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You are here: Home > Forum > A Place of Safety > General Talk > afraid of words
afraid of words  [message #22334] Mon, 27 September 2004 04:09 Go to next message
Pyro is currently offline  Pyro

Toe is in the water
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Registered: September 2004
Messages: 87




okay I just have to talk about this because it's one of those things that people do that makes no sence to me.
I was at my grandpa's house a yesterday helping him with his car (new exhaust pipes = loads of work crawling under the car) we had to drive down to Autosource and buy the pipes. I was driving. Now, i've heard that Canada has a bit of a reputation of being a very cold place and i just want to say that that is so not true....okay so we're not like florida or Egypt but still, there are some nice places here. Calgary just isn't one of them. Last week it was rather cold, like almost zero and on monday of last week it snowed. But when i drove grandpa for the pipes the weather was really really nice (25C that's awesome for around here this time of year) and i said, "wow what georgeous weather today." inocent little comment.
he said, "Don't use that word." sternly.
I "which word? why not?"
"Georgeous, real men don't use that word."
"Why not?"
"It sounds fruity."
"so?"
"So, if you use that word in public people will laught at you."
"I have used that word many times in public and recieved not even a glance."
"Yeah well they were probably too polite to correct you."
"So what your saying is, real men don't use the word georgeous?"
"Right."
"And real men are mocho and basicly your all round Paul Bunion type of guy."
"I suppose."
"So why do i want to be a 'real' man?"
"Because then people won't laugh at you."
so here i am driving and trying to explain to grandpa the logical falisy that exists where a 'real' man who is all mocho etc yet is afraid of something as tiny as a word. and at the same trying to explain that if that's what constitues being a 'real' man i want no part of it.
"But people don't laugh at me."
"Not yet."
"Grandpa, if someone laughes at me for using the word georgous then he'll probably be laughing alone and even if he's not i'd treat him no different than any other jerk in my life."
"Well that would be okay if most people weren't like that. Just trust me on this one, i've been around a long time and i've seen it all."

I don't beleive my grandpa for a moment. But i just wish i could find some way to help him drop some of his very old fashioned ways of seeing the world.

well anyway, i just don't understand this concept that real men are actualy afraid to use certain words in public because they think they'll be laughed at. I mean, if your a real man then being laughed at shouldn't be an issue right?
ah well, i guess i'm rambling about this but i find it just strange. I love my grandpa a lot but this is one of those times when we just don't agree.

oh and by the by, Webster's dictionary defines georgious as being, "Splendidly or showily brilliant or magnificent." which i think is exactly what yesterday afternoon was. Oh and i also found out that Elegant is aparently also one of these words, (my favorite science show, "the elegant universe" yeah i'm a physics geek, whatever.) so i think i shall find a way to work elegant and georgeous into at least a half dozen conversations i have with completely random people at school tomorow, just because.

until next time, Godspeed,


Pyro.



Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
Re: afraid of words  [message #22335 is a reply to message #22334] Mon, 27 September 2004 07:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
joesdog is currently offline  joesdog

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Real men don't give a f*ck what other people think of them because they know for themselves who they are. I know "real men" who wear dresses, and carry it off quite nicely, because they don't care what other people think.



"I promise not to try not to fuck with your mind/ I promise not to mind if you go your way and i go mine/promise not to lie if i'm looking you right in your eye/promise not to try not to let you down."
--Eve6
Re: afraid of words  [message #22336 is a reply to message #22334] Mon, 27 September 2004 08:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
blue is currently offline  blue

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Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. See, I can say it too. (But note spelling.) -- And there's nothing wrong with that and even less wrong with "elegant."

Your grandpa seems to be talking about more than just specific words. Apparently, he's worried you might be less than his idea of a "real man," which isn't very nice or inspiring, is it? Sorry he's like that. So maybe he's worried you might not be quite straight, eh? Sorry if that causes him difficulties.

