The main thing I learned from this, boring old straight that I am, is that gay people have to pretend to like Madonna in order to get on. There is something profoundly sad about anyone having to listen to Madonna under any circumstances, so I'm glad that you had the guts to move on.
I know it's Pride Month and all, but right this moment I'm feeling happy to be heterosexual. I did have to pretend to like Nirvana for a bit, but that was a long time ago and I came through.
In all seriousness, I liked what you wrote here. Very true to a wide range of circumstances. The fact that you had to write it on Substack only drives it home.
More and more I’m realizing how much of a refuge it’s been. Even when I was writing on Wordpress, I’d be hit with an onslaught of negative comments by people who’d never even bothered to read the entire essay.
Incidentally, someone just informed me I’ve been labeled a “ecofashy transphobe” by a self-described “transhumanist”anarchist of some degree of influence, and someone else tried to start a crusade about my “platforming” of a certain “eco-fascist” named Paul Kingsnorth.
Disappointing to see that they're still calling me an eco-fascist. They've been at that for years. You'd think they might have come up with something a bit more cutting by now.
Is it better to be a transphobe or a transhumanist? Can one be both? And how can an anachist be a transhumanist anyway? The mind boggles. I am very glad to be in my bubble.
A few weeks ago a lesbian friend and I were talking about the fact that 90% of the straight women we know now call themselves queer, absent any outward evidence (like publicly dating women). “Maybe we need to start telling people it’s ok to be straight,” she said.
I've seen this as well. Suddenly people felt the need to apologize for desiring who they desired, which is the exact opposite of the stated goals of "queer" liberation...
God, thank you for this. It’s something I’ve been wrestling with lately, and this post has given me a bit of a kick in the pants to write some things that I need to write.
So important words! Thank you for doing this analysis … it is really useful! And thank you for bringing in - the underlying meaning of “category”. Though I am of Greek origin I know what it meant but never made the connection 🙏🏽🦉
Your authenticity in the face of the pressure to "virtue signal," or whatever else those with social media power are shouting call it, feels like a breath of fresh air. The fact that you have so many opinions that just don't meld together into one camp is one major reason I keep reading your work. Thanks!
The main thing I learned from this, boring old straight that I am, is that gay people have to pretend to like Madonna in order to get on. There is something profoundly sad about anyone having to listen to Madonna under any circumstances, so I'm glad that you had the guts to move on.
I was too young to think I should love Cher and a little too old to believe I should love Celine Dion, so maybe I was a bit fortunate... :)
I know it's Pride Month and all, but right this moment I'm feeling happy to be heterosexual. I did have to pretend to like Nirvana for a bit, but that was a long time ago and I came through.
haha :)
In all seriousness, I liked what you wrote here. Very true to a wide range of circumstances. The fact that you had to write it on Substack only drives it home.
More and more I’m realizing how much of a refuge it’s been. Even when I was writing on Wordpress, I’d be hit with an onslaught of negative comments by people who’d never even bothered to read the entire essay.
Incidentally, someone just informed me I’ve been labeled a “ecofashy transphobe” by a self-described “transhumanist”anarchist of some degree of influence, and someone else tried to start a crusade about my “platforming” of a certain “eco-fascist” named Paul Kingsnorth.
They live in such tiny, tiny little worlds…
Disappointing to see that they're still calling me an eco-fascist. They've been at that for years. You'd think they might have come up with something a bit more cutting by now.
Is it better to be a transphobe or a transhumanist? Can one be both? And how can an anachist be a transhumanist anyway? The mind boggles. I am very glad to be in my bubble.
A few weeks ago a lesbian friend and I were talking about the fact that 90% of the straight women we know now call themselves queer, absent any outward evidence (like publicly dating women). “Maybe we need to start telling people it’s ok to be straight,” she said.
I've seen this as well. Suddenly people felt the need to apologize for desiring who they desired, which is the exact opposite of the stated goals of "queer" liberation...
God, thank you for this. It’s something I’ve been wrestling with lately, and this post has given me a bit of a kick in the pants to write some things that I need to write.
Thank you for the encouragement
So important words! Thank you for doing this analysis … it is really useful! And thank you for bringing in - the underlying meaning of “category”. Though I am of Greek origin I know what it meant but never made the connection 🙏🏽🦉
Thanks!
Your authenticity in the face of the pressure to "virtue signal," or whatever else those with social media power are shouting call it, feels like a breath of fresh air. The fact that you have so many opinions that just don't meld together into one camp is one major reason I keep reading your work. Thanks!
Thanks so much. :)