Appropriate behavior for 8 year old boy?

[Abriata]

I asked this question in another thread but would like to set it out again in hopes of getting more feedback.
My mum just told me my brother was very upset a year ago when he saw my son (aged around 8; not sure exactly when "episode" took place) look at and pat the "willy" of his 3 year old cousin (my brother's son). I think it was when they were changing into or out of swim suits (ie my son didn't yank down his cousin's pants to have a peak!). While i know it's important for children to learn that "private parts" are private, i think it's natural for boys to look at other children with interest when they're changing clothes.
I would be interested to know what other's think. Was my brother right to be upset? (he has not said anything to me though i did notice he became a bit "cold" toward me and my son, which i attributed to other stresses). Does my son's action seem aberrant?

In the light of what you describe, I think yourvtitle and your brothers reaction are overly dramatic.

That said, I must admit I was very reluctant to see my son spend too much time with his older ( and very well behaved) cousins just because he was totally oblivious to a lot of the innuendo.
Now that he's nearly 10 and kind of gets it, I don't mind so much, he's got to learn somewhere, no?
So maybe your brother feels a bit like that?
My son at 8 would have done something similar to yours with a little cousin and definitely without a hint of malice. So I think you should tell your mum how you feel and leave it at at.

Thank you, Master.
I, too have been protective of my son and tried limit exposure to older boys (and books/movies made for older children) so that he didn't learn "too much, too fast", so you're right to suggest I could understand my brother's concern in that light.
I wish he had said something to me at the time - or even saud something, gently, to my son (with whom he had a very dood relationship). My son is uually very sensible and would, i think, have understood if my brother had spoken with him then.
I don't like to have my brother think my son is "odd" when i think his behavior was normal, albeit possibly immature. My brother is an older father and has had very little experience with children other than my son and, now, his two young children, so i think he doesn't have perspective on different development stages.
Thanks, again, for your reply.