Question for the Reader
“That’s Steve. We met in a self-defence class. The way it happened was kinda funny. We got assigned as partners for some wrestling style moves, and I ended up on top of him. Then I noticed he was getting an erection! So I jumped off, he apologized profusely, and I told him not to worry about it, stuff happens. “
“So after the class was over, he came to me, and thanked me for not making a big deal of what had happened, and he asked if I wanted to go for coffee!”
“I thought about it, decided he was kinda cute, and agreed. I’m really glad I did.”
Question for the reader: Does your opinion of this event change if you found out that the speaker was male?
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This story is 134 words long.
Comments
No, it doesn't.
No, it doesn't.
My answer
I have to admit I would interpret it differently, and I hate my own bigotry!
It is such an innocuous situation, and there was no harm intended, and yet ...
that was where I was going with this one
we think we're okay, then we trip over our own assumptions.
Super big huggles for being brave enough to say so publicly
No, why should it?
No, why should it?
I already assumed they were male
It probably says something about me that I simply assumed that the speaker was male.
I can't say it makes much of a difference. A lot would depend upon where the story went from here.
BTW, is there a reason why this is posted twice?
interesting, Asche!
I wondered if anybody would simply assume they were male.
i did as well
I mean, they were wrestling... i pictured them in those tight spandex wrestling outfits. (i think i missed the self-defence class comment)
Now I understand...
In responding to Valentine's comment (below), I realized why I assumed the speaker was male: I've take a little Tae Kwon Doh, and I always saw men being paired with men and women with women. I think I simply assumed that two people sparring with one another would be the same sex.
Nope,
Where it typically goes on this site is one of them is transgendered though.
But being Gay is OK too, it is how we treat each other that counts.
Cant see a problem
It seems that nobody was unduly offended and from the text, it would actually made little difference. The issues were resolved amicably irrespective of the gender of the narrator.
No, I don't see a problem.
no
love is love
nope
I was thinking the speaker was a male when I started reading. So I was surprised with your question.
Jeri
Jeri Elaine
Homonyms, synonyms, heterographs, contractions, slang, colloquialisms, clichés, spoonerisms, and plain old misspellings are the bane of writers, but the art and magic of the story is in the telling not in the spelling.
Reaction is contexual
Taking this conversation out of context gives it a mystery and can elisit many responses. When I was asked the question many feelings came to mind. Surprise was the first putting a coming out of the closet spin on the statement. Happy was the second as a well known friend has found a person they may like or love. Then came curiosity wanting to ask what happened that made him so glad he did. Then jealousy that a friend has found someone that can make them happy. I can also explore other feelings but they would not be mine, so I will not go there. This was a good spark for exploring ones feelings. Thanks Dorothy.
I thought it was simply a
I thought it was simply a funny moment that they would share a laugh about and make the best of it one way or another. Finding out the narrator is a male changes nothing, it just makes it a little more of an "aww" moment.
I'm told STFU more times in a day than most people get told in a lifetime
No.
Why should my opinion of the situation/scene change?
No.
I thought it was a female at first, but even if the other were male, I don't see a problem.
Joanna
I am no one to pass judgement
I am no one to pass judgement. on any one but it sounds as if it could be a good start on a novel.
Yes it does, I can't imagine
Yes it does, I can't imagine two guys in a self-defense class.
Seriously, no.
Huh? Men can't/don't take self-defense classes?
That's funny, because, having been in a martial arts class, I kind of assumed that a man would be paired with a man, not a woman. It might be different in self-defense classes, though, I've never taken one. (I probably should, I suppose.)
I don't know why you'd assume that men wouldn't be taking a self-defense class. Don't men need to be able to defend themselves?
In the 14 years of martial arts
I've pair with kids and women (this when I was male). It does no good for a woman to train against other woman only, as the odds are the person she will be fighting for her life with will be male.
Of course, my style was about survival.
NO!
