A place for candid conversation about masculinity, intimacy, identity, desire, and the things we rarely say out loud.
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Conversations are still growing, and I'd love your help making it a place people genuinely enjoy spending time in.
If you have an idea for a new discussion topic, a suggestion for improving the forums, or something you think could work better, this is the place to share it.
Maybe there's a subject you'd like us to explore, a forum category you'd like to see added, or a feature that would make participating easier. Even the little things are worth mentioning.
And don't worry about hurting my feelings. Constructive criticism is just as welcome as encouragement. I'd rather hear what you actually think than have everyone politely agree with me!
This is your community as much as mine, and I'd like it to grow with the people who participate in it.
So, what's working, what's missing, and what would you like to see next?
Being that I have no male siblings, I did not have any way of knowing what is other men's experience with their real brothers growing up together with regard to their penises. Families vary, personalities vary. It may be occasional glimpses, or brief comparisons, I don't know. Then, if there are 3 or more brothers, the age spread has an impact. Any twins? The same question with regard to fathers.
I forgot to suggest a thread for feedback or discussion of your Inner Sanctum postings.
Your latest "Nothing to Prove" one was a thorough look at current and historical attitudes toward nudity and the dynamic we go through as men. I advocate a mentality that says "I am making a statement of self-affirmation. Deal with it as you will." The "flick" is a surreptitous tacit sign of acknowledgment of that statement. Those of us who can move beyond the flick have the balls to enjoy developing naked brotherhood and more explicit affirmations.
Your previous article "The Compliment" was also an excellent look at the turbulent navigation between unspoken sentiment and potentially potent misunderstanding. Many compliments remain unspoken for that very reason, and it would be revolutionary if we really knew how much men carry privately about their true regard for each other, be it physical or behavioral.
That's actually a great suggestion, and one I hadn't thought about! I like the idea of having a place where readers can discuss the Inner Sanctum articles rather than letting the conversation end when they finish reading. I'll look into adding a dedicated discussion area.
And thank you for the thoughtful comments about both pieces. I really appreciate that you took the time to read them so closely.
I think your idea of nudity as a statement of self-affirmation gets at something important in Nothing to Prove. There's a certain freedom in being comfortable enough with yourself that you don't feel the need to explain or apologize for your body. Of course, I also think that freedom works best when there's mutual comfort and respect. Not everyone gets there the same way.
Your thoughts on The Compliment really struck me, too. I suspect you're right that men carry around far more admiration and affection for one another than we're ever willing to express. And what a shame, really. A simple, sincere compliment shouldn't require so much mental negotiation beforehand! 😂
That's part of what I hope Sanctuary Domain can encourage: men becoming a little more comfortable expressing things they've spent years keeping to themselves, without worrying that every word or gesture has to mean something more.
Thanks again for the kind words and the suggestion. This is exactly the sort of conversation I'd love to see grow here.
I forgot to suggest a thread for feedback or discussion of your Inner Sanctum postings.
I also like this suggestion.
Though the subject matter of much of your Inner Sanctum writing, @tony-admin, is outside of my sphere interest, “Unheld” and “Just One Mile” resonated with me. Both are about exploration — of our sexual nature and, by extension, of ourselves.
You imply in “Just One Mile” that this first adventure will not be his last. That left me wondering where this lust for freedom and rambunctiousness will end. When the thrill of risk subsides (if it ever does)? When fear (and wisdom?) eventually supersedes the thrill? Or when he is eventually caught and faces the dire circumstances of that inevitability? I found the ending a bit unsettling, actually.
In any event, in both stories, I easily substituted myself in place of each your characters – a tribute to your excellent storytelling ability, @tony-admin.
First, thank you to @fifthlimbtim and @proud-archer for taking the time to read my Inner Sanctum pieces and share such thoughtful feedback. It really means a lot to hear how the writing resonates with others.
FifthLimbTim, your suggestion about having a place to discuss the articles was an excellent one, and I've already acted on it! Every Inner Sanctum post now has its own comment section, so readers can share their thoughts directly beneath each piece. And I haven't forgotten your observations about Nothing to Prove and The Compliment. Those conversations about self-acceptance and the things men hesitate to express are exactly what I hoped to encourage.
Proud Archer, I particularly enjoyed your interpretation of Just One Mile. You picked up on something I deliberately left unresolved. Where does that newfound freedom lead? Does experience bring wisdom, or does each adventure make the next one more tempting? I rather like leaving readers with that uncertainty. 😉
I'm also glad Unheld resonated with you. Both stories explore those moments when we step beyond familiar boundaries and discover something unexpected about ourselves.
What I appreciate most is that you're both bringing your own perspectives to the writing, sometimes seeing things I hadn't considered myself. That's what makes these exchanges so worthwhile, so thank you both for the encouragement, the suggestions, and for helping make Sanctuary Domain a better place for conversation. Clearly, I'm listening! 😂
One improvement would be to change how quoted text is displayed. Pale yellow on pale taupe is impossible for me to read!
One improvement would be to change how quoted text is displayed. Pale yellow on pale taupe is impossible for me to read!
Ask and you shall receive 🙂
Proud Archer, I particularly enjoyed your interpretation of Just One Mile. You picked up on something I deliberately left unresolved. Where does that newfound freedom lead? Does experience bring wisdom, or does each adventure make the next one more tempting? I rather like leaving readers with that uncertainty. 😉
I rather like that you left us readers with that uncertainty, @tony-admin. It added dimension to the story.
I'm also glad Unheld resonated with you. Both stories explore those moments when we step beyond familiar boundaries and discover something unexpected about ourselves.
Agreed!