AFriendlyFace

Indeed there are, but unfortunately I can't seem to properly articulate any of them at the moment. I quite like it though, well done, Corvus -Kevin

Any other thoughts from anyone? Especially those we haven't heard from yet?

As Tom said, I think all children should be supported. Seriously though, I can understand your hesitation, but once we get over the initial shock would really be that much different from test tube babies or infertility treatments? (which of course I happen to support) -Kevin

So what you mean is, it might just look greener because there's a topless girl laying on it?

I agree that that can often be a major and unfortunate outcome if not done very carefully...well actually maybe it's inherently impossible unless the characters are themselves sexually ambiguous. There seems to be a major disagreement about semantics going on! This is my definition and understanding of "slash" as well. And this is my definition of "gay fiction" Semantically I'm definitely in complete agreement with Graeme Once again, as I've come to expect from you now, I find your post incredibly insightful, Corvus My primary reason for writing gay fiction (not that I do it particularly often ) could be best summed up as a desire for creative expression of something which will add to gay culture. Have an awesome day everyone, Kevin

Thank you Richie! I still hadn't gotten around to looking it up! LOL, I am proactive enough to click a link though Nifty song

*gasps* the conclusions some people jump to! -Kevin

**inserts tongue firmly in cheek** That problem begs for an obvious solution

And when is that? Hehe, where am I in line? Well, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you now, Rose...and also humbly suggest that you bring oranges with you as well for the other citrus aficionados who don't happen to like grapefruit hehe, the 21st Hmm, Robbie does take his time...nevertheless my money would be on October of this year as the date on which he joins the bi-mi's

Well this is certainly nifty! Thanks for the info, Ixyam! Hmm, failing some sort of odd, painful, destructive process of which I am unaware, I can't imagine objecting to this on moral grounds. (I mean I can't imagine finding it objectionable...I can't imagine certain other individuals not finding it so) LOL, I'm so bi-polar on this issue. You'd be hard pressed to find a more vociferous proponent of (over)population control than myself...and yet I undoubtedly agree more with Tom than Menzo in terms of what my personal feelings would be in the situation. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for adopting, and see it as a noble and worthy thing. Indeed the chances I'll some day undertake it are quite high...still for whatever reason my own biological child does hold a certain appeal Take care all -Kevin

Excellent point, corvus! As Trab also pointed out, I think in many ways this gets to the crux of the matter. Who are we trying to make happy? The artist/writer or the general public? Whose wishes and satisfaction are paramount? I won't even begin to answer that question or venture an opinion right now, but I think that is key point. LOL a noble result from ignoble motives!

What an awesome post, Tarin! You rock! That's wonderful! I think it's important to really think about these things and I'm glad you're considering it I'm sure you'll have amazing success with this as well (precisely because you are taking the time to examine what you want and how to get it!) Hmmm Hmmm again Well first off, I have to admit that I'm kinda unlikely to date someone more than a few years older than me anyway (ideally I tend to be interested in guys my age. If not I prefer a bit younger to older), so I suppose it's all a moot point really. However, if we're just straight up talking about whether it's more or less acceptable for younger guys to be closet than older guys... Well, I'm very conflicted on this. As someone under 30, I think there's a huge tendency for us to be less patient with the older generation in terms of coming out. We see it as, "well, they've got their own life, they don't need anyone's approval, they aren't dependent on anyone, what's taking them so long?". I think this will pretty much be true as our generation ages and passes 30. What we must remember is that the older generations grew up in a completely different context. It is much more acceptable to be gay today than it was 20 or 30 years ago! I think this difference in society really is something that people will internalize to some extent in their formative years. Don't get me wrong, I agree that objectively the majority of older people don't have as rational a reason as they may think to remain in the closet (of course some may, but just generally), at least not with regards to external factors. However, I think there's a great deal more internal pressure on them than there is on the younger folks. We, for the most part, have grown up thinking they have a problem if they don't accept us (and I would agree with that of course). Many of the older generation may have grown up thinking that they themselves had the "problem" by being gay in the first place. We must further remember that, particularly in the gay male culture, there's a premium on youth. I'm not particularly worried about it because I 1) expect older gays to become more visible as our generation does age, and 2) expect to take many if not most of the friends and resources I have now with me into older age. But I would be much more overwhelmed trying to come out at 30 than 20, and a great deal more overwhelmed than that trying to come out at 40, 50, or older than at 20. The pressures a younger person (say 20 or below) faces on average deal with things like parental acceptance (and reliance on these parents), fear of bullying/ostracism at school, and in general more physical, material threats. These are extremely real and serious, and by no means am I trying to marginalize them or encourage kids to come out before they are ready, able, and safe. I also realize that there can be a great deal of internal confusion and angst as well. I just think the younger generation has opportunities and resources that have never been available before. In sum, I guess what I'm getting at is that older folks may have more internal difficulties coming out, and younger folks may have more external difficulties, but individuals in both groups can easily face the opposite to the same or a greater degree. Happily though, I think individuals in both groups may find the coming out process easy and relatively painless Anyway, let's cut each other some slack Take care all Kevin

Yet again we're in agreement

Indeed I learned who Wally Szczerbiak is today Once again, I've got to agree with Menzo. Well, contrary to what my last several posts might indicate, I actually tend to be very trusting until someone gives me a reason why I shouldn't be. I'm not just talking about safe sex exactly, I am going to be very cautious with that, even in a serious relationship, but in general... For example there are several guys right now that I'm really close with platonically and thinking about it, I'd have a lot of trouble not trusting them almost completely right away if we ever did get into a relationship. I think Menzo's strategy is more sensible, but I do tend to be ruled by my heart and emotions in these matters. -Kevin

Happy Chinese New Year

Hey Tob Sorry it didn't interest you much It's not that it wouldn't interest me. Your blogs are always interesting and entertaining (and in my opinion, one of the best blogs here). But you said it might only be relevant for you. I'll read the next one though Cheers Awww Thanks, that's sweet to say!!

