AFriendlyFace

2 is a no 1 is...a maybe I guess. I don't think I could be sure either way unless I was in the situation.

Well, I'm sure I do have some "Personal/relationship" fears, but none of the ones you listed and I can't think of anything else off-hand. I'm not afraid of anything relating to the internet, except perhaps that my unreliable cable provider will go down when I really need it...but that's certainly not an irrational fear since it's happened before, and I also seldom even think about it so it's most definitely not debilitating either. As for the world around me, I am afraid of snakes. Not horribly, in fact if a snake wandered into my personal space and leaving wasn't a viable option (because for example the snake probably wouldn't leave and it's somewhere I need to stay/go back to) I would just take the bull by the horns and either kill it or scare it away myself versus letting it remain. But yeah, I'm pretty uncomfortable around snakes. Spiders is sorta the same thing but to a much lesser degree. I just consider them "icky" and a bit frightening, I routinely and quickly kill spiders when I see them in my space though. I'm also obviously much calmer around them and better at dealing with them than most of my friends since I usually have to kill other people's spiders as well That's about it though. I love heights and far from being uncomfortable with them I have a preference for them. Similarly, I enjoy "cozy" spaces as long as they're comfortable. Obviously these instances wouldn't be true if I had good reason to believe I might fall, or the wall/ceiling might cave in, but those thoughts don't really cross my mind and if I had a good reason to think that would happen it would just be a very rational fear. I'm pretty neutral about open spaces. One thing that sometimes flusters me is confusing, loud, and chaotic situations. I admit my eyesight isn't great, and I suspect I have some minor attention problems (though they've never interfered with my life and I've never been diagnosed) as a result if I'm in a loud, overly-stimulating, new environment I can at times get pretty uncomfortable. It's definitely not a social anxiety though, because while crowds can cause it, anything new, noisy, and overly-stimulating can as well, even if I were completely alone. Also, I'm a pretty people oriented person, I enjoy meeting new people, and I have no trouble with public speaking. I make this distinction because when I first looked into problem most of the information I could find pointed toward it being some variant of social anxiety, but I'm pretty sure that is not the case for me. Instead I think it just comes down to the way my mind works. It is undoubtedly related to the fact that I can't stand to have music or the TV or something on when I'm trying to do anything other than focus on the music/movie or do a very mindless routine task. I hate trying to read, write, or converse with someone under those circumstances. In fact I always insist or turning the music down, or muting the movie if someone wants to talk to me while they're going on. Oddly, I don't seem to be especially bothered by these problems in club/bar/party settings, though occasionally I am. -Kevin Edit to add: I have that one too Graeme. If someone I care about isn't where they're supposed to be and I have no reason to assume that they're simply running late, I worry a lot, especially if they were driving. I worry much more about people I care about being in a car accident than I do about myself (despite the fact that I've never been in a serious car accident and neither has anyone else I care about). I'm much better about these types of things than I used to be, but I still very much want and expect a text/call if someone who isn't normally late is going to be late. I for example am rarely on time so with people like myself I know it's just "how they are" (indeed my friends and family know that whatever time I say I'll be there they should add 10-30 minutes too ). It's the usually punctual ones I worry about!

LOL, no that's not it, and it was in my blog if you guys really want to go searching. LOL, if it's forum appropriate of course That's good advice and a good story Don't worry about the length of your posts, the content is what matters

Well Danny is "family" but there's a debate about whether or not David is David and Danny are not related. Can you click the general weblinks that are above? They show a pic of them Thanks! That was a good performance and he does have a really good voice I don't think I care for the song in general though.

HAHA Cheating! I already liked that one so you don't get any extra points Shine Down - I dare you

What song? Oh grrrr, I swear I'm going to have to start watching this show! I feel like everyone knows something I don't! **inserts tongue into cheek** Just to clarify any and all comments made in this thread about performances, songs, and reactions should be accompanied by a youtube link

Most of what I had in mind to say about your response to mine I've actually already said via our PM discussion, however, I'll add a few things: You really ought to check out this thread: The Disturbing Trend. It took place shortly before you joined. It's actually by far my favourite thread of the year. I'd be interested to hear your perspective and whether than reiterate much of what I said there, I'll simply point people in that direction if they want to know my views on the relative importance of life. Actually, while it would be inaccurate to say I "grew up on a farm", I did spend a great deal of my childhood and adolescence on one and it shaped my view points as well. Good for you As I said to you, I think people do have a responsibility to share this (and other related sexual history information) with their potential sex partners. I respect that you yourself might not absolutely require the information, and if that's the case then I wouldn't fault one of your partners who knew that and chose not to tell you. However, I think it's best to operate under the assumption that it is information your partner should have to help them make an informed decision. That's commendable, but I think a very crucial aspect of how they deal with themselves and other people is how open and honest they would be with such a disclosure. I fully agree here! I whole-heartedly and fully agree with you. There's only one routine question which annoys me as much as "how old are you?"...but I shan't go into that one right now. In any case I cringe when someone asks me that and I have since I was about 10 and honestly I doubt I'll ever cease to be irritated by that question. -Kevin

I agree! I remember thinking that when it happened to me.... No worries, Robbie, you can feel free to experiment with me. Anyway good points

Love Song - Sara Bareilles

Dude, that's very poetically said! I love it!

What happened?

Oh please! He shouldn't be alone for his birthday! Just kidding, dude! I hope you have an awesome birthday and are genuinely and deeply happy on it. May the coming year bring you much joy and fulfillment! -Kevin

LOL, you Birthday Wh*re! Happy Birthday, dude! I hope it's every bit as awesome and special as you deserve and may the following year find you surrounded by a whole gaggle of delightful things Have a good one! -Kevin

Well said Tiff (And Graeme, though I apparently forgot to quote) I think you're quite right that there's a big difference between "needing" something and nevertheless having it be useful and important. I'm sure we're all in agreement that having the "blessing" of family and friends is - if not needed or even important - at least "useful" and "nice".

