Here’s something that I don’t talk about very often.
On one hand, I absolutely love being shirtless. If you talk to any of me friends, they’ll confirm what you know from watching my videos: I almost never wear clothes – even in the middle of winter.
On the other hand, gay culture is incredibly body-conscious – and not necessarily in a healthy way. I often think about how, though my shirtless YouTube videos, I may be participating in that. And, as someone who believes in the value of inner beauty, might my shirtless antics come across as hypocritical?
For me, it really comes down to celebrating both the inside AND the outside. Yes, your inner beauty is awesome and amazing. But these human bodies are glorious, too. Embracing the inside doesn’t mean being ashamed of the outside. I want to celebrate both – and that’s exactly what I do in today’s talky blog.
Enjoy.
January 26, 2012 at 10:57 am
defo keep the shirt off, love you, ur sooo funny too xx
January 26, 2012 at 11:01 am
Davey, Stay Shirtless! I am one that was attracted to your vids because of that beautiful body! I just wish we could really see all of you on video sometime. I KNOW A TOTALLY NUDE WORKOUT VID.
January 26, 2012 at 11:06 am
i totally understand the no tolerance for heat. I am the exact same way. (driving in a car during winter with other people kills me, they’re freezing and I’m getting nauseous from the heat.)
being who you truly are is ultimately what is going to make people happy in life. so let them haters hate.
January 26, 2012 at 11:30 am
Keep it off. I started following the blog because of the fitness stuff… not kidding… I am straight but enjoy the entertainment.
January 26, 2012 at 11:57 am
Davey, I keep thinking about that blog you did the other month where you had that nice button-up shirt on, and you looked AMAZING in that! I would mix it up a bit (since you asked what we all thought), and usually go shirtless, but sometimes wear a nice button-up shirt (no, tank tops don’t count). It’s good to keep us blog-buddies guessing…helps keep the spark in the relationship.
January 26, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Modesty is sexier. I think in an age where everyone takes their clothes off to grab attention, your message would be more credible if you wore clothes. You’re absolutely right that loving the inside and outside are equally important, but gay culture promotes a rudimentary and rigid definition of attractiveness, and like most gay men, you have bought into it.
January 26, 2012 at 3:28 pm
+1.
January 26, 2012 at 12:28 pm
John from NYC here. Definitely keep being yourself. You’re obviously doing something right, both at the gym and in business and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. And like you said, it’s about the overall message, that’s what keeps people coming back. Shirt or no shirt, I’m with ya! Keep up the good work.
January 26, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I was very self conscious about my body for years since I was about 50 pounds overweight. Until I was working on a cruise line. One of the perks of the job was when the ship was in port we were able to leave the ship and explore the port. While we were cruising the islands, this meant beaches. I would be sitting there with my shirt on trying to have a good time with everyone else. That was until a gorgeous person, both on the outside and on the inside, said to me that I didn’t have to be shy about my body. It was the person inside that everyone liked. Ever since that day, I have never been ashamed of my body. I’m working on loosing the weight but I don’t let that define me in the slightest. Beside that just means there’s a whole lot more of this great person to love.
January 26, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Variety is the spice of life. A bulging brief can be as erotic as a naked c**k shot, and a tight tee gripping your sexy torso and inviting the imagination to roam might provide a welcome change of pace for your audience.
January 26, 2012 at 1:06 pm
I was attracted to your shirtless thumbnail. However, as you rightly pointed out, I only came back for more because you have such an amazing personality.
Just keep being who you are – shirtless or shirt-on. I also agree with Jon that you did look really spiffy with that button-up shirt.
Wishing you much Love and Light
January 26, 2012 at 1:19 pm
When I first started watching your videos I would click out. Now I always watch to the very end. The ends are hilarious. Oh and do what you want. If you want to wear a shirt. Wear a shirt for gay Pete’s sake. If you don’t want to wear a shirt, FREE YOUR TITTIES!!!
January 26, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Davey- I’ve watched your videos countless times, they’ve helped me get grades in most of my essays that we were given free reign over. From Gay Pride to Gay Marriage, you’ve done nothing but inspire me.
Keeping your shirt off does advertise how aware you are that you look good and the fitness channel is clearly all looking good and feeling good- but I guess it also shows you are accepting of how you look. You don’t care about being seen with few clothes and you’re an exhibitionist which involves being happy in yourself. Which you are! I’m happy you care about how you come across, it shows you’re even more awesome than I thought.
Much love from the UK!
