No boys, no trip?

[joe552]

A friend recently asked this question - if there weren't available boys in Thailand, would I still travel there. My honest answer was that I wouldn't. What's you're honest answer?

[bucknaway]

If all the gogo bars and the like were to close I would still go because I can still meet guys at the beach or online or at the disco just like here at home. If the cost for holiday increased to a certain point, I would find a new place to spend my 4 weeks away from home.

[adman5000]

My answer is the same as yours. The guys are the primary reason for my trip.

I find myself conflicted on taking the trip.

On the plus side, I feel free to roam, enjoy the beautiful guys, eat a variety of international foods, get my daily massage (real), and really feel relaxed and free and on vacation.

On the negative side, the trip is long, it is costly as I only fly business class for medical reasons, due to exchange, most things are not as cheap as 8-10 years ago, and as I get older I hate the sidewalks in Thailand.(potholes, uneven, varying heights, etc.) I also am not as easily enchanted with the Thai way doing some things.

But having said all that, the guys still make it worthwhile.

[joe552]

I can have a 2 week holiday in the Canary Islands (flight and apartment) for the cost of my airfare to Thailand. When I was working and money wasn't a problem, it was a no brainer, but things have changed, and I'm not sure it's worth the expense any more. Maybe I'm building up to my first summer without a trip to Thailand in about 10 years. :dontknow:

[francois]

My prime reason for visiting Thailand is to be with my bf; with no other attractions there would be no other reason to go. The gay areas would be deader than a cemetery.

[fedssocr]

Certainly I would. I visit all sorts of places that don't have an open commercial sex scene...Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bhutan. Fascinating places with interesting things to see. Same same Thailand. There's plenty to see and do away from the sex tourism scene.

I said a few times all ready the asian student here in Brisbane are almost as cheap so no I done go for the boys I go for my friends who live there but they are there for the boys.

Sightseeing who cares.

[TravellerDave]

Like most gay visitors to Thailand I go for the boys and now during my one month trips I stay exclusively in the biggest brothel in the world which is Pattaya, with its gogo,s, bars, massags , gay beach and the substantial number of online boys.
Prior to discovering Thailand as a holiday destination I spent my short holidays usually in Playa del Ingles (Gran Canaria) and other Euopean resorts including Ibiza, Mykanos and Benedorm.
The journeys were much shorter and less costly than the 24 hour exhausting trek to Payyaya and the beach scene better.
But there are not Thai boys in Europe !,.

[peeseua]

I came for three days with some friends once, on a sort of pilgrimage. No sex at all. It was horrible!!!
Not one boy in two nights. NEVER AGAIN!!!!

[christianpfc]

I go to Thailand for the boys. There are lots of additional bonuses: cheap accommodation, food and traveling (or maybe better "great value for money" instead of cheap), good weather, sightseeing, different culture.

If there were no cute and easy or cheap boys, I would travel elsewhere or stay home.

If we compare Thailand to Italy:
the culture, history and architecture is closer to Germany,
I like Italian food more than Thai food,
traveling to Italy is faster and cheaper than to Thailand
they have warm weather and tropical fruit,
language is easier to learn,
(I assume accommodation and transport is cheaper than in Germany, even if it is not, getting to Italy is cheaper than getting to Thailand),
all these factors favor Italy over Thailand,
but there are no cute boys (by my standards) in Italy!

[latintopxxx]

No surprise here, but if there were no "boys'i wouldnt bother showing up. Done the temples and palaces and once was enough, not really impressed. The availability of so much cheap and freely available sex is the only attraction. Sure other places have commercial sex, but thailand is tops when it comes to sheer availability (will fuck at least 3 a day, including free arse at babylon) and low cost; and the "boys'are more willing. Sex tourist 1000% here.

[Jellybean]

Interesting and thought provoking question Joe.

If it was all about the тАШboysтАЩ I am certain I would want to stay in Thailand longer than I do. As it is, I am content just to go out to Thailand for the winter months. I prefer to be here in the UK in the spring, summer and autumn. Already it is starting to feel cold here in the UK and very shortly I am about to set off for a 6 month trip. The long journey is an issue for me, but this time I shall be travelling Business Class on a free upgrade using my frequent flyer points, so that lessens the impact of the journey for me.