Not in the slightest
Question for the Reader
I too thought it was a male in the situation. Perhaps we see what we are prepared to see - in this site we are prepared to see males finding the feminine; in another - say Stories on Line - we might be prepared for the opposite. Context does set at least some expectation.
That is what I assumed from the beginning
Which is a bit strange to me, since I'm as hetero as one can ever be... Probably it is the fact that the story is told on BC. Plus the tolerance to the sexually different people that such a place teaches.
Of course, it does!
What's not written in any piece of prose cannot but influence the reader once it's disclosed. It's called "word pictures" and if the picture has only part of the detail, it matters.
In this case, the story that would follow if he/she were male/female would be different; it has to be. It's nothing to do with it "not mattering if" ...... the story would be different... so, yes, my opinion would change about what will happen next.
PS......
I'm not saying I'd have a problem.. at all.... (with either) but we were asked if our opinion would change, not if we'd have a problem...... I'd have no problem is what I meant... but it would change my opinion :)
Hmmmmm, not really
No, it doesn't matter to me.
Since you don't give any descriptions of the two people, the reader (me) will make assumptions as to what they look like, etc.
If the speaker is male, then I would assume two possibilities for the story.
1- They could both be 'gay' or just become friends; or 2- One or both of them could be bi, a cross dresser, TS, or TG. Or 3- There are other options as well,
If the speaker is female, then I would assume two possibilities for the story,
1- It could be a 'hetero' love story, or she could be TS, or TG, or 2- she might like to dress men up or be attracted men who are more feminine, TS or TG; or 3- something altogether different than I would assume, in which case I would be surprised. lol
Like Wendy Jean, I also took martial arts training for many years. I often sparred against males and females since all of my classes were co-ed.
In any case, I would definitely read it and at least see if I liked the story and the way it progressed. I have read several of your stories and liked them very much. I hope this helps. :)
Hugs,
Erin of Wis <3
Reading The Comments, etc.
I reread it several times.
>> he apologized profusely, <<
I think saying this make more sense if they are girl and boy or if Steve is bi or gay. I don't think 2 het guys would talk about it (pretend it never happened) or would only talk about it in private, with Steve swearing he wasn't gay.
Finding out they were two males, I thought they were lucky to both be bi or gay. Most probably they'd be some other combination.
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee
I though they were both male.
I though they were both male. But I assumed only one was gay. Totally understandable reactions.
Cefin
ok ok
It is ok. It does not matter whether the speaker is male or female. He thought the other guy is cute. Some attraction there I think :) . I just hope thing get along ok.
Surprised
At myself, a little, since my opinion of the actual event didn't change. I suppose I just saw it as two people getting over a moment's embarrassment. I may be getting used to such plot twists, reading so much on here.
Teri Ann
"Reach for the sun."
The short
Yes
If I were closed minded, and
If I were closed minded, and bigoted, yes. But since I seem to be part of the group at BC, no, not at all. It's interesting that he reacted to you though. Hey, have fun, and enjoy the new friendship.
Karen
The real question is
The real question is, why was Steve not wearing a cup (to protect genitals from impact) in a self-defense course? In a self-defense course, the male genitals are just one more target.
With the variety of stuff I read on BCTS and elsewhere (including main-stream science fiction and fantasy), who or what the speaker was, would not change my opinion much. I'd just go on to enjoy the story.
If the speaker was an in-person friend, I might feel they are (partially) 'coming out' to me as whomever they are, and I would cherish and protect that trust, and go home with a warm glow.
No. I cannot see the gender
No. I cannot see the gender making any difference.
https://mewswithaview.wordpress.com/
Not for me.
Love and friendship are all that matters.
Glenda Ericsson
DK
I have to admit that I don't know. My visceral instincts change at random.
-- Daphne Xu
I originally assumed that the narrator was a pre-op trans woman
If up to you if you want to think of her as a male since in the biological sense, she will always have a Y chromosome. But no it wouldn't change a thing for me. I tried being a gay man before I finally realized I was a trans woman who liked men.