The Simtropolis Closet

[Zelgadis 638]

Originally posted by: Boggy1

Well, I'm not really sure I like being labeled. 'Gay' 'Fag' 'Homo' 'Bent' they just all seem totally stupid to me. I'm a Homo Sapian, and thats all that counts.quote>

True, that labels can be used by people to seperate themselves from the rest of humanity or for some people to feel that they are better than others.

But labels can also be vital to our own self-identity. Homo Sapien would be an accurate description of me, but it leaves out so much.

I am also gay, a video-game nut, a computer geek, a model builder, a teacher, a Shintoist, a Buddhist, an anime fan, white, Irish, Scottish, English, French, Dutch, German, Portuguese, Cherokee, Kentuckian, Canadian, American, a craftsman, a lover of spring and fall, a hater of summer and winter, a Macintosh enthusiast, a cancer survivor, a liberal, a socialist, a sci-fi fan... etc.

I defy you to find another human being on this planet who is exactly the same.

The trouble, I believe, is that many try to identify themselves by one or two labels. If you happen to identify yourself by a label, you have to use all of them or the label is incorrect. Too often, I meet people who only seem to think of themselves as "gay" without any of the other personally-defining labels. I usually find such people rather shallow.

But again, that's just my experience.

ISF

[Aran 10]

Originally posted by: zelgadis

...a cancer survivor, a liberal, a socialist, a sci-fi fan...

...The trouble, I believe, is that many try to identify themselves by one or two labels. If you happen to identify yourself by a label, you have to use all of them or the label is incorrect. Too often, I meet people who only seem to think of themselves as "gay" without any of the other personally-defining labels. I usually find such people rather shallow.

...But again, that's just my experience.

quote>

Well, your experience seems to be quite on the ball. If you were to ask the majority of people with which I hang around to define themselves, 95% would say pretty much anything first and "gay" only as an afterthought. (The other 5%, of course, are the vapid fairies that cruise the bars downtown on Thursday nights. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.)

Fact is, human beings are complex creatures - and the ones who try to squeeze themselves into a single, simple label are selling themselves short. To identify myself as gay would be discard all the other facets of my personality. As you said, it might be an accurate description, but it would leave out way too much.

...

Anyway...you're a cancer survivor?

This I didn't know. Along with the rest of the traits you listed, this makes you so much more than just "the gay moderator" to me - a label (heh), which I'm embarrassed to say, sort of defined you in my mind. Guess that's an example of why labels can be a bad thing.

[Zelgadis 638]

"Vapid fairies" I like that.

I am a cancer survivor. Or, rather, a "continuous survivor." I first got melanoma when I was 13 years old. I've had it continuously since then: 6 surgeries in 16 years. Due to the nature of my skin, it will never go away. All I can do is keep it at bay. My dermatologist reckons that I will need around 50 surgeries during course of my life to keep ahead of it.

Many "labels" define who we are. Some are bigger than others. That which I just described above is a very big one. Being gay is also a pretty big label for me too. Some people don't find it such an important label. Some find it absolutely defining (vapid fairies ).

As for me, it's important. I spent so many years in self-suppression. When I finally came to terms with my sexuality, I felt much more comfortable letting my true self come out. I was able to just let all of my personality hang out like pink underwear on a laundry line.

That felt good. Stress levels are way down. And I've lost 26 pounds.

Know your own, personal labels, and know which ones are the biggies, and you will always choose the right path.

ISF

[Aran 10]

Originally posted by: zelgadis

"Vapid fairies"...I like that...

...I was able to just let all of my personality hang out like pink underwear on a laundry line.quote>

The bit about pink underwear was probably a little too much information there, z...

As for the vapid fairies, well...that is, unfortunately, a rather accurate description. My apologies to any that might fall into this category, but there's something about the young bar-hopping set that sets my teeth on edge. The ones here tend to stagger through life from crisis to crisis like a drunken sailor whilst imagining that the phrase "you can't do/say that; I'm gay!" is some form of magical mantra that, when uttered, will somehow provide meaning to their life.

News flash, you insipid dolts: there's more to you and your empty lives then that particular revelation. All right, you're gay; do you expect a pat on the back? If you want me and, I suspect, the majority of people who might be reading this/listening to you to show any interest in you whatsoever, it might help to think about what else you are. Because the sad fact of the matter is that being gay in this particular place (usually, as I said, a gay bar) just isn't that bloody special.

...

