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If you have read Lenny's thread about that horrific incident at that school in Germany, you may have noticed that a new name has appeared among those who replied (and so motivated was he that he replied not once but twice!).
What first drew my attention was the way he modestly asked permission of the rest of us to allow a fifteen-year-old boy to quietly raise his hand and comment. What kept my attention was what he had to say, and the way he said it, displaying wisdom, lucidity and intelligence not usually (hardly ever, even!) associated with people that young.
smith, I don't know how long you may have been "lurking" here, but I ask permission of you (and everybody else here) to be the first to welcome you to "A Place of Safety". As I see it, this place belongs just as much to you as it does anybody who wishes to participate in the spirit of the "simple behaviors" Tim envisioned when he created it. So please, don't ever feel you have to ask permission of anybody here to post a message (be it a new thread or a reply to an existing one), because you don't. In fact, such thoughts coming from the viewpoint of somebody your age are not only most welcome, they most vital. I hope you will always feel perfectly free to post here whenever you are so moved. I think we can all benefit from it.
I must confess that I was hesitant about posting this message, fearing that by so doing I would be overstepping the boundaries of decorum (in other words, stepping on Tim's toes!). In my own defense, it was Tim himself who not only told me that I should indeed do so, but further suggested that I make it a new thread. Thanks, Tim! (And, while I'm at it, thanks also to your modestly anonymous "behind-the-scenes" partner; we are all definitely enriched indeed by all the hard work and dedication you two put into this place.)
Again, smith, welcome!
We do not remember days...we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
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trevor
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Really getting into it |
Registered: November 2002
Messages: 732
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Sorry, smith - I was too involved in my own little project to properly welcome you here. I'm especially crappy with names, but that's no excuse. Dunno if you noticed, but I also failed to realize at the time that you were the same person that e-mailed me. So, Doh! to me and Welcome! to you.
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AdamAnt
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 74
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smith, please don't hesitate to come in here and talk...
It would be great for me.....hehe......I think I am the only teen in here...I am 17 years old and live in Australia....
I hope too hear from you soon....
you can MSN me, or if you want my ICQ email me ok =)
adam_ant_85@hotmail.com
See you soon Champ
Adam
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trevor
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Really getting into it |
Registered: November 2002
Messages: 732
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Charlie Smith, Ashley and Brian (once in a while, anyway). Sorry, I know there are more, sorry guys, but my memory is crap. Ashley calls himself a geezer, but I think "geezerling" is more like it, personally. Just wise for his age.
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mihangel
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Likes it here |
Location: UK
Registered: July 2002
Messages: 192
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And Tom. If you're still there, Tom, how's it going?
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Steve
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Really getting into it |
Location: London, England
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 465
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No Message Body
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dan
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Likes it here |
Location: Bath
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 107
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I think I must be one of the last ex-teens. Being 20 in march, and all. Anyway, yep, hope life is good with everyone. I am completely overloaded with work, and am going simply mad! And I just dropped my bloody mobile (cell phone to the yanks) off my roof by accident, and it now has two lovely grooves in the metal. Rather annoying actually. And bloody Pip isn't answering his phone. I haven't spoken to him for weeks now, and it is driving me crazy...!! Other than that, I am completely fine. Updated my home page, which is truly a miracle as I have only done something to it once, and that is when I made it some time 2 years ago!!! Well, I'm off. See you all.
Dan.
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Darren
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Likes it here |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 190
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smith,
I think you are probably an expert on alot more things than you think. It seams to me from what comments I have seen sofar that you are pretty level headed. Even then, always feel free to express your opinion. We all do even if we have no idea what we are talking about.
As for waiting, it is good to see that you are OK about this. I think that your first sexual exprience is equally good regardless of your age. I had mine at 26 and don't regret that it could not be earlier. Sometimes I think it is better later on in life because you and your partner are more knowledgeble about sex and what it really means. My regret is never having been with a man, but that is an aside. Hopefully, you will be able to move to an area of the country that can accept you for who you really are. Until then (and even after), you have us.
Cheers,
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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Yep, totally agree with you. Thanks. All I can do right now is take girls out and then shove them in their front doors at the end of the evening. They think I'm so sweet for not wallering on them  I'm the date everyone wants. Everyone EXCEPT who I might want. I'll just wait until I'm free to hold my head up and say what I need. Until then, it will be okay as long as I have someone to talk to. Thank you.
smith
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dan
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Likes it here |
Location: Bath
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 107
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I am acting as the psychic medium for Tom:
"just explain that if I access 'questionable' websites, I get completely kicked off the internet and email. I like the people there a lot, but I can't post during term time"
So, in otherwords he sends his apologies and kisses.
(Well actually he told me - "not kisses! I'm not a screaming poof-tah" Haha)
Tom (using Dan's hands)
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This message will be a short one, as I am enjoying my last full day with my boyfriend in Thailand before having to return to Hong Kong and work over the weekend. I'm trying to focus on coming back the first week in Julky rather than the bummer of leaving and going back to tough times at the office right now.
