Frequently Asked Questions
Is group JO legal?
The events held by the Rain City Jacks are private functions of a private club, involving consensual acts between adults. We do not allow alcohol or drugs at our events. We do not allow minors. Before forming the club, much consultation was done with actual police and actual attorneys to ensure that the activities of the club be in complete compliance with the laws of Seattle, King county and Washington state. All RCJ events are legal.
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What do you mean when you say the Jacks "do not discriminate?"
We mean that aside from the requirement that you be an adult male of 18 or over, we do not discriminate against anyone for any subjective trait. We do not screen prospective members on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, body type, fitness level, sexual orientation or "perceived" sexual orientation.
Rain City Jacks is a diverse club of real men. We include lots of men of various ages and body types. Some are buff and worked-out, some are overweight or underweight. Some are smooth and some are hairy. Most are reflective of our Seattle community: HWP white guys, but there are men of Asian, Latin, African descent, cut and uncut, tall and short, gay, bi, straight and questioning.
The Jacks is a safe environment to discard the trappings of bars and Internet cruising, and experience a unique and primal commonality among many men: the pleasure we take in masturbating together. There is no way to adequately describe the heat of group JO among a diverse group of real men. It has to be experienced to be appreciated.
What we know is that our commitment to inclusive diversity is one of the key factors that make it work.
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Why are Rain City Jacks events for men only?
Many of our members are straight, bi and questioning, but it remains that two-thirds of the Jacks describe themselves as "gay." For many gay men, the presence of women would preclude the possibility of sex. Also, the Jacks was never meant to be a club to accommodate all sexual desires. It is, in fact, a very specifically-focused club. Our purpose is to jack off with other men. By definition, this does not include women.
For mixed events, an excellent resource is The Wet Spot, Seattle's Sex-Positive Community Center.
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I love the events, but they never seem to fit my schedule
Currently, the club is able to host three or four events every month. Unless we had a club open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, we could not possibly have a schedule that works for every person who would like to join us...
One good solution is for members to host their own events. Any member can do so! What you need is a time and a place to do it. To announce it to the Yahoo! group is very easy. These are considered "private" events and are subject to the choices of their hosts, but it is strongly advised that all events announced to the Jacks membership follow the Rain City Jacks Code of Conduct.
When planning a private JO event, think of it like any social event you host in your home. Plan ahead, prepare the space for your guests and give them time to plan on attending. Use evite to coordinate your event, or just send a message to the Yahoo group.
The only requirement is that events announced to the Jacks may not, under any circumstances, include oral or anal sex. These private functions are not "official" RCJ events, but they may be organized via the club as long as they are JO only.
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I feel excited but nervous about attending my first event. Can I just sit on the sidelines and watch? Do I have to participate?
The Code of Conduct defines "minimum participation" as "stripping to underwear." You don't have to touch anyone or let anyone touch you, but if you want to attend an event, you need to be ready to at least strip down to your underwear and be around a lot of other men playing and inviting you to join in.
You do not have to do anything you do not want to do at a Jacks event. Your body belongs to you and we absolutely honor and celebrate that. If you are really nervous, your best bet is to wait until you are fully ready, able and willing to show up and give it a chance, and that means don't just walk in and walk out, but plan on spending some time giving yourself and the group a chance. After a little while, the nerves always get better...
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Isn't oral sex almost as safe as jacking off?
No! There are two things safer than group JO: Solitary JO and no sex at all.
It is true that the risk of transmitting HIV via oral sex is considerably lower than via anal or vaginal intercourse, but current research indicates that men who engage in nothing more than oral sex have a 4% to 8% HIV seroconversion rate (between 1 in 25 and 1 in 12 will get HIV from oral sex alone). The risk is higher for those who suck than for those who are sucked, but that's only regarding HIV transmission.
Oral sex is a high-risk activity for other STDs. It is easy to get Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Herpes, Papilloma, Hepatitis, Chlamydia and a few dozen other bugs from either giving or getting a blow job.
Mutual masturbation, on the other hand (pun intended) is responsible for ZERO cases of HIV infection. There is also no evidence that it is a source of transmission for any other STD, with the possible exception of Herpes.
