Have you ever...

Another simple game where you answer the question above and then post your own.

Have you ever been to nyc?

 

[Araucaria]

Yes, I've been to numerous rock concerts and such over the years. I saw numerous acts in college, like The Eagles and Jimmy Buffett, and people like Karla Bonoff and The Police. Later I saw a couple of my favorite acts like Carole King and Laura Nyro in smaller concert venues. When I lived in Tampa, there used to be festivals where there'd be six stages on different floors in large old buildings and the surrounding plazas in Ybor City. It was fun spending the night going between stages, but it was a bit much to walk around the plazas and up and down those staircases all the time. And you'd have to constantly make decisions like, "well, I really like this band, but I wanted to see the act starting up on the 4th floor ballroom, so I guess I'd better tear myself away from here..." And then I have caught acts like the B52s at street festivals, post-prime, and so on.

Have you ever met a performer in the adult entertainment industry in real life?

 

[rmcrae]

No, but I once worked with a guy who was a dead ringer for Tommy D. He was a redhead though.

Have you ever considered doing porn or any other sex work?

 

[PalacePaul]

Have you ever met a performer in the adult entertainment industry in real life?

Sorry guys but I have to answer this one
In 2014 I met my idol Aitor Crash in the street in Barcelona
I met another Spanish porn actor at a bar
I found Matthieu Paris on a dating site, messaged him and he answered

Have you ever considered doing porn or any other sex work?

Only as a fantasy, never for real

Have you ever recorded yourself masturbating?

 

[Araucaria]

No, I have never done that. I suspect that I may have done some stuff like that if the internet was around when I was in my 20s. My ex took a couple of nude polaroids of me-- fortunately, I have custody of them. Actually, my ex recorded himself masturbating when he had a video camera. I presume he has has the tapes.

Have you ever had your fortune told? If so, how was the experience? Did you agree with it, was it comforting or disturbing, and did any of it come true, or for that matter, was any of it clearly off?

 

[rmcrae]

No, I never have. Growing up in a religious household meant that all things psychic were "evil" and "of Satan" and whatnot. I don't have those same views as an adult, but I think I'm better off letting life and/or fate play its role. Sometimes it's better not knowing what lies ahead.

Have you ever been ashamed of your sexuality?

 

[Araucaria]

On the previous question, I don't know if fortune telling is of Satan, bur I've seen enough that I know it's not something you casually mess with.

As for being ashamed of my sexuality, I think I was ashamed of my sexual thoughts when I was very young and didn't understand them. But once I accepted being gay, I haven't been ashamed, realizing that that those shameful messages came from without.

Have you ever felt like there is a plan for your life, that something is guiding you or making things happen?

 

[PalacePaul]

Yes

Have you ever written a poem?

 

[Araucaria]

Yes I have. I used to write quite a few poems when I was younger. These days I hardly ever write any, but I'll crank out a poem once in a blue moon.

Have you ever been "slain in the spirit" or been around this or other activities at a Pentecostal-type religious meeting (speaking in tongues, laying on of hands for healing, etc.)?

 

[rmcrae]

I've never "caught the Holy Ghost" myself, but definitely witnessed it on multiple occasions growing up in church. No "hand healing" that I can remember, but people would fall out (prayer cloth and all), speak in tongues and run around the building screaming "JESUUUUS!!!!".

Have you ever felt like God/The Universe abandoned you in a time of need?

 

[Araucaria]

Yeah, like the first 20 years of my life. I had to deal with abuse at home, bullying on the street, and religious abuse, among other things, with nobody ever seeing what was happening to me. I turned my life around when I was finally able to come out, and live a somewhat reasonable life, but the damage had already been done. I always wonder what my life could have been, if I had certain opportunities or a mentor/advocate looking out for me, but that's water under the bridge. Even today I prefer to be happy and loving, because I don't like the person I become when I'm bitter and cynical, and slip into self-pity. If I ever get to meet God in the afterlife or whatever, I'm going to have my say.

Sorry about the rant. It was a good question, but it happened to touch a raw nerve.

Let's go with an easier question. Have you ever been in a place where you felt especially good or happy, like eating ice cream on the boardwalk during a day at the beach, or whatever the place was that gave you that experience?

 

[rmcrae]

I have quite a few, but one memory that particularly sticks out is the summer I turned 16. We were visiting family out of state and one night I was laying on the bed of my uncle's pickup truck gazing at the stars. It was so peaceful and cosmic at the same time. I felt like a little ant or something. Lol.

Have you ever dated someone you were sure you'd marry or spend the rest of your life with?

 

[Araucaria]

Yes. Most of the time when I met someone, it would be clear that they didn't really like me or were judgmental, or that they didn't have the same values as I did. But with my ex it felt different. Right off the bat it was clear that we liked each other, and we were together for 14 years. I have been single for a good long time since then, but I'm not going to get into a bad relationship just because I can't stand being alone, or just "settle" for someone. I'm willing to wait it out. If someone is right for me, I will know it.

Have you ever pursued or been in a relationship in which you had serious misgivings or worries, but went ahead with it anyway? How did it turn out?

 

[rmcrae]

Not initially, but there were signs (painfully obvious ones as time went on) that I needed to let the relationship go as time went on. He had major issues and being the naive wannabe healer I was back then, I made it my mission to save him. Then something bad would happen that I couldn't ignore, I'd be upset and two seconds away from hitting the bricks and he'd sweet talk his way back into my good graces. Wash, rinse, repeat. Then one day I'd just had enough of being a masochistic fool, cut all ties and moved on. Fortunately I ran into him a few years later and he gave me a letter thanking me for pulling the plug on him since it forced him to seek professional help for his problems and last I heard he's still doing well.

Have you ever had someone dissuade you from pursuing a particular career path?

 

[Araucaria]

Yes. I went to the career guidance office at the junior college I was attending in the late 70s, because I didn't feel a clear direction for pursuing a job or profession. They gave me all the aptitude and interest tests, and one job that came out near the top was librarian. The counselor (a man, by the way, not irrelevant, since librarian has traditionally been seen as a women's profession) told me not to pursue it, because there were no jobs in it. I can't say that I would have pursued it if he hadn't dissuaded me, but looking back on it, I'm not sure it would have turned out any worse, since every job and career path I took ended up being not really successful.

Have you ever had a moment in your life, be it in a relationship, a job, or just your place in life in general, when you had a moment where it just hit you, that you said "what the hell am I dong?" and immediately changed course?

 

[PalacePaul]

No

Have you ever lied to someone to spare his/her feelings?

 

[Theunderdog1]

Yeah. I hate to do that but sometimes it's for the best.

Have you ever split up with someone only to regret it later?

 

[Araucaria]

No, I don't think so. Most of the time the relationship dies out before it gets too far, or they stop seeing me. I don't regret breaking up with my ex because, even though we got along well during most of our time together, I was losing too much of myself in the relationship to make it work. I needed to get out of the relationship to be able to grow.

Have you ever felt sorry when someone broke up with you, but realized that you were glad they did later?

 

[PalacePaul]

Short answer is: no

Have you ever had sex with a couple? (as in: open couple looking for a third)

 

[Theunderdog1]

No, but I'm certainty open to it.

Have you ever gone to a gay bathhouse?

 

[rmcrae]

No

Have you ever gone to a drag show?