Gah, this is not a comedy!

I'm not the writer, but I'm uncomfortable talking about sexual things so I'm using a throwaway account anyway.

This story perfectly encapsulates the shame of male masturbation in a sheltered upbringing. Not everyone grows up in an environment where sexual things are discussed freely, if at all. Some men live sheltered lives where they grow up not knowing the basic functions of their own body parts. They find themselves surprised and terrified of what sometimes happens down there, and they don't talk to anyone about it. Masturbation compounds this problem.

In homes with overbearing parents, or a highly religious upbringing, masturbation can be a completely ignored subject. Or it can be actively campaigned against. "That is just not something we do in this house, son." It's more confusing when the young man refuses to ask questions. He just wonders. And all he feels is shame about what is happening to his body.

The story of Big Chad is when a man like that finally gains the courage to talk to someone about it. He goes to an authority figure, a doctor, someone he isn't that familiar with that can give male advice. This is an absolutely terrifying experience for him. This is his secret and something he's incredibly ashamed of admitting.

And the doctor's advice? You're fine.

That is not what Chad expected or wanted to hear. He expected to hear a chastisement for doing such a thing, (like he might if he asked his parents). He came to the doctor hoping for some kind of cure for the sickness he had come down with, but instead he was told he wasn't sick.

Then Chad puts this doctor inside of the "other" box. "This so-called 'Doctor' doesn't have the same values as my family or my religion, and thus I can't accept what he has to say. Masturbation may be okay for others, but it's definitely not okay for me."

For most males, hearing from your doctor that "it's okay to masturbate," will feel like a free pass. But for men like Chad, that's not an acceptable response and he felt betrayed that the doctor failed to "cure" him. And he feels incredibly frustrated he doesn't have the words/vocabulary to express that and so all he can say is that "Nobody understands."


This story does a fantastic job expressing Chad's fear, anxiety and shame. It, however, does not explain what Chad has or has not been taught about his own sexuality, which probably would have helped make this story more understandable.

I don't know how the author would "fix it" so that it would make sense to a reader that didn't have a background like Chad's. Perhaps changing it to an omniscient viewpoint would give a chance to explain Chad's background? But... I liked being in Chad's viewpoint.

I dunno, I like it as is, but most people will not understand it which narrows your audience quite a bit.