Wow! There's a blast from the past! That was the first sexually oriented site I ever went to. Indeed, I was several years younger than you are now when I first read this very article (Oh God! You hadn't even started school yet! ) That site used to be much better too. That "Question of the week classic" thing, used to be an actual interactive weekly question! Still, while I don't dispute most of the info there, I think we must take into consideration that a website that features the discussion of guys masturbating is still going to be more appealing to, and attract more, gay boys than straight ones. Much of the article is indeed very dead on. I don't think fantasies by themselves are an indication of sexuality. Goodness knows I've certainly had my share of heterosexually oriented fantasies and I still came to identify as gay (although several people I know dispute that self-ascribed label :wacko: ) Amen, brother!

For the past two days there's been a poor young man selling fresh flowers by the side of the road at one of the major intersections I traverse every evening after work (this is not uncommon in Houston. There's also been a wheelchair confined person selling candy bars a few intersections up for the past few days). Anyway, I'd most definitely have bought one if I'd had someone waiting at home for me. I even considered buying one and then presenting it back to the vendor. I think that would have been incredibly romantic, but I wasn't actually interested in the guy (only sympathetic), and I'm also pretty sure he's straight. So no flowers did I buy

Ya know, I think it's like that perception exercise where your mind just fills in the spaces and sees things that aren't really there because it knows they're supposed to be...I never even noticed Awww Since I'd quite like to be on a keychain, any ideas as to how to install you as world ruler supreme? I agree with you on all those points! (except that my favourite colour is definitely blue. It'd be cool if he knows my 2nd favourite colour is green though) As another side-note, if you take the teeth out of the equation and substitute something else for spoon it might be a very good way to hang on to them Hmm, as one who disagrees, I would ask how you know they're not cheating on you? Oh obviously it's about trust, and doing it that way probably reduces the risk significantly over doing it randomly, but...well still seems a little iffy to me. Anyway, personally that particular activity doesn't hold any appeal to me. Seems a bit gross without a condom actually. Just my opinions of course, Take care all -Kevin

My first response to seeing this thread and it's subtitle - even before opening it - was "ohh yeah!" Graeme's post almost perfectly mirrors my thoughts on this. Sounds like you have someone specific in mind I'll say this, I think it's very important to both show it AND say it when you definitely feel it. Doing just one or the other is insufficient in my opinion. Take care all -Kevin

Ohh, that's such a lovely, romantic song!! ...I'm still listening to one of the least romantic songs imaginable: So Hott by Kid Rock

I'm with Jamie on this one. Of course that's obvious since I do believe in meaning in a relative manner and not in an absolute manner...so obviously if something has relative meaning to someone it has as much meaning as possible (by my philosophy), which nevertheless gives it meaning. If something, let's say your own happiness, has meaning for you, Menzo, then why would you argue that that doesn't give it "actual meaning"? Why would "meaning in the broader sense", make something anymore meaningful? I realize of course that you're saying there is no "meaning in the broader sense"...and actually since that seems to be a synonym for "absolute, objective meaning" (which I agree doesn't exist), then I suppose we are in agreement. I guess what I'm asking is why relative meaning isn't enough for you to consider something "meaningful"? Perhaps I am selfish and egotistic (as you're arguing is a good thing) but if I consider something meaningful then it's damn well meaningful enough as far as I'm concerned and I wouldn't think to call it unmeaningful...even if there were some objective standard of meaning and whatever it is I cared about failed to meet that standard I would still consider it more meaningful than this theoretical standard because it would have more meaning from my point of view (which is absolute - oh the irony - in terms of my feelings). I disagree with this first point very strongly! One of my "guiding principals" is that man creates his own reality. "Reality" in the "real" sense is irrelevant. Perception - however distorted it may be - IS reality. An oft cited example of this goes as follows: If I believe there's a man-eating lion outside my door, and I thus conduct my life according to this premise, it is completely irrelevant whether or not there actually is one out there. It becomes my reality and it couldn't be any more real regardless of whether or not it's "real". Some argue that "actual reality" has an intrinsic value over "perceived reality". I don't think it does. I think perceived reality has more of an impact and is of greater importance. I disagree with this one as well. It would be lovely if that were true; however, I think man is an intrinsically irrational beast, and I think feelings and emotion more often guide his actions and are the "go to" for survival. Fight or flight is the first line of defense and this is seldom rational. Rationality is a very conscious and willed response. It is by no means universal to men. MMMKAY, I can buy that one as a decent approach. Though not the only. This one I more or less agree with as an ideal. I agree, it does seem as though we're more or less on the same page in terms of beliefs and actions. Our differences seem to more of semantics and degrees of conviction about various points. Very astute questions and observations, glomph! LOL, this thread certainly gets my vote as the most intellectually stimulating and enjoyable of the new year Take care all and have an excellent day! (however you perceive that) -Kevin

It's like "tame sex", nothing too wild or kinky. Well, I'm not sure, although I am hoping it doesn't rain soon or else I suspect a few people's minds might get wet as the water leaves the rooftops

I think I really need to hear these two songs! I'm listening to: Love Song by Sara Bareilles

But not in winter