Bet you didn't see THIS coming....

[Wormsie]

The gay penguin thing is awesome, because their relationship was supposed to be like that just because there weren't enough female penguins, but looks like they've become attached to each other. Awwww! There was a case where a gay penguin couple tried to get pregnant, but naturally couldn't. So the scientist gave them a few eggs, and they started looking after them.

[earlwood]

Before you commit to anything I think you should read over these wonderfully crafted, unobjective, non-biased, true to life comics right here:

http://www.thetruthforyouth.com/NEW%20Comics/bw/pages/BTW_1.htm

Then, make sure to throw out all your rock music too!

http://www.thetruthforyouth.com/NEW%20Comics/ww/pages/WW_1.htm

Because as we know, Manson isn't just a guy from Florida, he is a real life demon that exists and we live in the year 2005 and still believe in demons.... Remember that...

I don't think I understood that comic very well...who was right, the Bigot/Punk, the Caring sister..or the Religous one(A mixture of the other two?)

I won't use those deceptive terms no matter how often the liberal media tries to reinforce them!

Non-biased indeed.Ã, 

[Meowster]

A keeper confirmed that the male couples had adopted rocks which they were guarding like eggs in their caves.

Ha ha! Stupid Penguins!

The zoo has said that it will try again in Spring 2006, because the penguins are an endangered species and need to be encouraged to breed.

Homophobes!

[Peter Thomas]

heh, that penguin thing is GREAT! Made me laugh out loud. That is kinda cute

Oh, and I'm going for HIV test tomorrow. Wish me all the best people!

[MrColossal]

I wish you all the best people.

[Ozwalled]

Best of luck. Keeping my fingers crossed for ya'.

(how long do the results for these things take to come back again?)

[Peter Thomas]

Thanks eric Oz, not too sure about the time length. There are things you can buy from chemists that are a bit like pregnancy tests and give you results in about 5 minutes, but the proper blood tests the doctor will do can take up to 14 days.

Plus, of course, theses tests may not be conclusive. You can be infected with HIV up to 6 months before any tests will pick up, so naturally if this one is negative, I'm still going to have to go for another round the 6 month mark. But at least by then i'll be more prepared for it...

[edmundito]

Aw, man... how did I miss this thread? I'm probably hanging out too much in the Tech Forum or something. So I guess I should write something down, to avoid homework:

You know, I'm kind of lazy to read all the replies to this thread (20+ freaking pages which are giving me headaches) but from what I've been reading it sounds like your relatives are annoyingly religious. But this thread has been almost transformed into the belief that the only religion in the world is christianity, and it is the only true and scientifically-proven religion, and I think this is what making my head spin because I don't think that way.

I personally don't care about someone's "choice" (is it a choice?) of sexual lifestyle. I don't think it's a sin or whatever you want to call it. If people are secure enough that they know they like other people of their same gender from a friendly and sexual standpoint, then I agree that their homosexuality is just fine. Now, it's not that simple, of course, because with the pressure of most cultures (I guess we all agree that all over the world it is a lifestyle that is frowned upon by the majority) can drive people mad.

For me? I've yet to get used to the idea. I'm kind of weirded out by it but it's because I just have a hard time understanding how can one like a others of their own sex too much because I personally don't. It's kind of like those zoo people who are baffled by the fact that the male penguins are totally gay, except that I'm not going to attempt to turn anyone around to straightness; I just scratch my head and wonder because it's like a mystery of the universe to me.   I don't have any strong feelings towards it or anything, however. What really makes me wonder is those crazy people who are fucked up in the head and decide that they want to try to be homo/bi for a while, like it's a flavor of ice cream.  Perhaps they are just bi or gay but they're too insecure to admit it or something. I hope someone understands what I'm talking about because I just go on and on and on.... 

Notice that I did not refer to any religious shit in my last sentence. I think religion.... well, it's a whole other subject. I bet there's thread out there where it's discussed.

Anyway, I wish you the best on your HIV/AIDS/SIDA test... It would suck if you get positive.

Edit: People are so nitpicky! (See reply to this message)

[Peter Thomas]

I would suck if you get positive

Without being TOO vulgar, I certainly think you would not be doing that...

[Nine Toes]

Good luck on your test, Peter.

I think maybe I should go get tested, too... Just to be safe.

[a little off-subject]
I always thought that when one of your close friends came out, it was supposed to be earth-shattering, and a big shock, especially if they never displayed and homosexual tendencies before and always said that they were disgusted at the thought of themselves being involved in homosexual acts.  But a girl I dated over the summer just came out, who also fits the profile I just mentioned, and it's kinda funny... it's really no big deal.  It's kinda like... "O.k.  So you're a lesbian."  I'm just glad to see that she's happy for a change.

The only thing is, she hasn't come completely out of the closet... her mom and her two children don't know anything about it.
[/a little off-subject]

[Peter Thomas]

I could sort of understand being reluctant to come out to her children....

Not sure if I mentioned this previously, but my ex-girlfriend (now my best friend) found out her mum was a lesbian about 2 months ago, and she was in love with a woman who was already in a lesbian relationship with one of her best friends. A bit complicated....

Now my ex doesn't have ANY problems with homosexuality - it's just uncomfortable for her to imagine her MUM being gay, since it means she has to accept she didn't LOVE her dad the way she said she did and things like that.  And yes, this is still a little off-subject....