Was that a rant? Whoops. Didn't mean to go off like that, but I've been muttering darkly about this sort of thing since last Thursday and had to get it off my chest. The preceding several paragraphs has absolutely nothing to do with anyone here on this board; I'm just b----ing about my personal life.

Thanks for listening. And next time you run across one of those whiny queens, ask them to define themselves. There's a good chance that that light in their eyes...is shining through the hole in the back of their head.

Cheers.

[defcon pilot 0]

@zelgadis & Aran: Well, I have to say, I agree strongly with you on those points. I myself have been ranting plenty at my school about that kind of thing. And, as I had expected would probably happen, everyone thinks I'm crazy. Psch. They ought to take a look at themselves for once.

Actually, when I "came out" in the metaphorical sense to my friends that I "liked" someone (I was 11 at the time), I was more stressed than ever. And now, it's even worse, and I'm probably way overweight for my height (1.5 m = 56 kg?). And, as far as I can figure, I have myself to blame. OK, well, maybe it's not that simple: There's me, but that's not detailing everything, for instance, there's my friends (semi-ironically), who always taught me that "liking people is disgusting". (Of course, if you WANTED me to detail everything, you can request it by E-mail and I'll send you all the details. Might take a few days to load, though. )

Being slightly bisexual is a pretty big label for me, too... Whenever I tell that to someone, they look at me as though I'm crazier than they already think I am. And those immature little sixth graders about stuff like this, they act even more annoyingly, taunting and teasing and acting like it's some big victory to them, hearing someone say that they have gay tendencies. But I can't really blame them for their immaturity, though. I mean, they just got out of elementary school.

(NOTE: If some of the stuff I put up doesn't sound right for some reason, it's because it's 2300 [or 23:00], I have bags under my eyes, and my body is screaming at me to go to bed. Which I will in a moment.)

Also, zel: Wow, we share a lot of characteristics! Except that I'm more heterosexual, and I'm not religious.

You're a cancer survivor? This changes everything!

@Boggy1: Yeah, like vid was implying, you could work on your spelling a bit.

@DeMaster_architect: Ah. Well, that's interesting to know. Don't let the edited for content ~me invade de Nederlands!

[Boggy1 45]

Ahem...dyslexia..<_< I'm a terrible speller...but I do try..

(at least I use grammar)

[sloppet 3]

hmm.. well... it's not a spam topic, but it starts to get booring...

[vidioman 21]

@Defcon Pilot: Please, please please please, for the sake of HUMANITY!!! GET HELP!!!

Go now!

[Zelgadis 638]

Originally posted by: Aran

Originally posted by: zelgadis

...I was able to just let all of my personality hang out like pink underwear on a laundry line.quote>

The bit about pink underwear was probably a little too much information there, z...

quote>

Sir, that was merely a similie. A comparison using "like" or "as" if you will. I have no intention of informing anyone on ST what kind of underwear I do wear.

@defcon pilot: I'm a bit over 1.7 meters and 77.1 kg. If you're overweight, I'm an elephant. But there is good news. I just saved a bunch of money on car insuranc... wait, wrong speech. The good news is that I've lost 12 kg in the last six months.

And being a cancer survivor changes... what exactly? Just curious...

@vidioman: Perhaps defcon pilot can drag you along with him upon his visit to the psychiatrist. One can hope, anyway...

ISF

[justanothersim86 83]

Defcon: You aren't overweight. I'm 1.8-1.9 metres tall and 78 kg . You actually fall in the "healthy range" if anything. I'm balancing on the line between overweight and healthy. But I am losing weight.

[vidioman 21]

Oooo... a psychiatrist!! Is he cute? Hehe.. I wear boxers But if I'm feeling really crazy, I'll wear boxer briefs! Ooo, naughty!

[Aran 10]

Originally posted by: zelgadis

Originally posted by: Aran

Originally posted by: zelgadis

...I was able to just let all of my personality hang out like pink underwear on a laundry line.quote>

The bit about pink underwear was probably a little too much information there, z...

quote>

Sir, that was merely a similie. A comparison using "like" or "as" if you will. I have no intention of informing anyone on ST what kind of underwear I do wear.quote>

I know. I was "just giving you a hard time. " (IRL I'd have said I was "deleted ~zel~", but vid tends to take things way, way out of context...) You got that right... ~zel~

[defcon pilot 0]

@Boggy1: Ah. I have a friend who has dyslexia. He's also a video-game addict.

@sloppet: I beg to differ.