Funny isn't it, that crawling around under the car, changing exhaust pipes, getting your knuckles boxed, your back aching, and your head and knees banged, not to mention various noxious viscous fluids all over you -- isn't by definition plenty masculine. -- More than enough for me, thanks. (I'm better tinkering around with other stuff than cars.)

My equipment's male, standard issue, and fully functional. I like it just fine like it is; it's not too big or too small. In fact, for some reason I don't quite understand, I prefer that model of equipment over the other kind.

Hey, Pyro, don't let your grandpa get you steamed. You could always unhook that new exhaust pipe for him.... (j/k)

~Blue
icon12.gif Re: afraid of words  [message #22339 is a reply to message #22336] Mon, 27 September 2004 16:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
joesdog is currently offline  joesdog

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Well, of course YOU can say it Blue...everybody know you're a little fruity...LOL. The real test is if you can say "Faaabulous" in a conversation without cracking a smile.



"I promise not to try not to fuck with your mind/ I promise not to mind if you go your way and i go mine/promise not to lie if i'm looking you right in your eye/promise not to try not to let you down."
--Eve6
Re: afraid of words  [message #22347 is a reply to message #22339] Mon, 27 September 2004 20:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
blue is currently offline  blue

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I wonder if I really can get away with that, and feel comfortable doing so. Heh, could be an interesting challenge.

I guess blueberry would be appropriately fruity for me, but they stain something fierce.

Fruity? Heh, I've heard worse. -- Bwahahaha! And now I get the last laugh, 'cause I can say I don't care if it's true. Smile ::biggrin:: -- Still barely out of the closet at all, but I think I'm gonna like this! -- Exploring my inner activist liberal.
I can't beleive i spelled that wrong  [message #22352 is a reply to message #22336] Mon, 27 September 2004 21:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pyro is currently offline  Pyro

Toe is in the water
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Registered: September 2004
Messages: 87




WOW....i looked it up in the dictionary....i proofread my post, twice. Yet somehow, GORGEOUS, the main subject of the whole thing got spelled wrong every time. hehehe...i can't believe i did that. ah well, spelling was never my strong point.

As for Grandpa, believe it or not i actualy enjoy having these discussions with him, it's very very rare that we agree at the end but...well i had a social teacher once who told me, "Whenever there is something in life that your passionate about, some issue that you truly believe in with all your heart you must pursue it but before you do, make sure that you spend as much time as you can researching the other side." (perhaps i shouldn't have put that in quotes, it's not like i wrote down what he said word for word but it was words very close to that)
Grandpa knows i'm gay, i told him last year around this time but for his own reasons he pretends that i'm not and that in time, if i "think straight thoughts" i won't be anymore. Timmy was talking about a time period when gays were "cured" grandpa definetly lived through that, and obviously believes in it.

Oh hey, by the way, AJ...my dad's been painting the living room in my house, mom called me upstairs and asked me to settle an arguement between her and dad about where the couch should go. she asked me "what do you think, does it look good here?" and i tried, i really tried to say "Faaabulous" without laughing but i just couldn't do it. She looked at me, dad looked at me, i stopped laughing and said, "what? if the guys on trading spaces can do it then why can't i?" Mom laughed and so did Dad then i went back to my room. For two parents who don't know their son is gay i think they responded well.

oh and one more thing, back to blue... I think i'd way rather be a leechee (hope i spelled that right) nut than a blue berry...i'm not sure if they count as a fruit though, if you've ever had one they're kinda fruity inside but they hide it really well on the outside so i think that fits me real well. Wink


Talk to you all soon,
Godspeed,


Pyro.



Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
no worries  [message #22354 is a reply to message #22352] Mon, 27 September 2004 23:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
blue is currently offline  blue

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Smile Don't sweat the spelling. I miss things too, even though I'm one of those Eats, Shoots and Leaves types (proofer and editor). Oh, and it's OK to quote when you're paraphrasing. OK, I'm gonna take off the uptight proofer's hat now. Smile

Your social sci. / studies teacher had good advice there. It's good you and your grandpa talk about those things, even though he has a different opinion about it. -- Your mom and dad don't know yet? Well, tell them when you're ready.

