NationStates Jolt Archive

so my friend told me that there was a survey in his marriage and family class, and one of the questions was something along the lines of "how many gay friends do you have?" it was a multiple choice question, with the answers 0, 1, 2, or "more."

of the 94 people on my trillian buddy list, 39 are openly gay or bisexual. and i delete people i never talk to. of my 102 myspace friends, 34 are openly gay or bisexual.

obviously this is skewed by the places i tend to hang out, but i'd like to know the numbers for normal people?

I don't think I've ever heard a single one of my gay friends refer to him or herself as "queer". In fact, I don't think I've even heard an actual person say that word since like 6th grade.

I have no idea how many gay people I "know." I've definately met a few in the past, and there are a few more I have suspicians about. One of my best male friends is openly gay, but none of my other close friends are. I just generally hang around with straight girls. Not for any reason, it just happened that way.

I'll say ten or twenty, but I don't have a lot of friends...:(

None that I'm really close with:D

I'll say ten or twenty, but I don't have a lot of friends...:(
I'll be your friend:fluffle:

so the answers were
A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) more

??

doesnt EVERYONE know more than 3 gay people? i dont have an extensive list of people i would consider friends but it would be more than 3 on a very strict accounting and more than a dozen on a liberal one. (with more popping into my head all the time since i dont categorize friends by sexuality)

I don't think I've ever heard a single one of my gay friends refer to him or herself as "queer". In fact, I don't think I've even heard an actual person say that word since like 6th grade.

i didn't want to say "how many gay or lesbian or bisexual or transsexual or transgender or genderqueer or intersex or pansexual or pomosexual or questioning people do you know?"

i'm lazy.

None of my really close friends are gay, at least not that i know of, but my dad is. A guy i knew at University is, a friend of my sister's is, a guy i went to high school with is, an acquaintance of mine from the New York Rangers messageboard is. One of our city councilmen is too, he is also a hairdresser. I know him, but he's not one of my friends or acquaintances.

i didn't want to say "how many gay or lesbian or bisexual or transsexual or transgender or genderqueer or intersex or pansexual or pomosexual or questioning people do you know?"

i'm lazy.

Ah. I was unaware you were referring to the whole gamut, as your post was talking about the question "how many gay people do you know" and I assumed you simply used queer as a substitute for gay.

Cue rant from Fass in 3...2...1...

What are you counting as queer?

I don't think I've ever heard a single one of my gay friends refer to him or herself as "queer". In fact, I don't think I've even heard an actual person say that word since like 6th grade.
The only place I've heard it was at a gay pride parade in San Francisco, where a few old school gays marching were chanting "We're here. We're queer. Get used to it." But outside that context, I've always thought that term was a horrendous slur.

Well, if we're engaging the entirety of non-hetero-edness, I probably know thirty-five people, give or take... but all told, I probably really interact with fewer than 75 people in any event.

Cue rant from Fass in 3...2...1...
Yet another one of life's inevitabilities quashed.

Obviously, Homovox only used the term queer to attract sensitive people to his poll, so he could get more votes. Clever.

Yet another one of life's inevitabilities quashed.


I'm disappointed in him. He's been a bit snippy lately, so you'd think he'd be looking for something like this.

Oh, in answer to the actual question...5, maybe 6?

0. I know no queers. I may or may not know many Gays or Lesbians, but I know no queers.

Queer is an acceptable catch all term. I rather like it personally, I am decidedly queer.

Obviously, Homovox only used the term queer to attract sensitive people to his poll, so he could get more votes. Clever.

I thought the term 'queer' had been reclaimed by the queer community back in the early 90's, no? Have the narrowminded claimed it back?

I thought the term 'queer' had been reclaimed by the queer community back in the early 90's, no? Have the narrowminded claimed it back?
A couple of my gay friends regularly call themselves queer. Maybe it's only been reclaimed in the UK.

5-10. But queer? That's pretty oldschool.

A couple of my gay friends regularly call themselves queer. Maybe it's only been reclaimed in the UK.

The existence of queercore - a primarily American genre - would suggest otherwise to me.

Can we not be referred to as Queer, please?

EDIT: Oh, and 60+

Queer? Well, I know some pretty odd people.

Gay? Why don't you ask me how many straight people I know? What the fuck does it matter?

NOT counting internet acquaintanes here and other places, about fifteen real-life friends. That includes gay men, lesbian women and bisexuals.

I know a great many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. I don't know any queers.

Maybe it's only been reclaimed in the UK.

Evidence from the last couple of posts shows that it has not entirely lost its negative conotations in the USA.

