MJ85

I'm far from a legal expert, but it seems like the one charge that really should stick no matter what is the invasion of privacy. Whether he gets labelled as only a prankster or as homophobic, it seems pretty obvious that privacy WAS violated here. Get that one to stick and the witness tampering and hindering prosecution might too. Would it matter if he wasn't labelled homophobic? ...if only because it seems like whether or not he was, what he did definitely was. I reckon our resident legal expert ought to weigh in (that means you, Andy ).

(Responding to Cia) I'll agree, and that I think is the fatal flaw in the poll question. (No offense to TetRefine... ) I do think it's very difficult to have a really great story with out well-thought out characters and plot interwoven together. BUT, the question asks which we prefer, and so I also based my answer off of, "what if I can't have both?" Given that scenario, I'd prefer it if the characters are able to decide to act within their nature, or decide that they'll go against their nature, like say if the firefighter you describe above acts to help in spite of his fear or sharks. The alternative is if all they do is react given whatever the situation is. If that's the case, then all the characters really are are puppets, which they very well could be - but how does that work very well unless character description tells us so?

I prefer characters to plot. It's funny that you mention crime dramas...the big reason I prefers characters is that at the very least, their histories, the things they are feeling - they can serve to "create" a plot if one does not otherwise exist, or if essentially all it is is the characters going through life day to day. A strong plot can have the side effect of "bending" characters to fit within its structure, to act in ways and say things that are just not fitting of who they are...and that bugs the hell out of me. I say it's funny you mention crime dramas because Law & Order: SVU has been VERY guilty of this at times.

Yeah, but they were on their way to bigger things by that point, at least Amanda was. Personally I loved her Ask Ashley segments. I think I'll echo your sentiments on Josh, even though I feel awkward as hell saying so. Funny how Kenan went on to join the real SNL cast though. As far as being an 80s/90s kid goes, I only really consider myself a 90s kid, mostly because I don't remember much from before I was like 4. And I was born in '85 too.

Who…Are You? I was walking down the hallway to my locker with my best friend, Kevin Lafferty – first hour had just ended. Oh yeah, I’m Jake McCallister. I’m a junior who plays football here at Richardson High – top linebacker on the team! Kevin and I have been best buds since we were real little. We first met out on the playground in kindergarten class. What can I say? We just clicked. We’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since – it feels like we have, anyway. He’s the first guy I ever…oh

Jake McCallister opened his locker one day to discover...somebody likes him! But who could it be? Could it be the swimmer who's only recently come out at school? Could it be the president of the school's GSA, who inadvertently helped Jake to come out himself? Or...could it be...?

Would my life have been different if I'd had two dads? Oh yes...very much so. My parents got divorced when I was only 6, and mom has not remarried. My dad isn't a very communicative person, and growing up, I'd see him infrequently...less and less as I've grown older. Also growing up, I'd often be witness to arguments between my aunt and uncle, and my grandma and grandpa (my mom's parents), with the women often coming out of them with their head held high. So...even just having one strong, reliable male figure in my life would have been that much different. And with that being the case, having TWO dads would've just turned the script right on its head!

I knew that I liked how guys looked by the time I was in high school. I was particularly aware of it at times when I'd see a guy with his shirt off or otherwise just dressed a certain way. I'd find myself frequently pushing such thoughts of it out of my head (except for...you know, certain times ), and this went on up until I was already two years out of HS, when I finally reached the point where I realized that I might as well face facts: I'm gay, end of story. Nowhere in this time have I been attracted to females sexually.

I'm still stunned at the news. R.I.P.

Posting this for those who have not yet read this story (like me )... AwesomeDude changed their file links, so the link that's currently listed on GA doesn't work. This is the updated one: http://awesomedude.c...other/index.htm

Thanks KC.

Awww... shucks, you're too kind.

New haircut yesterday. I normally have it cut short all around, but I was looking in the mirror at one point, and I liked how my bangs looked in contrast to the rest of my shorter hair...so I decided to leave them long.

It feels very much like a school that decides to ban all non-sport extracurricular groups rather than allow a GSA. They're flat-out lying when they're claiming, "We do not condone discrimination against individuals of any sort."

Everyone's favorite song with a slur ... Money For Nothing by Dire Straits.

Is it just me...or is there something else that's off here? Maybe it's just me, but something seems a little...too convenient about Cody being there. Sean supposedly breaks his heart, yet there Cody is when Sean's in a new place up to his old tricks? I dunno...it almost makes me wonder if Cody's really a big fat liar and in fact he's IN on it! But really...the last chapter before this was posted...last January? This is going too damned slowly!

I have to agree with those who've said divorce is the way to go...your wife is finding herself distancing away from you, and even if you do nothing, she may file for divorce on you anyway. Your feelings for men might be a bit stronger than they really are, simply because you don't yet have experience of having been with another man. That's not to say that you're not more attracted to men than women, but rather that your curiosity over being with another man is making those feelings stronger. I am NOT suggesting you just go out and do it, but when you do take that step...of course, be careful. And: You might be imagining yourself as a "bottom" just because that's a unique form of gay sex, but - you won't really know what preference you like better until you experience it. Only your body can really make that decision for you.

LOL! I tend to do that too. Hi, rustle! *waves* Oops. Well, my name's Mike, and I'm a reader. I did try my hand at writing once a few years ago...but I couldn't stick with it. I don't have the sense to be able to flesh out details as skillfully as writers here can. I was working on a longer story and had 6 chapters in, but the sixth took me longer to write...and my patience to stick with it ran out soon after that (though the fact that I was in my first year at a four-year university by that point and getting used to the campus may have had something to do with losing my patience, too ). I don't think I'll go back to writing, though...I don't really have the drive for it. Probably the closest thing I could do is editing...I'm anal retentive when it comes to proofreading! :wacko:

I'm a pretty sound sleeper. I usually toss and turn a bit after I lay down initially, but once I get settled, it's off to la-la land. It usually takes one of three things to wake me up: 1) An alarm clock. 2) My natural rhythm telling me "wake up!" 3) I'm dreaming and the dream ends. It really sucks when I have a dream ended by my alarm clock though, I get that groggy feeling that makes me want to go right back to bed. Things like thunderstorms don't usually wake me up unless I haven't been asleep for that long. (Which I'm grateful for - I hate lying awake in bed hearing a thunderstorm outside! )

Happy happy happy birthday!!

Gah.... I didn't notice this thread until now. But yeah... I'm new to the forums. I've read a number of the stories posted on here (more than I've really kept track of ), but I finally decided to "take the plunge" and become a member. Oh yeah, in case you haven't noticed... I really like emoticons, so you'll probably see me using them. A LOT.

A little bit blurry, but... ...there ya go.

You may be closer to realizing the way you want to go than you might think. From your further disclosures, you've been in counseling for some time over your confusion, yet (at the risk of sounding like a lawyer ) these were your opening statements: Since you led off by expressing a sort of confusion and curiosity over your feelings of finding other men attractive...that in turn leads me to believe that that's what carries the most emotional weight in your mind. (i.e. it carries more emotional weight than being responsible for a child or working on your marriage) I get this sense that this is what you're going to find yourself coming back to even with ongoing counseling.

MJ = my first two initials (aka my first and middle name), and [19]85 is the year I was born. Kind of a lazy way to come up with a screen name...but whatever.

This is a great way to start your story. Tyler seems like he could be a kind of guy who isn't into other guys in a general sense (i.e. doesn't "fit" neatly with a gay/bi label), but still likes Brandon that way anyway. And with a title like "Truth Be Told"...this definitely feels like a story of a guy being able to figure out his sexuality that's just waiting to be told.