But enough of that! Hello smith! I really like what I've read of your thoughts so far, you sound like a great person, and a welcome addition here on the MB.
Making life as comfy as possible inside the closet is not a usual topic of conversation here, but would certainly be helpful to lots of people. Anybody feel like starting a new thread on this topic??!
My first thought on a quality life in or out of the closet is make full use of all your resources...like smith is with the Net and his Internet contacts and the friends he makes on-line, to get him thru the dry times at home and in his current circumstances.
And smith, what are your thoughts about the next steps...after High School, I mean? Be sure to pick a place with better social and love life possibilities!!
Talk to you all soon!! I'll need all you guys when I get back to Hong Kong, while I'm missing (Charlie's nick-name for my boyfriend named "Man")...'the Hunk-lette'
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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Thank YOU, smith! I am truly honored that you thought so highly of my little post that you wanted to have a print-out of it.
You've probably heard that old saying, "Children should be seen and not heard". Growing up, I always thought that was a lot of hogwash (and I still do, even more so). You've probably also heard many an "oldster" go on and on about how tough it was for him growing up, all the while griping about whatever is the matter with the youth of today but refusing to do anything to make things easier for them. Too many people choose to either forget what it was like growing up, or to use it as an excuse to do nothing positive for young people (especially those in situations like yours). I feel it is the responsibility of the older generations to do whatever they can to make things better for the up-and-coming generations; that whole "I had it tough, and so should they" attitude does nothing but exacerbate the problem.
So do the thoughts and feelings of you and your peers matter? You bet they do! What's required is for the rest of us to get off our collective "high horse" and come to realize how greatly everybody concerned can benefit from it. You keep right on raising your hand here, smith; we all need to hear what you have to say.
We do not remember days...we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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You sound so happy. I'm glad
Talking about closets.............
I found a series of books when I was around 10 called the Chronicles of Narnia. It's written by a British author, a
clergyman. It's an analogy of Jesus but written as a mythical tale of the great lion Aslan saving the world from the horrid white witch. The children go through a wardrobe [closet] to enter the magic world of Narnia. I always imagine myself in that wardrobe, hidden in the pocket of one of the old fur coats, mothballs tucked all around me. That's my closet and I'm very comfy here. I have a different book I keep with me now. It keeps me safe.
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First, I add my welcome to the list. smith, you sound like you have been taught to use your head and think objectively. It is very refreshing to find that in some your age. Your insights remind me of my oldest (17) who is str8 as they come, but is also very sensitive to others. Anyway, welcome, and I look forward to hearing from you often. Now enough of the serious shit.
David, do not blame me for the term Hunklette. I always called him a Hunk, you supplied the 'lette'. And giving aways my secrets, hah. Next you will probably tell everyone that I am writing a story myself on Nifty. Ooops, did I spill the beans. David, see what you made me do. Ooooh, you make me so made. Just for that I wish you could stay in Thailand another week or two, just so long as I can get more pictures of Man (or Hunklette to you).
Hugs, Charlie
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Oh Charlie...from your mouth to God's ear! But later today I have to leave the Hunklette and go back to Bangkok for an early morning flight tomorrow...bummer... still trying to focus on the first week in July, when I get to come back. Story of our lives the past 4 years, and will be the same for at least another four.
Hey, I didn't tell anybody about that great new story on Nifty called "Donny", already written thru Part 4! That was somebody else!! Hehehehe
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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mihangel
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Likes it here |
Location: UK
Registered: July 2002
Messages: 192
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Skimming hurriedly through the posts of the last few days, I'm hugely impressed by what you've got to say and by how you say it. A voice of sanity and clarity and courage. OK, we've got sane and clear and courageous voices already, but another, and especially another young one, is more than welcome.
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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mihangel-
Thank you for the kind words. Not very brave really,
and only sometimes clear. The only one I'm not at
all sure about is the sane. I just got invited to
the prom by a pretty 17 year old girl. I should tell
her 'No' but I love to dance and she's paying for the
limo. Sane or insane??? Maybe by the time I'm a senior,
I can ask who I'd like to go with me. Hahaa ! In a
parallel universe. Oh well, I do love to dance
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mihangel
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Likes it here |
Location: UK
Registered: July 2002
Messages: 192
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... because, as you said, you need to maintain the camouflage. And if you like dancing, and she's pretty and she's paying, it sounds a fair bargain. You mention parallel universes. Have you read Philip Pullman's recent trilogy, Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass? Parallel universes aplenty there, and mind-blowingly thought-provoking. If you haven't, try it - I fancy it's up your street, from what I read of your way of thinking.
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mihangel
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Likes it here |
Location: UK
Registered: July 2002
Messages: 192
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Great. Happy reading. And certainly let us know your verdict. I suspect you'll find it C.S.Lewis plus.
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Who could NOT get happy from reading a post such as this?
The joy shown in it is positively contagious!
-Lenny
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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