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subego · Oct 18, 2011, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

It's a jab at Charlie Sheen.

I asked about your sig image.

subego · Oct 18, 2011, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by finboy

Last week we celebrated National Coming Out Day. I can't remember anyone ever coming out and saying that they're straight. Isn't that weird? It's like straight people don't really define themselves based on what sex they sleep with. Wow, what a concept.

I guess I'm just tired of hearing about how "gay" people are b/c I don't care who you lust for, but I don't need to hear about it - "gay" or otherwise.

As I said to Shaddim, who is also insisting he never discusses it, it's so common you don't even realize it. By talking about his wife(ves) he is stating his sexuality in no uncertain terms.

You personally may not for whatever reason, but most of the planet does.

Shaddim · Oct 19, 2011, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by subego

I asked about your sig image.

It's the OTO, an organization I belong to.

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 03:41 AM

It has no other meaning?

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 04:23 AM

Regardless. The only way I know you're straight, polyamorous, and have a wife with a bun in the oven is because you've talked about it.

Shaddim · Oct 19, 2011, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by subego

It has no other meaning?

Nope.

Originally Posted by subego

Regardless. The only way I know you're straight, polyamorous, and have a wife with a bun in the oven is because you've talked about it.

Hmm. No more discussing family or children on MacNN. Okay.

besson3c · Oct 19, 2011, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Hmm. No more discussing family or children on MacNN. Okay.

It's best to just make stuff up.

Everything except the fact that I'm a tennis pro.

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Nope.

My mistake. I recall you saying its design was significant in light of your marital situation.

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Hmm. No more discussing family or children on MacNN. Okay.

If you wish not to speak about your sexuality, that's the least you have to do.

Also refrain from pointing out you're attracted to someone...
Making jokes about sex from which your orientation is implied...
Talking about most, if not all the people you've ever dated...
Being flirtatious with the three women who still hang around here...
Other examples which have yet to come to me...

Or, you know, you can just carry on as you always do, without pretending your sexuality is some occult part of your existence.

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

tennis pro

How do I know you didn't write "poop"?

besson3c · Oct 19, 2011, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by subego

How do I know you didn't write "poop"?

I honestly didn't this time... I've never seen "tennis pro" as one of my money substitutions.

Shaddim · Oct 19, 2011, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

It's best to just make stuff up.

Why? The truth is stranger than fiction.

Originally Posted by subego

Or, you know, you can just carry on as you always do, without pretending your sexuality is some occult part of your existence.

You're purposely being obtuse, which you do on a regular basis. People around here don't start threads titled, "Daniel Craig is heterosexual" or "Jessica Biel is Bi", but they do love to go on and on about some actor being gay. He's gay? That's great, but I'm sure there are more important qualities about that individual besides their sexual orientation. I think such things are just part of life, they're normal, but for some reason people want to keep such matters in the headlines. One, it's a silly distraction. Two, if you really want something accepted as mainstream you just acknowledge it and move on with your life. I see gay folks every day, but I don't stop to make a proclamation about them, I just continue on with my day because they're just regular people.

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

You're purposely being obtuse, which you do on a regular basis.

We're done here.

Waragainstsleep · Oct 19, 2011, 09:13 AM

Jessica Biel is bi? I'm going to stop and think about that for a while.

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by subego

Also refrain from pointing out you're attracted to someone...
Making jokes about sex from which your orientation is implied...

Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep

Jessica Biel is bi? I'm going to stop and think about that for a while.

white heterosexual male space

Shaddim · Oct 19, 2011, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by subego

We're done here.

You were "done" some time ago.

CreepDogg · Oct 19, 2011, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

You're purposely being obtuse, which you do on a regular basis. People around here don't start threads titled, "Daniel Craig is heterosexual" or "Jessica Biel is Bi", but they do love to go on and on about some actor being gay. He's gay? That's great, but I'm sure there are more important qualities about that individual besides their sexual orientation. I think such things are just part of life, they're normal, but for some reason people want to keep such matters in the headlines. One, it's a silly distraction. Two, if you really want something accepted as mainstream you just acknowledge it and move on with your life. I see gay folks every day, but I don't stop to make a proclamation about them, I just continue on with my day because they're just regular people.

With all due respect, I think you're being obtuse. I agree with you that differences in sexual orientation are just a normal part of life, no big deal, and homosexuals are just regular people. I agree with you that if homosexuality represents the majority of a person's identity, that makes them a pretty boring person and there's a lot more to most people than that, straight or gay.

But just because it's normal doesn't mean it's insignificant. While it doesn't represent the whole of one's identity, it's pretty clearly a facet. People are interested and make threads about 'OMG - so and so is teh ghey!' because it's also 'normal' that people often struggle with that aspect of themselves until some point in life...where they don't. While it's no big deal to you and me and most people, it is a big deal to the person going through it. Knowing about that facet of someone's identity also helps others to relate to them. Knowing someone is gay would help me know why a conversation about the possibility of Jessica Biel's bisexuality may or may not garner a common understanding. Or, in a more 'real world' example, it helps to understand the person's relationship with their partner (or whoever) when they talk about that person. It kinda helps to know someone is gay to know that they relate to some other guy the way others relate to their wives and girlfriends. In other words, it's not a big deal, but it's still informing. It's a part of all of us, so why should it be taboo to talk about?

Waragainstsleep · Oct 19, 2011, 03:57 PM

I'm not sure its taboo so much as a bit odd that someone would tack that line on the end of their name when they introduce themselves.

Maybe everyone should wear badges or have a particular ear pierced.

