How does it feel to be around men who playfully roughhouse with each other?
June 13, 2025
Is it uncomfortable, funny, amusing? Does it make you envious of that kind of physical relationship, sad even? Or is there no will at all to partake?
24 comments
Cringe I would say, if I’m being honest.
Annoying, uncomfortable, variations of those.
I grew up with a twin brother and we did roughhouse till our teens. It was amusing. But after that he just grew stronger and it wasn’t fun anymore. Obviously doesn’t happen anymore.
Funny, and usually I just join.
Depends. If it’s constantly or if 1 man always does it to others for some weird power play it’s cringe.
It’s cool, so long as it’s mutual. I won’t tolerate bullying.
I actually lived below some guys in an apartment building who would do this. They’d play FIFA or something, and that would eventually turn into roughhousing. Fortunately, they were super respectful and never did that beyond 9 or 10pm. Nice guys. They let me borrow a bottle opener once.
When my brothers did it, it was only annoying if they’d start it up in hallways or other small spaces. It’s fun to watch as long as you don’t have to squeeze around them or yell at them for getting too close to breakable shit.
Cringe and awkward at the same time. But other times, I’m just like “y’all are weird” and I’d never want to join in.
Depends on how you define that, I guess.
Anyone older than a teenager who “playfully roughhouses” with others casually is being a bit weird in my opinion. Adults I know don’t do that. It would make me anxious if people started randomly physically fighting and wrestling with each other. I’d find it uncomfortable and leave the situation.
If people want to get physically aggressive with each other, they can get involved in martial arts groups or play physical group sports.
Weird. But I observe silently without judgement so as to understand why they’re engaging in such behavior.
It really depends on the context, the extent of the roughhousing, and whether it seems that all participants want to engage or if they’re just being socially pressured to do so. Regardless, I would not wish to join in.
Happened a lot when I was high school age, early college with my guy friends rough housing with each other. I’d always just give them a wide berth so I didn’t catch an elbow. I’d awkwardly laugh and smile, but it was uncomfortable. They don’t really do it anymore in our mid 30s.id they did, I’d be really, really uncomfortable.
I just leave the area when that’s happening because I don’t want to be around it
Environment matters and relationship matters. But mostly it’s just dudes being bros. Im the only AFAB in my generation of family and the oldest so my brothers and cousins and I have always rough housed.
I haven’t seen this in my 30’s. I would think it’s weird. Childish things are great, but roughhousing is a bit odd at my age. Exception: mosh pits
I think it’s uncomfortable and honestly a little closeted and I don’t understand the need for it when they could just admit they want to snuggle. When I had more girlfriends we had a lovely amount of physical affection (hugs, hair brushing, hair braiding). And when we wanted to snuggle, like during tv or a movie, we just did and it wasn’t weird or performative like “roughhousing” lol.
Doesn’t bother me.
It’s childish, and I say this because it’s the only age demographic amongst males that I have ever seen that type of ‘rough play’. And even at that age; it’s loud, grating on my nerves and overstimulating.
Some men do it because they’re men. Most men retreats have them doing some kind of physical, competitive activity. They love it. I’ve worked with boys as a nanny and I truly believe it’s how they’re designed. They can be brothers or boys in the neighborhood and find joy in another boy grabbing them by the shirt and slinging them to the ground.
If I saw it as a nanny, I’d step back, laugh and supervise them so that no one is getting hurt. I’d then bring them snacks and water and tell them how crazy and strong they are.
As an adult – I still see it. My business mentors would have incentives and have people at their house. The women would usually be inside, talking and eating while the men are in the pool playing King of the Hill. It’s just a bunch of guys wrestling each other to see who can stay on top of the floatie the longest. They get super into it and the women just laugh and watch them go at it.
Depends. Watching two men play fight is 🥵 if they do it from a place of affection. Also mild bullying is 🥵 if they’re into the dynamic and it’s clearly not abusive but affectionate.
Otherwise yeah I can see how cringe applies.
Sad? Lmao. No. Secondhand embarrassed would be far more accurate.
That would be tremendously annoying, and I wouldn’t be around them long. However, I can’t imagine a single man I know roughhousing with another man, because they have a dignity about them that’s incompatible with that very fun activity common with boys, and some girls (like me).
I have childhood trauma related to angry/violent men, so for me (and plenty of other women) this kind of thing can range from annoying/unsettling to full-on triggering.
