tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post7056170950595779906..comments2023-07-15T01:30:35.225-07:00Comments on The Stripping Warrior: Stealing Playgirl, TransparentlyCLARK JOHNSENhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893018646857280001noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-43943379070494480802009-04-08T09:50:00.000-07:002009-04-08T09:50:00.000-07:00Stella-- that reminds me of extremist muslims who ...Stella-- that reminds me of extremist muslims who get turned on because they see a woman's hair or ankle and then BLAME THE WOMAN for causing them to have sexual thoughts!! Its just such a ridiculous notion that a woman dressing a certain way is porn to someone.. or even more that she should be held accountable for some guys righteous boner. That is SO STUPID! I'll never get why men feel entitled to justify so many of their behaviors while women take the blame for it. I'm at a lossCLARK JOHNSENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02893018646857280001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-85490474680742210562009-03-29T14:48:00.000-07:002009-03-29T14:48:00.000-07:00It is so true, about the need to accept those who ...It is so true, about the need to accept those who decide to stay and those who decide to leave. I am still on the fence about it. The church brought me so many good things, wonderful things. But the church also presented heartbreaking things to me as well. I have many friends in and many friends out. Some of my friends who have left are bitter and angry.<BR/><BR/>I become angry to a point,, but it's not fierce anger, it's a type of "are you kidding me?" and I have a desire to stay in the church just so young girls can have a clear example of a strong feminist woman who loves god but doesn't believe the end all and be all of life is to be "presided" over by a male and have lots and lots of babies. <BR/><BR/>But, moving on to porn<BR/><BR/>Here is something I find slightly disturbing about the porn issue. A quote from the 2005 conference by Elder Oaks. He said<BR/><BR/>“And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you.” <BR/><BR/>Now, this is simply wrong. This is teaching young girls that if they dress a certain way then THEY themselves ARE pornography?!! Um wtf!!<BR/><BR/>That is crazy and wrong to teach that to young girls. i think each person is responsible for whatever they do in life, and that women shouldn't be held responsible for making a men think thoughts or do things that the church sees as wrong.<BR/><BR/>Just a sidenote.Stellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05630323371719995793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-3233737386344401482009-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:002009-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:00Whoops, that is the Owner of the book store could ...Whoops, that is the Owner of the book store could likely see right through me. She was still always friendly with me, though.2Mod4Uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647056905902155064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-88754032578829600462009-03-23T09:47:00.000-07:002009-03-23T09:47:00.000-07:00That is funny! What is more is that speaks to my ...That is funny! What is more is that speaks to my soul...I never stole porn...I made excuses when I wanted to buy it from previous manager, this middle aged mom that owned the local book store. I told her that it was a gag gift for a friend's birthday...I saw right through me, too.<BR/><BR/>I don't think she ever told my friend Elaine, that worked for her for years, to my relief.<BR/><BR/>I'm just recently coming out...I really perspectives.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing them.2Mod4Uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647056905902155064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-23045062060470476242009-03-21T15:41:00.000-07:002009-03-21T15:41:00.000-07:00Bravone-- Well I am so glad to have your post, and...Bravone-- Well I am so glad to have your post, and your transparency as well! If I had lived by that land fill I would have been LIVING in it waiting for playgirls to show up. It certainly would have been less guilt inducing than having to deal the the guilt of breaking one of the ten commandments!<BR/><BR/>As for your comment about your ex-mormon friend.. a lot of gay people and others who left the church find it nearly impossible to reconcile why anyone who is self-actualized would remain in the church. I just disagree with that whole idea. I am thrilled when people outside of the box decide to stay for whatever reason, because I know it helps so much for the collective consciousness of the church to become more enlightened. Young people growing up there will benefit from your openness and self acceptance, and that is a rare gift in my opinion. The only thing that concerns me is when I see people staying in the church out of fear. The church teaches this all the time: fear is the opposite of faith. So if someone if just staying because they are afraid of the wrath of God, the judgement of peers, or simply afraid of the unknown, I think that can definitely hold a person back. BUT people are complex and have so many reasons why they do what they do. I for one applaud your conviction and strength. You need to do what truly makes you understand that you are whole, wonderful, and beloved. That's just my opinion, but I definitely have developed it "through deepening trials". Please keep in touch!CLARK JOHNSENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02893018646857280001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-45030383427036712702009-03-21T03:58:00.000-07:002009-03-21T03:58:00.000-07:00Clark, I don't think I have ever commented on your...Clark, I don't think I have ever commented on your blog. I first met you on You Tube More Men Like Me. This was about seven months ago. I was so impressed with your sincerity and the way you articulated your feelings about God, sexuality and the church. You were not offensive or condescending to those who still want to stay within the church in spite of their homosexuality. <BR/><BR/>I have a good friend who left the church and lives with his partner in CA. I think you might even know him. Every time I talk with him, he puts down the church and tries to convince me to leave. I respect him for living how he feels is best for him. I know he doesn't respect my decision, but I wish he would respect ME for living my life the way I feel I need to. Thank you for your approach. I think that if more who cannot reconcile participating in the church with living true to their gay nature were as thoughtful as you are, many of the stereotypes and prejudices from church members would greatly dissipate. <BR/><BR/>Now for my transparency. I lived within 1/2 mile of the county landfill. My friends and I would walk, ride bikes or horses to get there often to go exploring. We always found porn, always. One day we were particularly blessed to find "the mother load!" We filled a gunnysack full of them and stashed them in an old abandoned house on our farm. <BR/><BR/>As we went through them, although I didn't understand at the time why, my "cocktail" was particularly motivated by the few male images in the magazines. In the middle of the stack, we found a Playgirl. I was totally excited, in many ways, but acted disgusted like all my friends. One friend ripped it from the pile and threw it into the field.