Question primarily for gay people
 

For our gay peeps: When people learn that you are gay, do they ask you if you know a particular gay person that they know?

Once in a while. I usually get the ones who HAVE to tell me about every gay person they know and how they LOVE to go out with them.

When I lived in Philly and DC, and I would mention that I'm from St. Louis, people would ask me if I knew someone they knew in St. Louis. What the fuck?! We're a bit inbred for sure, but St. Louis is one of the largest cities in the country...3 million people live here! I know a lot of people here, but not all of 'em!

And I've seen this happen with minorities too, particularly blacks. People will ask if you know a particular person or say something like, "Oh, I don't have a problem with (insert group here) at all!" right away. And I suspected that something like that might happen with gays and lesbians as well.

Just one of those subjects that I've thought about before but finally remembered to ask about...slow day around here. :)

On the flip side, my former (gay) roommate really did seem to know every gay person in town. I would be telling him about some random kid I knew when I was six and he would always say something like, "Oh yeah, I know him! He's gay now, by the way."

So, syc, I know this guy Bill. He's a real asshole. Do you know him?

i kill me.

As a matter of fact, I do know him...he says hello...and "Cock!"

I actually laughed out loud when I read that.

Cock.

nothing personal....it was just set up so very well. i really would have felt bad if i hadn't

Cock

I didn't take it personally...cock. :)

good. oh, and i hope that the homos appreciate all the cock in this thread. we're trying very hard.....yes, hard....to make it homey.

,

I think the whole "You're an X? Do you know Y that is also an X?" thing is just a way to find common ground for conversation. I'm sure I could look it up in one of my socio-linguistics books, but I'm not going to get all geeky...

I also have a question that I don't think a straight person can answer.

Nature or Nurture and explain please.

I have to agree, in that my bi-stalker seemed to know every lesbian in town. Or at least the ones who were "out". Walking through town with her involved a litany of spite as she spotted someone in every hairdressers, cafe, sandwich shop and told me the worst things she knew about them. Then wondered why I made excuses not to go out drinking with her...

Then again, small city, limited number of gay venues, it's not surprising that faces become known.