Another member, I think it was loke, said he spends 6 months of the year in Thailand, roughly similar to me, and he said he visits the bars at the beginning and at the end of his trip. Well, thatтАЩs more or less what I do too. I certainly could not face going out to тАШSoi TwilightтАЩ night after night, IтАЩm sure that would bore the tits off me. I suppose itтАЩs a question of balance and finding a rhythm that I am happy with.

As for тАШboysтАЩ I now tend to prefer finding them on the Internet, mixed with seeing some of my favourite boys from the bars whom I keep in regular contact with. And, on one of my occasional visits to the bars, I may be lucky enough to find some new тАШboyтАЩ who attracts my interest.

I have property in Thailand so, quite naturally, that is a major reason for going to Thailand. I really enjoy living in my condo in Bangkok. I love being able to swim in the early evenings or just simply relaxing by the pool during the day. We also have a fantastic gym in the building, which I enjoy using on a regular basis.

I also enjoy going down to Hua Hin where there is a more relaxed, quieter atmosphere, a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. I drive in Thailand, but not in the UK. I enjoy driving, but not the leaving and entering Bangkok part, which I find a bit of a nightmare, but once away from the crazy driving in the Bangkok area I feel more relaxed and enjoy driving or being driven if I am lucky enough to find a partner who has a driving licence.

In and around Hua Hin there are lots of beaches to choose from and a huge range of eateries to suit all tastes. I am happy and content to sit on a beach or by my pool reading or listening to radio broadcasts from the UK. A Thai тАШboyтАЩ doesnтАЩt necessarily have to be there, although over the years, I have taken bar boys and guys IтАЩve met on the Internet down to Hua Hin. But even when IтАЩm on my own I enjoy being there, for me itтАЩs a no brainer, the UK in the winter or Thailand in the winter.

For how long IтАЩll continue to travel out to Thailand I cannot say. I suppose the major factor would be health considerations. As long as I am physically fit and healthy IтАЩll continue to go. It would be great to have a male companion by my side, but for me, it isnтАЩt an absolute necessity.

[loke]

The climate in Thailland is too hot and humid most of the year so if it wasnt for the hot boys there would be no reason to choose Thailand to live in .

Spain or Portugal would be my favourite countries , much better climate but the boys are not hot enough for me .

[joe552]

Interesting responses - thanks guys. For the record, I have decided to spend my 2 weeks in the Canary Islands (though not my usual haunt on Tenerife). Hopefully there'll still be available boys in Pattaya the next time I can afford to go.

[TravellerDave]

Yes some interesting replies. Joe if your going to Playa del Ingles I would be interested in hearing your impression of the gay scene there. I've not been for 7 years.
Latintopxxx you and me are on the same wavelength !. I do more fucking in a day in Pattaya than I did in a week in the other places I used to visit.

[joe552]

TravellerDave, I won't be going to Playa del Ingles. Thinking either Lanzarotte or Fuerteventura. I'm not really a disco person, so my one visit to Playa del Ingles didn't involve any gay club nights. I much prefer to sit at a bar with a sea view and have a few drinks. My disco bunny days are long behind me. And if I'm not in Thailand (to keep on thread) I'm not expecting to hook up, but always hopeful.

[Marsilius]

Like most others here, it's the boys that draw me back year on year. Apart from that attraction, I don't think Thailand justifies repeated visits.

I'm with you Marsilius.

[bing]

Well when asked at customs why I was traveling in Thailand. The stock answer is the culture and scenery and warm climate. But if there were no young ones available, I would for sure hit up Mexico and Brazil again.

[cdnmatt]

So I'm the only one here who actually enjoys Thailand?

Parts of my family keep bugging me to move back West, but I just don't see why I ever would. Why? So I can spend 3 times as much for a quarter of the standard of living, endure Canadian winters again, live in a much more isolated society where in general people are more egotistical, uptight, and judgemental than Thailand?

If I moved back to Canada, it would be either Vancouver or Toronto, and probably Vancouver. That means I'd have to live in some small 1bdrm or studio condo, because there's no way I can afford a house out there. Just look:

http://thethirtiesgrind.com/2012/07/26/ ... y-25-2012/ (http://thethirtiesgrind.com/2012/07/26/absurd-vancouver-property-of-the-week-july-25-2012/)

For $2.2 million CAD, I can get an entire castle in France. Whereas in Vancouver, I can get that old, little piece of shit fixer-upper. Just browse around that blog a bit. Who can afford those prices? Here in Thailand, I have a really nice partially furnished 3bdrm 3bath house with large yard for 12,000/month. I couldn't even get a parking stall in Canada for that.