January 26, 2012 at 1:31 pm
You use sex to sell your blog. I think its totally justified even if you were completely not selfish. You bring a lot of people in for sexual content but then they see your bigger message. In addition, its also practical, you wouldn’t make enough to live on if you didn’t have the sexual content.
January 26, 2012 at 1:48 pm
It is amazing seeing how your upper body–pecs, shoulders, and arms–appears to have stayed flawless now for the several years you have been doing your videos, and your skin is without blemish–and I don’t just mean no zits. It looks to me like the genes you were born with, your hard work in the gym (and skill and knowledge as a professional trainer), and surely perfect discipline in terms of your diet, allow for a near-perfect body. Your beautiful face, eyes, smile, and hair add to your handsomeness. I think it’s safe to say that you could be a porn star in an instant, if you wanted to. Even if you never said anything, your appearance is a total turn-on for us gay guys who naturally are so visually turned-on. (That’s true for straight guys too, of course; it’s a “guy thing.”) Would you have such a large following if your thought-provoking and/or inspiring messages weren’t backed-up by the hot visuals? Do I need to answer that question?
I am 100% with you on wanting to celebrate BOTH the outside and the inside, and I know from personal experience how tied together the two are for me individually. I also know from personal experience that even when in the summer (beach time!) I try to have my body fat under 10%, there’s no guarantee that anybody will care at all about my inner beauty, and since I’m over 30, a lot of gay guys don’t even care about my “outer beauty” at this point, even though I work hard at it! There are a lot of “bears” in my city–some overweight and some downright obese–who often keep the crowd laughing (at least those in the crowd who will acknowledge them), but when you really talk with them, you know they aren’t doing so well on the inside (a trait which often pushes others away, I think), and I think a poorly kept outside often reflects how they really are on the inside.
Since, as you say, “gay culture is incredibly body conscious–and not necessarily in a healthy way,” and you’re wondering if your shirtless videos add to a one-sided view that is so prevalent in the gay community and are maybe hypocritical, I would suggest you consider wearing a shirt sometimes. (And hey, a hunky guy in beautiful clothes is also a wonderful turn-on….) Maybe even do more videos talking about the unhealthy way the gay community values physical beauty often to the total exclusion of inner beauty, which not only hurts individuals, but also makes many gay people come off as very shallow and mean.
January 26, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Do not put a shirt on…..
I love to see you without a shirt, because you motivate me to workout and diet. If you stop I will not be motivated to look like you.
Thanks
Ozzy Sanz
January 26, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Okay, I agree totally with you but. . . I have a desire to keep America Beautiful. I mean Orson Wells in a thong?! I applaud the people that can just walk around not caring but I am NOT one of those. (I’m shy to begin with.)This chest has not seen sunlight in decades although I sunburn just thinking of the sun. Besides I have a contract with the EPA. There was this thing about me outside shirtless, a plane flying over, the pilot getting blinded by the glare, almost a huge loss of life, distruction, etc. So the shirt stays on. But I have found myself wandering my apartment sans pants. Well, my apartment IS on the ground floor next to the door from the parking lot and I owe my neighbors a little respect.
But keep it up, Davey. (Not that!) I mean showing your complete self. Eyes can be sexual organs, too. And they CRAVE beauty. I don’t know how I would cope if I could no longer look. It is the only thing I have. Well, maybe someday. There are a lot of “Living Works of Art” out there. That is a gallery I will never tire of. Now if I could only find the petting zoo!
January 26, 2012 at 3:29 pm
I dig the humor, man! I used some of that myself, if you followed the Best Sex Tips blog entry.
January 26, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Davey,
As long as you maintain that delicious sense of humor on your video blogs, you could be wearing a burka as far as I am concerned.
Of course, a little eye candy never hurts. And it no doubt leads people to your larger message.
January 26, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Don’t you dare wear any outfit!!! Being half naked is your brand!! I hope this is all joke…
January 26, 2012 at 5:43 pm
BTW Davey, I’d love to give you a thumbs-up on this (and many other) talky blogs, but in order to do that I’d have to join Facebook. There is no way I am going to further enrich Mark Zuckerberg — even if only by a penny or two.
January 26, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Shirtless or not, people will keep watching you anyway because you’re hot.
And it’s only the hot people that can preach about “inner beauty,” no matter how sincere they may be about it.
Those that don’t have the outer beauty know its value.
January 26, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Keep on keeping on. We love you!
January 27, 2012 at 12:54 am
Why ask us to vote, thumbs up / thumbs down, if nothing is going to change?