Am I supposed to be keeping tally? I don't often ask what people's sexual orientation is, because it dosn't matter to me. I know alot of people whom I know are not strait, and people who are strait, but there are a ton of people whom I know but I have no clue about. Even some of my closest friends.

Just wondering, but I think I heard that around nine out of ten people are strait. Has anyone else has heard that, or am I just making things up?

I... honestly don't know. I know at least two people who I believe are bisexual fairly well, possibly more. I know of several gay boys in my school, but none closely, and I think the only lesbian I'm close with is one of my best friends/girlfriend... I don't really think about other people's sexuality often, so it's hard to say exactly.

I do not know any openly gays/bisexuals, and I'm surprised that other people seem to know so many. But I guess I'm only 16, and most people in my age group are too immature and shallow to get past the "gay = evil" state of mind :(. None of my close friends are seriously homophobic though, fortunately.

Edit: I've only heard of one single person being openly gay at my school, and I do not know him at all. But I suppose I go to an all-guys school...

Though it was touched on in the original post, a far better question would be "What percent of the people you know/associate with are gay*?"

As another note* I really hate the term "queer". It's really quite ga-- silly. Beyond the etymological problems that make it about 100 times easier to use as a slur than "gay" ever did, I find that it simply compounds an obnoxious stereotype of gays. When I hear "queer", I think of an effeminate guy with a frilly feathered pink mask in some loud (in both senses of the word) parade. When I hear "gay", I find myself thinking of any guy (or girl), from baseball players to businessmen to bikers to BDSM fanatics.

Though it was touched on in the original post, a far better question would be "What percent of the people you know/associate with are gay*?"

As another note* I really hate the term "queer". It's really quite ga-- silly. Beyond the etymological problems that make it about 100 times easier to use as a slur than "gay" ever did, I find that it simply compounds an obnoxious stereotype of gays. When I hear "queer", I think of an effeminate guy with a frilly feathered pink mask in some loud (in both senses of the word) parade. When I hear "gay", I find myself thinking of any guy (or girl), from baseball players to businessmen to bikers to BDSM fanatics.
Quoted for truthfulness.


I most certainly do not wear a frilly fearthed pink mask. Ergo, I am not queer. XD.

Beyond the etymological problems that make it about 100 times easier to use as a slur than "gay" ever did, I find that it simply compounds an obnoxious stereotype of gays. When I hear "queer", I think of an effeminate guy with a frilly feathered pink mask in some loud (in both senses of the word) parade.
Perhaps where you come from, but here "queer" has roughly the same connotations as "gay". No more, no less.

Queer also means strange or unusual.

Queer also means strange or unusual.
It's all about context. Surely your mastery of the English language extends to understanding context?

Perhaps where you come from, but here "queer" has roughly the same connotations as "gay". No more, no less.

Understood. And I truly hope no offense is taken with my post. But if there's one thing in the world I'm conservative about, it's language. I don't believe in conscious efforts to reassign meaning and ideas.

Besides, I beg to differ that there is no difference in connotation, given an objective analysis of the roots of both terms.

It's all about context. Surely your mastery of the English language extends to understanding context?

If it were all about context and not about connotation and manipulation of words, there wouldn't be a movement to redefine a colloquial term for homosexuality in the first place.

[QUOTE=Homovox]so my friend told me that there was a survey in his marriage and family class,
QUOTE]

That has to be the dumbest class ever invented in the history of mankind, but it's what I'd expect from someone who refers to homosexuals as "queers", do you refer to blacks as porch monkeys too?????

Understood. And I truly hope no offense is taken with my post. But if there's one thing in the world I'm conservative about, it's language. I don't believe in conscious efforts to reassign meaning and ideas.
Language evolves, either through conscious efforts, or through words just picking up new meanings over time. It just happens.

Besides, I beg to differ that there is no difference in connotation, given an objective analysis of the roots of both terms.
Well, none that could be taken to cause offence or imply effeminacy.

At least, not in the way it's used by me or anybody I know.

If it were all about context and not about connotation and manipulation of words, there wouldn't be a movement to redefine a colloquial term for homosexuality in the first place.
Now you're taking my post out of, er, context. It was written in reply to his "it also means strange or unusual" post; I was pointing out that people are made fully aware of which meaning is to be understood by the context of the conversation that is being had.

Maybe us here in NI use language in a different way to you guys...here context, implied meaning, and tone of voice are just as important as, if not more important than, any obvious meanings of many, many words.

When I hear "queer", I think of an effeminate guy with a frilly feathered pink mask in some loud (in both senses of the word) parade. When I hear "gay", I find myself thinking of any guy (or girl), from baseball players to businessmen to bikers to BDSM fanatics.

