the asker is usually female, but that's not important at the moment. I just want to discuss what actually happens in these questions. This won't really be news to most regular users, but what usually happens in these questions is that you’ll get the same 6 - 7 or so people mentioned by at least half of the responders, then you’ll get a few common secondary selections, followed by a couple outliers that no one has seen before. Now some have referred to this as a "circle jerk", which I partially agree and partially disagree with. Every now and then, I’ll see a weak argument (usually from an anonymous female) along the lines of,
They'll tag someone who is popular to the site and who isn't very attractive at all basically.
Why do I think this is weak? As i said, i only half agree with people who say the whole thing is a circle jerk. A good number of the people who get mentioned the most in these attractiveness contests are people I and many others personally find to be objectively attractive, so when they are mentioned, it woudn't come to much surprise to me, even if they weren’t already popular. Basically, im saying that at least half the reason why these people are tagged so often in these questions is because they are actually objectively attractive. So when i see some anonymous female (or male, talking about other men) throwing out commentary like this, my immediate assumption is that it came from a place of jealousy, and not of genuine frustration of the frequency these questions are being asked. They hate these questions because attention is not on them, but would flip their position on a dime if they were the ones in the spotlight. If you truly have a problem with these questions being asked so often, you’ve got to come up with a better argument than this if you hope to convince people of your point of view.
So, with that out of the way, how can we divide up the blame for all this. Well both the guys and girls are to blame, and I’ll go into detail how I think each gender plays a role in this.
Why guys are to blame?
Generally, I find that guys are too liberal with the tagging. Now, I’ve been somewhat guilty of this myself, though I’ve been tapering off my participation in these questions as of late, as I find that these questions only exist to serve the egos of women (more on that in a moment). The real fuel that keeps these questions churning is really the guys actively jumping in headfirst to mention their favourite female gager. I won’t go into the reasons why this is the case, as it will be different for every guy, but its an undeniable fact that guys do most of the tagging. While the girls tend to answer the question without tagging a soul, (perhaps to remind the guys that they exist and should not be forgotten in a tag), guys will often run in ready to meet the demand for attention. Again, I don’t pull myself out from this trend, as I’ve participated in these questions several times in the past. But I’m choosing now as the time where I say “enough is enough.” What use to be fun little diversions in the beginning have become increasingly perverse. Everyones reasons for tagging will be different, so i won't begin to speculate on that...but I'm fairly certain that if guys stopped tagging, these questions would largely cease to exist, because girls will never pick up the slack where tagging GaG men is concerned, trust me.
Why girls are to blame?
If guys are to blame for fuelling these questions, girls are to blame for the blank cheque they give guys to keep answering them. For some time, I was honestly under the belief that girls generally hated these questions, but recently my view has flipped. Most of the time, when i see people protesting the frequency of these questions, most of their down votes comes from women. Probably one of the creepiest questions I’ve ever seen on GaG, where some guy created a collage of profile pictures of GaG women, was basically sanctioned by women. Most (not all) of the women willingly allowed him to save their pictures, store them, and make this question:
I couldn’t even be annoyed with him. How could I be annoyed with him when most of the girls enjoyed the attention and gave him their sincere blessing? Here’s the thing with women (generally speaking) on GaG. Much has been said about the creepiness of GaG males (a reputation largely deserved), but little is often said about the self adulation of GaG females. While the guys are busy mentioning people as the question asks for, many girls are usually participating too, but in a different way. They often won't outright mention anyone, but they’ll flirt with the idea of mentioning someone. Throw out the fishing line to the guys who think she may be talking about them. Why dedicate yourself to one or two guys, when you could have half the male user base mention you in perhaps an effort to win that special tag from you? I don’t know, its just a running theory of mine. But make no mistake, this method of “passive-mentioning” isn’t a whole lot better to me than outright tagging. Guys, you should know by now that there’s likely a statistically significant portion of girls on here who will never mention you. For them, it's all about receiving attention, not giving it. Honestly, no one should be surprised if we later came to discover that some of these questions were asked by double accounts of GaG females in an effort to garner artificial attention towards themselves. Just another running theory of mine, but the jury is still out on that one.