It makes me extremely anxious that someone will get hurt and not taken seriously.
24 comments
Cringe I would say, if I’m being honest.
Annoying, uncomfortable, variations of those.
I grew up with a twin brother and we did roughhouse till our teens. It was amusing. But after that he just grew stronger and it wasn’t fun anymore. Obviously doesn’t happen anymore.
Funny, and usually I just join.
Depends. If it’s constantly or if 1 man always does it to others for some weird power play it’s cringe.
It’s cool, so long as it’s mutual. I won’t tolerate bullying.
I actually lived below some guys in an apartment building who would do this. They’d play FIFA or something, and that would eventually turn into roughhousing. Fortunately, they were super respectful and never did that beyond 9 or 10pm. Nice guys. They let me borrow a bottle opener once.
When my brothers did it, it was only annoying if they’d start it up in hallways or other small spaces. It’s fun to watch as long as you don’t have to squeeze around them or yell at them for getting too close to breakable shit.
Cringe and awkward at the same time. But other times, I’m just like “y’all are weird” and I’d never want to join in.
Depends on how you define that, I guess.
Anyone older than a teenager who “playfully roughhouses” with others casually is being a bit weird in my opinion. Adults I know don’t do that. It would make me anxious if people started randomly physically fighting and wrestling with each other. I’d find it uncomfortable and leave the situation.
If people want to get physically aggressive with each other, they can get involved in martial arts groups or play physical group sports.
Weird. But I observe silently without judgement so as to understand why they’re engaging in such behavior.
It really depends on the context, the extent of the roughhousing, and whether it seems that all participants want to engage or if they’re just being socially pressured to do so. Regardless, I would not wish to join in.
Happened a lot when I was high school age, early college with my guy friends rough housing with each other. I’d always just give them a wide berth so I didn’t catch an elbow. I’d awkwardly laugh and smile, but it was uncomfortable. They don’t really do it anymore in our mid 30s.id they did, I’d be really, really uncomfortable.
I just leave the area when that’s happening because I don’t want to be around it
Environment matters and relationship matters. But mostly it’s just dudes being bros. Im the only AFAB in my generation of family and the oldest so my brothers and cousins and I have always rough housed.
I haven’t seen this in my 30’s. I would think it’s weird. Childish things are great, but roughhousing is a bit odd at my age. Exception: mosh pits
I think it’s uncomfortable and honestly a little closeted and I don’t understand the need for it when they could just admit they want to snuggle. When I had more girlfriends we had a lovely amount of physical affection (hugs, hair brushing, hair braiding). And when we wanted to snuggle, like during tv or a movie, we just did and it wasn’t weird or performative like “roughhousing” lol.
Doesn’t bother me.
It’s childish, and I say this because it’s the only age demographic amongst males that I have ever seen that type of ‘rough play’. And even at that age; it’s loud, grating on my nerves and overstimulating.
Some men do it because they’re men. Most men retreats have them doing some kind of physical, competitive activity. They love it. I’ve worked with boys as a nanny and I truly believe it’s how they’re designed. They can be brothers or boys in the neighborhood and find joy in another boy grabbing them by the shirt and slinging them to the ground.
If I saw it as a nanny, I’d step back, laugh and supervise them so that no one is getting hurt. I’d then bring them snacks and water and tell them how crazy and strong they are.
As an adult – I still see it. My business mentors would have incentives and have people at their house. The women would usually be inside, talking and eating while the men are in the pool playing King of the Hill. It’s just a bunch of guys wrestling each other to see who can stay on top of the floatie the longest. They get super into it and the women just laugh and watch them go at it.
Depends. Watching two men play fight is 🥵 if they do it from a place of affection. Also mild bullying is 🥵 if they’re into the dynamic and it’s clearly not abusive but affectionate.
Otherwise yeah I can see how cringe applies.
Sad? Lmao. No. Secondhand embarrassed would be far more accurate.
That would be tremendously annoying, and I wouldn’t be around them long. However, I can’t imagine a single man I know roughhousing with another man, because they have a dignity about them that’s incompatible with that very fun activity common with boys, and some girls (like me).
I have childhood trauma related to angry/violent men, so for me (and plenty of other women) this kind of thing can range from annoying/unsettling to full-on triggering.
It makes me extremely anxious that someone will get hurt and not taken seriously.