Do you get asked this question like I do?

[washerlover24]

Hi guys, within the last couple of week, more people have been finding out my passition for washers and dryers etc, but the next question I get asked am I 'gay' well the answer is yes, but I have a friend who likes dishwashers and he's straight and gets asked the same do u get asked this? It's really getting on my nerves

Trey

 

[kenmoreguy89]

It was asked the same to me as well.....when question is introduced in a speech about this or concerning this it is okay, otherwise when a question like this  is pulled out from nothing or when it does not matter anything  in the speech is something I can explain  only with maybe an attraction... Or interest..... or simple curiosity
I don't see how this could be related to interest in appliances anyway.....

 

[tomturbomatic]

No, the enlightened question I used to be asked is if I had enormous water bills "for all of those machines." I explained that I don't turn them all on at once and did not do any more laundry than when I only had one machine. I then decided that it was easier not to talk about it to non-collectors and others with a fragile grasp on the basics of technology. I have a large collection of coffee makers but that does not mean I have to own a coffee plantation. GMAFB

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Forgot to mention

To me this question was asked exclusively here in this website.......

No one ever asked me this outside here.....at least never  for  what was related or introduced in  speeches about appliances, interests etc.....

Again I think that if they ask a question like this in these istances it is because of something else makes them wonder if you're gay....
Not certainly  because you are passionate for washers, dryers, Dishwashers, ranges or  what else...what  sense would it have? 

But
If while you talk youre waving in your hands a copy of Out Magazine or Boyz Magazine and you have pride flag tatoo on your shoulder  well this would explain such questions! LOL

 

[arbilab]

Fond knowledge of machinery does not make one gay. It doesn't even make one a top. Or vice versa. Pretty sure I was the only gay broadcast engineer at NBC OKC. Is taking lawnmowers apart a "sign"? I do that too.

My str8 friends manage their own laundry and my BFs weren't overtly fascinated with laundry equipment. As a HOBBY, correlation probably higher.

The few guys who asked me that had a very good reason. ;-))

 

[strongenough78]

Sadly it seems if you're not into sports cars, beer, sports and pick up trucks, you must be gay. People are just ignorant. I too know of straight men who are into vintage appliances. And besides, I'm gay and know how to work on cars, yet people who I meet that I have yet come out to, that know I'm into cars, never ask me if I'm straight, nor do my gay friends who ARE into sports, beer and pick up trucks. Things that make you go Hmmmmmm.

 

[qsd-dan]

<a name="start_42603.626927">Sadly it seems if you're not into sports cars, beer, sports and pick up trucks, you must be gay.</a>

 

Damn, I'm not interested in any of those and I'm straight, lol. Well, maybe if it was a pre 70's truck in 100% stock form....


 

A few years back, one of my co-workers was striking up a conversation about a football game. He kept talking and noticed I wasn't intrigued at all about the conversation. I told him I wasn't interested in watching sports of any kind as it's a waste of time, in my book. Played a bit when I was young, but that's about it. He then said, "What are you, gay?"

 

I then responded with:

 

Hmmm, let me see. Watching a bunch of grown men, dressed in tights, chasing after a ball, and slapping each other on the ass after a touchdown. Who's gay now?

 

Heard nothing but crickets after that.

 

[a440]

Great Thread!
I have had several people ask me after they hear that I love to work on cars, tear them apart and rebuild...."I thought you were Gay?". I usually just give them that wrinkly brow what look.
Brent

 

[arbilab]

7/8ths of the guys "interested" in pickup trucks can't rebuild a carburetor. I could when I was 14. 7/8ths of the guys "interested" in TV sports can't do any of them. I can ski, surf, box, and have a bluebelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

But then it's an image culture more than an action one, isn't it?

 

[stan]

This subject

came up here once before!

It was a few months back. If I remember right, someone was thinking of writing a term paper on it?
The questions then, was "why" there were so many gays interested in this, or words to that effect.
There were many that give varying thoughts, and opinions, and some went quite deep to answer.

Now I think I'll see if I can find the old thread, and ask if he ever wrote the paper, as many asked him to share it with us, if he did.
I would have to say, that it is a "thought" provoking question.

Had a girl ask me once (while I was changing a fuel pump) "you told me you were gay" I told her " if you don't believe me, just leave your husband alone with me for a while! LOL

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Go Figure

I have always loved washers and dishwashers. But have also loved manly things like tools, mowers, cars, ETC. I also am not gay and am crazy for my girl. (She's a Katie not a Lady Kenmore) Guess that dispell the theory that all appliance loving men are gay. BTW I love Cold Beer and a Vikings Game and plan to marry my girl soon. Just proof that an Appliance Lover can have the only agitator in the bedroom.
WK78

 

[alr2903]

Sex, Bias & Stereotyping

As recent as the 1980's there was money available to assist with tuition in "non-traditional" careers.  I am grateful to have received tuition assistance as a male in nursing.  The same  assistance was offered to females that were in welding or auto mechanics or other fields that were perceived as primarily male occupations at the time.  "Mr. Mom" with "Michael Keaton" is a pretty good snap shot of public perception, at the time. It's almost 2013,  who cares what others think about personal choice? alr  

 

[fido]

I must admit that I was not aware that this hobby existed until someone on a vintage radio site gave a link to this forum. I don't actually collect appliances per se but happen to have a few from when I took scrap machines in for spares. Anyone who knows me would therefore assume my interest was purely commercial. I do have a small collection of reel-to-reel tape recorders, radios and record players. This is a more popular hobby but I suppose such gear was traditionally used by men and women fairly equally, whereas the kitchen appliances were traditionally mainly used by women. I suppose the bigots who ask these questions have one foot in the past in a social sense whereas members of this forum have one foot in the past in a technological sense. I wonder if the same people assume all women who repair cars must be lesbians?