Now, what should be the solution? I’ve seen many proposed solutions over the months, but one solution i find depressingly common to endorse, is the one which states that the admins should ban these questions from being asked. Really now? For a website that is super-saturated with libertarians, I find this to be a peculiar proposition. The argument i usually see for this solution is, “well people who aren’t mentioned often have their feelings hurt!!!” Wtf? who gives a shit if their feelings are hurt. As much as i hate the frequency of these questions being asked, people are free to mention who they want…and the fact that people get their feelings hurt over not getting mentioned in a de facto beauty pageant is part of the problem, not the solution. If we started taking everything down because peoples feelings were hurt, i reckon there wouldn't be many questions left.
For me, that's not a good enough reason. For me to be on board with taking something down, it would have to go against the site rules... rules which i generally agree with. Yes, the question is asked daily now which should go against the rules of being a duplicate, but the site rules are very specific on this. A question being asked everyday does not go against the site rules. Every other day it seems, you have people asking something along the lines of "Do (insert race) likes (insert race)". Everyday, some guy asks about how big his penis is. Those questions aren't taken down either. A question asked everyday by the same person would be grounds for a removal yes, as that does indeed go against the site rules. But as I stated earlier, most of these questions are asked anonymously, so we have no idea how often individuals are asking this question (I wasn’t born yesterday though, so I'm well aware that the people who ask these questions often have individually asked this at least a dozen times, most likely) Beyond that though, I'm not in favour of pulling repeated questions down simply because it hurts some peoples feelings. I prefer people have the freedom to post whatever it is they want to post within the confines of the rules outlined by the administrators. It's not really the sites job to deal with peoples insecurities. Everyone is individually responsible for that. A question that particularly bothers me, or bores me, are questions that i simply avoid clicking on. Personal responsibility, and freedom of choice/expression are more important for a website like this in my opinion.
So what can people do? To her credit, @spuitkaas is really the only person who I’ve seen, who not only hasn’t jumped reflexively to this terrible solution of outright banning these questions, but has also provided the most reasonable solution which I find to be most mature and effective. In her words:
I often get tagged in those questions. Today again, tagged 1 or 2 times (I don't really pay attention) and someone asking in private chat if I was okay with him posting my picture in his top 23 ranking. I declined.
I honestly don't like it that people get set in some sort of elite position because of their looks, while this site is all about opinions. I have my real picture up because I think it contributes to the quality of my opinions (as in the person sees what kind of person I am) and it makes my opinions more personal.
So I don't particularly like them, because it contributes to the objectification of female gagers on this site (beauty is apparently more or as important as the quality of their opinions).
You can't really remove the questions because they hurt the feelings of some gagers.
What you can do is make a take or something and make people alert so it becomes 'uncool' to post such questions. Create some sort of social pressure.
Just as an aside, this is also why I appreciate the input of younger users. They aren’t always retarded.
But this is exactly what I believe needs to be done, if you care at all about the direction this site is going. I honestly don’t mind these questions being asked perhaps once a month. That would be a MUCH better situation than the one we have now. If you really want to see these questions come to an end, DON’T ANSWER THEM. Do not answer them in any way, shape or form. When these questions are asked, let them become a ghost town with 0 replies. If someone does answer it, put your down voting ability to good use for a change and just down vote it…not because you really disagree with their post or dislike the person, but as a broad gesture/symbol of your discontent with the recent spread and popularity of these kinds of questions. Don’t be so quick to jump on the “lets ban these questions bandwagon”….because let me you, the questions you enjoy seeing banned by mob rule today, will not be the same questions you enjoy seeing banned tomorrow. So if you are looking for a viable, effortless solution, I personally believe that this right here is the best one. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m really done with these questions now. If they go back to a frequency of say once a month, I may start answering them again, but for now, I’ve honestly had enough. I bet you in the time i took to wrote this, two more variations of the question were already asked, which in of itself is both comical and sad to me. So going forward, let us all observe what direction GaG goes. Does it continue along the road of looks-based popularity contests to decide who the most valuable GaG’ers are, or does the community roll back the clock to the good old days of narcissism’s infrequency? Let us see.
What Girls & Guys Said
29 21Fully agree. I've backed off a lot on GaG due to personal life and also due to silly questions on here, GaG popularity ones being part of it. It showed me and made me see "wow, this is all we seem to do with our lives, it actually makes me pretty thankful I don't get mentioned a lot because it's made me open my eyes to real life and that I spent way too much time on here. I love most people on here but I'm not here to be popular I have other things that are more important in my life.