Plus after being here so long, I just simply enjoy living in a Buddhist society. That trademarked Thai smile, that common level of respect everyone in society is expected to show, that non-judgemental nature, etc. Granted the smile is fake, but at least it's there on the outside, as it does make for a more peaceful society to live.

I'd also go as far to say Thailand is a safer country to walk the streets than Canada. I enjoy the communal nature, and actually knowing all my neighbors, versus Canada where I'd probably say "hello" to them a couple times a year. Here we know each other, sometimes chat each other up, share some beers or food, etc. Especially for a guy like me who works from home, I like having that in life.

Plus there's no way I could start a devel firm in Canada. In Thailand I'm looking at about $1000/month for a full-time developer, whereas in Canada that same developer would cost me probably $3500 - $4000/month. Plus after office rental and bills, I couldn't afford that, as it'd make the margins too low to make it worthwhile. Whereas here, there's a good chance the margins will be excellent, so I can just sit around living like a king in a nice house, while saving a shitload of money.

Whew, long-winded. But yeah, I'll stick with Buddhist Thailand.

It's hard to know where to begin to respond to Matt so I won't. The essence of Buddhism surely is to go around with your eyes open and despite Matt's long history with being robbed blind by a former boyfriend clearly his eyes are wide shut.

[cdnmatt]

It's hard to know where to begin to respond to Matt so I won't. The essence of Buddhism surely is to go around with your eyes open and despite Matt's long history with being robbed blind by a former boyfriend clearly his eyes are wide shut.

That's one Thai out of 63 million. Don't be an idiot.

Believe it or not, most Thais are pretty decent folk. You should probably stay away from the hookers if you're going to live here long-term, but that's kind of the same as saying you should stay away from the homeless heroin addicts on East Hastings street in Vancouver.

I've learned my lesson, the hard way. If you're willing to sell your body, I don't want to know you. Might be harsh, but keeps me out of trouble. Many Thais actually seem to get quite insulted if you offer them money, even if it's just a bit of gas money, because they gave you a lift or whatever. Food and beer are cool, and they'll almost always accept that with a smile, but be careful offering money, because there's a chance they're going to be insulted.

[joe552]

good, positive posts, matt - glad to see you're still enjoying life. my OP was mainly directed at tourists, but it's always good to see some people are actually happy over there.

[gaymandenmark]

So I'm the only one here who actually enjoys Thailand?
.

No you are not, even as a tourist.

I still feel I am back in my second home, when I sit in the taxi from the airport to central bkk.

In the last couple of years, I have changed my habits a littlebit.

If you Joe, by No boys mean no Pattaya or no go-go bars, it would not affect my trips in anyway.
I seldom go to Pattaya and if I do, it is only for a couple of days, then I run away. In BKK I have been to a gogo bar two times.
I meet the "boys" different places like Silom Soi 4 and 2.
And I get laid anytime I am in the need for that.

No today I visit Thailand because of friends (both thai and farang) living there, they have taken me on many fantastic trips around Thailand, some places more rural than others.

The fantastic mountains in the North and the beaches in the South, Chiang Mai and the sizzling Metropolitan Bangkok.

I still think the Thai people in general, are very friendly people, and Thailand has a great cheap infrastructure, so it is very easy to be impulsive, if you want to move yourself from one to another part of the country or if you want to take a trip to some of its neighboring countries.

[Sooty]

Can we assume that cdnmatt has revised his list of places in "Buddhist Thailand" where he won't live? As I recall it went something like -

Isaan (all thieves)
Pattaya (all prostitutes)
Phuket (all scammers)
The South (all bombers)
Bangkok (too many people)

cdnmatt's arguments come down to two - it's cheaper in Thailand and the people aren't confrontational. Nothing to do with Buddhism at all.

This is the same Matt who has previously told us that his business consists of maintaining Web sites for pornographers is it?

Pornographers are people who pay other people to use their skills to have sex for the viewers' entertainment and from various magazine articles about the making of pornography it involves drugs. Matt sells his skills for the use of pornographers.

