I remember it like it was yesterday. I was scrolling through my Twitter feed when I was hit with an image of a man wearing glasses with his hand down his pants. He was masturbating! I was disgusted and shocked all at once. How could someone do such a thing in public? My mind immediately filled with questions and confusion.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the guy wasn’t actually doing anything wrong. Sure, it wasn’t the most appropriate behaviour for vibrators a public space, but it was his choice to do what he wanted to do. I was being judgemental instead of respecting his right to do whatever he pleased.
Although I no longer felt the initial anger or disgust, I was still troubled by the image of him with his hand in his pants. I couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable seeing it. I guess what I found most distressing was the lack of privacy. Everyone can now express their own desire without fear of judgement, but some of us still prefer to enjoy our own company in our own space.
This experience made me appreciate the importance of privacy even more. We can all express ourselves freely in whatever way we choose, as long as it’s within the boundaries of the law and we do it without encroaching upon someone else’s right to their own private life. We never know what people might be going through, and it’s always best to practice understanding and respect.
I was then reminded of an adage my mom used to say to me. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” My mom always told me it’s better to err on the side of kindness than judgement. Maybe that same principle applies here. Judging someone for masturbating is definitely not nice.
While I don’t personally agree with masturbating in public, I also understand it’s not my place to judge. Everyone has the right to express themselves in whatever way makes them feel the most comfortable. After all, if we can’t respect the choices of other people, what kind of world would we live in?
Now, I’ve been able to reflect on this incident more objectively, I grok what the guy was doing. It’s a natural response to feeling lonely and disconnected intensifying the pleasurable sensations that come with this act could have brought him some solace from the isolation.
I think about how some don’t have the means to enjoy their own space and vibrators therefore rely on alternate measures to find comfort in their own lives. Where those activities might be public, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong. To put it another way, I think that sometimes our own physical pleasure should not be disregarded even when it puts us in an uncomfortable situation.
That said, there are times when we should question our choices. If public masturbation is becoming a habit and starts to interfere with our daily lives, it might be time to find a healthier way of dealing with loneliness and stress. Maybe we should talk to a friend, seek professional help or spend time pursuing hobbies that bring us joy and fulfillment.
Perhaps the guy in the glasses was feeling overwhelmed and needed an escape. Maybe that made public masturbation feel right to him at the time. But I think it’s important to remember that while it’s okay to indulge ourselves and feel good, we should always remember to be mindful of our choices.
