Quote:
Originally posted by LordKathen:
quote:
Originally posted by Dave_the_quack:
LOL as for the hands down your pants comment... well... basically I was insinuating that it is very unlikely for a gay man to hit on a straight man. The reason being, as soon as a gay guy meets a straight guy, the straight guy feels the sudden urge to proclaim his heterosexuality... and why on earth would a gay guy hit on a straight guy when he knows there is no chance? Heh... I would use the "its the same as a guy hitting on a lesbian" line, but unfortunately, its a bad example cos guys love to hit on lesbians lol.
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What about you proclaiming your homosexuality in your intro thread? I have been wondering why that was necessary. Please dont get me wrong, I have no problem with you or anybody else for that matter, I have just heard that statement before and I wonder why it is even an issue, when sometimes we meet gay guys that are "raging", like yourself. How are we suppose to know your intentions when you wear your personal life on your sleeve like that? [/QUOTE]Well, gee, I hate to turn this all serious, but I really want to chip in my two cents. Dave doesn't want to reply, but I'll present my viewpoint, which hopefully will correspond with some of the points he might wish to make. I'll state right off the top, Dave, that you may have taken Lord K's post too hard, too sensitively, if you will. I interpret its tone as "questioning and in the pursuit of knowledge", not "subtly accusatory."
**Now switching from conversational mode to "soapbox."**
I saw nothing strange about Dave stating his "raging homosexuality" in his opening post. Considering the nature of the thread, which was an invitation to let people know who you are, it was quite appropriate. It was also open and honest, and I respect his courage; it's also a credit to the forum that someone feels comfortable enough to say something so personal. I didn't feel like it put me on the defensive or put me off, whatever his motives. I interpreted the statement as (I believe) it was intended; to tell us of an integral part of who he is, much like others have said they are students or parents.
Also take into account the nature of this type of communication. All we have are words on a screen. While in "conversation", we don't have any visual cues. Thus, no one can really tell what makes another person uncomfortable. In that sense, it's good for Dave, or anyone else with certain sensitivities, to give a hint right out. It acts as a heads-up, and people are less likely to give offense accidentally. If it is defensive, so what? I myself (usually in the CE forum) am pretty forthright about what bothers me and about what my stance is. Most of that is trying to convince other people with logic, clarify the issue, or offer another perspective; however, it also serves to give others an idea of what may offend me - in that sense some of my posts have been somewhat defensive.
Gays often face the same type of challenges in society as ethnic minorities; hostility or intolerance that may be based on a personal characteristic (one that I believe cannot be changed, Michael Jackson notwithstanding), not on the person himself/herself. One way to deal with such potential problems (or one's own perceptions or psychological hangups) is to be proud and open about who and what one is.
So in the context of this subject and this thread, Dave, I certainly did not find your declaration offensive or off-putting in any way. Even if we met face-to-face and you said it right out, I might think it a little odd, but nothing more. It's not a big deal to me, and I definitely understand your stated reasons for doing so. I don't feel you have to "tone down" anything you've posted to date. You and everybody else have the right to post whatever and however you want to, subject only to the discretion of the mods, according to the terms of posting.
Edit: because I can't type and mentally grammar-check at the same time. And because I wanted to address Animal's post.
Don't forget that Dave hasn't been here that long. He doesn't know how exactly we will react, and he wants to be accepted for who he is; and if there is any rejection based on his sexual preferences (not that I believe there has been yet or ever will be), it's better that it happen at the beginning when he's mentally prepared for it and hasn't made any "friends" yet that might turn on him- that's the reason why it's an issue now.
[ 09-11-2004, 03:46 AM: Message edited by: Aerich ]