CreepDogg · Oct 19, 2011, 04:06 PM

Well, I agree that 'Hi, I'm Zack, and I'm gay!' is about as strange an introduction as 'Hi, I'm Zack, and I like chicken!'

The more you get to know someone, the more you get to know the facets of their identity. This is one of those things.

When it comes to celebrities, people have a level to which they want to 'know' celebrities. You can discuss whether the celebrity fetish in and of itself is strange, but within its context, it's not any stranger to want to know a celebrity's sexuality that it is to want to know their dietary habits (which, yes, some people do).

subego · Oct 19, 2011, 04:12 PM

Likewise, coming out one-on-one with a total stranger is significantly different to coming out to a journalist when your entire livelihood is based on people's superficial impressions of you.

Shaddim · Oct 19, 2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by CreepDogg

With all due respect, I think you're being obtuse. I agree with you that differences in sexual orientation are just a normal part of life, no big deal, and homosexuals are just regular people. I agree with you that if homosexuality represents the majority of a person's identity, that makes them a pretty boring person and there's a lot more to most people than that, straight or gay.

But just because it's normal doesn't mean it's insignificant. While it doesn't represent the whole of one's identity, it's pretty clearly a facet. People are interested and make threads about 'OMG - so and so is teh ghey!' because it's also 'normal' that people often struggle with that aspect of themselves until some point in life...where they don't. While it's no big deal to you and me and most people, it is a big deal to the person going through it. Knowing about that facet of someone's identity also helps others to relate to them. Knowing someone is gay would help me know why a conversation about the possibility of Jessica Biel's bisexuality may or may not garner a common understanding. Or, in a more 'real world' example, it helps to understand the person's relationship with their partner (or whoever) when they talk about that person. It kinda helps to know someone is gay to know that they relate to some other guy the way others relate to their wives and girlfriends. In other words, it's not a big deal, but it's still informing. It's a part of all of us, so why should it be taboo to talk about?

It's all a part of the "reality TV" syndrome. It's not that such a thing is taboo, it's that it seems to be the only thing people think about now. People aren't looking at the relationship aspect of it, just the sex, that's all. Sure, it's great fun and very fulfilling, but why it dominates our national and cultural focus is baffling. You would think that we'd start evolving beyond this, but it only seems to be getting more pervasive. Internet porn, Hollywood sex scandals, a flood of sex-based reality TV shows, it's just getting to be too much.

Look, I'm the last person to want to interfere with a person's good time, but isn't it getting a little boring?

finboy · Oct 19, 2011, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Yes, which seems to be part of the reason he so casually dropped it in that recent interview.

I understand the whole "It Gets Better" idea, but it's not like being different is out of the norm these days.

besson3c · Oct 19, 2011, 10:13 PM

Have I ever told you guys that I'm a tennis pro?

subego · Oct 20, 2011, 09:40 AM

Okay, this time you wrote poop.

The Final Dakar · Oct 20, 2011, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by finboy

I understand the whole "It Gets Better" idea, but it's not like being different is out of the norm these days.

It's still an issue, and something that is either ridiculed or outright rejected by segments of the population (Hell, we have a Presidential candidate practically campaigning on a homophobic platform). This kind of furor will subside when it stops being a directed point of controversy.

hart · Oct 20, 2011, 10:01 AM

Not to be on topic or anything but it never occurred to me to think he was gay or not. Guess I was too busy thinking he was creepy in Heroes and waiting for him to remove someone's head.

subego · Oct 20, 2011, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

It's still an issue, and something that is either ridiculed or outright rejected by segments of the population (Hell, we have a Presidential candidate practically campaigning on a homophobic platform). This kind of furor will subside when it stops being a directed point of controversy.

It should also be said that people go through phases, regardless of sexuality.

Most have an "obnoxious" mixed with "in-your-face" period when they're younger. I certainly did.

The Final Dakar · Oct 20, 2011, 11:17 AM

Some people are obnoxious in general. Some people just talk about sex all the time.

subego · Oct 20, 2011, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by hart

Not to be on topic or anything but it never occurred to me to think he was gay or not. Guess I was too busy thinking he was creepy in Heroes and waiting for him to remove someone's head.

That wasn't possible for me. There was this over the top (creepy) sexual vibe to the character's desires, which prompted me to start thinking about it.

In contrast, George Takei didn't ping as gay, and I knew he was gay.

hyteckit · Oct 20, 2011, 09:36 PM

IG?

Is God?

or

Is Gay?

Waragainstsleep · Oct 21, 2011, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

It's all a part of the "reality TV" syndrome. It's not that such a thing is taboo, it's that it seems to be the only thing people think about now. People aren't looking at the relationship aspect of it, just the sex, that's all. Sure, it's great fun and very fulfilling, but why it dominates our national and cultural focus is baffling. You would think that we'd start evolving beyond this, but it only seems to be getting more pervasive. Internet porn, Hollywood sex scandals, a flood of sex-based reality TV shows, it's just getting to be too much.

Look, I'm the last person to want to interfere with a person's good time, but isn't it getting a little boring?

The scandals will keep coming as long as enough people are getting outraged by it. Some people like being outraged so they have something to protest about or hate, others like to see other people getting outraged about things they really shouldn't. Then there is a host of people in between who won't be able to resist seeing what the fuss is about either way. It all serves to publicise the TV show/magazine/newspaper/rag/website/etc for free.

People will keep being outraged by sex as long as their are still lots of (tbh religion-fueled) prudes around pushing abstinence and telling each other and themselves that sex is wrong and dirty unless you are married.