I don't think I've ever had a leechee nut, although I like Chinese food. -- I looked it up; my dictionary seems to think it's spelled litchi but I think I've seen it spelled other ways too. -- Hmm. I'll have to look for some at a couple of stores.
Re: no worries  [message #22358 is a reply to message #22354] Tue, 28 September 2004 05:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pyro is currently offline  Pyro

Toe is in the water
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Registered: September 2004
Messages: 87




Blue, I think your right about the spelling of litchi nut...i recognize that spelling from the store where i buy them sometimes. I think they're only in season in the spring though...not sure they taste great you kinda have to peel them first though. You can't miss them, they look like wrinkly little testicles. I'm serious it's what they look like. ;-D

as for telling mom and dad...well i'd kinda like to but i'm just not ready, i told grandpa first because i felt i owed it to him (we're so close, up until then i told him everything.) well i realized very quickly that grandpa wasn't able to deal with it in a very modern, liberal minded way, (i'm a liberal wiener and proud of it) so i didn't tell anyone else for about 4 months then i told my best friend Clayton (the best decision of my life). Clayton's extreemly straight but the first words out of his mouth when i told him were somthing like "wow i respect you so much more for telling me." and i knew everything was okay. since then i've talked to him a lot about how i feel and it's just so great. we've talked about everything i'd say, my favorite was when we sat in the feild after school and he would name some guy that we go to school with and i'd give him a number on the 'hotness' scale (1 - 10) then he'd laugh and say "your kidding, he's so ugly." then i'd name a girl and he'd give her a rating and i'd laugh and say "How can you give her a number like that when it's so obvious that she's no where near as cute as the last boy you asked me about?" lol
after that i told two other friends. I have another really good friend that i want to tell but we've known each other for so long and whenever it's come up in the past, i've lied to him to make him think i'm straight so now i feel like i can't tell him because then it's like i've been lieing to him all these years, (and i have known for years just not been able to come to terms with it like i can now.)
oh by the way, while i'm on my life story, I'm not sure if i said this before in another post, i really can't remmber but, a big thanks to everyone involved in this site, i found IOMFATS a year ago, about two days before i told grandpa that i'm gay. Up until i found this site i had absolutly no contact with anyone who thought like i do, (turns out i actualy did but i didn't know it at the time and that's another story) i was begining to think that being gay was some myth cooked up for TV that somehow happened to me. (that's seriously what i thought even though my grandma's brother is gay i still thought i was alone in the world.) it was a dark and confusing time and i'm just so glad that i found this site. thanks. Smile


Godspeed,


Pyro



Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
Re: afraid of words  [message #22359 is a reply to message #22347] Tue, 28 September 2004 08:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
joesdog is currently offline  joesdog

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See? now you're beginning to see how much fun it can be...and me calling you 'fruity' is like the pot calling the kettle black...



"I promise not to try not to fuck with your mind/ I promise not to mind if you go your way and i go mine/promise not to lie if i'm looking you right in your eye/promise not to try not to let you down."
--Eve6
I love irony  [message #22360 is a reply to message #22334] Tue, 28 September 2004 11:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796



I suppose your grandpa was one of the first of his age group tpo beat the crap out of people who used words that were unusually erudite and expressive?::-)



Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: I love irony  [message #22364 is a reply to message #22360] Tue, 28 September 2004 21:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pyro is currently offline  Pyro

Toe is in the water
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Registered: September 2004
Messages: 87




Wow Mr.Fancy words Surprised i thought i had an amazing vocabulary...you wouldn't belive how many places i looked before i could find a definition of erudite! I think i know what you mean though.

