Go Ben Go

[Guest TakeTwo]

I stated on this site sometime ago, within a thread of different viewpoints and expression, that I would be the first to stand up and applaud, with hands over head for Ben, when something other than what seemed like selfless self promotion at other people’s expense was communicated to the masses. That now sounds terribly arrogant to me as I write it, but it’s how I feel and felt. I too, have made my fair share of mistakes and desire to learn from them as I believe that I too am evolving and growing as a person.

Tonight happens to be that night. I stand and applaud you Ben and it does feel good. Not because I agree with everything which you have said and done,(that's not important) but because for me, tonight, you genuinely communicated through your words, that you really are connected to a bigger chunk of society and your role within it than has been shared in the past publicly; which for me always seemed arrogantly absent and irresponsible for someone with a voice.

I think we are all growing in many ways and in many directions at different levels of understanding and experience; how could we not be? What’s important is not so much where we have come from, but ultimately and most importantly, where we are all headed collectively as gay men, as unique and individual beings, and, again collectively as a community of united people and values. Knowledge and understanding of the people around us are the only keys we have to making tomorrow a better yesterday.

So Ben, tonight, for whatever it’s worth, thanks for sharing a part of you that was important for me at least to know existed. It uncomplicates things a bit, which speaking only for myself, provides me a better clarity, understanding and appreciation of who you are, which in turn helps me to be a better person as well.

Good luck in the voting Ben….I’m sure with Skrubber out there, you’ve already surpassed the winning tally. :-)

Thanks, and the best of days ahead to you……..

Chgo.

[Guest SouthernMan]

>I've always been intrigued that so many gay people feel the

>need to disparage the tastes and preferences of other gay

>people. It's fascinating.

No what is fascinating is your interpretation of the comments, as nothing in my comments was disparaging or intended as such! As I said, whatever rocks your boat.

>

>I assume that if you truly are a "Southern Man" and

>grew up in the South, that it wasn't/isn't easy being gay.

>Just curious... are you totally out to your community, family,

>friends? If not, why not? If so, have you always been, or was

>it a struggle to decide to do so?

Please! Are you a psychoanalyst now??? You are? Then perhaps you should confine your analysis a tad closer to home base. I'm loud, proud and out to everyone everywhere, including at home, in the community and at work!

>

>I can understand gay people might resent other gay people who

>bring negative attention to the group as a class due to their

>actions (e.g. pedophiles), but so gleefully criticizing the

>legal tastes and preferences of other gays seems contrary to

>best interest. As a group, gays are still legally and

>socially second class simply because a majority considers

>their taste and preference offensive.

I don't even remotely consider your "preferences" offensive, as once again, whatever rocks your boat! Repeat, look in the mirror to find just why you are so upset at others innocous observations?

>

>Maybe it's all part of the same syndrome that abused children

>abuse their own children. Or that hazed pledges haze the next

>generation. For me, I am still hoping that in my lifetime, I

>will see a generation grow up where a child really has no

>legal or social stigma growing up just because his/her sexual

>preference is different than the loudest voice. I just worry

>that this will be difficult if we are too busy deriding each

>other.

Who is "deriding" you??? Certainly isn't me!

[marcanthony]

>I don't even remotely consider your "preferences"

>offensive, as once again, whatever rocks your boat! Repeat,

>look in the mirror to find just why you are so upset at others

>innocous observations?

>Who is "deriding" you??? Certainly isn't me!

>

SouthernMan:

I apologize. You wrote:

"As far as twink escorts, yawn!!, as most of them, in my experiences have just been totally tweaked out bottoms, and the very few that are tops?, well calling them boring would be an accolade. Can't find them on Rentboy, then have you tried the NAMBLA site (I hear that there is a brand new review site for their members)?

Where are they?? I don't know, maybe their priests told them to say 100 Hail Marys and go back to their 9th grade algebra class?? What? they're out of high school??, Okay, I guess some people just like that junior high school boy look in men??? Whatever rocks the old boat. "

I mistakenly mistook those straightforward observations as derision. Since they are not, I guess I needn't have responded.

[Guest tweety]

> It's been an incredible

>4 years...

...

>Benjamin Nicholas

21 + 4 = 21, I guess....

[Guest tweety]

>Like I said in

>my post, I know that twink escorts have never been really

>overflowing on rentboy... but my observation was also that

>they are getting more scarce everywhere. I can only say to

>that... I hope I am wrong, and if I am not wrong, I hope it's

>temporary!

I think you are right, unfortunately. I think it is true in London and Amsterdam as much as it is true in New York and Toronto. One Amsterdam escort friend who has been an inovator from a business POV recently made the same comment to me. One theory is that the twinks have moved their stalls to a diferent market - on-line chat rooms - that are probably foreign to those of us who thought on-line escorting on dedicated sites was "the" new thing five years ago.

If twinks like this (http://www.men4rentnow.com/ds/index.asp?cmd=view&id=156512&Login=hotboyblake) want $500 /hour to bottom either there is a serious supply and demand problem out there or some of these kids are starting to take themselves way to seriously (perhaps learning from Benjamin Nicholas)....

All hope is not lost, if you get a chance, might I sugest you ty Michael or Austin on Canadianmale.com.... Bonne chance!