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Tennessee Lt. Gov Liked Even More pictures and posts From Gay Men, Trans Women
Last edited Sat Mar 11, 2023, 09:23 PM - Edit history (1)
After leading the Tennessee state senate as it passed laws this year banning gender-affirming care for minors and all-ages drag performances, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R) faced charges of hypocrisy earlier this week when he was caught leaving admiring comments on nude Instagram photos of a gay Knoxville man.
But McNally’s interest in barely clothed pictures of members of the LGBTQ community doesn’t stop with that Knoxville man, Franklyn McClur. The lieutenant governor has “liked” shirtless and swimsuit pictures of gay men and transgender women for years, according to the Instagram activity of McNally’s official verified account reviewed by The Daily Beast.
For example, McNally has liked a number of Instagram pictures of a Texas man in a tight-fitting swimsuit. The man told The Daily Beast in Instagram messages that he didn’t know McNally personally, but that the politician had been interacting with his social media accounts for years.
“He has been liking my photos on Facebook since 2020,” the man told The Daily Beast in an Instagram direct message. “I’m not sure where he first saw me online.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tennessee-lt-gov-liked-even-more-thirst-traps-from-gay-men-trans-women/ar-AA18u78B
40 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
a negative spin using a very sensitive subject (trans people) as the overall definition really bothers me as an LGBTQ (I am a lesbian) person myself. I am a 26yo Millennial/Gen Z cusper (Zillennial), who has seen the tern used hundreds (thousands?) of times over the past 10, 12 years on social media and in articles, rarely, if ever, applied as some sort of slating of the trans community. This redefining (as a pejorative term against trans or other LGBTQ people) attempt for DU is problematic at best. It is not at all accurate.
From The Today Show on NBC:
What is a thirst trap — and some celebs who nailed it
If these celebrities can do it, you can too!
https://www.today.com/popculture/popculture/what-is-a-thirst-trap-rcna13673
Jenna Bush Hager tries her hand at taking a thirst trap.Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Ah, the thirst trap: the social media post that makes your comment section blow up with the likes of "you're so hot" "🔥🔥🔥" and "OKKKK." Jenna Bush Hager shot her first thirst trap on Wednesday to celebrate hitting 1 million followers on the Hoda & Jenna Instagram account — but she's got plenty of company.
A thirst trap, in the most formal of definitions, is a sexy or flirty photo meant to elicit a viewer's attention. When you break down the phrase, it makes a little more sense: you're trying to trap someone into admitting their thirst (attraction) to you because of your jaw-dropping post (or, posts. We aren't judging.) A thirst trap is always clearly posted or sent for the attention and admiration of one or more people — but is often done coyly enough that it airs more on the side of flirty than explicit. (Usually.)
How does one take a thirst trap?
You might put on the perfect outfit and give your look some extra oomph. Or a thirst trap could be au naturale, giving off an "effortlessly hot" effect. Examples of things that may help you achieve this: golden hour lighting, being fresh off the beach, a post-workout selfie or a "no-makeup" makeup look. But, more than anything, a thirst trap is all about being confident — because as we know, there's nothing hotter than being your authentic self. In case you need some physical examples of what a thirst trap may look like, we've rounded up some celebrities who've mastered the art of the thirst trap — and some of them may surprise you.
snip
Jennifer Lopez
JLo, our favorite triple threat, posted this saucy photo of her by the pool (sensing a theme?). There's no denying — JLo does, and always will, look amazing. We're convinced she doesn't age at all.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Tmh71Jq5E/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8dc748e6-3f06-4f6e-8f32-fd4463f19795
If these celebrities can do it, you can too!
https://www.today.com/popculture/popculture/what-is-a-thirst-trap-rcna13673
Jenna Bush Hager tries her hand at taking a thirst trap.Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Ah, the thirst trap: the social media post that makes your comment section blow up with the likes of "you're so hot" "🔥🔥🔥" and "OKKKK." Jenna Bush Hager shot her first thirst trap on Wednesday to celebrate hitting 1 million followers on the Hoda & Jenna Instagram account — but she's got plenty of company.
A thirst trap, in the most formal of definitions, is a sexy or flirty photo meant to elicit a viewer's attention. When you break down the phrase, it makes a little more sense: you're trying to trap someone into admitting their thirst (attraction) to you because of your jaw-dropping post (or, posts. We aren't judging.) A thirst trap is always clearly posted or sent for the attention and admiration of one or more people — but is often done coyly enough that it airs more on the side of flirty than explicit. (Usually.)
How does one take a thirst trap?
