Discussion Are most BL readers girls or gay guys?

I think it has mostly do with just that most guys read for the OPness and MC wrecking everyone, which doesn't really have anything to do with romance or whatever. Maybe they also want some good romance on top, but the #1 is still the MC being or becoming powerful.

If a novel has yaoi or yuri or whatever as one of the tags, then 99% of the time that plays a significant role in the novel. And usually it's at the expense of the action.

Also it doesn't help that basically every yaoi novel I ever saw (before I blacklisted the tag, so I guess technically it might not be the case anymore) the MC is always the bottom who gets raped "unwillingly" by another ML. And that obviously goes completely counter to the fantasy of being OP and strong...


Legit, if at least the reader's perspective was from these OP Alpha MLs instead of submissive beta MCs then I'm sure more guys would be OK with reading, except the ones who don't read purely because of the yaoi tag.

 

In my case, I read both shounen ai and shoujo ai even if I'm not a guy who likes another guy or a girl who likes another girl. I can still enjoy it because in a way, I don't need to relate to the characters. The attraction is the story and characters itself as a separate entity rather than the immersion of myself as a protagonist. I think this is just the case of the difference in mindsets and the difference in what we look for in the story. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. Everyone has preferences.

 

this is a really dumb way of looking at it, even if you are joking. if you click on my profile I am, contrary to my picture, not a unicorn but am in fact a man. I identify as hetero because IRL I am sexually attracted to women, not men.

I enjoy reading quite a few BL stories same goes for Yuri. because I love romance stories and it's hard to find good romance stories that aren't BL or GL. I'm not saying there aren't any but the few straight romance stories I read just use the romance as a vehicle for drama or some other story element.

I want fluffy happy romance stories and that gay shit is where it's at yo~

and while I do typically self insert when I read a story, I don't always do that. I read yuri but I don't self insert. why? because I'm not a woman nor do I want to be one. same goes for BL, I enjoy watching romance budding between two people, but I myself have no interest in, romancing or being romanced.

sometimes it's nice to read a story and instead of putting yourself in someone else shoes, you let them be completely separated from you and enjoy the story from a 3rd person perspective.

 

lel~

also fiction and reality iis two different thing~

 

Which anime is it?

 

Showed this to my older brother which i just met up with, we grabbed each other's shoulder's and started howling together like Madmen.

 

I don't think hetero men would read BL for the sex, but for the story unless the story was all about sex, then obviously that ain't a hetero but homo or bi. Either this reason or they accidentally read the novel without reading the tags or genres.

 

Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru

 

Depends on how comfortable the guy is in his "maleness". I've been able to get a couple of (straight) guy friends and even my little broski to try bl and they were just fine with it. Only one of them skipped the scenes that got a little too steamy. I think his response was "it's not gay unless the balls touch, and since I didn't see it, it's not gay" (Pretty sure he was in denial >.>) My gay friends already read it.

 

I, not once, talked about this question with other hetero girls. The answer I got is almost always that she preferred Yaoi because she thinks that the men in there are so perfect and have a dream-like quality. Just some sentences can make her feel goosebump etc.

However, I also have two gay friends that like yaoi, so maybe that's just me.

 

Can you make the poll ?

 

They do kiss (cheek meet with cheek) as greetings in Belgium. I think also in France. My Dutch friend complained how gay it is, though.

A bit out of topic, there is this book called Everybody Lies. It's about what the big data of internet searches tell about society. There's a part about pornhub search, and the book said, straight guy would almost never look for gay porn, while girls enjoy lesbian porn. So gay porn search can be used as indicator of gay (and bi) men number, but lesbian porn can't be be used for lesbian women.

Although there's a lot of BL stories that don't focus on the romance with very interesting story (example: the earth is online, you guys should try it ), I guess, the same thing applied here.

Plus, most BL are intended for female reader.

 

The same reason people hate harems. Sometimes it’s just to much. I like innocent romance. Sex is great too, but the story is the main point. I want to know the adventures. The funny moments. I want the journey. Where’s the struggle. That’s where the novels heart should be.
Well that’s just how I see it.

 

I think it probably goes through phases.

In middle school I read hundreds and hundreds of shoujo manga.

But then by high school/uni you realize they're all the same (and cliche), and that straight romance is boring, lol. XD

 

The majority are women. My theory is that women see even the female love interest as competition for the male lead. Removing a woman removes that.
Basically, women hate other women even if it's only at a subconscious level.
That is why women fight the other women when their man cheats regardless of the fact eg the other woman was tricked into believing he was single.
These is all based on research by this institute

 

Nice shameless plug, Gege

 

Yeah I’ve been trying to recommend this my guy friend. I told him it’s not bad. It doesn’t have much BL and it focuses a lot on the story.

 

I hope you have good luck with the recommendation.

Besides the earth is online, I also recommended the Founder of Diabolism to a male friend. I was reading the series when I recommended it, not knowing how steamy it would be in the end. Never
heard anything back. It's still a very great story, though!

 

then clay prolly wont read yaoi.. he says he's very manly~(though i think its otherwise)
hahaha!! nice friend you have there xD
yup.. its not gay... fufufu~ *pats ur friend's shoulder while having an understanding look*

poll +1 *o*

innocent romance +1.00
story is the main point yup! I remember the first time i read yaoi is when i've had enough of those overdramatic cliche shoujo mangas where there were love triangles or even polygons... that's when I found this heartwarming shounen ai manga... its brings new taste to the mouth coz it doesn't need much drama to make you enjoy it's story. Then there's also those apocalyptic and showbiz novels... many of those with good plots are yaoi..

 

Maybe guys should read bl to pick up girls then