why is the stereotype more true than not? we are judgemental, manipulative, petty and just plain mean - sometimes it feels like i am living in "mean girls" with penises.
oy!
Remember, when you point your finger, there are three other fingers pointing back.
no one is fingering me (unfortunately).
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
Like, OMG! Did you HEAR what that Bitch just SAID?!?!?
I am SO not letting him come near me, EVER! Like I'd let anyone who dresses like that near me in the first place.
Maybe you should change the title to "some gay men". I am gay and my friends and I don't fall into any of the categories you mentioned!
'Kay, first off, I take offense at your generalization that all teenage girls are "judgemental, manipulative, petty and just plain mean". I am a teenage girl and while I can be those things at times I know a lot of people outside of my gender and age group that posseess those qualities equally, if not moreso, than I or any of my friends.
Secondly, don't stereotype. All human beings act that way at one point or another in their life, it's not just one specific group.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
The stereotype is not more true than not. I strongly suggest you seek out the work of author/activist Dave Nimmons for its ability to shift your perspective on such issues. It can be life-changing.
Wow, namo, I am surprised to see someone else cite Nimmons. My boss swears by The Soul Beneath the Skin.
I know I will get flack for this, but dfw, those traits that you mentioned I find more prevelant in the younger gay community. Guys in their 20's. Mostly early 20's.
Ok...you can rip me apart now!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I'm not going to rip you apart. I'm just going to gently point you in the direction of the book DBillP cites, and to tell you to let the younger generation off the hook.
Like everybody else, they grew up in a culture that generates cynicism. They also grew up with the fabulous role models of Will and Jack, who in the real world would have no reason to even be friends, since the majority of what they ever said to each other on that show was done so in the language of cruelty.
I also think you should give yourself a break. Instead of worrying about "how gay men are" or spending an inordinate amount of time on "how did gay men get to be so horrible?," it might feel better to ask, "what am I going to do to help make things better from this moment on?"
Oops! Namo, my sincere apologies. I was not paying attention and meant to direct that to the original poster. I will edit my post.
"'Kay, first off, I take offense at your generalization"
apparently iHeartGeek is an African American Teenage Girl
Broadway Star Joined: 4/21/07
I'm gay and I'm like totally not like a teenage girl, okay??
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Click on my profile and watch Chita Rivera "Put On A Happy Face"
The Soul Beneath the Skin."
Just ordered it at Abebooks for $1.00
Does anyone remember the other book people were recommending here a few months ago about coming to terms with yourself as a gay man? I work with a kid who's having a rough time of it. People here were glowing about this particular book and I'd like to recommend it to him.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Ugh, Chita, it might have been fun to let people go discover it on their own instead of leading the water to the horses, but whatever.
This thread brings up some interesting thoughts. It seems that when I attack a gay man on the basis of his sexuality, I am engaging in a certain level of self hatred.
Click on my profile and watch Chita Rivera "Put On A Happy Face"
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Trying out new ways of looking at the world does not mean giving up critical thinking skills or, most importantly, suffering fools gladly.
It was my way of contributing to the thread. It won't stop someone from digging deeper if they choose to do so.
Click on my profile and watch Chita Rivera "Put On A Happy Face"
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
I'm reminded of Act Two, Scene Four of The Heidi Chronicles, where the title character lambasts the group of women in the locker room. I've always wondered how if the character realized how judgey she actually was, despite all her protestations to the contrary. With a little pronoun change it sounds like the same speech many a gay man has made when he realizes the gay community is never gonna be the big happy family he thought it would.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry I don't wear leather pants. I'm sorry I don't eat brown rice. I'm sorry I don't want to stand naked and discuss Zeus sneakers. I'm sorry I don't want you to find out that I'm worthless. And superior. I'm embarrassed - no, humiliated in front of every woman in that room. I'm envying women I don't even know. I'm envying women I don't even like...
I don't blame the ladies in the locker room for how I feel. We're all concerned, intelligent, good women. I don't blame any of us. It's just that I feel stranded. And I thought the whole point was that we wouldn't feel stranded. I thought the point was that we were all in this together.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
"With a little pronoun change"
I'd also change 'locker room' to 'steam room'
Phyllis, that was very interesting. Perhaps it all boils down to "every man is an island."
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
I never go in the steam room. I broke the stereotype.
And for the record, I can be judgemental, manipulative, petty and just plain mean. I can also be kind, generous and warm. Neither set of traits has much to do with the fact that I'm gay.
ETA: Thanks, Jane. The man thrust of that speech comes when Heidi realizes that she doesn't have to compete with the other women in the locker room. I think that's the a lesson that anyone, gay or straight, should learn as soon as possible.
Updated On: 10/28/07 at 05:47 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Check out the Nimmons work, Phyl'. He goes over the parts of the story that get left out of the traditional narrative we all usually stick to. There are some delightfully surprising statistics in there.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
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