AFriendlyFace

I enjoyed that! Very fun clip! Happy birthday by the way

Well, I approach everyone the same way: with a smile and an open mind. I don't really worry about whether or not the guy is gay. If I'm significantly attracted to him I tend to assume automatically that he is and I'm almost always right. That's because I'm primarily attracted to gay guys. The only ones that ever throw me are the sensitive/metrosexual/artistic straight guys. To answer # 1 though, I would say the absolute best way is to come out yourself. I'm completely "out" and if I meet someone and he doesn't let me know in some way then I don't waste my time, because I figure either he's straight and there's no point, or he's in the closet and he's probably not ready to come out. If he is in the closet then that doesn't automatically preclude me from dating him. I'm willing to as long as he's comfortable in "gay settings" and around GLBT people at least, even if he won't come out in the straight world. However, either way I figure it's his responsibility to 'out' himself to me, and not my place to out him. # 2 is, as I said, the same way I pretty much approach everyone, and virtually all the guys I approach I assume are gay. Regardless, I'm just friendly, a bit flirty perhaps, and just feel him out to see if he's seeing anyone and if not if he's at all interested. # 3, I have a pretty rigid rule about not dating friends. I'm willing to be friends with people I've dated, but not generally the other way around. I figure good friendships are too important to jeopardize in this way. For me there's a fairly narrow window when I meet someone. If things don't go in a romantic/physical/sexual direction fairly soon after I meet them then they enter the "friend zone" and that's about all they'll ever get out of me. I'm sure there's always the possibility that there will be an exception, or even multiple exceptions, in the future, but that's the way I've always conducted things up until now and I've found that it works quite nicely. Anyway, I'm really glad you got things worked out with your friend! -Kevin

I think it depends on what you're looking for in a friendship. One friendship, or one type of friendship, probably isn't going to satisfy all of your "friendship needs." If you're looking for exercise and low-maintenance then I'm sure straight guys are the way to go. If on the other hand you're looking for a "shoulder to cry on" (metaphorically or literally), then they may not be the best choice. Personally, virtually all my close friendships are with other gay/bi males. However, I have a notable contingent of lesbians and a smaller group of straight female and straight male friends. Regardless, I've learned that these friendships are different. One group of friends I find extremely fun and low maintenance. These are essentially my drinking/party friends. I go out with them when I feel like it and if I skip out early, cancel, or decline from the start, no one freaks out or gets their feelings hurt. When we're together it's all laughter, drinks, dancing, flirting, etc. Then I've got my more cerebral friends. These are the ones I sit around with for hours discussing philosophy, religion, psychology, linguistics, etc. I've also got my "I need to bitch and whine and get a hug" friends. These are the ones I sit around with discussing our feelings, etc. I've also got friends based on specific hobbies and interests I enjoy and the primary focus is on the specific shared interest. I've found that by and large these friends aren't always the best to try to mix. My intellectuals do not make good drinking buddies, and my emotionals don't appreciate it if I analyze them instead of supporting them. Eh, just my thoughts. Enjoy your running buddies, but keep your "crying buddies" around just in case -Kevin

Lovely photos all around. I swear every time I go away for a bit when I come back you're all even more beautiful than before!

MMMMMM, lucky boy! I'm of the opinion that the Japanese are one of the most beautiful people on the face of the earth. I've had two ex-boyfriends from Japan. Hehe, I'd be like a kid in a candy store That said, I'm sure it is quite a culture shock. I bet it's an awesome learning experience for you though. Besides, you get to be the adorable, exotic looking foreigner now Anyway, I think it's really cool and I wish you the absolute best of luck with it! Keep us posted on how it goes! -Kevin

Eh! I'm with the majority! Sex with a friend I'm not romantically interested in sounds like a nightmare! I have a very firm no sex policy when it comes to friends. I think it's the worst thing you can do for a friendship short of moving in long-term with the person.

