The truth please about homosexual in portland maine (homes, live)

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by broadbill

What you are talking about is a different of 10% versus 17%....do you really think that a difference of 7% means "predominance"? I don't.

Truthfully, I think you would be hard pressed to be able to detect this 7% difference in the number of gay people between city #1 and city #2....even if 100% of them were engaging in overt, public displays of homosexual activity all at the same time (realistically, they wouldn't be).

The edginess you are picking up on isn't so much about you offending us with your thoughts/views so much is that your particular mindset really goes against the grain of New England/Yankee tradition of "minding your own d*mn business". I may not like what my neighbor does, and they might not like how I live my life, but as long as were not hurting/bothering each other then its all OK.

I think because of this tradition, you may find the East Coast a bit of a culture shock...it ain't Salt Lake!

You said that you were the "live and let live" type of folks but I don't believe it for a second. You really should come out and see how the pros do it

good luck! (I think you are gonna need it)

I have been living in Portland for 2 months and love it. The people are wonderful and the air is clean.

I am also a very conservative guy who is disgusted by homosexuality, but somehow I get along just fine. It may be that the good luck you are wishing the curious poster says more about you than him :-)

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by diablogun

I have been living in Portland for 2 months and love it. The people are wonderful and the air is clean.

I agree!

Originally Posted by diablogun

I am also a very conservative guy who is disgusted by homosexuality, but somehow I get along just fine. It may be that the good luck you are wishing the curious poster says more about you than him :-)

I'm sorry, I don't follow you...?

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by broadbill

I agree!



I'm sorry, I don't follow you...?

What I am telling you is that irrespective of a person's views about the gay community, one can get along just fine in this area. There is no difference in the culture of this area that the poster is going to need "good luck" to deal with.

In other words, your advice reflects on your views, not his prospects IMO :-)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by geographichappiness

Thank you Maineah.
I do sense a little edginess in your reply, I was hoping my question and statement were soft and not condemning, I apologize if I was not successful in that. Again, to each their own.
I simply am asking a question, one that is in keeping with my family values, I beleve that is my right, just as it is the right of the gay population to have their values.
I must disagree with certain aspects of your comment though, I have lived in numerous metropolitan areas including So Cal and must say that I have never seen homosexuals kiss openly and display affection unless there was a gay event or like you say for shock value at night clubs and such.
What I do not like is open display of same sex orientation purely for the pride and promotion of this.
My question stands: if there are 30,000 persons of same sex orientation in a city of 300,000 people that is not significantly felt in all areas of city life, but if there are 10,000 persons in a population of 60,000 it is different. Predominance is felt. I am trying to avoid ANY kind of predominance of one alternative non traditional set of values over another, not only sexual orientation...

Respectfully,
interested person not wanting to offend

I'm not edgy, if I sound that way I'm sorry. I certainly have no affiliation with the gay community of Maine beyond knowing some gay people whom I like very much. I do know people who are very offended by the sight of gay men kissing in public. They are not used to it and the sight literally sickens them to the point of nausea. It can be a problem for some and I'm not saying your point is not legitimate. Tolerance takes time especially in areas which have been traditionally dominated by one sector of the public or another. When I was young the thought of a black man dating a white woman was unheard of. The man would have been run out of town and the woman would have had her reputation tarnished for life. Now interracial marriage and dating is normal and accepted virtually everywhere. Change comes slowly . broadbill put it very well .The question in general offends the "mind your own business" attitude we have around here. We probably look on paper far more tolerant than we actually feel. We really DO live and let live around here and minding one's own business is a big part of that mindset. If something someone does bothers you ignore it and walk away.

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by diablogun

What I am telling you is that irrespective of a person's views about the gay community, one can get along just fine in this area. There is no difference in the culture of this area that the poster is going to need "good luck" to deal with.

In other words, your advice reflects on your views, not his prospects IMO :-)

I gotcha now. My good luck comment was in reference to their so-called philosophy of "live and let live". IMO, they sounded anything but that if something like the concentration of gay folks in a particular area is a strong factor on if they should move there or not.

Also, I think they will have a bit of a culture shock coming to Portland from a place like Salt Lake City. My impression of SLC is that it is quite "vanilla" since the majority of the population there share a common religion, culture, and way-of-living. Maybe I'm wrong (its been know to happen)

So yeah, maybe seeing a gay couple making out on the corner in Old Port might be quite a shock for them, even though it isn't a common sight! Hence the good luck wishes, but I think it would be a good experience for them (eye-opening is always good).

Their post gave me the impression that they don't get out very much

[geographichappiness]

Originally Posted by broadbill

What you are talking about is a different of 10% versus 17%....do you really think that a difference of 7% means "predominance"? I don't.