You might put on the perfect outfit and give your look some extra oomph. Or a thirst trap could be au naturale, giving off an "effortlessly hot" effect. Examples of things that may help you achieve this: golden hour lighting, being fresh off the beach, a post-workout selfie or a "no-makeup" makeup look. But, more than anything, a thirst trap is all about being confident — because as we know, there's nothing hotter than being your authentic self. In case you need some physical examples of what a thirst trap may look like, we've rounded up some celebrities who've mastered the art of the thirst trap — and some of them may surprise you.
snip
Jennifer Lopez
JLo, our favorite triple threat, posted this saucy photo of her by the pool (sensing a theme?). There's no denying — JLo does, and always will, look amazing. We're convinced she doesn't age at all.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Tmh71Jq5E/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8dc748e6-3f06-4f6e-8f32-fd4463f19795
more
Wikipedia (which is moderated)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirst_trap
Thirst trap
A thirst trap is a type of social media post intended to entice viewers sexually. It refers to a viewer's "thirst", a colloquialism likening sexual frustration to dehydration, implying desperation, with the afflicted individual being described as "thirsty." Originating around the early 2010s, the meaning has changed over time.
History
Thirst trap culture was derived from selfie culture. The term thirst trap emerged on Twitter and Urban Dictionary in 2011, and throughout the years as the rise of Snapchat, Instagram, and online dating apps such as Tinder. In 2011, it was defined by Urban Dictionary as "any statement used to intentionally create attention or 'thirst'." In 2018, it was reported to have entered common usage, as media sources including The New York Times and GQ started using the expression without definition.
Usage of the term
Often, the term thirst trap describes an attractive picture of an individual that they post online. Thirst trap can also describe a digital heartthrob. For instance, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has been described as a political thirst trap. It has also been described as a modern form of "fishing for compliments".
Motivation
There can be several motivations behind thirst trapping. People can seek "likes" and comments on social media which can provide a temporary boost in self-esteem and validation. Posting a thirst trap can also be a way to express sexuality. Thirst traps can contribute to personal branding as well. Sometimes, there can be a financial benefit for sharing thirst traps. Some post thirst traps as a way to cope with emotional distress, such as after a breakup. Furthermore, these images can be used to spite a former lover. Sharing a thirst trap has also been used as a way to connect in times of social isolation (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic). From a physiological standpoint, endorphins and neurotransmitters like oxytocin and dopamine can be released with the process of sharing thirst traps, leading to a sense of pleasure and an ambiguous or masturbatory alternative for actual physical sexual contact.
Thirst trap
A thirst trap is a type of social media post intended to entice viewers sexually. It refers to a viewer's "thirst", a colloquialism likening sexual frustration to dehydration, implying desperation, with the afflicted individual being described as "thirsty." Originating around the early 2010s, the meaning has changed over time.
History
Thirst trap culture was derived from selfie culture. The term thirst trap emerged on Twitter and Urban Dictionary in 2011, and throughout the years as the rise of Snapchat, Instagram, and online dating apps such as Tinder. In 2011, it was defined by Urban Dictionary as "any statement used to intentionally create attention or 'thirst'." In 2018, it was reported to have entered common usage, as media sources including The New York Times and GQ started using the expression without definition.
Usage of the term
Often, the term thirst trap describes an attractive picture of an individual that they post online. Thirst trap can also describe a digital heartthrob. For instance, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has been described as a political thirst trap. It has also been described as a modern form of "fishing for compliments".
Motivation
There can be several motivations behind thirst trapping. People can seek "likes" and comments on social media which can provide a temporary boost in self-esteem and validation. Posting a thirst trap can also be a way to express sexuality. Thirst traps can contribute to personal branding as well. Sometimes, there can be a financial benefit for sharing thirst traps. Some post thirst traps as a way to cope with emotional distress, such as after a breakup. Furthermore, these images can be used to spite a former lover. Sharing a thirst trap has also been used as a way to connect in times of social isolation (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic). From a physiological standpoint, endorphins and neurotransmitters like oxytocin and dopamine can be released with the process of sharing thirst traps, leading to a sense of pleasure and an ambiguous or masturbatory alternative for actual physical sexual contact.
from Parade Magazine:
Here’s What a Thirst Trap Actually Is—and How To Decide if You Should Post One
Psychotherapists sound off.
https://parade.com/health/what-is-a-thirst-trap
Remember when Instagram mostly consisted of food photos? These days, your feed is more likely to be populated with friends’ selfies than an artfully arranged plate of avocado toast. There are a few different types of selfies you’re likely to encounter on social media. There’s the healthy selfie (taken after a workout or holding a smoothie), the beach selfie (particularly painful to see when you are most definitely not on vacation), the plane selfie (best taken when not crammed into a middle seat) ... then, there’s the thirst trap.
