Washers and being Gay

[pturo]

Washer and Dryers and Gay Astrology, even?

I am an Aquarian, the water bearer, which is an air sign. I have always been facinated by washers, dishwashers, showers, faucets: things that bear water and and drain away in powerful forces. The dryer and furnace and air conditioning have always held facination as fire and air, or ice and air. I just love the way something mechanical blends with the physical elements of nature to serve us. I also like to restore old things. We throw out so much in this McDonalds cell phone instant gratification world. I dont know if that makes me gay or because I am gay I am drawn to it. A lot of people are really heavy into restoring cars, and I think I could go there too. I do think there is the expectation that gay men are chic, and they improve things, set trends and define retro, retro progessive, and what is to come in terms of fashionable collectibles and clothing trends, neighborhoods and antiques. If you had to ask God why he created gay people, his response would probably be "To teach straight people how to have good taste." Philip

 

[appnut]

Here her Ralph. Right on bro!!! My pals here do razz me about my disdain for ink appliances. I prefer the more masculine colors, except for turqoise, myself--coppertone, poppy, harvest gold, avocado. If my dream pair washer & dryer showed up in pnik, I at least know I could prolly trade it for even a white set around here. LOL

 

[brettsomers]

louis, i think you hit the nail on the head!

 

[oldwasherguy]

I like many types of vintage machinery,such as outboard motors antique shotguns,coleman camping equipment,as well as vintage washers.I love to cook,clean and do the laundry.And once in a while I go deer huntin and fishin. So I dont think its a gay hobby,just a rare one.Don

 

[abcomatic]

Great thread! I am "one of the boys" and have been doing laundry since I was 6 in 1955! My grandmother bought me a scrubboard and a galvaized bucket and I was scrubbing away, and loved it all! My dad(mr.hunting, let's go out and kill something) hated it! If I ever get the guts to scan a picture of me then, with my own ironing board and iron, you will all die laughing. I am a Pieces on March 1, so am into the water thing too! Have fun washing. Abcomatic

 

[washertalk]

The "Gays" are cool, I hope to be one when I grow

Pieces here, a significant interest in water and plumbing from early on. As a kid when visiting relatives and friends I always got into trouble rerouting down spouts or moving garden hoses around into different configurations. I mean they all had to connect even if the configuration wouldn't work right.
The frustration when someone didn't have rain gutters or they kept their garden hose in the garage. I was always interested in checking out peoples basements and yes the washer and other appliances.
I have to admit I don't know if I am gay or hetero. And why choose? As has been said, in America we seem to be so black or white, yes or no, right or wrong. (It is easier for advertising agencies to market to people this way) There is nothing wrong with the gray area. Embrace the gray. In fact I am painting my gray area a happy color, like pale tangerine or something, at least a lite beige. perhaps adding a nice border.

You just know that those people who hang out in "typical" sport and interest hobbies have their issues. How many people afraid to venture out of their shell have embraced nascar or baseball or.. ? Have you ever been a spectator at one of these "events"? Boring as all Hell.
If you are strong enough to seek out a group like OURS, you are special and strong whether gay or hetero. The fact that we can talk about this, even consider this is significant.

There are certain sexual connotations in the functionin of washers, dryers, dishwashers, and vacuums and even small appliances. That is obvious but they can't be labeled either gay or hetero.

I'm hoping I am not poking a stick at a lame stereotype in noticing (by names and topics discussed) that there are few women and probly fewer yet lesbians in this group. Not that woman aren't mechanically inclined just as men, but more because I would think they would see home appliances as a negative drag. Where as men would be more inclined to view home appliances as freedom (from dependance on women). Again though, not necessarily a gay or hetero thing?

 

[robm]

Great comments so far but where are the Brits?

Thank you to all of you who have so far contributed to this thread. I get an overwhelming sense (which I too agree with) that this hobby is not related to sexuality at all. I think, however, there is a blurring of gender roles, which is much healthier than yesteryear.

I do find it interesting that there are few women on here, I wonder what the reason for that is.

I also find it interesting being British, that bar one person no one from the UK has contributed. Perhaps, I'm over analysing here but I wonder if our American friends can talk more freely about these things than men in the UK. Just a thought!

But these thoughts are of course up for discussion and I have no conclusions as yet, so please don't have a go at me for having them.

Rob

 

[vivalalavatrice]

Whashers and being Gay...

Would it be a very interesting argument to discuss either on my tesi?