Are you suggesting that there is something wrong with being an effiminate guy with a frilly feathered pink masK?

Are you suggesting that there is something wrong with being an effiminate guy with a frilly feathered pink masK?

Seems like a great way to get your ass kicked. :p

I'm honestly not sure at all. I know for sure (having been told by the individual) at least 10 gays or lesbians, but I'm fairly sure that I know many others with whom the topic just hasn't come up.

[QUOTE=Homovox]so my friend told me that there was a survey in his marriage and family class,
QUOTE]

That has to be the dumbest class ever invented in the history of mankind, but it's what I'd expect from someone who refers to homosexuals as "queers", do you refer to blacks as porch monkeys too?????

ahem.

1) i wasn't referring specifically to homosexuals. queer is a rather inclusive term for anyone whose sexual or gender identity falls outside the realms of heteronormativity.

2) i am a homosexual, and i have thirty something non-heterosexual friends, so i'm slightly flabbergasted by your implications that i am a homophobe.

but yeah, that class is bullshit.

I only know 1 at the moment. I hate him. Not because he's a queer but because he's generally not a nice person. He has one of those horrible high pitched voices where you just want to strangle him every time he speaks. :(

I only know 1 at the moment. I hate him. Not because he's a queer but because he's generally not a nice person. He has one of those horrible high pitched voices where you just want to strangle him every time he speaks. :(

yeah, that's why i hate women.

ahem.

1) i wasn't referring specifically to homosexuals. queer is a rather inclusive term for anyone whose sexual or gender identity falls outside the realms of heteronormativity.

2) i am a homosexual, and i have thirty something non-heterosexual friends, so i'm slightly flabbergasted by your implications that i am a homophobe.

but yeah, that class is bullshit.

When "the community" here in the US started using queer in the early 90s, I was horrified and more than a little offended. But over the years I've come to tolerate it as it is shorter than the whole GayLesbianBisexualTrangenderd (and growing every year) abomination. And since gays, bis, trannys, etc., are out of the ordinary (most people are straight) it does make some sense logically. So I've come to terms with it being used as a term for the wider community. And someone can call themselves whatever they want for all I care. However, I still take offence when it is used specifically to describe me.

It's all about context. Surely your mastery of the English language extends to understanding context?
Well, where I come from, 'gay' can also mean stupid, weird, upsetting, and other things.

YOU are the one that said 'no more, no less'.

yeah, that's why i hate women.
:D

Well, I suppose who you talk to as to what the definition of "queer" is. I suppose as it is defined here, one could use the more politically correct LGBT designation, but my understanding of queer referred to people whose sexual preferences couldn't be adequately described in terms of homosexual or heterosexual, such as transvestites that are attracted to transvestites of the opposite gender or transsexual couples or, well, the variations are endless.

Anyway, in answer to the original post, seeing that I live in Portland, Oregon, I probably know about as many queer people as not.

That has to be the dumbest class ever invented in the history of mankind, but it's what I'd expect from someone who refers to homosexuals as "queers", do you refer to blacks as porch monkeys too?????

Nah. Everyone knows a porch monkey is a kid. Likewise curtain climbers. Or rugrats. Or crumb snatchers. Or yard apes. Or my personal favorite, daddy's little tax exemptions.

Well, where I come from, 'gay' can also mean stupid, weird, upsetting, and other things.

Indeed Gay means Happy as I recall. :)

For the original question, I have no idea whatsoever. Out of my close friends none are gay, out of my other friends even ones I am very friendly with we have never really discussed sexuality (why would we?) and none have a same sex partner that I know of.

I used to have a number of gay friends at uni but we have lost touch over the years.

Actually, I guess I know more gay people than I selected on the poll (2 to 5). I really never think about it, and since it's not so easily apparent as "How many black friends do you have?" when summoning up images of acquaintances, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has underestimated in number.

I know about 15 that I can think of that are openly not heterosexual. Don't know how many people I know really because lots of people the subject never comes up, so I wouldn't know.

so, like, i wuznt reely sure wat u mene by queer, i no this lady whos reely queer she were 2 pair panties at all times n sais its extra in case u no

mi anti is really queer shes livin in a trailer at the edge of town n she onli cooks outside on acct a her asthma n she sleeps ona floor wit a chicken whos here best friend Bertah shes a brown hen.

i know losta queer peepul not so mani other critturs akshuly we's all kinda queer nobudy :gundge: likes george bush that's kinda queer aint it?

love

elbowan

I can think of four people that I'm friends with that are gay, including my best friend. Probably a few more in my wider group of acquaintances whose sexuality I'm not aware of.