Hmmmm, I find it interesting, and unnecessary, that everyone is disagreeing with Frosty. This thread is simply a request for opinions and frankly until he offered his own differing one it seemed like a steady chorus of "go for it" rehashed over and over again. That said, I disagree with him of course Personally, I can't imagine myself in W.L.'s situation because in all honestly I don't have much interest in older guys. On the other hand, I can well imagine myself in the other dude's place. If I were 37 and single and a cute, interesting 22 year old came along I probably would go for it. Even now I tend to go for guys at least a couple of years younger. Anyway, you've heard the "age is just a number" and "differences are the spice of life" variations plenty of times already so let me just throw in my own perspective. Personally, I think I'm far more likely to regret something I didn't do than something I did. I don't care if I fall flat on my face and end up with a couple of bruises; what I find frighteningly distasteful is thinking that I might have missed out on a fun, interesting, fulfilling experience that could have been really great! So yeah, if you're interested in him I say go for it! The worst that can happen is that it won't work out, but at least you won't wonder what might have been and at least you'll probably have something nice, or at least interesting, to look back on. Basically, I think if it doesn't work out you'll probably get over it (at least I hope that's the case), but if it does work out...well that's just golden isn't it? Take care, dude -Kevin

That's not entirely true; I've been dying for a good vagina story

Happy birthday

I really like it! Ohh, very cool! Awesome pics! Looks like a really fun family and group! How fun! Very cool Welcome to the forums! great pics

Two decades of Jaime? WOW! What a blessing! I hope you had an infinitely amazing birthday and may the coming year blow your mind with happiness! -Kevin

Hi, I'm a liberal

Right up your alley? I thought you left your clothes on. Good luck, dude -Kevin

Welcome to the forum! It's great to have you!

I have to admit I'm really curious about this now! I hope I get a chance to watch it!

Sounds pretty offensive to me too. Although I am largely unfamiliar with torchwood.

Awww, very cool! I'm pulling for him!

Awww I'm so sorry. How's he doing now?

LOL, very hot!

I have some thoughts. First, Boy Culture is an excellent movie and I really like it too Second, I'm certainly not going to come down against sex, but I would like to make a few statements. Please don't have sex because you're lonely, or looking for affection. Those are crappy reasons to have sex. That's what friends, family and/or actual boyfriends are for. Have sex because you want sex. When you're having sex, the single most important thing you can do is communicate. It makes for a much better experience. Obviously dirty boy #1 is guilty of not communicating. However, I suspect you weren't completely forthright with your desires and expectations either. Also, while it's certainly none of my business, I don't think asking a guy out to take you on errands is a great way to plan a first date. Anyway, enjoy stage 2, but be safe so that you can make it to stage 3 without too much emotional (or physical) baggage. Of course all of that is just my opinion Take care, dude Kevin

I think that's a really good point! I don't mind cheering someone up, or being supportive to people periodically, even if they are exaggerating. I think everyone does feel that need for attention and sympathy sometimes, and that is fine. It is only annoying to me when it's recurrent, and it's the same thing (or same type of thing) over and over again and the person doesn't seem to want to do anything to actually make it better. Yes, I very much agree. Doing it in moderation is one thing, but when it does take over, especially on a societal level, it gets really unhealthy

I love those pictures! They're so adorable and fun! Looks like you guys were having a good time. Even without the cute, playfulness of the pictures, You're both gorgeous; with the cute, playfulness of the pictures you're both simply irresistible! May I come over for tea? -Kevin

I think that brings up a couple of other very good points relating to this. Hypothetically, is there a way to do a "random" sort of display instead of a "most recent" display? I'm actually torn on what I'd prefer and probably would opt for "most recent" in the end anyway. Ideally though if it were possible I think it would make a great user set option so that people cold decide for themselves. I might switch it back and forth. On another note, we've all pointed out how much more likely we are to visit the gallery and take a look at everything now that it's out there, and I certainly think that's true. However, I'm curious about how this impacts people's tendency to post new stuff knowing that it'll be right out there prominently displayed. I really couldn't say since I don't have any pictures, but in general I'm disinclined to post pictures and I think having them displayed on the main index page would make me marginally less likely to do so (but again, I was pretty unlikely to do so in the first place ) So what do you guys think? Are you more or less likely to post new pics in the gallery given the placement? -Kevin

Happy Birthday!!