Yeah... I think it would be a very great act indeed... why not?
At the end even the "social" aspect of the Magnific Washers' World has to be faced.

THAKS ALL! Anoter prompt you gave me...)

Good Bye
Diomede

 

[brettsomers]

expanding on Louis Feenstra's comments: most HUMANS dont have the confidence/individuality to do anything that is different than what is around them. this includes clothes, music, food and ideas. if their circle likes country music, they wouldnt DARE consider anything else. if brand X clothes are the thing, they have to fit in. *out* gay people often have the courage to be themselves, and are indifferent to others judging. of course, there is a clone-like aspect to the gay community too.

 

[carlstock]

I'm a Brit!

Hi, all, and especially Rob!

I’m a Brit, and I am willing to talk! I’m not gay – I’m heterosexual – but I am certainly not homophobic either. I do not really like talking about myself – this is a British thing! ;-) – for fear of appearing

I think the problem is that men are ‘supposed’ to be tough and not to be seen to be interested in more ‘delicate’ things. However, my Dad was in the Army, and he is completely domesticated – he can use all of the kitchen appliances perfectly! His Dad was the same – very domesticated. In fact, my grandfather was more house-proud than his wife (my grandmother of course), and I can tell you that he was a softy underneath, but he was very tough on the outside.

Back to me: I have what has been called “gentle” and “sweet”, although I do have my fair share of strong views at times. I think it is more to do with one’s personality than one’s sexuality. Don’t forget that some gay people can be pretty aggressive and can seem, to a layman, macho! I think there’s a term for this.

In any case, what’s the difference between a washer that is made from chunks of metal and plastic… and a car, which is made from chunks of metal and plastic…? Whatever floats your boat/makes you tick…

Regards,

Carl

 

[carlstock]

Whoops! I left out a word!!! LOL

"I do not like talking about myself for fear of appearing like an attention seeker.”

 

[tomturbomatic]

"The bottom line is this-this group we are fortunate enough to belong to is as wonderful,giving,respectful as any group of people I have ever encountered.That is what matters."

Thank you. The group was originally started by a gay man and his mostly? gay friends and associates. Things evolved and this is the third version of the club, but it has been mostly? administered by gay men. Nothing that even sounds discriminatory gets very far. Over the course of history, very, very, very few people, groups, religions, countries or civilizations that have known oppression and discrimination have learned the most important lesson from the experience: understanding of and respect for others who are not the same and treating others as they themselves would wish to be treated. I believe or would like to believe that the majority of this club has learned at least some of this whether it's because of ridicule of our appliance interests or ridicule because of other factors about us. Non-gay people who share the interest in appliances and find this place like an oasis in the desert are maybe: very good, non prejudiced people; in until they find out about the crowd and leave or willing to go along because it is the only show in town. Maybe it's strength in numbers or maybe it's a microcosm of what the world could be if people could rise above primitive tribalism, sexism, hate, fear, the need to dominate and the instinct to lash out instead of reach out when encountering new or different people and ideas. Whatever the explanation, it is a good place to have where friends can understand and share the joy of the latest find and help bear the burden of the less joyful times as well.

 

[oxydolfan1]

No, it has nothing to do with ridicule on my part.

I've never acknowledged that sort of ridicule. Why would I?

There's nothing illegal about smelling the contents of a box of Persil....

 

[wishwash]

being gay and liking appliances

For heaven's sake! What will they think of next! Comparing gay individuals with appliances is so silly. If a person likes appliances the person likes appliances. If a person is gay a person is gay. So what! We're all in this world together. I'm a 53 year old (classic) grandmother and I still play with Barbie dolls. So what does that make me? A 53 year old (classic) grandmother who still plays with Barbie dolls. Life is good!

 

[irishwashguy]

i wash and clean better than my own Mother does

I can say that there is not one person on the planet that does not need to clean and wash clothes. Some of us are just better at it than others. My mother for one brings me her shirts that have stains on them that she could not get clean.My Mom is always amazed that they look so good. I baked a Pumpkin pie on my own when i was seven, and liked to help out around the house. i have always found that a good thing, gay or straight, i just happen to be gay, single with really white shirts and a great nack for being domestic, and a big love for washers, dryers, vacuums, my old phones, etc.

