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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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I mean this in the widest sense. What does he hope to see? What does he hope may happen? Will he post? Why will he post? What would make him not post?
Help me, please. What does he hope to see? And is that different depending on his age?
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
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I had been reading stories on the web for some time before I found iomfats where some of the best stories of all are hosted. Grasshopper blew me away but so did Mihangel and Kit and ... ...
And I began writing to them to say thank you and had very friendly and encouraging replies and told some of them a bit about me.
And when I noticed that there was a forum I joined it and started to post in the hope of getting to understand the story writers and myself a bit better and I have found something that I really needed and didn't know I needed.
One of the things I found that I felt was really good was that there was conversation between old people and young people and I found that very attractive to read and take part in. And the thought that I might help was another attraction to me - indeed I also went to Yahoo answers and tried my hand at being a substandard agony aunt.
So, what would make it appeal to me even more than it does, would be if the mix of contributors was half of them under 30 (to pick a number). I do think the site has a lot to offer teenagers and maybe more of them ought to hear of it.
As a married gay man who will be 75 next month and who last had sex with another man about 48 years ago I do feel I have less of value to contribute than people quarter or half my age!
Bet I told you more than you wanted to know!
Love,
Anthony
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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What would encourage an under 30 person to come here? What would put them off?
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
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johnleeb
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Toe is in the water |
Location: USA
Registered: January 2009
Messages: 44
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I can't say what people would want to see, but I think most would agree that all media as a whole spends far too much time and effort in presenting anything that is considered wrong or bad. And recently that includes this form.
Rather than "a place of safety" what is observed here are lots of posts related to the hate and violence that is present in the world, showing that there is little safety anywhere. That is the bane of most news media, and why I never watch it!
Another problem is that the majority here is adult to mature adult and we cannot effectively speak 'young' English. Even stories here written by younger authors are written with, or edited into 'mature' English leaving out current idioms.
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ray2x
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: April 2009
Messages: 430
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I began to read the stories and that made me think about myself as a gay person who was married and with a child. I found a few people who were in similiar situations and I felt less alone in this respect. I also found a group of men who had good/great opinions and wanted discussions about their opinions. It challenged me to step outside of my box and hold my own in these discussions, something I was not good at and am still weak at. I drop in this site from time to time to get reacquainted with everyone as much as I can.
I imagine a thirty year old guy or younger guy would understand his growing older as a gay man, he will have some questions to ponder, ideas to contemplate, or for some online companionship.
Raymundo
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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John Bowling wrote:
> Another problem is that the majority here is adult to mature adult and we cannot effectively speak 'young' English. Even stories here written by younger authors are written with, or edited into 'mature' English leaving out current idioms.
Who edits the stories into mature English?
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
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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John Bowling wrote:
> Rather than "a place of safety" what is observed here are lots of posts related to the hate and violence that is present in the world, showing that there is little safety anywhere. That is the bane of most news media, and why I never watch it!
Taking this point, John, the title of the forum is not meant to mean that we have an illusory cocoon away from the realities of the word. I take your point that perhaps a few areas of hate appear to have received proportionally large airtime, but that is also a reflection of the lack of other things here.
The "Safety" part is for folk to discuss things without, ideally, being afraid that their sexual desires or orientation will be mocked by others here. It's intended to be a place where someone in trouble or pain can arrive and ask for help and advice, like the gentleman who was having trouble finding his prostate a few weeks back.
But we also need to know what is going on in the world, we do need to know when a kid is killed or hurt because he's gay, or we let our kids, here, if there are any left, walk the primrose path to a gay-bashing party.
So we need to see bad things as well as difficult things as well as good things. And we therefore need to start discussions about things that affect homosexual people that are interesting or useful. All things.
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
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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I enjoy the wide variety of topics discussed here, and the diverse group of posters. I know we all like to keep in touch with the younger crowd in order to keep a grip on where the world is going. I think that we have enough intelligent young guys on here to give us a good idea of what the newer generations are up to. I know that we certainly have a lot more younger folks than what the poll shows. Of course my dividing line for the "young" would probably be in the area of 30. It's all relative I guess.
Here are a couple of ideas that I think would improve the forum.
1. I think it would be helpful to have some pre-set categories that are sticky at the top of the forum postings. Posters could suggest categories to Timmy who would decide if they seem appropriate or not. I think this would be helpful to folks who happen across the site. It would give them an idea of preferred discussion topics and what we have to say about them, and maybe give them a jump off point to make their own contributions.
2. Saben posted about the tragedy of young teens being caught up in the child porn fiasco. I know of no site that provides direction to young folks or anyone regarding the seriousness of breaching these laws. The only web site I found regarding the subject was ASACP, which seems to be an organization for webmasters which allows them to certify their adult oriented websites as being free of child porn.
