Single gay guy in a college class

[RationalLunacy]

Write a kinky essay on men who have fetishes for hi-top basketball sneakers.

 

[gazzax2]

i know how u feel, not only am i one of 4 gays that i know are in the entire uni law school cohort of 550, but i'm the only emo in the law school.

do i feel left out....

 

[Soilwork]

isn't feeling left out kinda a pre-requisite for being emo?

 

[okstatecowboy]

As a teacher, I too sometimes make assignments that some students can't/won't/don't relate to. Some students come and discuss the project with me -for them, I will make slight alterations to better suit their strengths. The other students that whine and complain, I leave it to them to figure out the assignments and complete them. If I make an assignment, they will complete it or their grade will suffer.

Others have already provided some great suggestions on how to make the assignment work for you. Simply follow the advice that best suits your personality and go with it. Best wishes on a successful completion of the assignment!

mikey

 

[ixthrock]

I don't wanna look like a complete idiot up front reading my paper

No, you most certainly do NOT! Especially since you are (apparently) the only representative of the queer demographic that class has to judge the rest of us by. This is your time to shine, baby. Knock their socks off. You've recieved some excellent suggestions.

 

[woaini]

How would you know they are all straight? They may be like you and the 2 girls are lesbian~~ Sports is not a way to judge~

 

[luminum]

I would write the essay stating that youd on't have a favorite teama dn that you don't pay attentiont o basketball, but that as a good marketing student, you'd know that there are times where things outside of your interests may be on your to-do list. So then pick any team and tell them how YOU would market it.

 

[Skyboy68]

Sports are not specific to straight men. Maybe the women like the game. Maybe they don't. Some gay men like the game. Some don't. The point is, you're doing a marketing assignment. And therefore you don't reasonably have to have a knowledge of the ins and outs of the sport itself. You do know a few things. This sport uses all sorts of products, and media tie ins (radio, tv, satalite) and reaches out to various different audiences for various reasons. Product placement like soft drinks, energy drinks, sneakers, sporting good brands, the snack bar area, the novelty stands, etc. You can find a hook linking to the game without having to know anything about it.
If you worked for a marketing firm and were assigned this, you'd have to do a little research and get creative. There are tons of things you can do without even knowing a thing about the actual game. That's what marketing is about.

 

[Blue_Eyed_Boi]

WOW I am completely surprised! My mind was blank this morning, and after reading all of the replies, I have sooo ideas on what to write about. Thank you guys! I guess I shall do the topic after all. I'll show them all that anyone and everyone can talk about basketball whether they like it or not.

So here's what I'm going to do. Even though the assignment is about pro basketball, it is still after all, a Marketing class. So my paper will be about 'basketball', but yet not talk about the actual sport. More on how it markets itself to make money, whether it be the sport itself, the players, the fashion, the drama, etc. And how it can get people who don't give a shit about basketball to become 'interested' in what's going on, more than just the plays themselves, like hot guys, or bright colored shirts.

Well, the assignment only started because some guys were talking about it, and then it turned into a class discussion (excluding me of course), so the teacher figured "Hey, the class seems interested in it, so let's make it an assignment." As for the other guys being straight, I just based on assumption, but who knows, there may be a couple gay ones. They all seem friendly and all.


But oh my god I have so many ideas running through my mind! *squeals* Yes, my paper will now be great, and I shall blow all the guys away!! THANKS AGAIN!!!!

 

[bcwang]

Whatever, it's good that you set your mind.
And probaly you can do some research here. Like Are those marketing strategies really working in getting people who don't like the sport intrested?
Personally I don't watch any basketball whatever they do to "promot" it. I switch channel everytime there's basketball on TV. The only thing that has an influence on me is the huge fuss they create during the World Cup. I do watch a match or two even I have absolutely no intrest in football.

 

[Just_Believe18]

That's great! Copy and paste your final paper on the board; I would enjoy reading it!

