I got bored with my studies and decided to start a new discussion (I hope it's new...).
So here are a few questions I'd like any Yaoi reader out there to answer (can be Yuri too, I guess):

- For how long have you been reading BL?
- Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
- Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
- Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
- Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
- If you are on that stage of your life already, how do you handle it?

Now, why do I care and why should you answer any of these questions? You can choose not to answer if you like. I'm just curious, eheh. The last couple of questions are really what interests me the most. Perhaps because I've been an avid BL reader for nearly a decade now, there were times I feared I'd run out of things to read (as if...). Then, of course, it's only natural to wonder: in 5 years I'll be doing this and that and probably won't read as much anyway. First it's school, then college, then work, then family (in case you want one), then old age, then the zombie apocalypse -- in the end of the day, will Yaoi still be there for me with some hot chocolate and a warm blanket for me to cuddle with? Could it be that we'll all be ladies of 50 who still turn on their laptops at night and give in to this sweet loving obsession? I'm not saying I'm against the idea. Personally I find it hilarious, ahah.

Seriously though, I'd really like to hear from the community

________________
It's the Art of Time, it's the Art of Life--
Of the player and the craftsman,
Of the writer of songs, of the creator of love,
Of those who will follow, of those who led,
There's no other way in the world ahead ♥

1. 4 years
2. I enjoy all of them. Don't enjoy one more than the other.
3. I keep it a secret, I have thought about telling someone, but I chicken out.
4. Sometimes I don't read BL for days. I sometimes feel like every scenario has already been read and there is nothing good or new.
5. By the time I have a husband and children, I pray that gay marriage will already be legalized in my country so reading BL wouldn't be weird.

-I've been reading BL for not that long actually. Quite wierd too since I feel like I'm running out. I think it's been about two years.
-being honest, and feeling like a perv, I like hardcore more than softcore if we're only talking about sex here. Though above all I prefer a good plot.
-I'm pretty open about it actually. Not like I just tell everyone I met that I read BL but after we get cozy and all that jazz, I'll tell them about it hoping I can get them into it lol. I can't point out a person who acted different after I told them about it. Even my guy friends hehe
-Well can't really say if I'd get tired of it or no. I started reading manga with shoujo romance, after about a month I went to smut and josei then after that yaoi got me. I can say for sure I've been reading yaoi more than any of the other two and so far I'm still wanting more. But considering how fast I got suck of the other two I can't say for sure that I'll stick to it. Right now yaoi is lie drug to me. I can't go on a week without reading at least 3 yaoi even if I'm busy with other stuff. Normally I'd read about 10 to...god know how many per week lol. Even if I can't find any new ones I'd reread the old ones. Yupp addicted! Even before sleep I read yaoi on my phone or something.
Sometimes when I can't find anything to read, I start writing BL. I'm actually hoping that I could finish my story and get a chance to publish it :3
-I don't think I'd leave BL even if I have a family. Up until now all my partners knew about this fetish of mine and they were pretty ok with it. Some even read yuri
I don't think there's a problem with reading BL even if you're married. I mean everyone got a hobby, our hobby is BL

________________

K n e e l .... This is the difference between your and my eye-level.
Rai from Noblesse

For how long have you been reading BL?
About 3 years already.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
Softcore. Almost all of the hardcore yaoi I read is PWP, porn without plot, but I do like hardcore yaoi too and smex, but only when used in a good development. Shonen-ai is extremely cute, but it always ends after they get together, not showing what happens later. Softcore is my favorite, it always has cute sex scenes, great plot and some after-getting-together chapters.

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
I hide it from my parents and homophobic friends, but I'm very open with friends that like manga and accept me for what I am and don't judge me from what I read. I think we are in healthy relationship, because even if my parents find out, I wouldn't feel guilty or be embarrassed about it.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
Yes and no. I'm not tired of BL, but tired of some BL cliches. But I think I will get tired of yaoi, but not only yaoi, manga in general. I think some day I will stop reading it because I will be too busy with my personal life to spend it reading BL/manga.

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
Like I said, I would probably stop reading it. But, if I have time and maybe some quality BL, I don't see why I wouldn't read it. It's doesn't matter your age, you can read manga and BL anytime if you want.