 

[flair_range]

Gay, but sloppy houskeeper

Not all gays keep a clean house. I am gay, love old household appliances, and do not keep a tidy house. I do two or three loads of laundry once a week in a new Whirlpool front loader (sweet! - high speed spin, huge capacity, and it has a window) and dry them very quickly on 'delicate' heat in a 20 year old Whirlpool dryer. I own five vacuum cleaners, including a 1955 Hoover Celebrity, a 25 year old Kenmore canister with power head and three uprights that are of recent vinage; I also own a recent vintage Hoover uprght "steam" cleaner. The carpet gets vacuumed maybe once a month and the steam cleaner stays in the closet. The house is a mess but it is not really dirty, I keep the bathrooms and kitchen clean. My house is definately like a Queer Eye "BEFORE" house.

I have always had a fascination with washing machines; the styling, the mechanical parts, the moving water, the spin cycle, and a lighted control panel was a definate plus. I always loved watching a washing machine while it was running (even if I had to find a way to override the lid safety switch). I remember my mom using a wringer washer and I was mesmerised by it. Mom later got a mid-1950's Norge automatic that had a sliding timer! I remember that my dad had to replace the sliding contacts insider the timer fairly often. Dad taught me how to repair many things, including appliances. One thing that really made my year was when mom and dad bought a 40" range that had pushbutton burner controls which were internally lit and changed colors depending upon which button was pushed. I remember moving to a new house and finding an old Hoover art deco upright with cloth bag, the motor was rated to work on anything from 32 volts to 120 volts, AC or DC, and it worked great.

In my early 20's I worked part time as a TV repairman at a small town family owned TV and appliance store - that was heaven. The store started out by selling water heaters and Zenith radios in the 1930's. I really do miss having stores like that. Appliances and TVs were not just dropped off and maybe hooked up. A repairman installed the appliance or TV, set it up properly (including leveling), and the buyer was shown how to use and maintain it. If it were a washing machine, the repairman could also tell the buyer what detergents worked best and which ones to avoid. If it was a TV the repairman adjusted it and set the local channels. There were cases where a repairman went back later to show the buyer how to use the appliance a second time -- at no extra cost.

While working at the TV-Appliance store, I was comfortable cooking using a microwave oven and many customers were buying their first microwave. One of things I did was teach microwave cooking classes in the store. I thought it odd that a 20 something guy who could only cook using a microwave oven was teaching a cooking class to ladies who had been cooking for many years. At Thanksgiving time I demonstrated how to cook a turkey in a microwave; shoppers would not believe that the turkey had browned in a standard microwave. I also taught customers how to sort clothes for washing and how to load dishwashers (which I also love).

 

[gizmo]

Gay but a sloppy housekeeper

Me too!!!

My vacuum cleaners are in excellent condition - they are "genuine low mileage" for sure.
At work I am a clean freak, I am complimented how I always leave the kitchen gleaming. (Unlike my co-workers unfortunately.)
At home there is stuff everywhere. My partner and I are both terribly messy. I know how to clean efficiently and well, I just never get around to it!

Out of the closet on that issue now.

Chris.

 

[whirlcool]

I have never thought of appliances...

as being a gay thing. What I have noticed is that people who are into appliances usually have other areas of technical experise. For example, some also like classic cars, other like vintage appliances, and even others like old televisions and radios. Based on this I would say that the people who like appliances have a tendancy to be more technical than most. Not more gay than most.
Like Wishwash states in a earlier posing, I look at appliance people as just people who are into appliances. I don't even think of the gay factor unless someone posts something that bitch slaps it into you. For further information, please read the link provided for this.

Urban Dictionary: Bitch Slap

Bitch Slap: As distinguished from the more common

www.urbandictionary.com

 

[bewitched]

I'm gay and I love appliances and old televisions...

Hi everybody. I'm gay,bear(by attitude and by physical aspect. Not very feminine at all...),Italian and I love washing machines, dishwashers and old television sets (I have more than 300 of those...). I don't think this has anything to do about being gay or not.Perhaps is just a more than average amount of madness! I remember I was just a baby and already loving electcric stuff. I don't think at that time I had any idea of what being gay was about! My boyfriend (big surprise! He is gay just like me...)doesn't care for domestic appliances at all.My first toy washing machine came when I was four! Too bad it's gone long ago!If out there there is someone (gay or not) who shares same interests about appliances and old tv and wants to chat to me then I'll love to hear from him!
([email protected])

Marco

 

[toggleswitch]

I never would have guessed.

LOVE your screen-name Marco..........and welcome! Bet you were just twitching to join!

Did you mean G-- "HERE" or G-- "BEAR", by the way?

I'm not sure I want to know.. LOL