I'm sorry and I mean no offense, Tris, but what unhealthy attitudes! I was with you right to this point. You're right that there are lots of other serious STDs out there and some of them are difficult or impossible to prevent with a condom. I also laud you on assuring us that you would take the precautions but: I completely disagree with you here. I think the ideal is definitely to be told upfront (as Steve's partner did). I also think it's that person's responsibility, and regardless of whether or not we used a condom I'd be mad as hell if he hadn't told me. Discussing sexual history and health status is a very VERY important aspect of safe sex. Certainly it's not any of your business if the guy is say, your bank teller, or dry cleaner, but if he's your boyfriend it is your business. It becomes your business as soon as he takes on a role in your life which could conceivably spread any illness he has to you without proper precautions being taken. Thus, you're right it's not really your business if he's a diabetic or has cancer, BUT it is your business if he's a leper because leprosy is also contagious. I might argue that since in this hypothetical instance the guy in question is your boyfriend (and not just a casual hook-up), that he also ought to mention the cancer and diabetes since even though you can't get them, their treatment and the toll they take on him may indeed have some effect on relationship. This is particularly true if you're drive with your eyes closed. It's this attitude, particularly in young gay men, which leads them into quite a few very unhealthy and dangerous situations. Of course you're going to die some day, but take care of yourself in the meantime so that you can have healthy, happy days ahead of you in your later days or if you like merely happier, healthier days today while you're waiting to get hit by that bus as you cross the road. I certainly have no objection to you weighing the risk and deciding that sex and a deep connection with someone you love makes sex with an HIV person something that's worth it to you. What I do object to is the "live hard, die young" rationale that you seem to be using. In most cases "maximizing your enjoyment" doesn't have to come at the expense of your safety or your health. I for one have a hell of a lot of fun and take good care of myself. You know what that means? I intend to still be having a hell of a lot of fun when I'm in my 90s. And if I do get hit by the bus or a tree falls on me or something I'm not really out anything. I haven't made very many or very serious concessions for my health. For the most part it's simply making a series of small, but effective smart choices which actually lead to more short to medium range happiness, health, and all around feeling good, than the bad ones would have anyway. Sorry if it seems as though I'm attacking you, that was not my intent. I'm all for your right to live your life however you see fit and in this case it seems to be more about your motives and attitudes that I personally would find objectionable than your activities because you did state that you would have safe sex, which I approve of, and having safe sex with someone you love who has HIV is also something I would easily support. Instead I guess I just felt compelled to share my views with you because 1) I'm a loud mouth, 2 ) it might give you something to think about in many other areas which might benefit you, but primarily 3 ) I want to present "the other side of the coin" to any casual reader who might make decisions about his or her own life based on something we've said in this thread. Anyway I hope I didn't offend and I will butt out now, but I hope I have given you something to think about. Take care (please) -Kevin

Happy Birthday

LOL, you told me about the current Imagine video, but you didn't tell me about the one when he was 13!! (for anyone that's probably confused I was chatting with him on MSN) Oh my gosh! I really want to see a clip of that Damn, if we keep talking about American Idol I might have to break my television boycott :wacko:

OHhhh, I'm so glad to finally see the first video! Puts it into much better perspective and they're both outrageously funny!

- by Paula Abdul That's such a freakishly cute and fun video! On another note, despite knowing this full well, every time I see something from the 80s I'm once again struck by how awful the fashion was! I thank my stars I was too young to remember it!

Yeppers, there they are! (if you're good we'll give you links to lotsa other mythical entities too. How would you like to see a unicorn?) BTW, we're glad to see ya delurking! Always nice when one more pair of eyes in the shadows turns into a face

Sorry Kevin...I made it sound like I just left it where it was, but I didn't. I piled it all up in the sink for my stepmom. One knife did go under the stove when i kicked it by accident, but we have like 55,000 butterknives anyway, so I don't think we'll miss it. Yikes! I'm just glad that it missed you!

LOL, actually no. I meant it sincerely. When it comes to qualities that I like about you (no short list) your self-assurance is equaled only by your wit. If you're arrogant then so am I since I fully agree with that statement...still I suppose it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that I may be arrogant in some regards too I try very hard to placate people when they become upset and I always try to take other people's feelings into consideration, but underneath my considerate veneer, if at the end of the day, they don't like something I'm doing, or something about me...well then they can take a flying leap. Well for what it's worth, Beasty, anyone who makes you happy will have my blessings -Kevin

Haha, I love this! I shall go and bring it up to the Writer Support Team right now and see what their feedback is. Even if they don't want to get involved as a team I would be surprised if they had any objections to a sort of "grass roots" movement. (and I'd certainly be in ) Ohh I love their bread! *dumb blond emote* Well, really that's a pretty accurate description although for the record we don't leave the "weeds" out there to die. We hope that they too can be cultivated into flowers! Plus the WST as a team is supposed to help prevent the death of potential flowers lol. Keep treating yourself life that and you shall be "going out" horizontally before it's your time I (briefly) wrote, and as an author I can say that, yes, I did appreciate a simple "I'm reading your story and enjoying it" or even a "I'm reading your story". Of course it's much better and more useful to get actual, concrete thoughts and feedback, but as Corvus said something is better than nothing, and sometimes it's nice just to know you're not putting your work out there in a sort of "black hole", but that someone is actually looking at it. Take care all and have an awesome day! Kevin

I'm celebrating life

Has he done another performance since the last one? I don't watch TV but I'm kinda watching the clips of some of them on youtube.