I speak as someone who found your youtube channels, blog and blog TV, through searching topics on youtube. I clicked on that first thumb nail to view that first video because of it’s title, or subject heading. I certainly did not click on it merely because it was some guy without a shirt on talking.
I continued to explore your channels, watching the videos because I found you as a person to be very engaging. I found your thoughts and opinions to be thought provoking. I found them educational and I found them funny. I subscribed because I felt the person on the screen was genuine and spoke from the heart. This is the same reason I subscribed to other channels and partake of other peoples videos.
To me, it wouldn’t have mattered what you looked like or what you wore. If I didn’t like the message or found something offensive, I’d have never continued watching. I’d never have subscribed and I certainly wouldn’t be participating in this, your blog.
I didn’t realise there was a philosophy behind your being shirtless. Sure, I was intiqued by your “dress code”, or lack there of. I did wonder why you had done the majority of your videos shirtless. I figured you were in your own home making videos for fun and to communicate with the world, much like everyone else who operates a youtube channel. I had no idea it had become your primary occupation.
You have made the effort to dress up when we blog buddies felt it was appropriate, like you did in your coming out video message to people to send to their parents, “Mom & Dad: I Have A Secret”. Unlike your other videos, this one was much deeper and far more serious. Everyone commended you on both the message and the presenation. I feel it has proven beyond doubt that your message touches people regardless of what you wear.
As a side note, I suggested this video be moved to the “Outstories” channel for two reasons.
1. I felt it would fit better there. I felt, and still feel, recipients of the video would see these people’s coming out stories and perhaps see there own children in those people.
2. The shirtless in the thumb nails was a part, but the main reason were “titles” that accompanied this video on the right hand side. Titles like: “Single and Ready to Make Your Anus Tingle”; “Gay Sex Tips”; “How To Get Laid Online” were just some of the selections that appeared. Not all of these were your videos, but confronting non-the-less for any parent sent the link to have to see.
I’m sure you, Davey, saw my earlier comments with regard to this and the above is the reason I made them.
I resent the insinuation that the only reason I was ever interested in your videos, or “Talkyblogs” is because you’re shirtless in them. I’m not that shallow!
I can’t believe this is an issue. You’ve said many times that “What other people think of me is none of my business”. It would appear that by making this video you have read what people have had to say about your “dress code” and then chose to make it your business. It is my belief that this latest “talkyblog” wouldn’t have been made otherwise. Now, by asking us to “thumbs up / thumbs down”, you are further inviting people to offer up their opinions. In the same breath you then immediately dismiss them, which begs the question “what’s the point of this video?” It wold appear you are trying to justify yourself to the world.
I put it to you that you are, perhaps, not as comfortable about the whole issue of nudity as you have suggested with this video either. I recall a very recent video / talkyblog about “being aroused in the shower”, and your self conscious embarassment about it.
You have to admit, it’s been a great marketing tool for the fitness program, your appearing in these blogs shirtless. Hasn’t it?
Regardless, I’m pleased that you have found peace with both your inner and outer appearances. That you have a great relationship with your body and feel no self consciousness in letting the world see it. I’m sure that wasn’t always the case, I’ve read some of your history (about being overweight and all). If we could all achieve that, if I could achieve that, I know I’d be much happier. But I do have to call into question one’s love for one’s body when it is being “potentially” used as a tool for “self promotion” – allegedy.
I posted on a previous blog topic, when someone mentioned certain photos of you that I was not only “not” interested in seeing them, but expressed my hope they are taken down. I posted that you are not just another “piece of arse / ass” and that ” your personality is between your ears, not between your legs”. I believe this is true of everyone. It’s the old, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
If “tits” are a dime a dozen on the internet Davey, then why indeed do we even need to see yours? They’re just another set of “tits” really, aren’t they?
Anyway, I’ve vented my spleen enough. I hope you see where I’m coming from and that your appearance on youtube is of no consequence to me. I’d prefer not to see you in drag again, but that’s just me.
Chin up young person!
ps: As for those people who suggest you go “naked” in future talkyblogs if you don’t care much for clothing. It’s Youtube, not X-tube.
January 27, 2012 at 12:58 am
I once saw a play–Bill T. Jone’s “Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin/ The Promised Land” in which all the actors were nude. There were so many different body types and ages that after a while you didn’t notice the secondary characteristics–well, there was one really hot guy–but my point is that, if we were all naked, we would quit noticing quite a lot. I have a dream of seeing us become like some Robert Heinlein novel, a totally clothing optional society. Keep up the good fight, Davey.
