also
by Robert J. Lewis:
1-800-Philosophy
The Eclectic Switch
Philosophical
Time
What
is Beauty?
In Defense of Heidegger
Hijackers,
Hookers and Paradise Now
Death
Wish 7 Billion
My
Gypsy Wife Tonight
On
the Origins of Love & Hate
Divine
Right and the Unrevolted Masses
Cycle
Hype or Genotype
The
Genocide Gene
COMMENTS
user-submission@feedback.com
Thank you very much for reaching out but the situaion isn't
nearly as bleak as you suggest. In the larger cities there
are gay communities that are thriving where gays are able
to live their lives on their own terms. There are resorts
almost everywhere in the world that cater to gays. Gay parades
are very affirming and supported by the larger community.
Within gay communities gays are comfortable in their skins.
Your article is not balanced at all because of the photo you
chose to emphasize as emblematic which it isn't.
user-submission@feedback.com
Wrong. Not all gays are not self-hating; many are very comfortable
being who they are and we might not recognize them when we
meet them because of that. If you are trying to be helpful
you are not in any way but only to yourself.
user-submission@feedback.com
I had to take a deep breath after reading this.
user-submission@feedback.com
I cannot see the photograph clearly enough; not as clearly
as a written description of it explained so that is disappointing.
I wonder if the commenter who said that the killer in the
Orlando massacre was disgusted by the sight of 2 homosexual
men kissing and so the commenter makes the comment that while
he condemns the massacre in Orlando, this Maplethorpe photo,
likewise, "disgusts" him. I am wondering if "makes
me feel very uncomfortable" might be a more accurate
description of the initial feeling of repulsion? Also many
have made the guess (or observation that the Orlando killer
might have been somewhat intrigued by exploring his own erotic
feelings towards other men? In my opinion it would seem best
to look at this photo without bringing into it the Orlamdo
event. But rather juat to look at the photo on it's own merits
and maybe to try to understand more about the artist who created
it/or took the photo. Also, perhaps the cultural & historical
time of the "art scene" in NY at that time. Obviously
being "disgusted" is no excise to massacre 49 people
with an assault weapon and most people do know there are all
sorts of inequities in the world and among different cultures.
Art has always depicted this. Right now I am thinking about
all the betrayal & abuse of children in the Catholic Church.
Also another commenter mentioned the drinking of urine to
have (& still is by some) considered medicinal.
I had a friend (who was really into health, nutrition and
alternative "therapies") who wrote me a very funny
letter about how she was getting her body so cleansed that
she was dry king her own urine (it apparently, along with
her digestive system) had become so purified that it was working
out pretty well for her; she wrote her letter in a very funny
way that I could not tell whether she was serious or making
the whole thing up. . . so we all bring different life experiences
& views to the art we view and I don't think it's quite
wise to make the perpetrator of that massacre in Orlamdo some
sort of an acknowledged art critic about what's disgusting
or acceptable. To each his own. I've been amazed I could find
this much on line regarding the controversial photos of Mr.Maplethorpe.
I don't think two men kissing is "disgusting," and
if it or this photo bothers anyone then they don't have to
look at it.
user-submission@feedback.com
I am a man of a faith that condemns homosexuality, but not
hate as this article shows and I condemn the horrible hate
crime that took place in Orlando but the killer was disgusted
by two homosexuals kissing in public and the photo you use
in your article disgusts in the same way.
Frammer
That "normal" people are repulsed by the idea of
Urophagia does mean that our repulsion is an adequate guage
of a thing.Urophagia is often related to S&M -- something
we may very well be born with like homosexuality.
From the Internet: Can you make these desires go awayl Some
S/M people yearn for a more mundane sexual lifestyle and wish
to change their sexual orientation. Unfortunately, sexual
orientation is either impossible or very difficult to
change, as studies of people attempting to change homosexual
orientation indicate. It is important to point out that you
can help individuals add new behaviors to their sexual pattern.
Thus, you can help an S/M practitioner eroticize non-S/M behaviors,
but attempts to uneroticize S/M behavior is rarely, if ever,
lasting or successful. There is also an ethical question of
whether this is appropriate or not.
SUMMARY
While there is a paucity of data concerning the psychological
problems of S/M practitioners, some preliminary data has been
presented. S/M practitioners have not been shown to have
any particular psychiatric problems or even any unique
problems associated with their activities that interfere with
daily functioning. There is no scientific basis to deny S/M
practitioners child custody, adoption opportunities, any job,
security clearances, or any other right or privilege in this
society.
Urophagia (wikipedia) is the consumption of urine. There
are various reasons that humans may consume urine. Urine was
used in several ancient cultures for various health, healing,
and cosmetic purposes, practices which are still used by some
people of these cultures today. In Western culture, these
practices are known as urine therapy, a form of alternative
medicine.
Other reasons for urophagia include attempting survival,
if no other potable fluid is available, though numerous credible
sources (including the US Army Field Manual) advise against
it. Also, some people consume urine as a sexual activity,
and members of at least one culture consume urine for ceremonial
purposes.
From the more ecstatic standpoint of the impassioned lover,
eager to magnify the charm of the woman he worships, it is
not impossible for the excretory centers to take on some charm
from the irradiating center of sex which they enclose. No
mention of hate or self-hate.
unsigned
Why not a photo of "Jim and Tom" fishing? From what
smug biases did you pick and choose?
unsigned
The photo is sick. The defending it even sicker -- both pointing
the way to a society gone to hell.
bear408@aol.com
I was online looking for gay erotic art when I found "Jim
and Tom;" and while I appreciate the commentary, I am
transfixed by these two men. I just wish I could find a copy
and look at it all day.
user-submission@feedback.com
Good try but I can't buy into your argument. Something is
very wrong there that does not belong in the natural world.
But no human being has the right to decide that someone is
a lesser human being, let's be clear about this.
user-submission@feedback.com
I met Jim when I lived in San Francisco. 1993 I think, only
a few times. He told me Robert
gave him some proofs of it.
Like most who were into these experiences as you call them,
you would never guess Jim's occupation, not that I would ever
give it up. What was remarkable about Jim was he was still
alive. What usurped, self-hatred in the Gay community was
AIDS.
Anyhow "Piss Christ", Jesus crucified in a jar of
urine. I think that was the late 80s.
Some people are just moved by urine. So?
user-submission@feedback.com
LISTEN. THE IMAGE IS BIZARRE, AMUSING, INTERESTING, AND FLAT
OUT A SHOCK TO THE EYE. DON'T YOU THINK IT WAS A SHOCK TO
SEE LIVE? THE EXCITEMENT THAT A PHOTOGRAPHER WOULD GET TO
SEE SUCH AN ACT UNFOLDING. PERFECT PHOTO OPP FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER
THAT'S ALREADY PUSHING THE LIMITS. THE MAN LOVES FREAKSHOW
AND SHOCK. YOU NEEDN'T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT AS TO WHAT HE
MEANT, AS ALL THESE THINGS ARE ONLY WHAT YOU THINK WHILE LOOKING
AT IT. HE ONLY PRESENTED AN IMAGE OF SHOCK, ALL ELSE CAME
FROM PEOPLE'S REACTIONS. IT'S NO MORE THOUGHTFUL THAN HARDCORE
PUNK, BE GRIDDY, SHOCK AND AWE, CRAZY BIZARRE. YOU'D GET IT
IT IF YOU WERE THERE