The stench of hypocrisy wafting from Matt's posts is palpable.

[adman5000]

Gaymandenmark said:I still feel I am back in my second home, when I sit in the taxi from the airport to central bkk.

I feel the same way once I get to Thailand. I look forward to what I will encounter during my visit. I don't have any responsibilities or anything I have to do other than to decide how I will allocate my leisure time. I go to a hotel that I have used for years and know the workers by name. My biggest decision is whether to go to a movie or go for a massage. Sometimes I will see a Thai guy I know and haven't seen in a while. I do something fun during the day and then have the anticipation and excitement of seeing who will catch my eye that night and knowing some fun will follow.

I generally don't plan every detail out in advance. I kind of go with the flow. I decide the other places I will visit in Thailand during my trip. I always go somewhere where I have not gone before and do things I have not done before. I feel like a kid in a candy store. :party

I feel like a kid in a candy store.My mother always told me to be careful of strange men who offered me candy.

[loke]

I am not sayin that Thailand is a terrible country to live in without the boys . Compared to my home country I would choose Thailand any day.

But I am used to cold winters so for me without the boys it would make more sense to move to Spain or Portugal , or one of the islands.
Just to enjoy the great mediterranean food and climate .

Maybe I could combine it one day when I retire. A Thai bf of my dreams and living in Spain .

[Surfcrest]

Maybe one question that could come out of all of this, would the fact that the boys are Asian influence this any way?

For me, Thailand is mostly a sun destinationтАж.a nice escape from the Canadian winters, not that they are that bad here in Vancouver. IтАЩve been escaping to Cancun for even longer than IтАЩve been coming to Jomtien and even though I could probably order food and drinks down at the beach where I live in MexicoтАжthere are no chairsтАжyou have to go a few miles down to find that and itтАЩs expensive just for the chair and umbrella alone. Even when IтАЩd stay down in Puerto Vallarta and hang out at the Beachclub, next to the Blue Chairs (Where they have chairs and full service / including boys to be had on the side)тАж.it was only close to what we have in Dong TanтАж.but not the same.

I come to Thailand for the great weather (although that has changed in the past few years), the great food (I prefer Thai food), itтАЩs much cheaper than any other Canadian sun destination and the fact that, not only are there boys to be had hereтАжthey are also Asian boys, one of my favorites again.

Even though I spend most of my time in Thailand in Pattaya, I rarely go out to the barsтАжthis year IтАЩd only go down to the Sunee Plaza Pub for a drink and a chat with friends. Only in Bangkok did I go out at all and even then, not to an off bar.

I come to Thailand with my bf from Canada. HeтАЩs not always in Thailand when weтАЩre in Asia, he quite often spends time in HK visiting friends and family. When IтАЩm on my own I might pick something up and on occasion when the bf is here, we might both pick something up to share.

If it was just about the guys, weтАЩd probably both be happier in HavanaтАжbut existence there beyond the night life is bleak. Guatemala is even better (for me), but no beach.

I also come to Thailand to get healthy, I can drop more than 10 pounds a month here just eating better and swimming every day.

Surfcrest

[scottish-guy]

...I come to Thailand for the great weather...

[attachment=0:2iy4oilz]images.jpg[/attachment:2iy4oilz]

[Brad the Impala]

This is the same Matt who has previously told us that his business consists of maintaining Web sites for pornographers is it?

Pornographers are people who pay other people to use their skills to have sex for the viewers' entertainment and from various magazine articles about the making of pornography it involves drugs. Matt sells his skills for the use of pornographers.

The stench of hypocrisy wafting from Matt's posts is palpable.

And the stench of envy of someone who sounds happy is wafting from yours. Talking of hypocrisy, I bet you've never bought pornography in your life! Right.

[scottish-guy]

With all this talk of various stenches and smells wafting in the air, I feel I've walked into some kind of kinky fetish forum!

:hello2:

[joe552]

With all this talk of various stenches and smells wafting in the air, I feel I've walked into some kind of kinky fetish forum!

:hello2:

and not for the first time, I'll wager

[cdnmatt]

This is the same Matt who has previously told us that his business consists of maintaining Web sites for pornographers is it?

