balor (8/7/2007)

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And yes, labelling can be a bit general and not adequetly cover some situations. However, the existing labels of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual are good enough for most definitions. Its only wierdoes like Ian who need special words to define them

  I'm unconvinced, mainly because along with openly non-monogamous people, gay/ lesbian/ bisexual also leaves out transgendered people.  This isn't precisely the same issue as sexual orientation (because someone can be transgendered and still identify as straight), but it's a heavily overlapping one (because 'straight' for a transgendered person isn't as simple as 'straight' for a non-transgendered person), so I think it's generally a good thing to link the two issues.  This is why I like the word 'queer'- if you try to separately list every alternative to being conventionally straight, then you'll wind up with a long list and then there will still be people who feel left out.  'Queer', by contrast, is implicitly inclusive and fast to say.

  Would that actually be useful, though?  Can't we already discuss topics like this in the General Larp forum? 

  I don't want to assume responsibility for saying what Will originally meant- but it seems to me that some queer larpers might want to post in a forum filled with other queer larpers for reasons that go beyond just finding dates.  I gave one example in my previous post- hypothetically, perhaps people might like to rant about homophobia just to blow off steam and get other people who have experienced homophobia to nod sympathetically, rather than responding with "but larp isn't USUALLY homophobic" (which can be completely true and yet still not a very helpful response to the post).

  I have no idea how many queer larpers would want to post in a forum specifically for queer larpers- possibly none, in which case this is all a moot point.  But I can see there hypothetically being demand for such a forum that wouldn't be filled by a 'let's have an abstract discussion of orientation issues in larp' forum.

My point about the labels also included transgendered and all the other labels that exist... I just couldn't be arsed to type them all out. Ian's point was about the labels themselves being unhelpful as they lead to generalisations and bad stereotypes. For example 'You are lesbian, therefore you wear dungarees and are a vehement feminist'. My point was that the labels are what the majority understand and to not use the label disenfranchises the majority because they do not understand what you mean by that term.

I think the main reason for having a forum specifically for matters of a sexual nature would mean that those who were not interested discussions that revolve around sex could avoid that forum altogether. yes, we could discuss them in the general boards but having a seperate forum allows those who want to avoid it to do so as well as being generally tidier.

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The Whispering God is your friend... trust the Whispering God...

Ruins of Empire

1st - 3rd Feb, 2008, Gladstone scout centre, Chester

nesciomancer (8/7/2007)

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balor (8/7/2007)

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And yes, labelling can be a bit general and not adequetly cover some situations. However, the existing labels of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual are good enough for most definitions. Its only wierdoes like Ian who need special words to define them

  I'm unconvinced, mainly because along with openly non-monogamous people, gay/ lesbian/ bisexual also leaves out transgendered people.  .

Actually the favoured acronym is LGBT(T for transgendered) and most support groups and forums use that definition.

  Another reason why 'queer' is a great word.  Learn it once, get everyone around you to accept it, and then you can fake sensitivity without ever having to learn anything ever again 

  But you could make that argument for anything at all larp-related.  If there were always tons of sexuality-related posts cluttering up General Larp then I might agree with you- as it stands, these are topics that come up there every once in a while and then disappear again.  To me, that suggests that there isn't much demand for an entire subforum dedicated to sexuality issues (unless the 'General Larp' heading makes people shy?)

  Yeah, I'm aware of that- I was responding to the fact that it wasn't used in the post I was quoting.  I can see why it works, but in informal situations (i.e., not support group names) I don't like acronyms.  Pet peeve.

  Sorry, will try not to threadjack the conversation any further.

PS incase people are wondering I am a Polyamorous Bisexual (but relationship monogamous)

PPS if there was an orgy a HT I was obviously too drunk to notice or Ian didn't invite me

"Herding cats? Ease itself compared to wranggling LARPers"