How the hell does star lord have my picture. I'm so offended. Why the hell did he even screen shot it.
for the girls whose permission he did not manage to get, he just took the pictures anyways, lmao.
He didn't ask a lot of the girls up their for their permission. So creepy how he was literally saving girls pictures to make that. I think you deserve an apology.
@itsallover - the poster deserves a message "your question (listed below) has been removed. Questions: *** Reason: Member post"
@YourFutureEx Haha, yeah. I was about to report it, but it didn't really violate any site rules so I didn't. It really should be removed though.
@itsallover - if anyone's pic is there and he/she reports it, it'll be removed.
Thank you!!! I was a member here in 2011-2012. There were never these questions back then. It has became a popularity contest and many of the female users who have been selected wish it would stop. Great take!
I just realized an old photo of mine was on that photo collage of the gag hot list. I'm actually super creeped out now that someone would save that picture without telling me then liberally place it in a college. Super fucking creepy
*collage
yeah... that's kinda what this place has turned into sadly
I'm weirded out by the fact that someone actually patiently took the time to make something that probably took weeks of surfing GaG then putting all of those pictures together. The fact that some people care so much about others they seem attractive is what's wrong with this world
WTF? Lmao! That question asked with the picture collage though... I know he asked them but damn.. data collecting at a NSA level. I wanna know what else is on that guys usbs..
But yeah you're right Watermelonoma, I'm usually indifferent to those questions but if they're evolving in full blown collages.. I don't know lol
yes well... its starting to become the new normal, xD
"Data collecting at an NSA level" LMAO had me rollin '!
I've noticed that the proportion of these questions has increased ever since GaG lowered the age limit for this site, thereby increasing the percentage of teens that use this site. From what I've noticed, the teens started asking these questions then everyone else caught on.
It's just gay when everyone copies what others do. Post those silly questions daily. lol. They are just after points.
You don't get much points from asking questions though. I think its done by people looking to get tagged
They are after points, they know bored people will answer it right away for kicks :P They do get points from people's input.
A couple things. I agree that the quantity of these questions has become ridiculous. Many times now I won't mention people. However, I really don't see what the big deal is. If people don't like them then it's very easy to skip past them.
I'm constantly changing my profile pic. It has nothing to do with needing approval or validation from anyone on here. I'm confident with who I am and I also have insecurities just like everyone else. It's a little offensive that people assume that because you have a picture up you're fishing for mho or attention. Hopefully people just respect me for who I am and not what I look like.
As far as the compilation of creepy pictures I'll private message you about that.
Good take though and I agree with much of it.
Not everyone but most of the girls are fishing for mho, followers or attention if they have a pic.
@yourfutureex I strongly disagree with you on that. So many of my girlfriends on here have pictures up. And based on my mho percentage I should probably start wearing less clothes or something because my picture clearly isn't helping.
Maybe that would help. Okay sorry I'm being too blunt because I'm not in my cool but my point is "initially" they didn't set up for it. But when they found it out that it's working, they made it a privilege. You don't notice these things because you're not dealing with it. There are a lot of profiles having same hot pic since beginning. I even doubt that they're catfish but damn they're popular and have a great horde of muscular guys to protect her. But you just can't deny the fact of having a great following just because of pictures. A hot xper level 3 girl has more followers than a Guru guy having 20+ MHO %
hey i hope you don't feel targeted by this lol. This has nothing to do with girls and their profile pictures. I've had a profile picture up since time immemorial on here. The main issue this take was meant to address was simply the frequency with which these "whos the hottest gag'er" questions are being asked! As i said in the take, I've participated in these questions myself, as I've tended to think they were a harmless diversion, but the frequency of them is becoming problematic. Cases like what barbara have described, or spuitkas is becoming more common because of how often their names come up. A lot of the sites worst creepsters use it to pretty much hunt them down and harass them like theres' no tomorrow... forcing them to make changes to their profile that they wish they didn't have to do :( I just would like to see the frequency of these questions reduced to something more reasonable... say once a month perhaps
To me, Popularity is of no consequence to me. I just come on here at will, and answer a few questions here and there and that's about it really. Where I stand with people here is of no consequence since I do not personally know them. I just give my opinion and let it lay where it is.