[Ozwalled]

of course, theses tests may not be conclusive. You can be infected with HIV up to 6 months before any tests will pick up

Yeah, I was going to say something about that too, but figured it best that some medical person tell you instead (or thought it possible that you already knew but that it was irrelevant since it coud have been long enough since last possible infection opprtunity).

EDIT: I was sure I had something better to say than that... Seriously.

[Peter Thomas]

Well my parents just gave me the most AMAZING gift!

A book.

But not just ANY book! No, THIS book is called "Help for men who struggle with sexual identity!"

And the snappy catch-phrase under the title is "The problems are real - but so are the solutions..."

How very very damn patronizing. I thought they were accepting me and sort of giving me space for a while, and now I see they just backed off with a whole bunch of books to read that they're now palming off to me.

And that's just crap becuase I was having a really good day today (after having a damn lot of bad ones), and now they've just thrown me straight back into depression ( <- melodramatic word, I know...)

I was actually considering telling them about the HIV test, but now feel like there's no way I can do it yet. I realise I still have to get through the whole "Yes, i AM gay!" stage first, which I thought I'd got through... argh! I'm just really angry now.

I know they were doing it out of love and concern. I just wish they hadn't.

[SSH]

Speaking as a parent myself, and this applies to everyone, I would say that unless your parents are completely manic depressive or certifable nutbags, then they love you a lot. Sorry to continue being patronising, but unles syou have kids you really cant understand how much a parent loves their children, no matter what. Even if they disown you, etc. its usually because they think that what you're doing is wrong and they want to use whatever leverage they have to get you to not do it. Of course, they dont realise that trying that kind of stunt hurts people more than it changes behaviour, but there you go.

Anyway, the point of this is, by reading those books they were trying to understand and accept you. Now, being christians they probably found a bunch of books that might not engender the attitude to you and your sexuality that you might hope, but at least they care enough to try and understand: remember that for right or wrong, this is all very difficult and confusing for them too. So, have hope: they're probably on YOUR side more than they are on the side of any book or any dogma. My advice would be to use this as a foot in the door to make your announcement. Give yourself enoguh time first to at least pretend you have read the book , or they might just say "We'll talk about it after you read the book", but then tell them how you feel and that you feel you ARE this way and you don't think that any kind of "conversion back to straightness" would be anything other than brainwashing.

I hope I'm not out of line in saying this, but to me the most important thing here is to keep a good relationship with your parents and with God. If you want some Christian backup in this, I'd be willing to talk to them on the phone or by email: PM if you want my contact details. You could mention that I'm a married  straight evangelical christian with 2 kids... 

[Kinoko]

I have to say that I agree with SSH here. As soon as I read that they gave you that book, I thought, in a strange sort of way, that's a really good sign. You can't expect them to change right away, and although I get angry at people who aren't totally accepting of this sort of thing, or who try to change people "back", etc... it just seemed kind of sweet in an odd sort of way. Even though I'm sure they want nothing more than for you to turn up with a pretty girl and a ring on her finger, it means that they aren't cutting you off, and they do care about you. At least, that's the way it seems to me. It's their own crazy little way of reaching out to you. I think they probably just don't know -what- they're supposed to be doing, and they just don't know that the way you are IS okay.

I'm not sure I made a whole lot of sense, but... well, I'm sure they love you and want what's best for you.

[TheYak]

I hope I'm not out of line in saying this, but to me the most important thing here is to keep a good relationship with your parents and with God. If you want some Christian backup in this, I'd be willing to talk to them on the phone or by email: PM if you want my contact details. You could mention that I'm a married  straight evangelical christian with 2 kids... 

Your comments were very well put, however I'm wondering how this would go over:

Peter: Mum, Dad, there's someone on the phone I want you to talk to.
SSH: Hullo, I know you don't know me but I've been chatting with your son online and he seems like a pretty good bloke..  anyway..
M&D: [click]

[Meowster]

Ohhh let ME talk to your parents on the phone, let ME do it! I swear to god they'll love me! Oh god let ME do it! I love talking to parents!

[dasjoe]

"buy your son PSYCHONAUTS to help him! BUY IT! buy a copy for yourself, too! worship tim! what, you don't know tim schafe? burn in hell! go to timisgod.mixnmojo.com!"

[HillBilly]

I just relised I've never met a gay person face to face.Ã,  :'(





...Or have I?

[Ozwalled]

I wouldn't be so quick to take the book as a negative either. I don't know your parents, but maybe in their sort of "we know, but we don't want to actually SAY anything because we're uncomfortable about it (or they don't want to say anything before you do, even)" way, maybe they're trying to tell you "we know you're gay (or probably are) so if you ever want to TALK about it, then we're here".

Either way, I do think it shows some willingness to accept on their part, even if, in a worst case scenario that it's a "straight up and fly right" kind of response (I can't BELIEVE I actually used that bad a pun just now... I'm so sorry...), at least they're showing that they're not in COMPLETE denial and that they still want what's best for you. If that is the case, all you have to do is have them realize that what's best for you isn't what's best for everyone (yeah, I know it may not be an easy sell, but I think they'd come around eventually).

I hope that some of that made sense.