[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hello everyone,

On Thursday evening, one of my local news stations here in the USA read the following on the air during their quirky little segment about people, places and things.  At the time they didn't attribute the source of the story.  I did numerous newswire searches on Thurday night to no avail!  Lo and behold on Friday, I finished reading the print edition of the Thursday New York Post and there it was!  I Should have figured that's where they might have got it.

Anyway, can any of our Italian or European friends speak at all to what the article claims, in their own experience and / or observations of others (Italians or other Europeans)?

The text from page 21 of "New York Post, Thursday, July 12, 2001" entitled "Italian men have boob-phobia" reads:

  Mamma mia!  Most Italian men are spooked by big breasts, a new study claims.
  Psychologist Raffaele Morelli hit Italian beaches and discovered that 65 percent of men blushed or stuttered when they saw women with large breasts, while 31 percent were downright "frightened" by a topless woman.
  Most of the 926 men interviewed, all between 24 to 50, said they'd prefer "the girl next door."

- Cathy Burke [name in itallics at end of article]

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So, once again, can any of our Italian or European friends speak at all to what the article claims, in their own experience and / or observations of others (Italians or other Europeans)?

Looking forward to all your thoughts!

- luv em big

[Datamole]

Hello luv em big:

I feel more than able to comment on your news story.  I have been living at the beach for the past two weeks here in Italy (Forte Dei Marmi, a popular beach resort town).  No, Italian men are do not have a phobia about breasts.  I don't know if you have seen any photos of Maria Grazia Cucinotta or Manuela Arcuri, but both of these Italian beauties have good sized breasts.   Manuela is constantly on TV here and the camera men here make sure you get a good view.  I mean while she is talking it is not unusual for the shot to start at her feet and slowly work its way up to her head.  

I will say that most Italian men prefer a “balanced” physique, that is one with good proportion.  So, really big boobs are not the ideal and generally not what you see on TV.  However, I don’t believe that there is any real difference in the liking of breasts.  I think Italian men like big breasts just as much as men in any other country.  There certainly is no shortage of them at the beach, and we all seem to enjoy pursuing large breasted women.  The guys at the office sure seem to like talking about the girls with big boobs that work with us.   My wife for example wears an American E cup and I am pretty happy about it.  

I hope that answers your question.  I think the news people in the U.S. were just trying to print something to get people talking.  

Ciao

[Zorlond]

Maybe the blushing and stuttering isn't signs of a phobia. Maybe they just can't believe their eyes. I mean, if Chelsea walked up and said "Hello" to you, would you be able to say two words without stammering?