<BR/><BR/>Later that day, I retrieved it and slipped it back into the stash. A few days later, two friends thought it was their turn to have the mother load nearer their homes, so we hid it in the willows by the river down the road. We would spend hours pouring through them. One day the friend who threw the Playgirl away found it again in the stack and declared,"how the hell did this end up back in here?" I cleverly explained that the man who owned the magazines must have stuck a few in there for his wife to enjoy:) For better or worse, I distinctly remember every detail of the centerfold's beautiful,long,lean,tanned body. <BR/><BR/>I wonder why it took me 45 years to realize and admit to myself that I am gay when my young preteen body knew so many years ago?Bravonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02762204502534599107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-21946001960380602532009-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:00I was going to leave a comment about your confessi...I was going to leave a comment about your confessional, but I'm too busy laughing at your friend's Heart of Darkness comment.Kerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15653859211553197550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-25220217978051305842009-03-13T15:30:00.000-07:002009-03-13T15:30:00.000-07:00Thank you all so much for the responses! I am rea...Thank you all so much for the responses! I am really glad that we basically all went through a version of the same story. I told my brother who burned that infamous playgirl that I blogged about it, and my brother Stuart said that what made him look for more juicy porn was my stack of international male catalogs and exercise mags. He said "hmmm where would I keep porn?" and under my mattress was the first place he looked. Isn't it so incredible the process of growing up and blossoming sexually? What were we all so afraid of?? Amazing. Thanks again for all the comments!!! They are so fun for me to read!<BR/><BR/>HEART OF DARKNESS! Scott, that is brilliant! I'm glad your teacher thought so too.. i think you should have gotten extra credit for thinking of that and being brave enough to say it!!CLARK JOHNSENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02893018646857280001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-4609003918050353822009-03-13T15:05:00.000-07:002009-03-13T15:05:00.000-07:00(I ought to perhaps add that I did do the hunky gu...(I ought to perhaps add that I <I>did</I> do the hunky guy magazine thing too, though I was more like Beck in that it was the milder fitness mags that drew my eye. But it was the <I>Heart of Darkness</I> reference that really brought back the memories and made me laugh out loud)Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15332275934258698026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-69806771057059193952009-03-13T13:46:00.000-07:002009-03-13T13:46:00.000-07:00This post has significant resonance with my adoles...This post has significant resonance with my adolescent years. It wasn't Playgirl, but just the male fitness magazines from the grocery store where I worked as a naive 16 year old... They started with a few being left around the back breakroom. Oh the memories are flooding back of that time.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the lessons of transparency. I'm still learning those transparency lessons that I should have learned decades ago.Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159223254071653666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-42814518530920433972009-03-13T13:33:00.000-07:002009-03-13T13:33:00.000-07:00I had to comment..."I may have been a professional...I <I>had</I> to comment...<BR/><BR/><I>"I may have been a professional bullshitter in English class writing about the theme of Heart of Darkness..."</I><BR/><BR/>AP English, 12th grade, a quiz on the section of <I>The Heart of Darkness</I> that we had (or were supposed to have) just finished reading:<BR/><BR/>Q: Why did Marlow throw his shoes overboard?<BR/><BR/>(correct answer: his helmsman had been pierced with a spear and bled all over his feet)<BR/><BR/>My answer: They had gone out of style.<BR/><BR/>Teacher's response? (after the laughter of the class had died down): Full credit for creativity! :)<BR/><BR/>Here's to bullshitting about <I>The Heart of Darkness</I>!Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15332275934258698026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-90580049939163774652009-03-13T07:48:00.000-07:002009-03-13T07:48:00.000-07:00Wonderful post... my first gay porn was a sheet fr...Wonderful post... my first gay porn was a sheet from a magazine that I found in a public bathroom, but that was my only print porn--I remember that after "enjoying" the picture for a couple of days whilst being simultaneously wracked with guilt, I flushed it down the toilet.<BR/><BR/>Thank goodness it didn't clog--I'd have fun explaining it to the plummer/my mother.<BR/><BR/>Also, that photo of you is super sexy! You look amazing!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for being transparent with us.Ezrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18249055675517672157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-20702360770971718492009-03-13T06:23:00.000-07:002009-03-13T06:23:00.000-07:00That was a delight to read.To this day my mom beli...That was a delight to read.<BR/><BR/>To this day my mom believes that looking at gay porn made me gay, and it is her fault for allowing a computer in my room against the proptings of the Spirit. Maybe your mom shouldn't have let you go to the mall. You might be straight today if not for playgirl!Daniel (Old Account)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09853938564287982268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-40349598322555071422009-03-13T06:22:00.000-07:002009-03-13T06:22:00.000-07:00Great great post! Reading it was like watching a m...Great great post! <BR/><BR/>Reading it was like watching a movie and then the shock/confrontation my reaction from laughter to the Oh Crap! I know the gut reaching feeling you get when, at that age, you think you have been caught out :-pAusmohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806587281832427910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138426962668120308.post-42226855865040035052009-03-13T03:12:00.000-07:002009-03-13T03:12:00.000-07:00Oh my gosh... I almost peed myself a couple of tim...Oh my gosh... I almost peed myself a couple of times reading that! This was not mediocre. Haha I'm glad that I'm not the only one to steal pages from magazines. Too funny. Oh and congrats on going thru the repentance process with us, I was worried till that point :)Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06708080322855993973noreply@blogger.com