Interviewing

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Thanks to everyone (interviewers and ees) for participating, so far. I'm having so much fun reading these. They're all so well written.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I want to interview Szczerbiak Maniac.

• You're a BIG guy. Have you ever had to use physical force in some out of hand situation? Have you ever had a job where you put your strength to use? Do you use your size to intimidate others, perhaps only subtley?
  
• What's the best thing about being a guy your size? What's the most annoying?
  
• What was the cultural point that got you through your teen years? It can be a band, or a movie, or a religious epiphany, whatever helped you keep sane during puberty.
  
• You can make one law for all of the United States of America, and it will hold forever. What is it?

Hmm, this list seems kind of short, so here's one more:

• Your dreamboat Wally says yes to your advances. But he is very afraid of the consequences of coming out of the closet. He wants your relationship to be a total secret - you can't even tell your closest friends and loved ones. If you do keep it a secret, you can be with him for as long as you want. Do you do it?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

You're a BIG guy.

yes, yes I am

Have you ever had to use physical force in some out of hand situation?

Perhaps, but I can't actually recall it happening, so I'm gonna have to say no.

Have you ever had a job where you put your strength to use?

Not strength, no. I had a job as a security guard once and I assume my size was a factor in their hiring me.

Oh and when I "auditioned" to be a Klingon, my size was definitely a the main only factor.

Do you use your size to intimidate others, perhaps only subtlety?

I suppose I do on occasion, but mostly just for comic effect. I think I fall into the "gentle giant" class, so while I may be intimidating from a far, as soon as you talk to me you'll realize I'm a pussycat. (At least, that's how I see myself. Would you disagree?)

What's the best thing about being a guy your size?

Since I really am a wimp, it's nice that people don't give me crap. I.e., I don't think I'd be very good at defending myself in an actual fight and fortunately, I've never really had to.

And being able to see/reach things in high places is handy too.

What's the most annoying?

The world simply isn't designed for folks my size. Sure, there are clothing stores for big & tall fellas, but beds, cars, toilets, roller coasters, airline & theater seats, counter tops, etc. are often physically uncomfortable, if not impossible to use.

What was the cultural point that got you through your teen years? It can be a band, or a movie, or a religious epiphany, whatever helped you keep sane during puberty.

Musicals. I would sit in my room (or more often, lay down on my bed) and endlessly listen to cast recordings while I sang along reading the libretto (until I memorized it). I'd lose myself in each character that was singing and for that moment, I was that person.

I was especially fond of ALW's Phantom of the Opera. I identified with the title character a bit too much. In fact, I adopted it as my nickname for quite a few years. Most of my old Rocky Horror friends (I was involved in RHPS from when I was 12 to when I "retired" at 25) still know me only as "Phantom".

You can make one law for all of the United States of America, and it will hold forever. What is it?

Being a Libertarian, I'm not especially fond of making laws, but I sure would like to see gays universally recognized as being equivalent to heterosexuals in every way (marriage, military service, hiring, etc.). I'm quite confident that even though the Fundies would still see us as "sinners", they'd soon discover that the world didn't end because of our recognition and they'd learn to live with it, just like the racists learned to live with blacks being recognized as 100% citizens/humans.

Your dreamboat Wally says yes to your advances. But he is very afraid of the consequences of coming out of the closet. He wants your relationship to be a total secret - you can't even tell your closest friends and loved ones. If you do keep it a secret, you can be with him for as long as you want. Do you do it?

Yes. And by "yes", I mean HELL YES, totally, absolutely, no question nor pause.

Did Paris think twice about wanting to be with Helen?

Wally is not only the most beautiful person I've ever seen, by all accounts he's a very nice guy as well. I don't care for his choice in music (his favorite band is Metallica—yuck!), but I could live with it.

Obviously, a closeted relationship isn't ideal and would be very difficult to manage. However, when one sees oneself as physically repugnant and gets the chance to be with a beautiful person, one makes allowances.