I have no idea if any, or how many of, my friends aren't straight. There's one I'm curious about, purely out of nosiness, but have no evidence either way. I have known gays and bisexuals before (no pure lesbians, AFAIK), and some of them I'd've considered friends at the time, but they come and go.

marriage and family class
What on earth is that? Sounds like nasty propaganda to me...

I really could not say, but I would guess quite a few. I really don't care about peoples sexual preferences, unless I want to have sex with them. But then again it doesnt matter since I'm bisexual.

:fluffle: (two guys fucking)

:fluffle: (or two girls fucking)

:fluffle: (Or guy and girl)

:fluffle: :cool: (maybe a mixed threesome?)

:D :fluffle: (this one just likes to watch...)

:confused: :fluffle: (this one doesnt know what he wants...)

Then again...:upyours: Feel free to fuck yourselves....

"know", or consider as friends?

I have two good friends that are.

I probably know others, but their sexuality usually doesn't come into it, because I generally couldn't care less.


Then again... Feel free to fuck yourselves....

You should stop that, before the moderators slap you for it. Just a friendly tip.

What kind of question is this? Homosexual friends!?!?! None and i never will. its like being friends with a mass murder its a sin and an abomination against god.

What kind of question is this? Homosexual friends!?!?! None and i never will. its like being friends with a mass murder its a sin and an abomination against god.

:rolleyes:

What kind of question is this? Homosexual friends!?!?! None and i never will. its like being friends with a mass murder its a sin and an abomination against god.

Satire is a dying art, at least on NS. I can never tell if these guys are being serious or not now, unless its someone I already know.

I don't know, and I don't care. Generally speaking, I don't waste my time, or the time of my friends, on pointless questions about their private concerns.

Dreadfully sorry, but that line of questioning just breaks the barrier of sociability.

Satire is a dying art, at least on NS. I can never tell if these guys are being serious or not now, unless its someone I already know.

Yeah, I know. :(

its not satire im a christian. Satire on forums never works and i dont use it

im the extreme religious right of the (USA)

which in most other places like in europe would make me a christian fascist

its not satire im a christian. Satire on forums never works and i dont use it

im the extreme religious right of the (USA)

which in most other places like in europe would make me a christian fascist

Hmph. Well, you said it, not I.

I don't know, and I don't care. Generally speaking, I don't waste my time, or the time of my friends, on pointless questions about their private concerns.

Dreadfully sorry, but that line of questioning just breaks the barrier of sociability.

Asking someone if they have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a wife or a husband, or them speaking about their significant others? Oh, my Christian God! What a social faux pas!

its not satire im a christian. Satire on forums never works and i dont use it
im the extreme religious right of the (USA)
which in most other places like in europe would make me a christian fascist

I'm pretty sure that makes you a Christian fascist everywhere.

Asking someone if they have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a wife or a husband, or them speaking about their significant others? Oh, my Christian God! What a social faux pas!

If they want to tell me, I'll gladly listen. Otherwise, it is no concern of mine.

I don't think I've ever heard a single one of my gay friends refer to him or herself as "queer". In fact, I don't think I've even heard an actual person say that word since like 6th grade.

I've heard people say the word "queer" since school, however I have not heard the term "woolly-woofter" for quite some time.

If they want to tell me, I'll gladly listen. Otherwise, it is no concern of mine.

You never tried to start a conversation by asking someone about themselves?

ya you can disagree with me but i think all major sins that the bible calls "Abominations" should be against US law. The separation of church and state should be taken out of the US constitution because its purpose was not to end up like england (government influenced state church) not they other way around

If they want to tell me, I'll gladly listen. Otherwise, it is no concern of mine.

Ah, you're one of those energy suckers, aren't you? You the know the kind, who never actually show interest in other people, and make kind of lousy friends, since, you know, they're not interested in knowing anything about you, but instead, it's all about them.

ya you can disagree with me but i think all major sins that the bible calls "Abominations" should be against US law. The separation of church and state should be taken out of the US constitution

As I said, that pretty much makes you a Christian fascist everywhere.

Ah, you're one of those energy suckers, aren't you? You the know the kind, who never actually show interest in other people, and make kind of lousy friends, since, you know, they're not interested in knowing anything about you, but instead, it's all about them.

Fass! There's a Christian Nazi here! They're much more fun to make personal attacks on. :p

Fass! There's a Christian Nazi here! They're much more fun to make personal attacks on. :p

I do believe you have been pre-empted.

i never said that we should give them the death penalty just jail

How is that nazism?

