SameSame but totally different......

[mjm078]

So I have been meandering through these forums for about 6 months or so now.......

The thing I have found totally fascinating about the same same space is even though the majority and I probably presume more than 90% of us on here are homo's or visiting from the isle of lesbos......the one common thread....

I doubt very much that we would engage in conversation at a pub or anywhere in the real world....my thought is that if i was to approach someone like jackie87 or pinkboisyd(only used as an example) in the real world they would just think i was someone trying it on......not looking for interesting conversation and to make new friends yet we can engage in that same conversation over a forum on a website and think nothing of it....

Why is it so? Why do we find comfort behind a profile on a website...is it because our reactions to a topic can be well versed and you can screw your face up without the other party seeing it?

Thoughts people?

[Tim D]

Interesting post, but I'd challenge it.

I reckon if you approached someone in a club cold (ie. without ever meeting them before), given the surroundings there would probably be a sexual or some sort of overtone around it. Hey, that's what you get for going to gay clubs.

But I think once you've "met" someone through a site like Same Same, and already established a common interest, then it would be a bit different.

And I reckon we should put this theory to the test with a Same Same Meet Up, a get together for people here on the forums (both posters and lurkers). This will put that to the test, eh? I'll name the time and place and the meet up is on!

[robbie]

it's presumed people hitting the disco are there to either meet new people, pick up, get drunk, dance away or a combination of all of them. While I love intellectual conversation, I don't think I'll be sitting upstairs at Stonewall talking to a random stranger about gay adoption, the demise of Oxford Street or ACON's effectiveness. They're dinner party discussion topics once you get past the initial introductory friendship phase.

[jackie87]

I would debate it because I have come to the stage when I find out another guy is trying to talk me up or just wanting to have a conversation, but on the other hand I am very introverted in public and rarely talk to people in pubs just randomly.

[Zakalwe]

And I reckon we should put this theory to the test with a Same Same Meet Up, a get together for people here on the forums (both posters and lurkers). This will put that to the test, eh? I'll name the time and place and the meet up is on!
I like Robie's idea. Make it a SameSame dinner party. ;) Better make it a large round table! :D

[pinkyboisyd]

Hey i disagree I would talk your head off - what you see is what you get -

Alot of my friend's i know from either me randomly talking to them or them talking to me....

Hell i went up to my bestie (hes not now due to a fight long story) and took his drink out of his hand, drank it, and said "thanks i'll have another one" and we got chatting from then on.

[taylor-dayne]

a club is a sexual place - people tend to pick each other up... but i've met some lovely friends through my clubbing experiences - it's not always about getting taken home, you know!

the people on same same that are trying to use it to hook up just look like LOSERS to everyone else. it's just embarrassing. like the guy in the melbourne forums who has put his mobile phone number up in a thread saying 'up for a good time!'

HELLO? could you be more tragic? talk about a walking s.t.i.

[alison87]

I'm quite happy to talk about the stuff i do on here with strangers in real life too, but not at a nightclub. It's too loud, i just want to get up and dance, it's just not the right environment. Hanging out at home (which i guess is where most of us are on SS) is the right environment. House parties are always good for random chats. Even bars, to a degree.

I'm really enjoying seeing this site grow :) I just wish there were more chicks and more Melbournites. Seems like most of you are from Sydney and Brissy!

[Brad]

great idea tim

[Tim D]

So let's have some suggestions on what would be a good activity to do?

- drinks at a bar?
- dinner?
- an activity (ie. ice skating or bowling)?
- sunday arvo drinks (so more casual)?
- a house party (ha ha, kidding)?
- give me some suggestions here.

[Aries Fairy]

What about Bingay at the Imperial?

Always wanted to do it but never had the excuse, and we can be social and meet new SameSame people and raise some dosh for charity at the same time. I think it's on tuesday nights so good for most people.

[pinkyboisyd]

How about Barefoot Bowls at a Bowling Club.

A Sporting Activity, A Bar, Outside, BBQ...

Its like the best of all worlds.....well except for a nightclub anyway....

[robbie]

I like the bowling club idea because I live stumbling distance to the Paddington Bowls Club.. :-) Why not some big Same Same gay picnic/BBQ in a lovely park, followed by some group discussions and a few games of cricket or TWISTER! I like twister! :-)

[Zakalwe]

Yes a nice BBQ Picnic day at Centenial Park would be a lovely day's outing.

[taylor-dayne]

same same should run a confessional booth at fair day.

[pinkyboisyd]

confessional booth?

[Tim D]

Oh, some great ideas there. We'll confirm a date tomorrow and let's have a Forum get together, will be fun to meet everyone.

[jackie87]

Shit, sorry I couldn't make it I was out in the country all day
i was meant to be there but so tired from horseriding!

Another suggestion we should do a getaway perhaps horseriding on APEC long weekend

[Thatguy]

Hey mjm078,

Interesting question - and your right - there is something different about chatting online. It is electronically mediated......ok that sounds serious..... let me give you an example.

So - in my parents home there is a family picture framed, it is up on the wall. Recently my folks sent me a digital pic of the family - very similar to the framed family pic. However, what I did was open the email, look at the attachment and then I deleted the email. So - the value that I attached to the electronic version was.....less. So in the electronic world, communication can be fast, or slower - but the value is somehow changed by the medium of the communication.

That being said, I am pretty approachable, and happy to have a chat if you see me out and about. Bridging the digital divide between the online world and the real one can be pretty difficult.

Interesting post!

[Cheetah77]

Yeah, I like the big gay BBQ/Picnic in the park idea. Bingay would be fun Aries, but maybe not so conducive to talking etc. Can you imagine all of the bingays going "Shoosh Queen!" hehe

[Brad]

BBQ /Picnic sounds like a great idea. Also an easy way to introduce other people to same same who may not have heard about it... i.e.those few people who have been living under a rock for the past 6 months or so.. :)

[Meltite]

Too cold for picnics!

[Tim D]

I reckon something mid-week so most people are free and that involves being social if you want, as well as an activity so there's something to do.

So based on all the suggestions above, I think that Bingay at the Imperial would be a real hoot (and we were all just talking about it in the office last week). It's on every Tuesday, so let's pick a date - Tuesday August 7 - and meet there at 8pm.

I'll start up a sticky thread. If you can come along, it would be great to meet other Same Same members and it's always fun to meet new people.

All of the Same Same crew (Christian, Rob, Libby and myself) will be there. This is Sydney only for this one, and we'll be announcing a Melbourne one the first week of September so people can meet up in the real world as well.

[Tim D]

Ok all of the details are here:

http://www.samesame.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=5179

Let's do it!