MetaChat - wherein i protest too much

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24 February 2009

wherein i protest too much So I'm listening to Countdown and some dude mentions how the Oscar viewership is mostly "women and gay men". Is there any sphere of life that a man can be interested in that isn't being claimed for gay people now?→[More:]
Why do we have to bleeping stereotype the gay sensibility anyway? And what's the relation to women anyway? Do all women think alike--no! Then how come all gay men think alike, and alike women in fact? Have we decided that the "musclebound biker" stereotype of gay men was a total fake and they're all lanky interior designers now?

It's a massive goddamn fraud in the cultural consciousness I tell you, this whole "gay men and straight women have a special link in sensibilities" nonsense. A blip on the temporal radar. A concoction. A construct! Maybe we need to stop defining things as "feminine" in the first place.

What bothers me more than saying so-and-so is something gay people like (coz that's fine) is when we start deconstructing historical figures and get all like, he didn't marry, maybe he was gay! They're holding hands, maybe they were gay! Jeezum, maybe human culture and expression doesn't fit into your myopic distilling process. Do we call siblings incestuous when we find they wrote letters saying they love each other? No, it was the style of the time!

Signed,
Straight Men Who Like Mazda Miatas.

post by: Firas at: 06:59 | 25 comments

Only women and gay men listen to Countdown. ;-P

posted by Ardiril 24 February | 07:31

Is there any sphere of life that a man can be interested in that isn't being claimed for gay people now?

Straight porn.

Probably.

Probably.

posted by WolfDaddy 24 February | 08:40

Wait... you're straight, Firas? Oh dear.

Well... um... I guess you didn't read the Metachat terms of service very closely? Because, seriously, Metachat is only for women and gay men.

posted by taz 24 February | 09:02

Sorry about that, we'll miss you.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 24 February | 09:09

Have we decided that the "musclebound biker" stereotype of gay men was a total fake and they're all lanky interior designers now?

Saying Oscar viewers are "mostly women and gay men" doesn't mean all gay men (or women) watch the Oscars. It means of the small subset of humanity who watch the Oscars many of them are gay men or women. The statement makes no reference to the existence of homosexual, musclebound bikers, who I, a straight man with no interest in the Oscars, happen to believe do, in fact, exist and indeed find them attractive. Does that mean I can stay?

posted by danostuporstar 24 February | 09:20

Most of the "gay sensibility" drives me up the wall, so you're welcome to my share. I'm not using it.

posted by BoringPostcards 24 February | 09:28

I ride a (non-Harley) bike, and I like to make observations about soft furnishings, lighting, etc.
(We're sharing here, right?)

posted by GeckoDundee 24 February | 09:47

Is there any sphere of life that a man can be interested in that isn't being claimed for gay people now?

Sex? With a lady?

posted by ROU Xenophobe 24 February | 10:00

I think it's a logic problem:

A) Only (some) women and (some) gay men watch the Oscars,
b) You are a man who watches the Oscars,
c) Therefore, you are gay.

Sorry Firas, their science is too tight. The only other possibility is that you're, as they say, pussy-whipped. (see? see why feminists get really angry?)

posted by muddgirl 24 February | 10:01

I didn't watch the Oscars. I am lanky. I don't ride a Harley, but would if I could and (kind of)look the part. I'm married. To a woman. The sterotype people must be thoroughly confused.

posted by jonmc 24 February | 10:04

Sex? With a lady?

Didn't you hear, ROU? Only "metrosexuals" would stoop to something so in the feminine sphere as sexual congress. Real Men prefer sweat socks.

posted by muddgirl 24 February | 10:17

Why do we have to bleeping stereotype the gay sensibility anyway?