If you are on that stage of your life already, how do you handle it?
Nop, I'm 18, single and in college.

-I have only been reading BL for about a year now.
-I like all of them, no particular favourite. I just like a story with a great plot and characters.
-I keep it a secret, I only told my younger brother. I wouldn't really mind if my family and friends find out about it but it's just best to keep it secret at the moment.
-I don't know if I will get tired of it,I have breaks from it every so often as i'm busy with other things.
-I haven't really thought about it but i hope that if it is something that carry on reading that I'm open about and wouldn't be judged by the people around me.

Yay! This looks fun ^.^

For how long have you been reading BL?
Combined I would say 4 years. I read it back while I was in college (but then it was mainly yaoi fanfictions) and I started back about 2 years ago with manga.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
It all depends on my mood. I mainly go for the softcore stuff because normally there is a better plot. However, the hardcore stuff is okay, too! I don't typically read Shounen-ai, so I guess that is my least favorite out of the three... If I had to pick one then it would be softcore... I just like that the plots are more formed and there is more than just sex (although... the sex is good too lol)

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship?
I will put it this way... for Christmas last year, my husband bought me yaoi manga and the Junjou Romantica DVD set... I would say that BL and I are in a great relationship All of my manga is displayed in my living room on a huge bookshelf... none of it is hidden in any way.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
I don't think so. I am not saying it couldn't happen because you never know what the future brings. I am 27 right now and I don't see myself giving it up anytime soon. I hope to give birth to a mini fujoshi ^.^

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
I am at this stage of my life right now and my hubby is 100% okay with it. He even sat through BOTH seasons of Junjou Romantica with me... he even watched Sensitive Pornograph! I am not saying he likes it, however he knows that it is a part of me. If he is going to be with me he knows he has to love every part - even the Fujoshi part ^.^

If you are on that stage of your life already, how do you handle it?
I handle it ~ I spend WAY too much money on yaoi manga and merchandise and my hubby has gotten tired of arguing with me... he now helps me find good deals on ebay

For how long have you been reading BL?
Oh goodness. When DID I start? I feel like a veteran nowadays. Let's see... it had to have started with a random volume of yaoi my sister's friend lent us. Then yaoi fanfiction for a good run until I discovered online manga scans. Maybe it was almost 8 years ago that I started reading. Wow.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
That's completely up to the mood. I rather don't prefer shonen-ai unless it has an in depth plot-- but it has produced some of my favorite couples.Softcore is a good happy medium for nights I'm not feeling full on sex. Definitely more tolerable than shounen ai. Some nights, I just want straight smut, smut, smut and hardcore is my best friend. Though I guess, if I had to design my "typical ideal" yaoi, it would be a well done hardcore. Decent characters and thorough plot development, a good love story, and enough sex scenes to keep it engaging/fun.

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship?
Sweetie, I'm gonna need you to define "healthy." I have a chosen few that know the secret, but it's otherwise under lock and key. At one point, I couldn't even read other types of manga I was so obsessed. Seriously look at my username. This is why I love the internet, I can be me and no one knows. I swear I'll never tell my parents. I think they'd have a heart attack. One sister that introduced us to it is more into slash, but not obsessed. My other sister was worse than me for a minute there. Maybe 8 or 9 friends actually know I'm a hardcore fujoshi, a couple of them because they are too. I love switching fanfic and manga titles- never a boring night! Now, I have toned it way down. I only read about 10-12 yaoi manga a week nowadays or so- what ever I can find online. So healthy? I guess not.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
I started investing myself in this stuff when I was about 13. After the first couple of years I think I started losing some steam. Around age 15 or so, I remember questioning the obsession. Would I really like this stuff in years to come? Will I grow out of it? Is it just a phase? Yeah, by the time I was 16/17 there was no question. My obsession was back in full throttle and several years later here I am. I don't know, I guess it's just addicting- like a piece of my soul I could never shake. So, no, probably not getting tired of this stuff anytime soon.