@vid: Remember, no capitals. (MY GOLDEN RULE!) And I dunno about a psychiatrist. I'd rather not divulge my personal life... Even though I offered it to you guys just a few posts ago.

@zelgadis: Um... It changes my view of you? As in "not just a gay moderator but a cancer-afflicted gay moderator"? It makes you special!

And that was an overused joke, BTW. Funny, though. And don't you worry, if I go, he's coming. Otherwise...

I'll be forced to use extreme measures!

(JK. Also, was my grammar correct?)

@justanothersim86: Thanks for the... Compliment? Heh.

@vid (again): My school psychiatrist is a she... I think. But if you're lucky (and we all know luck hates you [JK again ]), then it might be a he. Or I could just call one of the male psychiatrists from the clinic in Gilroy I go to. Would you prefer the former or the latter?

@Aran: He sure does.

[vidioman 21]

Vid, you know better than that. ~zel~

<div>

@Aran: To tell the truth, that's something I probably wouldn't have noticed... Though I don't consider it really appropriate for ST myself. but since you posted that I would make a deal of it, now I've gone and made a deal of it.<div>

<div>

again... ~zel~

<div>

Ah, an inappropriate naughty comment and regional slur! I got two at once this time! ~zel~

<div>

He's from a town of 3000..<div>

[defcon pilot 0]

Originally posted by: vidioman

Deleted

<div>

@Aran: To tell the truth, that's something I probably wouldn't have noticed... Though I don't consider it really appropriate for ST myself. but since you posted that I would make a deal of it, now I've gone and made a deal of it.<div>

<div>

deleted

<div>

Deleted

He's from a town of 3000..<div>quote>

I'll volunteer!

JK.

He's not a bad homosexual... You probably are, though. And I'm a bad heterosexual with a slight gay tendencies!

Actually, we're all somewhat bisexual: We have friends, right?

[vidioman 21]

--- edited for inappropriate comments ---

[Simen 1]

What do you mean "have friends", def? I mean, would having friends change our sexuality now? :S

[defcon pilot 0]

What I mean is that we have friends who are of the same gender and some of the opposite gender. We like them right? (Otherwise, we wouldn't be friends with them! )

[Simen 1]

Of course. but do you mean FRIENDS here, or "friends"?

[ephorex_77 0]

Originally posted by: vidioman

Vid, you know better than that. ~zel~

@Aran: To tell the truth, that's something I probably wouldn't have noticed... Though I don't consider it really appropriate for ST myself. but since you posted that I would make a deal of it, now I've gone and made a deal of it.

again... ~zel~

Ah, an inappropriate naughty comment and regional slur! I got two at once this time! ~zel~

He's from a town of 3000..

quote>

EDIT: My message seemed to have been quoted somehow. I hope this fixes it

EDIT 2: Nope, it's still not fixed. =( Doesn't matter, I'll make my message bold.

Wow, this thread seems to attract all the "interesting" comments posted on ST. You must have your work cut out for you here zel. Your tolerance levels for such comments too, is most admirable.

EDIT 3: Fixed now...*sigh*

[Aran 10]

Originally posted by: ephorex_77

...this thread seems to attract all the "interesting" comments posted on ST...quote>

It's all vid's fault. Ask anybody.

[ephorex_77 0]

Originally posted by: Aran

Originally posted by: ephorex_77 ...this thread seems to attract all the "interesting" comments posted on ST...quote>

It's all vid's fault. Ask anybody.quote>

Yes, I know. Interesting that we're all desensitised to it.

[vidioman 21]

You're blaming me because I'm gay, I just know it.. <.<

(btw-that was sarcasm. No one ever seems to be able to tell so I'm going to tell you for you. )

[defcon pilot 0]

@vid:

BTW, why do you put all those useless blank lines in your posts?

@ephorex_77: Yep, we are!

[vidioman 21]

defcon pilot |BTW, why do you put all those useless blank lines in your posts?quote>

Suspense.

[defcon pilot 0]

And more wasted memory...

EDIT: And with this post, I become a Commoner!

[Boggy1 45]

Congrats on being a Commoner! At last, someone with a smaller post count than me!

And Vid....just...stop.

[Simen 1]

Shut up about the post counts boggy...

youre embarrasing me!

[Boggy1 45]

Awwww, poor little simen, only 270ish posts. You must feel soo soo inadequate.

[justanothersim86 83]

Aha! Take that Defcon and Simen!