"Shivering from the cold is a gay thing": A girl posted a list of "gay traits" in men. All hell broke loose in the comments.

Guys, let’s take a quick test to see if we’re gay. Turns out, just sleeping with guys isn’t enough to be gay these days. Now, to be worthy of flying the rainbow flag, you have to be shivering from the cold or drinking plant-based milk. At any rate, that's what @alika.sandra thinks; she posted a viral message on Threads, after which a massive online debate about "masculinity" erupted.

How It All Began

Threads User wrote A list of "gay-style" male habits that seems ironic at first glance but is actually quite harsh. Her list appears to parody toxic masculine stereotypes.

In gay terms:
1. Not knowing how to handle meat
2. Skinny pants
3. Take pictures of food
4. Don't hold the door open for a girl
5. The Present “I/Me”
6. Not knowing much about cars
7. Jump into the water and hold your nose
8. Alternative milk
9. The machine won't automatically clean the pomegranate or pomelo for you
10. Be picky
11. To take offense
12. Ask my husband to come over for an hour
13. To shiver from the cold
14. Talk only about yourself
15. Not knowing how to set up a tent
16. Start with a lowercase letter
17. Take photos using the camera settings
18. Your joke hurt his feelings
19. Lives with her mother after turning 30

Reactions on social media: from outrage to support

Reactions to the post were mixed. Some users found the list absurd and outdated, pointing out how stereotypical it was. “So what, are we not allowed to shiver from the cold anymore? I’m freezing, and I don’t care what it looks like,” wrote one commenter on X. Others saw the list as satire and began adding their own “signs” in a playful manner, such as “drinking tea without sugar” or “wearing socks with sandals.”

However, there were also those who unexpectedly agreed with some of the points. For example, the point about “not knowing how to handle meat” sparked a wave of comments along the lines of: “Well, if a guy can’t cook a steak, that’s really suspicious.” Such reactions underscore how deeply rooted stereotypes about “true masculinity”—linked to traditional roles, such as knowing how to cook meat or understand cars—are.

@sldtv.alex replied her:

In a degenerate way:
1. Make lists “the gay way” while living in 2025
2. Being afraid of plant-based milk
3. Measuring masculinity by how much meat one eats
4. Be sure that the tent is an indicator of gender
5. Consider that "taking pictures of food" is an orientation
6. To be bothered by someone else's nose in the water
7. Getting offended by jokes while you're still joking—just like on KVN in 2003
8. Be afraid of lowercase letters, but not small brains
9. Believe that if a man is cold, he is gay, not a person

@k.nstantine:

I'm gay, but:
1. I know how to cook meat
2. I don't wear tight pants
3. I don't take pictures of food—unless it's my boyfriend's culinary masterpiece
4. I always hold the door open
5. I have no fucking idea what this is…
6. So what? Is that just a natural part of being straight?
7. So what? Am I supposed to choke or put up with the pain of water running up my nose?
8. I don't drink milk
9. Do you even understand what's written here?
10. … this is called a conversation and an assessment of the situation
11. That's never happened before. Especially in a relationship.

Stereotypes and Their Consequences

@alika.sandra's list—even if it is just for fun (Doberman на это надеется)...touches on a sensitive topic—gender expectations. Points like “don’t hold the door open for a girl” or “not knowing how to pitch a tent” refer to traditional notions of what a “real man” should be like. These stereotypes, although presented in an ironic way, can increase pressure on men, forcing them to conform to outdated norms.

Criticism of the list mainly centered on the fact that it mocks not sexual orientation, but deviation from masculine standards. "Just call it a 'non-macho list' instead of 'signs of being gay.' It's not about sexual orientation; it's about how society wants to see men.", — wrote one of the X users. At the same time, some of the audience viewed the post as a provocation intended to stir up conflict, rather than as a joke.

Why Is This Important?

This situation is more than just a Twitter spat. It raises questions about how social media reinforces stereotypes while also providing a platform for discussing them. @alika.sandra’s post served as a mirror reflecting both deep-rooted prejudices and attempts to rethink them. Users’ reactions show that society is still grappling with how to define masculinity and what to consider “normal.”

Furthermore, the post’s virality demonstrates the power of social media in shaping public opinion. A single tongue-in-cheek list sparked thousands of comments, memes, and even self-reflection—“But I really do take pictures of my food—does that mean I’m on the list now?” This suggests that even absurd posts can prompt serious reflection.