Fass! There's a Christian Nazi here! They're much more fun to make personal attacks on. :p

Nah... the pretended socialite is still busy trying to break the 20.000 barrier on posts. I'm sure he has a fabulous social life.

i really wish that i could stay and talk longer but i really have to get going i got class @ 8 (ETZ) with a major test in the course

i never said that we should give them the death penalty just jail

How is that nazism?

It's not Nazism. It's idiocy.

I do believe you have been pre-empted.

And so I did.

i never said that we should give them the death penalty just jail

How is that nazism?

Would you throw in forced labour too? Gotta get some use out of them, right?


Nah... the pretended socialite is still busy trying to break the 20.000 barrier on posts. I'm sure he has a fabulous social life.

Hey! I take offence to...oh, you meant him. :p

Hey! I take offence to...oh, you meant him. :p

*giggles*

Nah... the pretended socialite is still busy trying to break the 20.000 barrier on posts. I'm sure he has a fabulous social life.

Oh, look. This post took me 10 seconds to write. However shall I manage to meet someone else?

how is that idiocy? im not stupid just a strict authoritarian (in the sense that i want the government to tell society whats right and whats wrong) conservative christian. i said u can disagree with me i think that your just ignorant of traditional christian values

Oh, look. This post took me 10 seconds to write. However shall I manage to meet someone else?

In the pub...

Would you throw in forced labour too? Gotta get some use out of them, right?

:p


nope unless we are having a shortage of labor and use all of the prisoners

its a good point though

how is that idiocy?

Oh, let's see.

im not stupid just a strict authoritarian (in the sense that i want the government to tell society whats right and whats wrong) conservative christian.

There. That's the way it's idiocy.

i said u can disagree with me i think that your just ignorant of traditional christian values

You take those "values" and stuff them.

how is that idiocy? im not stupid just a strict authoritarian (in the sense that i want the government to tell society whats right and whats wrong) conservative christian. i said u can disagree with me i think that your just ignorant of traditional christian values

Perhaps the opposite...sweetheart. Maybe we see them for what they actually are.

In the pub...

I prefer coffee shops, but pubs are a great place to meet people. Perhaps not at noon, though, and not while you're doing paperwork on the comp, but still.

I prefer coffee shops, but pubs are a great place to meet people. Perhaps not at noon, though, and not while you're doing paperwork on the comp, but still.

Ah, that is where they do drugs, wot?

"abominations" as the bible put it. how else are u suppose to see them???


well i got to go have fun with the debate

"abominations" as the bible put it. how else are u suppose to see them???

*yawns*
The satire is becoming a bit boring....

AND ITS NOT SATIRE

just cause im not mainstream doesnt mean that im being satirical

Ah, that is where they do drugs, wot?

Well, coffee can be seen as a drug... but, no. I don't live in the Netherlands.

AND ITS NOT SATIRE

just cause im not mainstream doesnt mean that im being satirical

If you're not mainstream, then you are an utterly ignorable minority.
An irrelevancy, a trifle, a 'roi de Prusse'.

"abominations" as the bible put it. how else are u suppose to see them???

As sweet, sweet gay sex that you just have to get more of. The only "abomination" are those "values" of yours.

Well, coffee can be seen as a drug... but, no. I don't live in the Netherlands.

So basically, you don't drink nor smoke.
Cor blimey... DULL!

I have not met any homosexuals IRL, so none.

If you're not mainstream, then you are an utterly ignorable minority.
An irrelevancy, a trifle, a 'roi de Prusse'.

Oh, non, il ne l'a pas fait!

So basically, you don't drink nor smoke.

I do drink. What makes you think I don't drink?

Oh, non, il ne l'a pas fait!

Mais bien sur, mon vieux.

I do drink. What makes I don't drink?

You mean you are drinking now?

You mean you are drinking now?

At noon? On a week day?

Mais bien sur, mon vieux.

Ouais, on est de vrais potes...

AND ITS NOT SATIRE

just cause im not mainstream doesnt mean that im being satirical

You can't possibly be real. :p

Have the flames cooled down now?

I'll try again (*jumps up and down, demanding attention*).

What is "marriage and family class"? I presume it's an American thing.
It sounds like evil propaganda to me, unless it's strongly discouraging both.

from what i've heard, the main tenets of the course are as follows:

1. infatuation is characterized by emotional connection and actually liking someone, whereas love is consciously formed in financially beneficial relationships

2. you cannot fall in love with someone of your own gender or a different race because it can be socially and/ or financially detrimental

3. giving birth naked in a field is both natural and beautiful


i go to catholic school.