WTF Stories of the Week

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Then, despite repeating and rephrasing my point over and over, I’m bombarded with posts that are irrelevant to what I am trying to say?

Well, perhaps we're just talking at two different points. I just don't understand yelling your point at me when, in each one of my posts, I not only did not DENY the point you've made, I've actually pretty explicitly backed it up.

I'm responding to the original story, the specific case of someone explicitly saying, "I'm a lesbian" in a public profile. It's a case that is not analogous to the everyday types of subtle, unconscious expression of sexuality that we engage in. It's a statement that I think deserves further examination beyond the indignant, "RESPECT MY RIGHT TO BE NORMAL JUST LIKE EVERYONE!" because it does occupy a gray area that our society, even those of us who DO respect your rights, isn't equipped to handle cleanly.

And while the pedantry of "imply" vs. "declare" may not have been directly related to the side conversation between you and Betty, it DOES have important implications to the larger topic at hand.

[Betty]

Originally Posted by JWBear

I’ll be a good little faggot, and go crawl back into my second class hole, lined with the best of double standards and guarded by the sentinels of majority smugness and indifference.

Do you really mean this? That all or most of here feel that you're some sort of second class citizen deserving of poor treatment and double standards? Or are you venting your frustration at the world in a more general sense?

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Betty

Do you really mean this? That all or most of here feel that you're some sort of second class citizen deserving of poor treatment and double standards? Or are you venting your frustration at the world in a more general sense?

No, dear lady. Fear not.

When one realizes that one is engaged in a pointless conversation, the best one can do is to bow out with all the wit and flare at ones disposal. To leave ones opponents confused is the best revenge.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

(speaking only for myself)
Because I fear for my safety and/or personal property. Obviously, this varies geographically, but only in the gayest of gay neighborhoods would I feel comfortable exercising my right to a PDA with my sweetheart. Hell, even WeHo has its share of gay bashings.

Originally Posted by JWBear

Again... All fine and good, but still not the point. Here it is in big letters:

Straight people display, show, demonstrate, proclaim, (insert whatever word you want) their sexuality every single day that they are alive; regardless of whether or not they realize it.

Can I say it any simpler? I know it may be obvious for some, but I am speaking to those who claim they do not.

Heterosexuals proclaim their sexuality daily but homosexuals don't because of fear? (I'm just connecting these two thoughts from two different people but I see a correlation.)

I understand the frustration of homosexuals, however, the solution seems to be to ignore the fear and proclaim away. But, if you make the choice NOT to proclaim yourself then you've made that choice and really can't complain about it. It's not like it is illegal to hold hands or kiss in public. Really, do you REALLY think people are going to physically attack you if you do? Is the number of current gay bashings really that high in comparison to the population?

[Disneyphile]

I think this sums it up in one line:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

[Alex]

All I know is that I'm not going to recognize or participate in anybody's marriage.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Knowing Alex, I would assume that also includes his own.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

If two big burly bears hold hands or kiss in public, who is going to be stupid enough to mess with them?

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

If two big burly bears hold hands or kiss in public, who is going to be stupid enough to mess with them?

Damn straight... er... gay!

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Heterosexuals proclaim their sexuality daily but homosexuals don't because of fear? (I'm just connecting these two thoughts from two different people but I see a correlation.)

I understand the frustration of homosexuals, however, the solution seems to be to ignore the fear and proclaim away. But, if you make the choice NOT to proclaim yourself then you've made that choice and really can't complain about it. It's not like it is illegal to hold hands or kiss in public. Really, do you REALLY think people are going to physically attack you if you do? Is the number of current gay bashings really that high in comparison to the population?

Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of people hospitalised due to Gay PDA's. Certain areas and suburbs are more high risk than others.

There is also the issue of perception. I know of a Melbourne teacher who won't embrace or hold hands with his partner in the street because he works in a big catholic primary school, and local people seeing that might just start the whole "Gay Guy working in a boys school" line of thinking. With some of the horrible court cases of sexual predatory behavious happening in schools over here at the moment, I don't blame him one bit.

I DO mention I have a partner in conversation and as the conversation proceeds I slip in a few "He's" and "His". People don't freak out as much at this generally.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

If two big burly bears hold hands or kiss in public, who is going to be stupid enough to mess with them?

Ask me that again in Disneyland and we'll find out. (and one of them will likely be in a Kilt.... )

I don't proclaim my sexuality, but I give out enough information to make it known, just as 90% (or more) of the population do. It's the old party / getting to know you conversation thing. "Are you single, do you have kids, what does your partner do?" I find answering these questions honestly has never ended up in a regrettable situation as yet. Touch Wood.