January 27, 2012 at 1:03 am
@Davey Wavey”,@Everyone:
Davey,in the long run,I don’t think whether you’re shirtless or not,much matters_____No offense,but physically,you’re not my type:I value BTI for the topics you bring up & and as a very active forum .
You,do have a point about the body hang-up,though,and I confess to spending too much time with some youtube vids [especially anything from Angeyonn,Sloane1,or JJ Prods.]_looking,rather than living.
January 27, 2012 at 7:00 am
Whoever wrote this is a f*****g fake. I am the real bill(Guillermo3). The truth is your nipples are too spread out.
January 27, 2012 at 10:36 am
I’m sorry. Your BTI identity has been taken “real” bill(Guillermo3) and yet your focus is Davey’s nipples. I’m sure even he finds this funny.
The true bill(Guillermo3) does not have a hyperlink to another site accompaning his pen name. I’ll testify to that.
Get your own call sign other bill!
January 29, 2012 at 12:23 am
@ Everyone – The bill(Guillermo3) in “Blue Type” is the original, one and only, and “real” bill(Guillermo3). It appears I have my wires crossed here and I want you all to know.
Apologies to the real bill(Guillermo3)!!!
As for the fraud – my point stands. You focus on Davey’s “nipples” is hilarious!
January 27, 2012 at 1:37 am
Really Davey?! that’s your question?
Buddy the reason you get our attention is because your shirtless (and cute) …. your message comes second to that.
If you were fully clothed and not as pretty you’d hardly have any followers.
KEEP IT OFF!
xx Jaguar
January 27, 2012 at 3:36 am
Music can say so much. This, I think is what we are talking about. SO wonderful and tender.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMKxnYRhk6I
January 27, 2012 at 5:47 am
As you say, we cannot be hypocrital. Most come here because you are a very handsome man. No doubt about it. Outside beauty is instant and easy. But keeping this blog and being a dinamic person notes that you have much more important powers that the most visibles…
The fact is that everybody lose as time goes the outside beauty, but keeping the inner beauty is a long time challenge. Hay una cita que dice: una persona joven bonita es un accidente de la naturaleza. Una persona adulta bonita es una obra de arte. I am sure that you are an “inner” beauty person. Please keep it.
January 27, 2012 at 7:02 am
Hey davey,I would love to see you do a total work out in the buff then work it out totally! Love ya davey and all you do.
January 27, 2012 at 11:02 am
I’m sick of all these “more nudity” requests. Ooh Davey we love you but we’d love you more if you could be more naked. Would you mind peeling off your skin for future videos please?
I’m truly disgusted by these innane requests. Clearly there’s no true beauty to these voyeurs.
You want throught provoking nudity, try watching the “naked news”! Headlines for your information, bare flesh for your titilation.
I personally would prefer Davey don a Berka for a series of videos rather than entertain these “sick” requests. This is a blog, not a porn site! Go find someplace else to j******f!
January 27, 2012 at 11:05 am
I’m so caught up in my own sarcasm I invented a new world “throught”. Please replace with “thought”. D’oh!
January 27, 2012 at 7:54 pm
He has donned a Berka before in the ‘Compliments for Strangers’ video and it’s one of the least watched video’s on this blog (I love it though, awesome cinematography)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3_c2Ae0kCI
January 28, 2012 at 3:07 am
Technically that was a hoodie with a mask not a Berka. If 60, 000 plus views is the least popular, then it certainly reached a lot of people.
I love it to. I regard it more as a short film rather than a regular blog post. Afterall, Davey doesn’t speak.
I feel that you have illustrated my point perfectly by pointing this blog post out. Thanks.
January 27, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Jaguar,
Re: Davey wearing a burka. Close, but no cigar. That’s a hoodie with a partial face mask. And his legs, while clothed, are “exposed” to the point where you can tell they are actual legs! If DW were a woman in Afghanistan he would be stoned to death.
January 28, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Hi,
I only briefly read the post, but this issue (if you want to call it that) has been on my mind for a while. I will admit that the reason why I initially watched your videos was because of your great body, but I soon realized that your ideas about life were really inspirational, especially for LGBT youth who may not find guidance besides various youtube channels like yours. You teach to accept and love your inner beauty, but in this age that’s very difficulty. A lot of the times I feel a lot worse knowing that (1) you are so comfortable with yourself (and I am not), and (2) you are physically attractive (and everyone isn’t blessed with a faultless body). At times I feel a lot of bitterness towards you. Whether you originally intended to be a channel to help LGBT (and anyone who is uncomfortable with themselves) or not, I personally think it is almost offensive to show your perfect body to your viewers. It’s like your shoving your super awesome happy life and ‘flawless’ body into people’s faces. I’m sure you do not mean for your videos to be interpreted this way, and I may just be very pessimistic. But, the fact is that if I feel this way, I’m sure there is at least one other person that also does.
