Even in high school, though we’re minors (unless you’re an 18+ senior), I found the phrasing odd. I say man as an adult. I said “guy” instead in high school. Maybe it’s because I’m neurodivergent and it sounded better to my autistic brain. I dunno.
My fiancé isn’t a boy, I would never say I liked a boy or was engaged to a boy. I usually say a guy or a man, especially once he finally hits age 18.
Edit: Worse in a story I read. 25M, gay, says he wants to “prey on boys”. I can assure you this was not their intention and they meant he wanted to look for men around his age, but you know how it sounds,
idk, i pretty much exclusively call myself and the boy i have a crush on boys (both over 30). there’s something carefree and soft about it that i enjoy. probably because i feel young and carefree with him, haha
for myself, it’s usually a bit too serious to call myself a man, although sometimes i call myself a trans(gender) man for clarity, and i do identify as a man
ohhhh okkkk!
Male humans is worse though.
I think women get called “girls” until they’re middle-aged.
At any age here in the South, especially by each other. Come to think of it, it’s much the same for “boys”.