“A thirst trap is a photo posted on social media or sent to someone with the intent of gaining or sparking interest,” says psychotherapist Tiffany Rowland, LCSW. Thirst traps can be subtly suggestive or overtly sexy, but in either case, they are meant to seduce. Knowing the psychology of thirst traps—including the type of attention they can attract as well as how they can impact the selfie-taker’s own mental health—is key for deciding if posting one is actually a good idea or not. Before you saunter over to your bathroom mirror to perfect a flirty pout, find out what therapists think of them.
What Is the Purpose of a Thirst Trap?
Simply put, the purpose of a thirst trap is to get attention. “The thirst is the need or craving for attraction and the trap is used to lure one in to provide the wanted attention,” Rowland says. She says that people who crave attention or validation are most likely to post thirst traps or find a purpose in posting them. “A thirst trap isn’t gender-specific, it’s more of a desire to be chosen or wanted by others,” she says.
Someone posts a thirst trap because they want to be desired. While this is not innately a bad thing, Rowland says that there are some drawbacks to posting them on social media. One is that you can’t control who they may attract (or “trap”). You may post a thirst trap in hopes of catching the attention of someone specific, but if it’s shared publicly, others are able to view it too, such as your colleagues, family members, frenemies, or a creepy person who then proceeds to send you inappropriate DMs. Any of this can lead to regretting posting something seductive.
snip
Psychotherapists sound off.
https://parade.com/health/what-is-a-thirst-trap
Remember when Instagram mostly consisted of food photos? These days, your feed is more likely to be populated with friends’ selfies than an artfully arranged plate of avocado toast. There are a few different types of selfies you’re likely to encounter on social media. There’s the healthy selfie (taken after a workout or holding a smoothie), the beach selfie (particularly painful to see when you are most definitely not on vacation), the plane selfie (best taken when not crammed into a middle seat) ... then, there’s the thirst trap.
“A thirst trap is a photo posted on social media or sent to someone with the intent of gaining or sparking interest,” says psychotherapist Tiffany Rowland, LCSW. Thirst traps can be subtly suggestive or overtly sexy, but in either case, they are meant to seduce. Knowing the psychology of thirst traps—including the type of attention they can attract as well as how they can impact the selfie-taker’s own mental health—is key for deciding if posting one is actually a good idea or not. Before you saunter over to your bathroom mirror to perfect a flirty pout, find out what therapists think of them.
What Is the Purpose of a Thirst Trap?
Simply put, the purpose of a thirst trap is to get attention. “The thirst is the need or craving for attraction and the trap is used to lure one in to provide the wanted attention,” Rowland says. She says that people who crave attention or validation are most likely to post thirst traps or find a purpose in posting them. “A thirst trap isn’t gender-specific, it’s more of a desire to be chosen or wanted by others,” she says.
Someone posts a thirst trap because they want to be desired. While this is not innately a bad thing, Rowland says that there are some drawbacks to posting them on social media. One is that you can’t control who they may attract (or “trap”). You may post a thirst trap in hopes of catching the attention of someone specific, but if it’s shared publicly, others are able to view it too, such as your colleagues, family members, frenemies, or a creepy person who then proceeds to send you inappropriate DMs. Any of this can lead to regretting posting something seductive.
snip
see this NPR audio interview, I post a portion the transcript for the hearing impaired, the full audio and full transcript are at the link:
'Thirst Trap' Enters The Lexicon
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/17/603093415/thrist-trap-enters-the-lexicon
Transcript: NOEL KING, HOST: The Internet has given rise to lots of new terms and phrases. One of them recently caught the ear of NPR's Neda Ulaby.
snip
ULABY: I asked an editor at Merriam-Webster about the origins of thirst trap. Peter Sokolowski had just started following it as a phrase of interest.
SOKOLOWSKI: In English, we've always used the word thirsty in some way to reflect desire. It was usually religious - you know, thirsty for salvation, thirsty for knowledge of God.
ULABY: Thirst, lust - it makes sense, says Sokolowski, that thirst traps started showing up on Twitter and Urban Dictionary in 2011, right along with the rise of Instagram, Snapchat and dating apps like Tinder.
SOKOLOWSKI: Thirst is physical. It's elemental. It's among the most basic of human needs, of course.
ULABY: Lexicographers relish the chance to watch a term like thirst trap evolve in real time over social media. Now it's also used to mean a heartthrob. For example, Sokolowski quotes a GQ article about the prime minister of Canada.
SOKOLOWSKI: Justin Trudeau's not just a thoughtful and empathetic leader. He's also an A-plus thirst trap.
ULABY: We're beginning to see thirst trap in places like GQ and The New York Times without definition or gloss, so don't expect one the next time you hear the words thirst trap on NPR.