 

[danemodsandy]

An Answer:

I've always liked this way of handling The Big Question:

STR8: Are you gay?

GAY: There's only one way to answer that - kiss me.

STR8: WHAAAAAAAAAAT?

GAY: Yeah. If I enjoy it, you'll have your answer. If you enjoy it, we'll know why you asked.

Sound of crickets follows, every time.

 

[yogitunes]

Interesting thread......and actually hard to answer, it would go under a mystery for some to know, and others that stand out in a crowd, to be seen miles away....

and in many cases, some are avoided, miles away!.....just saying!

there also could be said about guys interested in washing machines.....how many know how to work on one, or take it apart, or even know how it works....then it comes to the ones who just want to play with them, and nothing more...

 

[strongenough78]

LOL Dan! I'll admit that's the only reason i watch football, the tight pants and butt slapping!

 

[stan]

Think Dan has

let us know that he's straight! look at his vintage photo, she's pretty cute Dan!
almost enough to turn me! LOL

 

[DirectDriveDave]

People in my youtube videos, as well as some in-person have asked me why I like machinery/appliances. But I can't say they have ever asked if I was gay.

 

[rp2813]

8

He doesn't always drink beer, but when he does, he drinks Dos Equis.

 

[washer111]

Well...

If it ain't the most common question around. "Are you Gay?" crops up quite a lot these days, as does "Are you RETARDED?"

 

On the retarded note, I might ask a pretty valid question, only to be shot with that question, then that SAME person will shoot a similar question. I don't say anything - why? Teachers tend to pick on good kids when they act up. Hence a teacher "dumping" all of my classes trouble onto me. Bastard... 

 

The gay question, well, only one person I know asks that. A boy with some urge related to humping everyone/thing, playing with certain parts of the body (and removing "mess" around those areas...) and taking pictures of himself and other boys in the n... nn..... n-nudd in the boys room... 

 

But the gay question hasn't been popped at me during appliance discussions. People my age just question it like Facebook going out for a day (lol). "Why do you like fridges?" "Why do you like Washing Machines?" (<-- THEY'RE CALLED DISHWASHERS!) "Whatever - Same thing!"

 

[laundromat]

The question I get asked regularly is if I have sex with or on my washers. I would never even think of mixing my sexuality with any figure other then a male human being.

 

[countryford]

After I came out to my parents when i was 18, my mom told my grandmother(who still to this day can not except me) that she said, "I figured, he likes antiques." I still haven't figured out what the relation to me liking antiques and me being gay is. Oh well.

 

[strongenough78]

Oh and if a straight man asks you this question, as many have asked me....."Have you ever been with a woman?" To which I reply No, then they ask, "Then how do you know you won't like it?" I then reply with...."Have you ever been with a man? No? Then how do you know you won't like it?" That usually shuts them up and makes them think lol. Or once in a while they'll say "Because I'm not into guys and wouldn't want to try" I then say "Exactly" then add a wink at the end. They usually get it then.

 

[fester]

When you live byond the range of boring normal,

the average shmoe cannot relate to you. The average being that guy or gal that lives in Walmart and eats, drinks, drives dresses, watches and listens according to what the rest of the herd is doing at the moment. When you do something that places you outside their comfort zone, the reaction is that you're somehow stupid, crazy or gay, which covers both. Perhaps part of the gay question comes from the foolish belief that magical good taste and fashion sense comes with gayness like a secret handshake and decoder ring. Beats me.

I get all sorts of static from people for not following fashion or trend and generally being strange in their view. I'm into vintage. Vintage appliances, motorcycles, architecture, automobiles, music, movies, etc. I shave with a 50 year old Gillette TTO. I have cats. I hate sports and sports bars and 99% of what's on the tube. I'm sitting here typing with a mug of stout, and my .45 Sig Sauer, listening to Johnny Mercer on XM. I may be different, even weird, but I'm straight as a grizzly bear's gadoots and I've had idiots ask me the same thing before. Dude are you gay? It always catches me off guard......then I tell them "choose your next words very carefully".

Gets my blood up just thinking about it!

FEster

 

[maytagbear]

I'll be back

right now, I have to get ready for an extention class I'm taking on Wednesday evenings. However, this is an interesting topic!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[jerrod6]

I am very sure that not everyone that is interested in washers, dryers, dishwashers and vacuums  is gay.   If that was the case then any man that was involved in the design or patent of a washer, dishwasher...ect  would be gay.  All anyone has to do is look at many of the posts on this site and see that members are discussing the restoration of vintage machines or issues with current stock.  This is hard work and it is in most cases mechanical.  And what of women who are involved in this technology field?   For the older machines it is about how previous technology was used.  For the new machines it is about how new technologies are developed and  used.

 

This question has more to do the the limited experience and  scope of the person asking,  than anything else.

 

 

[wayupnorth]

Once in a while

I always answer with the same response that stops them dead in their tracks. "Why, are you interested...well I am NOT".Shuts them up every time. Its nobodys business who is gay or straight or whatever. What happens behind closed doors are their business, not the whole worlds

 

[wayupnorth]

And yes,

Who should care about preferences as long as they are a good person. Which I have found all you people here are.