Why fight it? I don't mind be attached to the gay stereotype. Have you seen their clothes? Their taste and opinions? The fact that they seem to have a lot of disposable income? And they seem to be friends with EVERYONE. Quite honestly, I wouldn't mind being part of that demographic. If you don't want to be a beer gutted suburbanite who wears sweat pants as formal wear, I think being shoved into the fabulousness of gay stereotypes is a pretty good trade up.

posted by stynxno 24 February | 10:22

You're only saying that to get chicks.

posted by jonmc 24 February | 10:26

Sex? With a lady?

Oh that's SO gay!

posted by danf 24 February | 11:10

RTFO!

Signed,
Straight Men Who Like Madonna

posted by Eideteker 24 February | 11:35

ONLY BOYS WHO SAVE THEIR PENNIES, MAKE MY RAINY DAY

posted by Firas 24 February | 11:40

I could care less about the Oscars, but my last 3 (count 'em) straight boyfriends were really into it, so I've adopted the habit.

This sounds like stupid pop culture claptrap.

posted by Miko 24 February | 11:58

Dear World of Pop Culture -

I watch the Oscars.
I love interior design.
I listen to up-tempo electronic music.
I enjoy hanging out with dramatic people.
I believe that color has psychological impact in space.
I have been hit on by men and liked it.
I have been hit on by men and not liked it.

In short, I own my life, my choices, and my interests. And so does my girlfiend, who now watches the Oscars with me and likes it.

Cheers,
All Your Talking-Points Now Belong To Us

posted by Lipstick Thespian 24 February | 13:43

LT, do you have a single brother I can date? Also:

Is there any sphere of life that a man can be interested in that isn't being claimed for gay people now?

Sex? With a lady?

Hay, I'm a gay and not only find some woman really hot but have, years ago, even slept with woman while knowing I was gay - we both knew btw. I also wholly enjoyed it.

This whole gender definition thing is so complex that when I hear statements about things like the Oscar one, I just tune it out.

But we're just in the beginnings of working this sort of thing out socially. Language will eventually evolve to be more inclusive/meaningful and gender and sexuality will, eventually, not be tied together so rigidly. Probably not in my lifetime but it will happen.

In the meantime, I'm gonna keep talking pretty about design, build things using heavy power tools, dismiss fashion, continue to be a slob and share the love with whomever strikes a mutual fancy. Oh! And spend hours everyday squeeeeeing at cute on the internets.

posted by MonkeyButter 24 February | 14:56

I have performed in musical theater (as a way to pick up girls), have better fashion and design sense than the missus, plus I deplore the Oscars as a festival of liberal self-congratulation.*

*Until I get one myself, that is, then it's great.

posted by trinity8-director 24 February | 15:25

Is there any sphere of life that a man can be interested in that isn't being claimed for gay people now?

Touring cars... but I'm not in the US, so I don't even know if you guys do touring cars (or, if I'm really slow and touring cars are totally camp now...).

posted by pompomtom 24 February | 21:33

I'm straight.

I don't drive a Miata.

I didn't watch the oscars.

posted by Doohickie 24 February | 22:15

Well... um... I guess you didn't read the Metachat terms of service very closely? Because, seriously, Metachat is only for women and gay men.

This redefines my entire relationship. And explains his awesome sense of panache and camp.

Firas, I get what you're saying...I've had plenty of experiences where I was supposed to be a certain way because I'm female (what you're talking about in reverse). By far the most ANNOYING was that I should be a live-in babysitter. Not because I had any experience, not because I enjoy being around kids, not because I was, at 17, in any way, shape or form QUALIFIED to do this, but because I am female. No one would ever suggest I work my way out of my parents' home working in a factory. And when my little bro turned out to be a pro babysitter, some family members assumed he must be a pedophile. I moved to Oregon, rarely talk to them, and btw - he's a FANTASTIC daddy.

posted by sakura 24 February | 22:18

I watched the Oscars for the first time in 21 years. Guess I'm getting in touch with my feminine side.

posted by arse_hat 24 February | 22:36

The Oscars are all about competition. Shouldn't that automatically make it a Manly Man thing that intimidates girlz and gayz?

posted by occhiblu 25 February | 11:40

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