The situation is fresh in my mind, because 3 local 15 year old boys were recently arrested for viewing child porn. If we could put aside the discussion of the right and wrong of current laws and provide some direction to youth here, it might help people realize all the things that can lead to arrest and the follow-on consequences of that arrest.
For instance, "Sexting" has led to the arrest of a many teens. Do kids under 18 realize that when they email or post a pornographic picture of themselves, they can be arrested under the child porn laws? I think that a category called "safe gay web surfing" or something like that would be a great service to the young, and something that the older guys would want to keep current on as well.
Macky
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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This sounds useful. The software doesn't allow stickiness, I'm afraid, but posts can be bumped back to the top
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
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Macky's story struck a chord as it came across the wire feed last Friday. It's not a pretty portrait of "small town" America, or at least for that part of Pennsylvania. But the problem is that these types of stories have been increasing, drastically in the past 8 years. Whether or not teens will listen is debatable as they apparently see no harm in things like sexting. Here's the full story Macky referred to:
Cumberland County authorities file child porn charges against 18 people
By Matt Miller, The Patriot-News (Cumberland County, PA) Nov 20 | Detectives and state police this morning are filing child pornography possession charges against 18 people, including three teens and a Dickinson College professor.
The charges result from a probe that has been conducted over the past year, District Attorney David Freed said.
Those charged are not connected, he said. Investigators tracked them down independently through Internet activity involving known files of child pornography, he said.
The adults charged include Dickinson political science professor John Ransom, 55, of Carlisle, Freed said. He said investigators found two files of alleged child porn on Ransom's home computer.
College spokeswoman Christine Dugan said Ransom, who has taught at the school since 1992, has been placed on paid leave "pending further developments."
Ransom's laweyer, John Abom, said his client is innocent and will prove it in court.
Freed said the child porn files allegedly found on the computers of those who were arrested could not have been downloaded accidentally or been there because of viruses.
District Judge Thomas Placey arraigned those charged this morning and set $50,000 bail for each defendant. A warrant was issued for one of those charged, a truck driver.
Those charged who have Mechanicsburg addresses are Matthew R. Musselman, 21, Michael C. Bechtel, 26, Shane A. Burkett, 25, Michael C. Mueller, 38, Thomas J. Hassett, 32, Woodrow A. Klinger, 36, Ralph W. Herrold, 54, and Joseph E. Agnew, 25.
Those with Carlisle addresses who were charged, in addition to Ransom, are John A. Williamson II, 21, Phares A. Barnhill, 35, Kyle L. Paxton, 20, Randolph C. Irvin, 38, Brian L. Jamison, 37, and Jordon A. Michaels, 20..
The juveniles who were arrested were not identified. Their cases will be handled in juvenile court, Freed said.
DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News, 2008
Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, right, and county Chief Detective Les Freehling.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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We had an occasion with young gentlemen here where one despatched a possibly inappropriate picture of himself to another. There were some very odd circumstances at the time outside this environment which led to the recipient's computer being seized and his falling foul of the law. I think this affected his subsequent career aspirations, too.
The stupid thing is that each was above the age of sexual consent, but one was under 18.
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
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johnleeb
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Toe is in the water |
Location: USA
Registered: January 2009
Messages: 44
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As far as mature, many stories here and elsewhere seem to be done from a older perspective, even when writing only about young people. That may be due to many readers not understanding current slang. I know I certainly don't.
Recently there was a claim by Microsoft that the new version of Office will do spelling checks within context. But are those inaccurate versions of a word part of what distinguishes young verses mature writing?
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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I have never checked an author's age.
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
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This idea of matching speech to the speaker, here to the age of the speaker, is interesting to me as a linguist.
My own policy is to write the speech in standard English in a work that I want considered on a literary level, unless I want to make a point which is usually satirical or comical.
Once I abandoned standard English the possibilities are legion. I would have to decide whether my characters are from the South or North of England or from the three liguistically stranded outposts of these islands. If I had an Italian character he would have to add an a or an o to all his words, if Spanish lisp, if French say 'merde alors!' every other sentence, if German replace th with z, and so on. The 'Asterix' cartoons do this very well.
When I was a very young teacher I read Bible stories to my tutor group in modern youth idiom. It was not well received and I realised it was condescending, or patronising as we say today, and the pupils looked for the right tenor in the right idiom.
I therefore come to the conclusion that younger posters would not appreciate us oldies tryng to imitate them. Often their way of speaking is private within their group and then they would change their whole language to speak to their parents or teachers.
Hugs
N
[Updated on: Wed, 25 November 2009 22:29]
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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Nigel,
This post is very florid. I would tend to call it a Baroque writing style. You started at a very succinct point, bulged out with a 720 degree turn to the left, covering everything from "Asterisk Cartoons" to "merde alors!" and ended up, almost magically, at the same succinct point at which you started. I haven't seen anything so magnificent since little Kathie Rigby did the thing on the parallel bars.