 

[dr_beat]

Ok I'm going to side with the Prof.
If you're going to go into marketing, there may be times when you'll have to come up with something for a niche you know absolutely nothing about. So for your employer, you'll have to research this niche and come up with something that fits.
Not every gay advertisment is written by a gay man or lesbian woman. That also explaind why there are some lame advertisements aimed at gays and lesbians.
Think real world where there are more than just gays and lesbians.
Good Luck

Yes, you are very right. However, the prof/teacher was probably a bit too specific in his request. If this is about marketing in basketball, it should be about that and not about favourite teams.

I don't want to stereotype, but I'm betting this college is perhaps a smaller one or in a small town, urban centre, or rural area where it's just a natural assumption that everyone loves bball and most probably do or go along with it if they don't.

Just talk to the prof/teacher and with your concerns. A reasonable person would be able to modify the assignment slightly.

 

[fireside]

I thought you were doing an NCAA team?

 

[slobone]

You could write about Penn State, that's where John Amaechi went to college. He's the openly gay former NBA player.

Don't know if they're in the tournament though.

 

[JNewYork]

I'm finding this thread hysterical.

Forgive me for laughing at your pain. It's just very funny, because I totally relate.

I couldn't give a shitt about basketball and when work buddies all get hyped up over "the final four" all I can do is just sit it out.

the only reason to watch sports would be the sex appeal of the players.

HEY, why not tie in how SEXY and HOT the players are? AHAH

Yeah, I'm SURE that presentation would go over well.....

"Well, class, if we look at how sexy Michael Jordan is we can sell that to the crowds. Allan Iverson has that thug look where you just want to drop to your knees and swallow his load...."

Good luck! LOL

 

[hawkia]

OK, I am totally into gym, swimming, hiking and absolutely nothing else in terms of sports. All these 'games' and that stuff mean absolutely nothing to me. But, that's just me and possibly a few other guys, too.

Now, you are studying marketing. The first thing you want to do is to learn how to deal with projects and research on the subjects you feel absolutely no affinity to. In real life, you will have to deal with subjects you may even positively despise. A top of the pack dude uses such challenges to show the guys around him, that it would take much more than a theme he possibly despises, to bring him down, calling 'uncle' - give me special consideration and what not - all over the place.

So, suck it up. You are going to be a professional dude, rite? Forget your personal dislikes and go for it. Make the best out of it. Recruit some help, too. Show them that you are not that easy to stop.

SC

Very well said.

 

[Sevos-CT]

Pick UNC!!!

 

[Kyanimal]

I recently realized you did say NCAA, and my previous comments were aimed at the "Pros". Just goes to show how much attention I pay to sports!

O.K. What does marketing have to do with the "Amatuers"? Well ... Everything!

As students, we usually zone in on the classes, new friends, and parties. What we tend to overlook is that Education is really "Big Bidness"! The bottom line for schools is Money! And tuition is only the beginning.

Sports teams are (hopefully) an enhancement of the school's reputation. They promote Team Spirit/School Loyalty. And that all leads to increased alumni donations/endowments. A winning team (no matter the sport) can increase applications, which presents the school with a larger pool from which to shape their student body, and, therefore, their future alumni. Which leads to more Money!

And that Money goes into facilities and faculty. Being able to hire the top professors means more/better research/publication, and that enhances reputation/grants/patents, boosting donations/endowments from "stonger" alumni! Money begets More Money, and the sports teams' Wins promote even More Money!

A school's rep will also get it more relationships/contracts/associations from the private sector. And Winning Teams will bring it more exposure and support! Any postitive news/publicity/media coverage brings any school the ablility to attract more funds from many diverse sources.

A school's logo/mascot/colors stands for much more than what may be apparent on the surface! The shirts, caps, socks, bumper stickers, paper weights, and any other product that can be made identifiable, are just "the tip of the iceberg"!

Go!, (Who/Whatever)!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz