AFriendlyFace

It's fantastic, Mikie! I really like it! *sigh* I have that attitude with shoes, belts, shirts, etc....it's cost me more than a few high credit card bills Ohh, you should come to Houston! We have several gorgeous ones in our aquarium (yes I said aquarium ) I've never actually seen either. Always meant to... Yep, nifty avatar, Demetz

I suspect you're right, Tim. It usually takes so long for gay people to work out their sexuality, come out, and start dating that - I would think - they often don't start dating and having sex until an older age. For example, I think most straight people have their first boyfriend/girlfriend much younger than the average gay person has his/her first boyfriend/girlfriend. On the bright side this trend seems to be decreasing as GLBT youth come out at a younger and younger age, face less stigma, and accept and embrace their sexuality earlier!

Honestly, I worry about this sometimes. I'm sure I am gay, but I'm pretty sexually open and exploratory and I don't feel like women are completely 'off the table' for me. However, it would be a pretty difficult situation for me to be in if I found myself in a 'straight' relationship. I'm really involved in the gay world. All my friends are gay, and a large part of my identity and plans in life hinge on the fact that I'm gay (I eventually want to get a doctorate in sexuality/gay studies and plan to do quite a bit of activism, research, and university teaching on this topic). So being "straight" would be a pretty crummy thing to happen to me. I think I could deal with it, but it would throw me for quite a loop. So I guess that's why I worry about it sometimes. :wacko: I don't think I'm obsessive about it by any means though, and I really do think it's an irrational, pointless, inaccurate fear. This is very true!

Ah, a prime example of when word order is very relevant! I know how these things are though. Several months ago I was having lunch with a co-worker and I spilled a slight amount of salad dressing on my shirt. We had a meeting later so I was not pleased about the stain (well actually in all honestly I probably wouldn't have been particularly delighted even if we hadn't had a meeting later ). Anyway, she said, "Don't worry, I've got a [sounded like 'tie pin'] in the car." Now I was thinking, That's just ridiculous! First of all it would look silly (I wasn't wearing a tie, it was just a dress shirt), second I didn't see how I tie pin would cover the stain completely. Later, when I got in the car she opened the glove compartment and pulled out a Tide Pen. Which was indeed helpful! Anyway you just never know what you're going to get when discussing neckties Well you are special, dude BTW, I think the pics are adorable too!

Well I've never seen even the most extreme 'homophobe' shriek in fear and literally try to run away or hide.

Ohhhh, if you leave some of your birthday presents out can I play with them while you're not using them? Well, you avoided wishing him Merry Christmas...I suppose for a birthday thread that's pretty intelligent

Today is a very special and wonderful day! It's Jamessavik's birthday!!! James, it's been a true delight knowing you and interacting with you over the years! You continually model a positive, responsible behaviour for us all; you care about and look after the new members, especially some of our most vulnerable ones; your sense of humour lightens the boards while your clever insight and honest opinions are a constant source of intellectual debate and thought-provoking reasoning! Indeed, you were one of the main members who first made me feel welcomed around here when I joined! Gay Authors wouldn't be the same without you and I look forward to many more years of friendship with you Have a terrific birthday and a fantastic year! -Kevin

Welcome to the forum, Frost!! Any friend of Tiff's is a friend of ours! It's great to have you, dude! I've been enjoying interacting with you in the various threads Welcome miik! A fellow domaholic huh? COOL!! So what's your favourite Dom story? It's awesome to have you! Welcome you three Let me know if you need anything Kevin

I can kind of identify with his feelings; I like to wear a wide array of different fashions and if I've been wearing one 'too much' for one reason or another I can't stand to wear it when I don't have to. It is nice to wear something your S.O. finds hot on your anniversary though!

Have you considered telling him?

It's actually not that uncommon. It's generally referred to as being 'pee shy' and I've known at least one other person with this condition. Interestingly he was a gay male as well. It's supposedly a variant form of social anxiety.

Yes, I think this definition makes sense, and while it's not exactly how I would phrase it, I think that's pretty much in line with what I've always thought. It's no coincidence, IMO, that some of the biggest homophobes are also some of the biggest closet cases.

