the image of wrestling

[SpencerD]

Guys, I ran into this poll by a guy who is concerned about the image of wrestling and the attractiveness of a sports for young guys. he's concerned about the gay image http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/510218

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now my experience is that this is totally no issue, perhaps apart from perhaps some joking and fooling around by some of my non-wrestling friends

what's your experience? am I naive here?

[SpencerD]

ps. it's a stupid poll but it did made me curious about the image of the sports

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[Spider]

The poll has no validity with only six people responding. These days, I don't think the gay issue is an issue at all. Weight cutting and substance abuse are much bigger issues affecting wrestling. FYI, I'm a sixty-two year old volunteer high school coach who wrestled in high school and college in the sixties.

[moochaka]

I have noticed that in my school, many students do not join because they think it is "gay" or they are afraid to be called "gay" by their friends for joining. I find this odd because gay students are socially accepted here. Many of the students here call us wrestlers "gay" but we generally do not take it to heart.

[Schlottke]

Those same kids probably love MMA/UFC and don't realize 1/2 the champs are former wrestlers...

[SpencerD]

I have noticed that in my school, many students do not join because they think it is "gay" or they are afraid to be called "gay" by their friends for joining. I find this odd because gay students are socially accepted here. Many of the students here call us wrestlers "gay" but we generally do not take it to heart.

Mmm, yeah, but do you think they're serious? I mean there's a lot of joking around, I know, but it's just joking right?

Me and my team mates are generally very relaxed about it, we know about the jokes, but I think we take so much pride into our sports, we really don't mind. Joking back, two friends and I went to a halloween party this year in our wrestling uniforms... shock and awe ... and talking to the ladiez ...

[revackey]

From my experience, the only people that call it "Gay" are the ones that know nothing about it. In my school for example, most kids who don'd do Winter sports have no problem with it, however, the Basketball kids think that it is just the stupidest and queerest sport around. Just ignore what everyone says, because until you've tried the particular sport you want to trash talk, you need to try it.

[pinknikes]

From my experience, the only people that call it "Gay" are the ones that know nothing about it. In my school for example, most kids who don'd do Winter sports have no problem with it, however, the Basketball kids think that it is just the stupidest and queerest sport around. Just ignore what everyone says, because until you've tried the particular sport you want to trash talk, you need to try it.

Is Basketball even a sport?

[SpencerD]

the Basketball kids think that it is just the stupidest and queerest sport around.

hey that's funny because my brother who plays basketbally generally jokes around about it quite a lot as well. Nothing serious, but generally not asking whether i had a good match or wishing me good luck, but just things like "was it good" or "please do it safe" (he even handed over me a condom....) but it's just his humor