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
Yeah, as of now, I have no intention of getting married or having kids. For a good 5 years now, I've preferred the company of myself. I'm a romantic sure, but not into romance. I envision myself as a rich single career woman- the favorite Aunt character. Since I've been thinking this way for ages, the thought never really crossed my mind, though at this point it doesn't matter. So, nothing to worry about.

If you are on that stage of your life already, how do you handle it?
Single, not caring to not be. Don't want kids. So as an obsessive young adult female that spends too much money and time on gay porn? I think I'm handling life just fine.

Last edited by ultimateyaoifangirl at 5:48 pm, Jun 25 2013

________________

- For how long have you been reading BL?
8-9 years.

- Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
Hardcore (pwp is fine too). Then softcore with a plot. No shounen-ai though, it's too frustrating not seeing main characters sealing the deal.

- Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
My whole family is super-duper homophobic so yeah... I really really want to buy some works from my favorite mangakas, but I don't know where to keep them, if someone stumbles upon them, I'll be in trouble ಥ_ಥ
There is one friend that knows, but she thinks that I read only softcore and I don't feel like telling her "i liek it when i see everythin' 8D~"

- Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
Completely tired, no. It sort of became a routine to read at least 2-3 yaois per week, if I don't do this I feel like there is something wrong. But I became picky with time, I try to avoid average yaois filled with overused cliches so my interest doesn't fade.

- Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
I hope that my future partner will tolerate my hobby (obsession? xD) and that I won't have to hide my (future) collection.

For how long have you been reading BL?
About 2 years.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
I like hardcore the best. I rarely read shounen-ai. I'll admit it, I read yaoi for the sex more than the love.

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship?
I haven't told anyone. It's not because its about gay men, but because its not about real gay men. I'm out to my family and close friends as bi. I have gay friends. I wouldn't admit to them that I read BL because BL has nothing to do with the real gay community. I would be embarrassed to tell them how common rape is in BL stories or how the characters in BL usually don't start off gay, but "become" gay when they fall in love with someone else.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
I think I'm already a little tired of it. There are so many storylines that are the same. And there's not enough realistic stories that I can relate to.

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
I don't plan to have kids, but if I do find someone to spend the rest of my life with, I hope that I could be honest with them about all of my likes and dislikes. Hopefully, they'll love me enough that it won't matter.

Interesting...a BL survey...I'll give it a go.

For how long have you been reading BL?

Umm, I'm pretty sure it's been a little over two years. I'm not certain as to the exact date because I started reading before I became a MangaUpdates member ^ ^.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?

Depends on my mood. Sometimes I'm in a mood for some loving, so softcore with some angst-y themes to them really suit me. Other times I just want to read it for the smut, so I go with hardcore (like...extreme hardcore). As for shounen-ai, it goes with the above about softcore. Sex isn't really all that important to me in a story.

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship?

It's definitely something that only I know about, but I'm not super obsessed with hiding it from everyone. I would say my relationship is pretty healthy because I naturally prefer more privacy.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?

"Get tired of..."
I wouldn't get tired of it exactly, because I don't think I would ever get tired of manga (unless there suddenly ceased to be good manga production in the world, and even then I'd probably just start re-reading). However I do read less than I used to, and I think it's because it's becoming less of a..."priority" in my life (hmm not quite the right word).

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?

YES. Weird. I have thought about that. Like if one day when I get married (and say I still read yaoi or shounen-ai or whatever) and my husband is like, "What...is that?" I don't think that'll happen though because, 1. I would probably have stopped reading manga by then (unfortunately, because of responsibilities). or 2. They would never find out (haha). or lastly, 3. They already know and accept it (which would be like a dream come true).

________________
You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.

- For how long have you been reading BL?
around 5-6 years

- Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
I can't choose since I love all genres... But I prefer angsty more! And I love mangas with long volumes since one-shots can't satisfy me

- Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
The first one who know about my hobby is my best friend. Now we spread BL virus to others together~~ But I still keep that from the people who clearly homophobic

- Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
No. Everyday I always read at least one chp of BL manga. It's like a routine!

- Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
That thought always cross my mind. Maybe I will tell my future hubby about my hobby (ah, maybe not do it too). I always wanna fangirling with my daughter together in the future >_<

________________

This looks fun!