Macky
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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kiwi
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Likes it here |
Location: New Zealand
Registered: August 2009
Messages: 317
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You're a cunning linguist, Nigel.
I agree with you btw - totally.
Also, to answer timmy's question, why do i come here? To see people like me.
cheers
Commas matter - 'Party on Dudes' is not the same as 'Party on, Dudes'
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Hi Macky!
I think that's a compliment and thanks.
Btw, I would rather see Fabian Hambüchen or Matyáš Ramba on the parallel bars.
Huhs
Nigel
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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kiwi wrote:
Also, to answer timmy's question, why do i come here? To see people like me.
Me too.
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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Please define "People like me" as each of you means it.
I ask because it is truly not as obvious as it may seem.
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
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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"To see people like me."
Hemmingwayesque!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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"Btw, I would rather see Fabian Hambüchen or Matyáš Ramba on the parallel bars"
I looked 'em up. Fabian is too muscular. I'd ALMOST rather see Kathy Rigby. Matyáš, on the other hand, is just as cute as he can be.
Yes, I enjoyed your post and thought an accolade was in order.
Macky
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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I don't think it is as true as it seems, Timmy. I think some of the old gits (like me) are, if anything, disappointed not to have the chance to interact with younger people. Not only are we old, but we are pompous and we know best and we want an audience that will sit at our feet and acknowledge our great wisdom and vast experience!
Don't you think?
I for one find the place less enticing when nobody under 30 seems willing to engage with me.
But don't think I don't enjoy teasing the old gits too!
Love,
Anthony
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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So I ask again, What are "people like me?" for your answer shows that it is likely not to be gentlemen of white hair and beard.
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
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kiwi
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Likes it here |
Location: New Zealand
Registered: August 2009
Messages: 317
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Thanks JFR, your "me too" confirms what i'm thinking.
I'm just an ordinary person, long-time married and with a family and i live alone in the midst of a crowd. There are currently 10 people living in my house - 3 ladies, 4 teenagers, 2 young boys and me.
We all get on well, really well actually, but i'm not one of them, i'm a gay guy. My life-story is not too dissimilar to timmy's.
There are some gays, men and women, living locally but i'm not closely involved with them.
Here, in this "quaint gentlemen's club" as Brody described it, there are thoughts, opinions, news and humour from people in many different countries and of all ages, talking about anything and everything. Sometimes there's sparks, but mostly agreement and you all seem to see things in much the same way as i do. So i'm not a freak and i'm not alone.
I don't talk a lot but i read every word.
The range of knowledge, education and experience of some of the guys in here is awesome, (i left school and left home at age 16, and never looked back), but we all have that one thing in common, we just happen to be gay.
Thanks timmy, for the platform you provide here. You'll never know how many people you've affected.
Cheers, kiwi (shutting up again now).
Commas matter - 'Party on Dudes' is not the same as 'Party on, Dudes'
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I do hope we entertain you, Kiwi. It is a small recompense - at any rate as far as I am concerned - for the great pleasure you have given with Westpoint Tales and Kaiamona.
Love,
Anthony
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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Think of what a nice complement it is to everyone here when you say "people like me". I am honored.
Macky
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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What a question to answer in my first post to this forum.
I would hope people come here for sensible entertainment in a world filled with nonsense. The site offers a great variety of things, kudos to Tim for filtering out the garbage.
But a discussion forum must be open to a variety of topics, mindful that people have strong feelings about certain subjects. My preference would be to discuss the stories on the shelf, but that's a safe subject for an author.
I am loath to rant and rave about politics (I am not involved), religion (I am not engaged), or financial things (I stole the cheese from the mouse yesterday so I could have lunch). To each his own, I will offer comments where I feel my POV will not offend. But I always smile before I punch someone ::-)
Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. (Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626)
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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"But a discussion forum must be open to a variety of topics, mindful that people have strong feelings about certain subjects. ... I will offer comments where I feel my POV will not offend."
Welcome to the board Chris!
Gee, I wish you wouldn't feel obligated to refrain from expressing your POV because you feel it might offend. It might not! And besides the discussions would miss a valuable POV; something that might not have been considered. I don't think you should be overly concerned about that. Timmy watches pretty closely to make sure everyone plays nice. He even has someone appointed to watch over his posts and point out when he is being unkind. I think you'll get the most enjoyment out of this board by being yourself and sharing your views...POVs should not be taken as points of contention, but as gifts (if everyone is thinking straight).
Max
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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Chris, just get stuck in like the rest of us. Something about making omelettes and breaking egg shells.
Could you bring yourself, I wonder, to add your place of origin to your profile? It's not compulsory; it just helps to know the background.
Hugs
Nigel
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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