I don't have a problem with them. Easy points, like those how do I look questions. I guess those anons or non-anons who complain don't really have a problem either, like me, they just wanted to grab points.
I don't have a problem either that if I don't get mentioned either, my ego doesn't get that easily shattered.
What I don't like is how certain gagers will interpret all kinds of complaint no matter how weak or valid they are by females are them being jealous for not being mentioned. Take that dude for example who made that collage. If you look at his responses to females who pretty much said the same thing guys have said in less words, his intentions and interpretations are clear.
A gag friend showed me the question and I contemplated giving an opinion too, but since it will only be dismissed as jealousy instead of real relief because of my female parts, I chose to be silent about the person who followed me the moment I changed my profile pic.
The long term residents of GAG left and a new bunch of younger ones has moved in.. turning this place into high school.
About that collage... there are 4 girls that are absolutely hot stuff, and not on any of than (no saying names). I suppose they didn't give permission? #ClassyLadies :-D
Out of all seriousness... someone taking the time to do all of that work to 1) tier the girls, and 2) make collages like that... is disturbing and has to be creepy as fuck to the female users.
Some of those pictures are several years old, so he's been at this data collection for a loooooong time, hah
Several years? I wonder if he has a pic of that catfish Sandplanet?
Maybe!
Welcome to the Internet. Right this way.
media.giphy.com/media/XBViMNLFJqjPW/giphy.gif
Ehh it is what it is, if you don't see it here, you'll see it on another site like twitter or instagram (especially on those places) or in real life, it's just the crass, self absorbed world we live in. Just ignore the questions and post or answer ones that can or would actually stimulate someone or yourself intellectually. Or are just fun to answer in general.
It's just as much the peoples fault who answer these as it is the ones who post them. And part of the problem happened when GaG lowered the age limit you'll notice the vast majority of these questions and topics come from teens and those 18 and under at least that is what I have noticed.
That's why I like forums like the Art of Manliness (which I've been part of for a long time) were we actually discuss things of value. But I do enjoy GaG for it's more laid back nature and wide variety of topics so the fact that I don't spend all my time on here and go to other more mature forums is probably why it doesn't bother me as much.
Is this really new thing? Just ignore it. People seem to just tag friends for the most part.
It's always been about popularity contest no matter where you go. I'm more of my own trend and don't really care where I stand, but I'm probably one of the least popular GAG here.
Who made the collages, that's the most fucking creepiest thing in the world.
I agree yet you didn't tell the person who did so. I for one did, and what @watermelonoma is encouraging in a way is to be outspoken about these sort of things. And even if that post certainly bothered me (creepy as hell) I don't really mind the other hundreds of tagging questions happening each day, though I see how it hinders the purpose of this website just as this take carefully deconstructs.
I completely agree with you... But seriously why isn't my picture up there 😂😂😭😩
Lol, do you want your picture up there?
Not really but I feel left out now
I. Love. This. Take. Thank you so much for posting it. I am so sick of seeing those tagging questions, but I love all the people here. :)
Thanks :)
You're welcome.
I completely understand why girls dislike it, it gives them unwanted attention and I kind of feel bad now that I realized I mention them a lot which brings them unwanted attention.
I do however don't find why some dudes get so butt hurt about it. Ain't no one bothering men most of the time anyways.
I'll correct you there. "I completely understand why -SOME- girls dislike it..." However, I completely agree on why dudes should have no reason to be bothered by it XD
@bananatossing thanks man! :p
@bananatossing total brainfart at the end of my opinion LMAO
They get bothered because girls like your gesture.
@YourFutureEx well on one hand I get it cause I'm giving the ones I mention all the time attention they didn't want. But on another hand I'm sure it's flattering.
It is flattering. It's not about the people who mention others. Usually there's nothing wrong with it, they're nice people, just tagging their friends and stuff. It's more about the guys who ask these questions, since they're usually creeps who are looking for attractive girls, and actually it's all about creeps who are everywhere on this site and will see the questions.
@BarbaraP yeah I kind of figured there are creepy people lurking around looking up the mentioned users. I just worded everything really bad. >_>
"It's more about the guys who ask these questions, since they're usually creeps who are looking for attractive girls" ^^Agreed