For me it represents the beginning of becoming a man. For myself and others it was a part of growing up, and represented something that only men were a part of, a big part of manhood. The jockstrap was a big part of when I first experienced sports and the locker room, and seeing friends, older hairy men, all guys naked around each other, acting like nothing was different. Then there was sports, the practices, the suspense, anxiety and excitement before a game or match, the gearing up and getting ready, your teammates and coaches getting you all roweled up. Not to mention, most important, versus compression shorts that don't stay put, ride up your ass, get soaked with sweat and make you even hotter, a jockstrap, once its BROKEN IN conforms to your body, keeps the boys still, safe, dry and cool. For me compression shorts were wayy to hot and wouldn't stop the nuts from sticking to the leg, not enough support.