I had precisely one close friend (my closest straight male friend - known him for almost 30 years now) go through a period of about 18 months where he had to re-evaluate every conversation we'd ever had to parse it for hidden come-ons from me.

(No. I never even ONCE thought about it. He's a nice, smart, goodlooking guy - and just no. Ew.)

I was very angry while he did this; we didn't speak. However, it was his meltdown, not mine, so it was his to fix, not my responsibility.

Eventually, he went, "Screw that. Duh." and has been my best straight male friend to this day.

But, in my experience, most straight guys at least run that internal gauntlet for a few seconds/minutes every time a closeted gay guy comes out around them.

"Dude, was he hitting on me when he said my guns were big?"

Gah. This culture. I swear.

I must be the odd one. I had a great time dating for years and really had no plans to stop doing it. Then Kristin came along. She is just way too much of a partner in crime along with being dead sexy and everything else I could ask for, hence the staying with her and now getting married.

I haven't had a date in ages but it's not like I'm going to start now. "Hi, I'm unemployed! Wanna go for coffee?"

ND, but you are way more self-confident than ... well, me and practically anyone I know. Self-confidence is a prerequisite to enjoying dating.

Laga, unemployed wouldn't put you out of my dating pool. It's a temporary situation, out of your hands - hardly a defining characteristic. Once upon a better time, a person who didn't have a job might have been iffy, but these days? Not so much.

I just recently found out that a good friend of mine back in high school is gay, always has been. Interesting, but it didn't really strike me as a big deal. Wouldn't have guessed it, but it wasn't all that surprising either.

Interesting, but it didn't really strike me as a big deal.

Ideal reaction. Thanks. :)

For me singledom was mostly heartbreak and rejection with very little sex, while relationship=happiness and lots of sex. I never want to date again. Ever.

She is just way too much of a partner in crime along with being dead sexy and everything else I could ask for, hence the staying with her and now getting married.

Well, duh.

I haven't had a date in ages but it's not like I'm going to start now. "Hi, I'm unemployed! Wanna go for coffee?"

I would think that this is the perfect time for other people to buy you coffee.

Apparently at least some people from High School assume I'm gay. Facebook has been interesting.

re-evaluate every conversation we'd ever had to parse it for hidden come-ons from me.

I still treasure on HS friend's coming out story. Another friend--straight male--was visiting him in college. Gay friend says, oh by the way, I only have the one bed, you can share it with me or sleep on the floor. Friend opts to share. Well in that case I should probably tell you I'm gay, just in case that makes you change your mind.