thoughts on the state of affairs

[Andreus]

i was moderating comments at my site and it just occured to me that there aren't enough gay sites out there that just focus on message.

it seems that everyone has to have an image, a gimmic and a nude poster boy to get ahead.

is it naive of me to think that gay men will be interested in anything more than the flash of dick?

I guess I'm lucky

I have a strong opinion and a perspective as a gay muslim. there arent many sites out there for people like me to read, and so i get alot of traffic.

what is more important to you guys?

substance?

style?

content?

 

[Fire]

A gimmick is what it tends to take to get people, gay or straight, to notice and take interest in a general discussion forum. There's so much crap out there people have to find ways to sift through it all.

 

[Andreus]

true

there are alot

ALOT

of sites out there. I guess my gimmick is just being me and being open and honest.

nothing too complicated there.

I will admit that I know the power of nudity and am not afraid to use it at times. but I do wish it wasn't a requirement.

 

[Andreus]

it's not required, but it sure is helpfull

thats the rubb

 

[Swellegant]

I like a bit of each: some style, some content, some substance. I like porn, I like discussion, I like learning about people. And I get all that here! (Come for the food, stay for the pie!) I very seldom have to visit anywhere else.

I hadn't participated on a discussion board for a long time before I started here; I used to post a lot on... oh, what was the name of that site... PlanetOut! I'd almost forgotten! It didn't have porn, but it had lots of "news" and personals and some other content I enjoyed. And the discussions kept me pretty busy.

But I found myself getting too wrapped up in arguments, too angry at some people and falling into the folly of not only letting my anger show but also trying to make them as angry as I was. Sometime in the intervening years, I guess I learned a little more patience.

So anyway, what were we talking about? Oh, yeah, staying on message. I think one of the things I like most about JUB is that it doesn't have a message... it has lots of facets and lots of agendas and lots of different kinds of content. Being focused on one thing or one area of things gets a little dull after a while; but here I can choose between serious discussions or post-whore meaninglessness, between celebrity gossip and pleas for advice, between discussions of foreskins and dick size or of politics and philosophy.

Now I'm going to start singing the opening number of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum... but I'll do it somewhere else so you don't have to listen.

 

[Andreus]

yay

Robert Marlene posted in a thread I started !!

well

i wish I wouldn't get angry and I actually am alot easier going than it often appears online...

I dont know why

while i'm equally as opinionated in person, I think that much of my social skills rely on face to face interactions. Much of my online writing experience has been teaching myself how to emote my feelings behind my words. Often my use of the english language can be technically astute, but emotionally clumsy and heavy.

In regards to the variety of sites....

yeah

JUb has a tremendous draw because it doesnt limit itself. Often it would seem there are those who would liek to limit it in ways, but luckily the site owners remain true to their vision of inclusiveness.

I think I can't do that in a blog setting, the site type that I have chosen to engage in. Mykahil.com, my ex's site, has offered to build me a better site, but I dont know what direction I want to go in.

I dont think I have the patience for a message board system.

so i dont know.

my site is drawing the attention of the muslim community right now, and I know that i need to expand and diversify somehow. the use of imagery is really a complicated issue in that community, so i need to consider alot of other options first.

just rambling at this point...lol

 

[ahotjock71]

Gay men are S-H-A-L-L-O-W. Don't know why, or how, but I have known a great many in my life & that's just the way it iz.

"Gotta Have A Gimmick" from GYPSY

Mazeppa
You can pull all the stops out
Till they call the cops out
Grind your behind till you're bend.
But you gotta get a gimmick
If you wanna get a hand.
You can sacrifice your sacharo
Working in the back row.
Bump in a dump till you're dead.
Kid you gotta have a gimmick
If you wanna get ahead.
You can uh...You can uh...
You can uh...uh...uh...
That's how Burlesque was born.
So I uh...and I uh...
And I uh...uh...uh...
But I do it with a horn...
Once I was a Schleppa,
Now I'm Miss Mazzeppa,
With my revolution in dance.
You gotta have a gimmick
If you wanna have a chance!

Electra
She can uh... She can uh...
She can uh...uh...uh...
They'll never make her pitch.
Me, I uh... and I uh...
And I uh...uh...uh...
But I do it with a switch.
I'm electrifying
And I ain't even trying.
I never had to sweat to get paid
'Cause if you got a gimmick
Gypsy girl, you got it made.

Tessie Tura
All them uh and then uh...
And that uh...uh...uh...
Ain't gonna spell success.
Me, I uh... and I uh...
And I uh...uh...uh...
But I do it with finesse.
Lady Tura is so much more then purer
Than all them other ladies because-
You gotta get a gimmick
If you wanna get applause.

ALL
Do something special
Anything special
And you'll get better because
Come on and just do mimic
When you gotta gimmick
Take a look how different we are!

Electra
If you wanna make it,
Twinkle while you shake it.

Tura
If you wanna grind it,
Wait till you refined it.

Mazeppa
If you wanna stump it,
Bump it with a trumpet!

ALL
Get yourself a gimmick and you too,
Can be a star!

 

[mexamor]

I would have to say all three.

 

[Andreus]

I have a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in International Studies and Human Rights, the education and health of children, women's empowerment in the third world, the environment and such are v. important to me.

But I also like to buy clothes from over seas that other people don't wear. I know what looks good and I'm a sucker for aesthetics.

I like a man that's attractive, but can make me laugh and comment intellectually on current events or at least argue intelligently on an issue we disagree on without resorting to name calling or simple slurs.

So all three

my site is really just content...

there are no pictures loaded at this time.

I have posted pix of myself there, but i usually only leave them for a day. I am far too shy to put my naked body out there that often...lol

ummm... its a simple blogspace for now as the new stuff is being considered, and while comments are welcome, hostility is always dumped in the can. I absolutely agree that there has to be a friendly exchange of ideas to really enjoy a site...

right now i'm focusing on trying to get the blog entries and the comments left to read in thread form instead of as alternate comments.

as for the fashion stuff...lol

not my forte and never will be

BTW... anyone can reach my site by clicking on my eyes siggy in any of my posts

had a few PM's asking about that

 

[Andreus]

I would have to say all three.

but is nudity a requirement?