Cute indeed

As I said, I didn't mean to question anyone's fear; I was only saying that in general I think people throw the word 'phobia' around a bit more than is called for. You poor thing! I would definitely agree with this assessment. Personally I love glass elevators and elevators with mirrors!

Well done everyone!

I think it's also useful to distinguish between phobic and merely averse. I suspect many of the things people refer to as 'phobias' - even a few in this thread I'd wager - are really merely thing people prefer to avoid and are uncomfortable with. For example does the 'phobia' really interfere with your daily life? Is it something you truly can't reign in? Is it really unreasonable and illogical? Does it cause you significant distress? Don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing anyone of lying or exaggerating and I'm sure many people in this thread have expressed things they are truly phobic about, but in general I think people tend to throw the word around a bit too lightly. Blah, I'm probably just raining on everyone's neurotic parade so I'll shut up now -Kevin

Awwww that was such a sweet and touching video (the one with the Lion was cute too )

Interestingly, only yesterday I was reading about parthenophilia, which is of course an ummm 'fondness' for virgins <-- Personally I enjoy heights, and would probably get a kick out of that place! Similarly, I also enjoy confined spaces as long as I don't have reason to believe I can't get out of them if I want to. I don't really have any phobias. I have an aversion to snakes, but I'm not phobic by any means. I have a lesser aversion to spiders, but it's not really bad at all. I can easily ignore them if we're on neutral ground or chase them down and kill them if they come into my territory. LOL, my friends always make me kill the spiders. Anyway, I don't like them, but I'm not really that afraid of them. I have fairly bad eyesight (I should get contacts or glasses but I refuse), so I do get nervous and uncomfortable anytime I have to rely very heavily on my vision. So things like trying to read something from a distance or trying to recognize someone in a crowd make me very uncomfortable and stressed out. But yeah, no real phobias that I can think of. I used to be afraid of railings. Not height or water (which is usually what they guard against) but the actual railing. I'm pretty sure that has to do with my vision too though. In any case I'm mostly over that one now. -Kevin

Well I couldn't let everyone get too complacent in their understanding of the bases. For those not athletically oriented the shortstop stands between second and third base Anyway, unfortunately I haven't even gotten on the field when it comes to the opposite sex. Not only haven't I batted, I'm not even up on deck yet Actually, I do regret this. Not to be vulgar or share TMI, but I'm very much open to the idea of 'experimenting' if the right girl and situation present themselves. In fact, I may even let her get her hands on my pop fly -Kevin

I'm glad you're doing well, Jamie

I think we must be stuck in the same mud hole, Eric! I agree with you Apart from which, Robbie, you'll want to collect your 'post coming out' hug, and it'll be more difficult via the phone

That's wonderful, Martin!! Congrats! It's been a pleasure having you around Hey Lavie! Welcome to the forum! I like Clyde I think right now though you have him set as your profile picture as opposed to your avatar (unless you are indeed working on a new one right now as you said you would be). Let me know if you need help setting up your avatar. I might even be able to help you resize it, and if I can't I bet we can get the tech folks to take a look Take care all and have a great day! Kevin

I hope Benji and everyone in his life is doing well and I look forward to his return. We'll miss ya, Benji! Come back soon! Kevin

Utterly adorable! Always take your safety and privacy into consideration, but if you feel it is safe to post the pics then I'm all for it. Especially since they bump the cuteness factor of this thread up even higher!.

I don't think this should really be a factor. I mean let's say you are someone with homicidal or violent tendencies but you do a very good job of keeping them suppressed and under control. Isn't that a good and even laudable thing? Granted, under those circumstances perhaps as a person with a predisposition to violence the person in question should be extra careful to avoid 'loosing control', but should they be held more accountable than someone with benign tendencies who, for whatever reason, commits the same act? Here's an example. I'm a remarkably pleasant drunk. Everyone says so. I'm cheery, I never get angry or sad, and at worst I just get a little too flirtatious and sexual (but I don't try to force myself on people). As such, I have no reason to believe that it's a risk for me to get completely drunk (in a suitably safe setting) and interact with others. What if for some bizarre reason something does set me off and I do hurt someone? Am I less culpable than someone who does the same action who knowingly put him/herself in the situation of becoming drunk when they knew they might have a tendency toward violence or aggression when drunk?