The mysterious disappearance of giant red dildos UPDATE

PHOTO: Heikki Peltokangas/Ilkka-Pohjalainen

Ostrobothnians have been able to read with bated breath in their local newspaper, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, about a discovery made of objects from the border region between Isonkyrö and the former Ylistaro, which is not archaeological but pornographic.

When Ilta-Sanomat visited the site, the dildos had disappeared. The path to the pornographic scene was scattered full of torn pages of books and its photographer identified Bible verses. He remembered the Grimm’s fairy tale where the children dropped rocks into the woods to find their way home. The sexual health representative interviewed by the paper had urged not to touch anything.

PHOTO: Tomi Aalto/Ilta Sanomat

Where did those two red dildos disappear after the Ilkka-Pohjalainen reported on the discovery?

A sex researcher tells what is really happening at highway rest areas.

According to the expert, it is very unlikely that art has been seen at the Ostrobothnian resting place. More likely, sex toys have been used by men who meet each other.

From the parking lot, a grouped path led to the forest, sprinkled with leaves, rubbish and porn magazine and book pages. At the end of the path was a small mattress on which forearm-length dildos rested themselves. Here and there were used and unused condoms.

CruisingMap, an online service that specializes in anonymous dating, shows that the picnic area between Isokyrö and Ylistaro is a popular destination for sex meetings between men, there are similar meeting places throughout Finland.

According to sexual therapist Jussi Nissinen, the so-called forest men have been facing each other in the shadows of resting places for decades. The phenomenon is by no means limited to Finland, but the same is happening all over Europe and the United States.

“This is a very, very old phenomenon related to the history of homosexuality. At the time, sex between men was not socially accepted or was even criminalized, which is why such a form was found for them”, Nissinen explains. Nissinen, who has had a long career as a sex therapist, does not see a problem in men’s forest trips as long as they do not cause harm to the environment or other people.

According to Nissinen, sex in the forest is associated with a certain kind of exoticism, which can further increase the desire for sex. Occasional forest trips bring added value to life at its best.

COMPLETE ARTICLES (IN FINNISH) BY ERIKA ÅKMAN AND TUOMAS MANNINEN

UPDATE

The “Think Big” sign at the site of the dildo discovery welcomes everyone to the municipality of Isonkyrö.

The municipality of Isokyrö has harnessed the giant dildos and porn magazines found in the local forest and the mattress to build a positive and open-minded image of the municipality. The banner is “to welcome everyone to the municipality” at the rest area: Everyone is welcome, regardless of orientation. “Think Big – we have room for everyone.” [“iso” means big in Finnish, which is part of the town’s name]

Isonkyrö commissioned “Think Big” t-shirts for the municipality’s employees, shop stewards and and all local residents.

According to Isokyrö Mayor Tero Kankaanpää, he thought that it fits well with this theme as well. We have room for different ideas and people, everything can fit. The dildos were big, but we think openly and tolerantly (“big”) and the attitude of the local people to this place has been neutral over time.

–TUOMAS MANNINEN

Published: 22nd August 2021

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