I'm sure he's just trying to prepair me for the world that he grew up in.
He comes from a different time and a different set of beliefs all together.
I'm working on modernizing him though,for instance, i built him a computer out of spare parts a few weeks back and i'm trying to teach him how to use it. That might not sound like very much but just a little while ago he was trying to tell me that i shouldn't get involved with computers because they're just a fad and they can't be used for anything constructive anyway. Then he changed his mind when i rented shrek and told him that every frame was made by a computer. Now he's interested, and i'm having fun teaching him, just a few days ago he called me and said, "Can my computer be used to store knowledge?" Confused?? I thought he was talked about some kind of program called knowledge, then i realized that he wanted to save a letter that he was typing Wink.
I'm as patient and understanding as i can be though. After all, he worked for 35 years as an auto mechanic and it's because of him that i know so much about cars. He never made fun of some of the dumb questions i asked along the way.
But i guess i should stop talking about him, it might not be long before he has internet and he finds his way here Wink.



Pyro.



Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
by the way  [message #22365 is a reply to message #22364] Tue, 28 September 2004 22:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pyro is currently offline  Pyro

Toe is in the water
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Registered: September 2004
Messages: 87




I just got back from a quick bike ride in the park...i took my crappy old digi camera because i wanted to take a few pictures of the trees in fall. I don't care what some people say, fall truly is a beautiful time of year. Unfortunatly i arived about 2 days too late because many of the trees are now without leaves. (Calgary weather, *sigh*) Anyway, i was looking through these pics for a new desktop background and i found one i really like. I know it's a bit blury and the zoom is all messed up, everything in the back ground looks a million miles away, but still i like it.
Here's a pic of my home town, facing east from the top of Edworthy hill.
(great place to sit and be alone)


Pyro.
  • Attachment: home.jpg
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Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
Re: I love irony  [message #22366 is a reply to message #22364] Wed, 29 September 2004 00:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
blue is currently offline  blue

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I'm beginning to wonder whether grampa might occasionally be teasing you or using reverse psychology on you. "Haha, let's see how this motivates my bright, eager young grandson." Grampa might have a little fun messin' with your mind. Computers, a fad? Heheh. Well, alright, I have heard people say such things and mean them. In any case, it'll be good for him to learn the new thing.

Litchi nuts look like little testicles? Heh, I can just imagine asking the produce man if they have litchi nuts, those things that look like little testicles. Hahaha! (Oh, alright, I wouldn't but it's funny.)

Erudite. Pyro, you get extra points for being curious enough to look it up when you didn't know the word. College material, there.
Re: by the way  [message #22370 is a reply to message #22365] Wed, 29 September 2004 08:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
joesdog is currently offline  joesdog

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beautiful pic, whatever the camera's faults may be. I gotta get myself one of thos digi cameras...I'd like to store such knowlege on my computer.



"I promise not to try not to fuck with your mind/ I promise not to mind if you go your way and i go mine/promise not to lie if i'm looking you right in your eye/promise not to try not to let you down."
--Eve6
this is a lichi nut...be your own judge.  [message #22373 is a reply to message #22366] Wed, 29 September 2004 21:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pyro is currently offline  Pyro

Toe is in the water
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Registered: September 2004
Messages: 87




I found a close up picture of some Litchi nuts...decide for yourself what you think they look like. The website i got it from said that they look like "Wrinkly strawberrys" but i think i could do better to describe them Wink



pyro.
  • Attachment: lychee02.jpg
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Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
Re: by the way  [message #22376 is a reply to message #22365] Wed, 29 September 2004 23:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dartagnon is currently offline  dartagnon

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Awesome pic, Pyro. Reminds me my long lost Massachusetts. Now I'm a little homesick. LOL. BTW, Tyger's here, again. Seems he's getting more frequent flyer miles than kernels in a corn field.



It's not the wolf you see you should fear, but all the ones he howls with. Don't be afraid of the song, but don't piss off the choir.
Re: this is a lichi nut...be your own judge.  [message #22377 is a reply to message #22373] Thu, 30 September 2004 02:00 Go to previous message
blue is currently offline  blue

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:yikes: They look like they have a bad case of heat rash, or maybe sunburn, but um, yeah, I see the resemblance, even the median line. Do you think they need some ointment? :gasp:
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