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/17/603093415/thrist-trap-enters-the-lexicon
Transcript: NOEL KING, HOST: The Internet has given rise to lots of new terms and phrases. One of them recently caught the ear of NPR's Neda Ulaby.
snip
ULABY: I asked an editor at Merriam-Webster about the origins of thirst trap. Peter Sokolowski had just started following it as a phrase of interest.
SOKOLOWSKI: In English, we've always used the word thirsty in some way to reflect desire. It was usually religious - you know, thirsty for salvation, thirsty for knowledge of God.
ULABY: Thirst, lust - it makes sense, says Sokolowski, that thirst traps started showing up on Twitter and Urban Dictionary in 2011, right along with the rise of Instagram, Snapchat and dating apps like Tinder.
SOKOLOWSKI: Thirst is physical. It's elemental. It's among the most basic of human needs, of course.
ULABY: Lexicographers relish the chance to watch a term like thirst trap evolve in real time over social media. Now it's also used to mean a heartthrob. For example, Sokolowski quotes a GQ article about the prime minister of Canada.
SOKOLOWSKI: Justin Trudeau's not just a thoughtful and empathetic leader. He's also an A-plus thirst trap.
ULABY: We're beginning to see thirst trap in places like GQ and The New York Times without definition or gloss, so don't expect one the next time you hear the words thirst trap on NPR.
Just to try and turn things around and quiet me.
I also see that you say LGBTQ rather than trans. Are you trans? Seems weird you keep on bringing ”LGBTQ” up but not being “trans.”
I avoid saying trans for myself because 1) I have adolescent onset gender dysphoria which is controversial and can be confused with the BS that is ROGD and 2) I am not far into getting HRT. I am, however, asexual, which is also LGBTQ+
Not that it gives either of us any legitimacy over the other. But you bring it up so it must be important to you as you “explain” trans-ness to me.
You are removing half of the term (thirst) from 'thirst trap', and then trying to use the standalone 'trap' (which has a different context then used alone) as a conflation tool.
Do you think that a transphobe will care about any of that and not use the term with both meanings?
You also are trying to erect some sort of zone wherein you remove any sort of normal agency from trans people when they engage in behaviours that all other groups do (ie, posting sexy pics in this case).
No, I am pointing out how calling trans people “trap” is problematic and asking the OP to use a different term.
Trans people are just as human as anyone else, they have the same sorts of desire for interaction, the same sort of motivations (non nefarious) for many, many things that all other groups have. Yet you want to reduce them to sort of automatons, who just do things without any basic human motivations.
The vast majority of trans people are just like anyone else, they want to be desired, they want to be seen as attractive, they like positive attention, and many (like all groups now do) post sexy pics. When these pics are posted by ANY person, they are commonly called, by tens (hundreds?) of millions, 'thirst traps'. Yet you are trying to erase basic human motivations for doing so from just one group, that being trans people.
The vast majority of trans people are just like anyone else, they want to be desired, they want to be seen as attractive, they like positive attention, and many (like all groups now do) post sexy pics. When these pics are posted by ANY person, they are commonly called, by tens (hundreds?) of millions, 'thirst traps'. Yet you are trying to erase basic human motivations for doing so from just one group, that being trans people.
Do keep telling me what it is like to be trans. My gender dysphoria addled brain apparently keeps me from understanding…
As for my motivation, thank you for telling me what it is. You with your psychic powers know what my motivation is better than me.
I thought I was asking someone not to use a word because it CAN and has been used as a slur. No, no. You know my intentions better than me.
I also see no inherent (to leave the trans-only sphere) generalised homophobia whatsoever in having a pic called a thirst trap. Millions of cis straight people have their pics called that, why shouldn't we queer folk have the same thing done. True acceptance and equality is when we are treated like everyone else, regardless of our orientation. If my sister (cis straight) and I both post 'kini pics on Insta, am I to believe that when both of us get labelled as posting 'thirst traps' that the comments on hers are ok, but the ones about mine are somehow homophobic?
The homophobia is when it is used with a trans person. As it means to trick/trap a straight person into “being gay.”
Finally,
I take offence as an LGBTQ person because this type of selective word policing and pejorative re-definitioning is using us queer folk as weapon, a cudgel, to promote an inaccurate stance via problematic methodology. We are then turned around and attacked for it, scapegoated, which I am bloody well sick of.
I take offence as an LGBTQ person because this type of selective word policing and pejorative re-definitioning is using us queer folk as weapon, a cudgel, to promote an inaccurate stance via problematic methodology. We are then turned around and attacked for it, scapegoated, which I am bloody well sick of.
I am sorry you feel so offended that I asked someone not to use a term that is used as a slur referring to trans people. I am sorry you are attacked by bigots because others ask them not be bigoted.
I am not sorry for asking people to not use slurs.
Response to BlueWaveNeverEnd (Original post)