Seeing your body makes me not want to expose mine, but listening to your thoughts makes me want to be a better person.
I hope your viewers don’t hate me because of this comment..and sorry if I’m being too harsh..
January 29, 2012 at 12:00 am
@ PCC – As stated above, I found this blog (and Davey) while researching topics on youtube. I clicked a title I was interested in and the rest is history.
That would be about the only difference between us and our views, as represented by your post above.
I agree with what you have posted because I feel the same way. Knowing I can change does make me feel better about myself and gives me some impetus to try, based on Davey’s example.
It does concern me who shallow some people appear to be though, judging only by their comments. How many of them would be prepared to make reply videos to this exposing their bodies to the world for all to see? I don’t think many would, but it would make for an interesting challenge for blog buddies and youtube subscribers of Davey, don’t you think? Hmmm?
January 29, 2012 at 12:15 am
Hey PCC,
I’m not sure what the issue is either. I wasn’t sure there was one until Davey made this video!
Unlike you, I discovered Davey via the title of one of his Youtube videos whilst doing some casual searching. His appearence in that video did intrigue me, but as Davey says “Tits are a dim a dozen of the internet”. Now of course, I’ve gotten lost in the conversation and the rest, as they say, is history. That brings me to this point in time.
Other than how we came to know of Davey, our view points are the same. I very much agree with what you had to say above. I certainly couldn’t it, appear shirtless on the internet. As I stated above, the whole shirtless thing seems to be the hook to get subscribers interested, plus it’s something of a marketing tool for his fitness blog and programs.
Knowing that I can change my view of my body (and my life) does give me some hope and some inspiration to stop focusing on the negative and accept myself more. I hope it is doing the same of you.
All this talk make me wonder just how many of Davey’s subscribers would be prepared to do the same thing and make reply videos in a similar state of (un)dress. I doubt many of them would, even if they did have a “flawless” body.
It’s good to know that someone else out there shares my view point and returns time and time again for the message.
Regards, a fellow supporter.
January 29, 2012 at 12:39 am
Hey lovers of Davey’s body!
How about returning the favour? It’s all good and well that you get your fix, but what is Davey getting from you.
Youtube allows subscribes to make a video response, not just a written comment. So why don’t more of you make your comment “in person” and create your own video response? I’m sure Davey would genuinely love to see who his subscribers are, seriously!
So here’s the challenge for you all to consider. If you love looking at Davey’s body so much, return the favour. Record a video response to this message in all your shirtless glory. Let him get a good look at your body! Show off your outer beauty, if you dare!
Remember, Davey only appears shirtless. So keep your underwear on at least. Let’s see you! Let Davey see you! Let him size you up the way many of you “voyeurs” size him up!
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, so ante up boys! Show Davey your tits!
I’m sure Davey would genuinely enjoy seeing his blog buddies and hearing them talk back, no matter what you state of (un)dress is.
What do you think Davey? Is fair, fair?
Clothed, unclothed, I’ve always been about the message here. Read my posts above. I haven’t made a sudden about face.
If it’s something you can’t bring yourself to do, then don’t ask for more nudity from Davey!
Stay true to you Davey! Just don’t bring back the drag incarnation! LOL.
Thumbs level!
January 29, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Dress for the audience one is addressing is always the best policy. This audience evidently prefers the shirtless Davey.
January 30, 2012 at 3:27 am
I think I did one video response for davey so far. : D
January 30, 2012 at 3:28 am
I did; I just haven’t had it approved yet. You all will see it when it’s approved by Davey himself.
January 30, 2012 at 11:39 pm
Don’t be such a hypocrite! You just say that ’cause you’re in a good shape and you’d nerve record your videos shirtless if you were overweight.
January 31, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Davey, you got the cutest can opener tits, so leave yourself shirtless. Besides, you’re very open minded the way you are.
February 15, 2012 at 9:55 am
keep the shirtless look-its your trademark.thats how we know you.if you suddenly started wearing clothes-blogbuddies would constantly buzz-whats up with that?