The main risk of disease at a circle jerk is the common cold. Frankly speaking, as far as health risk is concerned, it's no more risky to jack-off with other guys than it is to ride the bus to work or use the treadmill at the gym. This is about as safe as sex with others gets.
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Is safe sex why you have this club?
No. We have this club because we like to jack-off together. Our primary purpose in being a part of the Jacks is a strong desire to jack-off with other men and the real pleasure and satisfaction we get from it.
The safety aspect is a secondary reason, but we are 100% committed to it. Many sex clubs encourage their members to get tested for STDs, to use condoms, and to otherwise use safer sex practices. We talk less about safe sex, but we take action in the implementation of our Code of Conduct. We simply do not practice risky sex.
This parameter does serve to keep us healthy, but we come to the club with a "taste for safe sex." For a jacker, JO is not a substitute for real sex, it IS real sex. We are able to experience deeply satisfying sexual pleasure from JO alone and THAT is the reason we get together. We're not settling for JO, we actively desire and enjoy it.
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If I enjoy jacking off with other guys, does that mean I'm gay?
Sexual orientation is both very simple and very complex. As human beings, we're a lot more than just one thing and it takes more than an interest in JO to make a person gay.
Masturbation is sexy. Seeing a man stroke his hard cock is an erotic sight, even for a straight man. A gay man may have a different range of experiences around that image, but just finding it erotic and exciting is simply human and simply male.
A gay man is going to experience a strong sexual attraction to other men throughout his life, will be sexually indifferent to women and compelled naturally to seek romantic partnerships or familial alliances with other men. A straight man will experience strong sexual attraction to women throughout his life, general sexual indifference to men and will feel compelled to partner with females. These are fundamental drives etched in our genes.
But given the right circumstances, when presented with a safe environment to explore, a straight man can thoroughly enjoy masturbation with other men. It does not alter his fundamental sexual orientation.
These examples are extreme. The vast majority of men fall on a continuum of sexual orientation between completely gay and completely straight. Most of us are capable, given the right circumstances, of enjoying a sexual experience beyond our natural predisposition.
Therefore, it is perfectly okay for a straight man to be turned on by the sight of another man masturbating, and perfectly possible to masturbate with him and enjoy the experience. It does not alter his fundamental sexuality.
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What's the age range of the guys at events?
Our membership ranges from 20 years old to 85. 38% of guys are in their thirties, 35% are in their forties and the average age of members is 39. (That number is based upon verified age data, not what guys tell us their age is...)
Every event is different with respect to the age and energy of the attendees, but virtually every one includes men in their twenties, thirties, forties and fifties. Often, members in their sixties and older show up. The average age of attendees ranges between 35 and 45.
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How many men show up at events?
This varies, but we currently average 50 to 70 attendees at each event. Our play space can easily handle 80 or 90 guys. Our largest event to date drew 92 members (that was our second anniversary celebration).
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What if I don't want to play with older guys, or younger guys, or "whatever..." ?
The Jacks events are a great opportunity to confront our prejudices about age. There are phenomenally hot and erotic men of all ages there. it is very common for younger men to leave Jacks events with a new understanding of aging. It is obvious that many of these older guys are very much alive sexually, often more so than some of those in their so-called "prime." Some unusual attractions show up in the play room.
AND you are not required to touch or be touched by anyone. You get to decide who, if anybody, is your playmate. All you are required to do is get naked and be there. The spirit of the play room is encouragement to explore with your hands and to share pleasure with your fellows, but no individual is ever compelled to do anything against his will! You choose who you play with.
That said, if you are not turned on by the friendly, erotic and fraternal energy of the JO group, it's probably not for you.
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I'm curious, but not ready to commit to membership yet. Can I try out the Jacks and come to an event before I join?
No. The Rain City Jacks is a private club and all events and club activities are restricted to active members only. Membership is affordable, available to qualifying adult men and may be purchased at the check-in table at any RCJ event.
To attend a Jacks event, or to ask any question you may still need answered, send email to the group moderator, Paul
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© 2005 Rain City Jacks. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication or distribution via any medium not allowed without permission.
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