Truthfully, I think you would be hard pressed to be able to detect this 7% difference in the number of gay people between city #1 and city #2....even if 100% of them were engaging in overt, public displays of homosexual activity all at the same time (realistically, they wouldn't be).

The edginess you are picking up on isn't so much about you offending us with your thoughts/views so much is that your particular mindset really goes against the grain of New England/Yankee tradition of "minding your own d*mn business". I may not like what my neighbor does, and they might not like how I live my life, but as long as were not hurting/bothering each other then its all OK.

I think because of this tradition, you may find the East Coast a bit of a culture shock...it ain't Salt Lake!

You said that you were the "live and let live" type of folks but I don't believe it for a second. You really should come out and see how the pros do it

good luck! (I think you are gonna need it)

oh boy.
how do you ask a simple question without strirring up a debate on one of our countries most heated issues.
but i appreciate this, it is definitely giving me some answer seeing the sheer volume of replies.
Broadbill, thank you for your comments. what i do not appreciate is direct messages that are not so nice (not by broadbill). astonishing.
to respond; i was just throwing numbers out there, bill, i wasn't sitting there and computing percentages. i think common sense indicates what i meant, is whether the gay culture more dominant than in other places or not.
Also, we have only been in salt lake for 3 years. lived extensively in L.A., san diego, europe, japan, other places. A large gay presence in these more metropolitan places is almost to be expected, i never minded. I have actually personally never met a gay person whom i did not like.
and yes we ARE "live and let live", whether you choose to accept it or not. this question would neve be asked if we did not have a baby. We are looking for a place that is family friendly, quiet and mostly traditional in basic views (i do not think traditional equals conservative). That does not seem to me to be the case if gay parades are frequently staged (and we saw a big one on you tube).
Although i agree with you when you say "but as long as were not hurting/bothering each other then its all OK" i think that having a predominance of a certain group does STRONGLY INFLUENCE a young mind. It does not have to even be sexual orientation. If we remain where we are, in a one religion predominant area, our baby would be strongly influenced to also be of that religion. "It must be just fine since so many practice this." This is what we wish to avoid.

Best regards.

[maja]

...which might not be a bad thing at this point in the thread! But I like your moniker. Have you by chance read The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner? Its a good read, especially if you are struggling with trying to find the best place to live to find your own peace and happiness. Okay. I'm outta here!

[Fern435]

Originally Posted by maja

...which might not be a bad thing at this point in the thread! But I like your moniker. Have you by chance read The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner? Its a good read, especially if you are struggling with trying to find the best place to live to find your own peace and happiness. Okay. I'm outta here!

Yes, maja! I have read that book! I thought of it too when he began this thread about happiness in Maine!

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by geographichappiness

oh boy.
how do you ask a simple question without strirring up a debate on one of our countries most heated issues.
but i appreciate this, it is definitely giving me some answer seeing the sheer volume of replies.
Broadbill, thank you for your comments. what i do not appreciate is direct messages that are not so nice (not by broadbill). astonishing.

That is astonishing actually, I'm sorry to hear about the DMs...

Originally Posted by geographichappiness

to respond; i was just throwing numbers out there, bill, i wasn't sitting there and computing percentages. i think common sense indicates what i meant, is whether the gay culture more dominant than in other places or not.
Also, we have only been in salt lake for 3 years. lived extensively in L.A., san diego, europe, japan, other places. A large gay presence in these more metropolitan places is almost to be expected, i never minded. I have actually personally never met a gay person whom i did not like.
and yes we ARE "live and let live", whether you choose to accept it or not. this question would neve be asked if we did not have a baby. We are looking for a place that is family friendly, quiet and mostly traditional in basic views (i do not think traditional equals conservative). That does not seem to me to be the case if gay parades are frequently staged (and we saw a big one on you tube).

As a new parent myself, I can sort of see where you are coming from. But of all the things to worry about, is the number of gay people in a given locale really at the top of your list? I'm surprised since this is not something that ever occurred to me to worry about and I've also lived all over. I'm not trying to be [too] confrontational, but would the presence of a large gay population in the town you live in REALLY affect your life all that much...if so, how?

Originally Posted by geographichappiness

Although i agree with you when you say "but as long as were not hurting/bothering each other then its all OK" i think that having a predominance of a certain group does STRONGLY INFLUENCE a young mind.
It does not have to even be sexual orientation. If we remain where we are, in a one religion predominant area, our baby would be strongly influenced to also be of that religion. "It must be just fine since so many practice this." This is what we wish to avoid.

Best regards.

I could not DISAGREE more! The most influential people in a child's life is their parents...always has been, always will be. Numerous studies done that all demonstrate the same thing...its the parents that count.

[Maineah]

I too am disheartened at the fact you have received nasty direct messages from posting your question. So much for tolerence.