For how long have you been reading BL?
Hmm, I started maybe ten years ago? I'll read voraciously for a while, then stop. My breaks can be for a few months or several years, but I always go back.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
*blush* Hardcore if the artistic style is to my liking. But no hardcore BDSM. Also, I like when there's an actual plot that moves me. And with a satisfying ending. (Lately, I really like to cry but I don't want to end up sad.)

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
Very big secret. I've only been open about it with one other person because she reads it too. And even with that, I think I read way more than she does, so that's a bit of a secret too.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
I get tired if I read too much at one time, but just as I grow to like anything else in life, I don't get sick or bored of it. Except mushrooms. Hated them as a child, liked them for a while, now I hate them again, and I will never like them anymore.

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
When I was younger, I thought of that. I tried many times to purge myself of my obsession (Remember that scanlation group??) with BL. But then I learned how to enjoy BL in moderation. Stupid compulsive behavior...

If you are on that stage of your life already, how do you handle it?
No kids, so that's not an issue. But if you can share this information about yourself with your partner, and they don't care, all the better. If it's something you don't feel comfortable sharing (like me), I don't think it's a big deal. Just a guilty pleasure that would be incredibly embarrassing for me if it was found out. If this did become an issue, the partner would have to go. It wouldn't be about the yaoi anymore, but about tolerance and myself. I don't want to be with someone who has any issue with homosexuality or who I am and what I do.

Luckily I have a boyfriend who isn't all in my business. We mutually respect and trust each other. I don't go through his stuff, he doesn't snoop through mine, so I can read my yaoi in peace.

Yayz, boredom killer quiz! X3

For how long have you been reading BL?
About 2 years. Read one, yet I yearned for more and more every time.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
Hmm, honestly, hardcore. Especially yaoi manga like Inariya Fusanosuke-sensei's works.

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
I only let really close friends know my passion about BL/yaoi. Not to my parents nor anyone else.

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
Never. Is it even possible to go against this addictive thing >w<

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
*gulps* I. Have never thought of that before. Well, I guess I'll secretly be reading BL/yaoi then.

If you are on that stage of your life already, how do you handle it?
N/A? XD

For how long have you been reading BL?

I have been reading BL for about 8 years now.

Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?

I enjoy hard and softcore best. I rarely read shounen ai because I do want to see some sex in the story. Of course there are few exceptions but as long as there is a romance (and good story plot)and sex I will be happy.

Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)

All my siblings and close friends know about it. My parents don’t (and I’m pretty sure I will be killed if they knew about it) As for guys, I never tell, never. . .I don't know why but I don't

Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?

No, in two years it will be a decade since I got my first taste of BL and I don’t think I will get tired of it. There are times I take breaks in between but never will stop I think. I love it too much, if anything I think it has gotten worse it’s gone from manga to video games, to BL Drama CDs. Just as with manga and anime in general it is my hobby and love, I enjoy it and makes me happy.

Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?

I really don’t know, I don’t want to hide it from them but I will see what will happen. Because of my religious background it might be hard but who knows the future. I would want them to accept it. As for kids, if I have any…they will stay away from it (until they are at an appropriate age)



Last edited by Sakura_Hikizaki at 8:33 am, Dec 19 2013

________________
Translating those lovely Boys Love stories

- For how long have you been reading BL?
Two years.
- Which of these do you like better: hardcore, softcore, shonen-ai?
Hardcore. (; then again i do enjoy some fluffy, softcore yaoi.
- Are you and BL in a healthy relationship? (meaning: do you keep it a secret from others or are you open about it?)
I keep it a secret from others since my innocence would be completely ruined. xD
- Do you ever feel like you could get tired of reading BL? Why/why not?
As much as i hate to admit this but yes. My love for reading yaoi has already been toned down over the past couple of months, since i feel like there's nothing good to read anymore. In the future it will probably become a rare thing for me to do.
- Have you ever thought of your future relationship with BL, once you get kids or start living with a partner? How would that be like (hypothetically speaking)?
I'm not quite sure how my partner would handle it. xD i guess i would continue to read it without them ever knowing, kinda like i do now.

________________
lιvιɴɢ ιɴ α yαoι woɴderlαɴd
-QaF-