Pornographers are people who pay other people to use their skills to have sex for the viewers' entertainment and from various magazine articles about the making of pornography it involves drugs. Matt sells his skills for the use of pornographers.

The stench of hypocrisy wafting from Matt's posts is palpable.

LOL, you sure are a miserable cunt, aren't ya? You make it sound as if I'm sound seedy individual involved in shady dealings in the black market that include extortion and drugs, or something. Dude, I'm a software developer.

Yes, I've had porn clients. I've also done real estate solutions to streamline loan applications, complex telecommunication sales, loads of marketing systems, dating sites, project management solutions, affiliate back-ends, and a ton of other really boring shit. And yeah, if some guy shows up in my inbox wanting a tube site, or some custom marketing funnel / order process done for their porn site, I'm not going to turn them away.

heh, this would be quite comical if it wasn't so sad. "you've worked with porn clients before!". Next thread over, "#22 from ToyBoys is an excellent fuck, and cheap too!".

You make it sound as if I'm sound seedy individual involved in shady dealings in the black market that include extortion and drugs, or something.Got it in one!
Dude, I'm a software developer.Actually you're a software hooker - you'll sell your "skills" to whoever comes along while employing what's known as the "Nuremberg defence (https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Frationalwiki.org%2Fwiki%2FNurembe rg_defense&ei=l7RTUpfwCeP6iQeJ4IGwAw&usg=AFQjCNHhJZ3EjSEuP0sfZnFbp4pdAeK4Mw&sig2=9AzV3hH4TWquTtymq5O9mw&bvm=bv.53537100,d.aGc)" - "I was only following orders". It was a moral cop-out then and it's a moral cop-out now.

[Nirish guy]

Unless I'm missing something I dont recall Matt ever being particularly "anti" pornographers or people buying it using porn in general or boys working the bars or whatever or expressing strong opinions either way about such topics so how exactly is he being hypocritical or morally bankrupt working for the odd porn website owner in amongst his list of other clients exactly ??

I say good on ya Matt as if it wasn't for guys like you doing all the coding and programming work then god forbid I might actually have to revert to actually buying my porn again as opposed to getting it free off the net like everyone else these days as unlike some others on here who claim to be above such low class things I quite happily watch porn sometimes and love it so keep up the good work I say !

As you quite rightly point out for someone to have a dig at you whilst complaining about porn on a board filled with talk of sex, hookers and everything else that is talked about on here and on other boards over a month is a bit ridiculous / hilarious.

Now, I really hope that your other customers aren't online casinos, tobacco companies, Viagra suppliers or drinks companies as that'll be smoking, drink, drugs AND porn you're promoting so you'll really be going to hell head long then !! Lol

It's kind of you to miss the point so completely NIrish; Matt can do as he pleases provided he doesn't preach it from a "holier than thou" platform of having nothing to do with paid-for sex and people who do drugs when, in fact, he sells his skills to the very people whose major business activity consists of exactly that.

[cdnmatt]

Matt can do as he pleases provided he doesn't preach it from a "holier than thou" platform of having nothing to do with paid-for sex and people who do drugs when, in fact, he sells his skills to the very people whose major business activity consists of exactly that.

WTF are you talking about? It's not like I've kept my relationship with Kim a hidden secret on SGT. Everyone here knows I fell in love with a go-go boy, ended up moving to Issan, and went through 3 years of absolute hell due to it.

I have no problem with the commercial sex scene. As long as you're both adults, and it's consensual, then go ahead and fuck like rabbits for all I care. I've had my share of hookers too, and would imagine will have more sometime in the future, although not exactly a priority for me at the moment.

[Nirish guy]

Apologies if I did miss the point as I read it a bit the other way round to be honest personally I don't recall Matt ever saying anything along those lines though over the years. If I'm wrong about that I stand corrected.


EDIT - ^^ yeah that's what "I" always thought was Matt's view of the world generally speaking, glad I'm not totally losing it.

You should probably stay away from the hookers if you're going to live here long-term, but that's kind of the same as saying you should stay away from the homeless heroin addicts on East Hastings street in Vancouver.I've known newts with a longer attention span. This is what "holier than thou but actually I make my living from the pay for sex industry that depends on drugs" Matt originally wrote. Nothing to do with my enjoyment of pornography or hookers, everything to do with his hypocrisy.

