Re: "That's So Straight"

Bet the title put some people off :P

"Oh there he goes ranting again about how the world is so homophobic and evil"

Ko. It's just a subject which seems to crop up a lot.


Since my last post about people using "gay" as a common term for "bad" or whatever, i've taken a sort of backseat approach, if you will.
You might say this is a bit sad or pathetic but i've kind of been studying why or when people use the term.

On a hitch, id actually put it down to tiredness and laziness. People not able to find a better word in their vocabulary to use and so immediately pluck "gay" out of the air because its so easy to use.

But there's still the fine line between someone saying it out of habit/not meaning offence and genuine prejudice.
For example (and i wonder what you think of this) I was talking to a guy the other day about Gears of War - a game on the Xbox 360 - and we were discussing how amazing the 3rd installment should be and this guy said "I don't care if it's bad. I don't even care if the two lead characters are gay bumboys, it'll still be amazing"

...

I'm not going to say who it was i was talking with but to me, he's never seemed to hate gays or anything and he doesn't go around calling things "gay" on a regular basis. In truth i was a bit surprised to hear him say this, and while it did still irk me, as it would if anyone said it, i questioned why he said it.

As i said, he isnt one for using such terms often. But there are many questions.
Was it an attempt at being humorous? Was it coz he was bunged up with cold and couldnt think of anything better? Was it coz he genuinely hates gays? Was it perhaps a one off thing?


Who knows. But it annoyed me coz it was Bryan who said it. (ahah, got you there, said i wasnt going to say who it was :P)
I've talked about Bryan before, sets the gay-(well... more "bi-dar") off a little, plus i REALLY like him :)

It's always worse when it comes from someone you like.


Anyhoo, i'd like to think it was just a one-off thing but yeah...


One other thing i've been thinking a lot about recently:

You see, online... i have various people i can talk to when things are troubling me. Several people too, who i could probably tell anything. I have this blog when i want to type thoughts out, like right now.

But in my day-to-day life... No one.

There are some people i can talk to about trivial issues but nothing particularly deep and serious and i just wish i did have someone like that, in person.

Don't get me wrong, talking to people online about problems has been invaluable to me but im sure we can all agree it is the same as a face to face chat. There's nothing anyone can do about it i guess, just thought i'd type that out here.

The thought doesn't sadden me or anything, i just think about it sometimes...


In other news, things are really busy right now. Lots of tests and all the rest of it. My guitar and bass final performance exams are in 2 weeks! *eek*

So is Biffy Clyro :D (Bryan is coming with me, too ^^) That's next weekend. And this weekend im going to see a few local bands on Saturday and then Klaxons on Sunday. Not many people have probably heard them though.

But one thing that really is quite stressful is the media video we are currently making in groups. Bascially, its for a song (we chose Electric Feel by MGMT) and the rest of my group are dummies so ive been doing about 90% of the work and organising, and it's bloody tough. I don't envy directors at all, or even directors of music videos for that matter of fact.


That's about all ive got to say for now. I know ive said a lot but i havent posted in like 19 days... i think... thought id fill you in...


Rowan <3




(Topless guys feature in this video hehe)


P.S Another reason for this post was the poll results. 64% of people said the word "gay" offended them when used to describe someone/something. 1 person, 5%, said they were too used to it to care. 23% said they werent offended but didnt think the term should be used and 1 drongo said no it doesnt offend them and they use the term :P

Thought that would be interesting...

Modies, Media and Biology Exams : The Full Sha-bang

Oooooooh, what a couple of days it has been indeed!

3 exams in 3 days and i haven't suffered some sort of mental breakdown :P (I feel sorry for the guys that have 4 next week)

I only have one next week but yes, this week i sat 3 exams.

So here's how they went :

Modern Studies on Tuesday morning, i was a bit nervous beforehand to tell the truth. But as i've found with most exams, once you get in and settled, you're fine. That was the case, particularly after looking at the question sheet.
No problems really apart from 1 question somewhere, so i may lose a few marks but if i was to predict right now i would honestly say i got a an A, or definetely a B. Also, the paper could have a been a lot tougher so a stroke of good luck there!

Media yesterday was quite a pain in the ass. The first part was actually not bad. An essay on the film The Untouchables, which we have been watching for almost a full year :P
So i was quite happy with that essay but the 2nd essay is the tricky one.
You are given a statement and are asked to sketch a quick poster justifying your reasons for the inclusion of say, clothes colours, lighting, what camera angle etc.
It's difficult coz you have to make it up on the spot pretty much and i was kinda rushing to get it finished, but hopefully my 1st essay will see me through safely.

...And now....the big one....

Biology, this morning.

I was up till 1am last night reading over notes (maybe not the smartest thing to do, but i did it anyway)
Now, for this exam, i was pretty nervous, as i expected to be. But the same story as usual - once you get settled you're fine.
I forgot my water bottle tho which was bad coz it's always good to have some with you.
Anyhoo, i opened the paper and the first page (multiple choice) was nothing too challenging, but it got a little harder after tht. I answered everything in section B and gave the two five-mark, essay-like questions a good shot.
On the whole tho, i found that the paper could definetely have been a lot worse. I finished it, answered all questions and did a quick prediction of what i thought i got and that turned out to be around 60%. I can't complain about it.
But what re-assured me is this :
My mum works as an invigilator (someone who watches over pupils sitting exams) in a different school nearby. She was in on the biology today and was able to bring me the exam paper home afterwards so i could have another look.
In a slightly calmer state i identified some things i did wrong but actually i think i may well have surprised myself!
Don't wanna get carried away but it's looking pretty good :D


But now it's time for some relaxation. I have a week until my Spanish exam which is next Friday and it's nothing i really have to study for. I think i've earned a few days off now and i am going to take full advantage of them.
I'm not out of the woods yet, but i'm very close, and soon you wont have to read anymore posts about exams! I know you must be getting a litte tired hearing about exams and i'm tired of sitting them but it will all be over next Friday afternoon and exams will be finished....for this year.

Hugs,
Rowan


Ever heard of MGMT?
Well, if not, it's time to introduce them to you.
You may or may not have have heard this song somehwhere, it's called Time to Pretend and it's trippy as hell, but so is the rest of the 1st album (Oracular Spectacular), highly recommended!


(Note : You can probably feel high simply from watching this video. Also note: A few guys with no shirts on thrown in for good measure :P)




Also try "Kids" "Electric Feel" and "The Handshake". Simply awesome :D