Hi Again, Bro Ben (& Hey, Stick Around this Planet Amigo...You're Needed Here!)...

I think ALL of us are a Bit "Mythical"..especially as Our Parents View Us. Most Mainly See Us "At Our (Hopeful) Best"...& most of us are REALLY a Lot More "Human" than we'll Openly Admit to 'Em.

As for "Gay Experiences" (And the "Fearsome Effect" it just MIGHT have On Ya) I think you've WAY overreacted in your Annecdote about The Coach. But you seem to Better Understand it now..to a point.
Nothing I know will "MAKE you Gay"...it's truly Innate rather than Learned Behaviour. It doesn't "Rub Off". How do I know? Simple: My best buddy & I were mildly-molested by a Gay Guy when we were age 7. My Buddy's married & fathered 3 kids, adopted 3 more. I've married & fathered 2 sons. Neither of us has EVER lusted for a Guy in bed...& it's been over 50-some-years.

As for the Shower Scene: So What? By now, you've been to a few
Titty Bars & done the Same "Voyeur" Bit..albeit with Chicks..& What HARM was ever Done? Back when I travelled with my Army Uniform On I got "Hit On" rather frequently, but no gay-bashin' was ever necessary...I just replied "I'm flattered you're interested, but I'm heterosexual as all-get-out."

I, personally, don't think the nude male body's ALL That Beautiful, but Michealangelo did..& did justice to it with "David"..which I admitedly admire as a Work of Art. (I'd much rather admire a Female Form..& often do.) As for folks being "Comfortable" with Male Nudity, might as well be...we're about 50% of What's Out There.

"Comfort Levels" on Gay Folks certainly Vary..but they're about 5-10% of What's Out There, too. & they're certainly not ALL that Different from You or I. Science has yet to come up with a "Gay Gene"...I tend to think it's perhaps they were the Opposite Sex in a Previous Lifetime...since I tend to believe in Reincarnation. (& maybe THAT's why Christianity feels So Threatened by gays?) I dunno.

I'll close by sayin' I HAVE watched gals in the Shower...back in College Days. Took a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Course (Co-ed)...& the ancient College Pool had Locker Rooms built back-to-back for Guys vs Gals. Lotta holes drilled in wall underneath the lockers/Great View of gals exitin' the shower facilities. Big Cheer allus went up when the Little Redhead Gal exited in the Mist...DAYUM was she ever RED evawhere it counted. I'm sure the gals eventually caught on, but they never failed to take a Great Shower the whole Semester..& we Future Lifeguards sure enjoyed taking that course!

No Lives were altered..or lost. Not EVERY Guy raced to the holes in the wall, either..tho admittedly, we-uns DID make fun of 'em a bit.

Gotta Scoot. Hope you're feelin' healthier today, & don't be afraid to hug a Guy now-&-then---the Europeans do it daily!

Big Guy-Hug,
Stan