[timmberty]

well lets be honest for a moment, dont forget matt has spent much of the last few years telling us about how great his life has been since he got away from pattaya, how he and kim were made for each other, life was idea in so many ways.
he also told us to steer clear of rent boys and go go bars etc etc.
now we learn the last few years have actually been hell.
matts main problem is he likes to use a lot of words which he wraps in another layer of words all covered in yet another layer of words, it cant be easy knowing if hes comming or going at the best of times.

[Nirish guy]

I'm afraid I don't share your view of the intent of Matt's comments, I took them to mean he was suggesting if you lived in Thailand and wanted a quiet life probably best to stay away from shacking up with a hooker and better to find a nice non scene guy to be with - which sounds quite reasonable advice to me and as this was all based on his own (bad) experiences with his Ex where I believe he'd a sore eye opener that to me isn't someone being holier than thou perhaps but is quite the opposite in fact, I see it as someone being open and honest about their own recent stressful past and them passing on their experiences for the benefit of others.

And I certainly don't see any linkage to drugs there either or any evidence of Matt having a particular view either way there either, so maybe could it be that you perhaps who may have misjudged the intent of matts particular comments here, especially after he even bothered to clarify his views for you? I'm not sure as it seems my attention span didn't quite register that fact - or maybe it did and yours didn't perhaps?

[cdnmatt]

You should probably stay away from the hookers if you're going to live here long-term, but that's kind of the same as saying you should stay away from the homeless heroin addicts on East Hastings street in Vancouver.I've known newts with a longer attention span. This is what "holier than thou but actually I make my living from the pay for sex industry that depends on drugs" Matt originally wrote. Nothing to do with my enjoyment of pornography or hookers, everything to do with his hypocrisy.

Ummm... not sure what to say here, except that I'm quite confident there's nothing I can say that will please you. If you want to have an actual conversation, I'm more than happy to do so, but if you just want to be a dick head, then you can go fuck yourself.

I'm a pretty good guy, and whether or not you want to believe it makes absolutely zero difference to me.

[Smiles]

" ... So I'm the only one here who actually enjoys Thailand? ... "
Not by a long shot.
The farang friends I know the best love living here, as I do, warts and all. And they are not all in long term relationships either: even diehard butterfly friends enjoy their lives here.

[Marsilius]

Pornographers are people who pay other people to use their skills to have sex for the viewers' entertainment and from various magazine articles about the making of pornography it involves drugs.

Pornographers are entrepreneurs who act as commercial middlemen between adult entertainment performers and consumers - by producing and marketing magazines, internet sites and movies that feature the former and are purchased by the latter.

I have worked in the field of adult entertainment for two decades and can honestly say that the business, in my experience, no more "involves drugs" ipso facto than most others. Sure, some guys do use drugs - but no more or less, in my experience, than the general population of the same age.

Perhaps any data suggesting the contrary is derived specifically from the USA. Both the porn industry and the drugs trade are far bigger and more developed there than elsewhere, and I suspect that any connection between the two is not necessarily as simplistic as kommentariat implies.

[RonanTheBarbarian]

You can add me to the list of people, who absolutely love Thailand, even without the boys.

When I remember my trips, some of my best memories are about areas away from the scene, like Krabi, or the hill country around Chiang Rai. One of the places I most long to revisit is Luang Prabang (okay, that's in Laos).

Obviously the boys are a draw, I probably would never revisit Pattaya if it were not for them, but it strikes me as a bit of a pity that there are some guys out there who would never bother coming back to Thailand if it were not for the guys. Despite all its problems, it is still hard to beat as a holiday destination, especially during the bleak European midwinter.

I have worked in the field of adult entertainment for two decades and can honestly say that the business, in my experience, no more "involves drugs" ipso facto than most others. Obviously a topic of great interest http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/archive/inde ... 96663.html (http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/archive/index.php/t-496663.html)

[Marsilius]

An interesting thread. Had you quoted me more extensively, though, you would have noted that I also said: Perhaps any data suggesting the contrary is derived specifically from the USA. Both the porn industry and the drugs trade are far bigger and more developed there than elsewhere...

The thread you have uncovered looks pretty US-centric to me and, as one of the posters on that thread ("MyDoorsAreOpen") also says "I would guess that this varies a lot by country [my emphasis], gender, sexual orientation, and the status of the production company".