Out of your element

I love to people watch. It's one of my favorite hobbies. Sometimes I try to guess their motivations, sometimes I try to guess their situation in life and then other times I just sit back and enjoy the show.

Last night was a perfect example of seeing people react to a situation where they were out of their element.


Friday afternoon I was told that several coworkers were going 'out for drinks' at a local watering hole. These twenty-something workmates love to congregate with other young professionals in an area of Dallas called "Uptown" for Happy Hour.

I usually don't go, but decided to go along to welcome a new co-worker. Friends of coworkers soon showed up and it because quite the gathering. New girl is also "out" to most everyone already. Someone told her; "go talk to Jim!" She came over and was asking me all about the gayborhood. The straight people chimed in and had to share their stories, they all sounded like this; "the one time I went to a gay bar, it was really fun....[blah blah blah]"

The next thing I know a group of about 11 decided it would be fun to go to the lesbyterian bar called Jack's Backyard. It's not in the gayborhood, but off the beaten path and a little more unique. New lesbohemian coworker thought this was a great idea! Straight male coworkers and their friends thought this was a good idea (because lesbians are cool and in most porn movies, aren't they?). Even the straight female coworker thought this might be fun, the last gay bar she went to was fun (of course she was at the Round Up Saloon and straight women love the attention of the gay boys at the RoundUp).

When we got there and ordered another round for everyone things started to get interesting. The straight guys realized that these muff-divers weren't like the girls in porn. Sure, there were women making out in public, but not hot ones! And no women were giving them any attention. Their body language said it all for them.[see picture] LOL

Some of the guys I know were pretty cool and are just like me, they adapted. They somehow got into a billiards game and then asked me to keep an eye out, make sure none of the more butch dykes didn't get pissed off.

Straight girl freaked out that she would be attacked if she went to the restroom alone, so she dragged me in to stand guard outside of the stall door. Oh and would I mind holding her purse? I tried really hard not to roll my eyes, but I think I did....


What I found interesting was watching people in our party who were out of their comfort zone. When I have a few drinks I talk to anyone and adapt to any situation. But aren't gay men more used to that? We constantly have to be out of our element at work and at social events because the majority of our coworkers are straight.

It was interesting. It made me of think of society's social values and how people still are not comfortable being around someone who is different.

Have y'all noticed this too?