tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post115282549462511878..comments2023-04-29T02:29:41.386-07:00Comments on I See Things in Widescreen...: I dunno...RGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17428434404606700149noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1153140612855287372006-07-17T05:50:00.000-07:002006-07-17T05:50:00.000-07:00I agree with most of the comments above. Think it...I agree with most of the comments above. Think it through completely before you make any decision (I know you will). Whatever you decide will be a defining moment in your life. So take your time and do what is best for Eric!Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08428046291631841793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1153116943783797852006-07-16T23:15:00.000-07:002006-07-16T23:15:00.000-07:00pppssssst! just remember: "woe dude"!pppssssst! just remember: "woe dude"!D.U.Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15622724405915031358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1153010294798908272006-07-15T17:38:00.000-07:002006-07-15T17:38:00.000-07:00Saw this photohttp://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7...Saw this photo<BR/><BR/>http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7546/2301/320/surfing-shark-scare_small.jpg<BR/><BR/>from<BR/><BR/>http://swedeandczech.blogspot.com/<BR/><BR/>and immediately thought of you. Hope the "sharks" are playing nice and all is going OK!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152902130413573172006-07-14T11:35:00.000-07:002006-07-14T11:35:00.000-07:00go tom!go tom!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152867263224888372006-07-14T01:54:00.000-07:002006-07-14T01:54:00.000-07:00I can't really offer any advice, but I hope that o...I can't really offer any advice, but I hope that once you make a decision you will share it with us. I think that you should base your deision on your happiness and that only. Don't do it for the "cause". Just do it becaue you know in your heart that this is what you want to do. If you happen to change the world because of that, so be it. But make sure that you are doing these things for the right reasonsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152867091515215812006-07-14T01:51:00.000-07:002006-07-14T01:51:00.000-07:00I am sure that you can do anything that you put yo...I am sure that you can do anything that you put your mind to. Just take your time and don't rush into anything.Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11269256468060111161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152854260789500812006-07-13T22:17:00.000-07:002006-07-13T22:17:00.000-07:00OK, just one more thing and I'm out of here!There'...OK, just one more thing and I'm out of here!<BR/><BR/>There's definitely something about striving for perfection, and getting peoples acceptance and adulation, that makes you feel better as a gay person (in or out of the closet). I'm not sure that's a healthy thing.<BR/><BR/>For me, I have to admit now that the thing that drove me initially was probably what I said above (even if I wasn't entirely aware of it at the time).<BR/><BR/>But nothings ever entirely black and white, it's always shades of grey (just ask whiteflamenz!). <BR/><BR/>The thing of being paid to do something I totally loved doing (making music) far outweighed any other motive.<BR/><BR/>Does that make sense to you? Maybe you're feeling the opposite?<BR/><BR/>Good luck with this, I can totally empathise with what you're feeling, but only you can have the real answer for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152852911268146622006-07-13T21:55:00.000-07:002006-07-13T21:55:00.000-07:00I guess there's a number of things I'd be thinking...I guess there's a number of things I'd be thinking about if I was in your shoes:<BR/><BR/>1) I could (in terms of profession) stay in the closet, which has ramifications for my private life.<BR/><BR/>2) I could come out to my sponsors so they know the full score and see if they still want me (They won't mind you being gay, but they're coming at it from a marketing angle. Lots more I could say here...)<BR/><BR/>3) Will my sponsors want me to stay in the closet? (Not fun if they do).<BR/><BR/>4) If they don't mind me coming out, I'll be in the public eye for all to see! (But then you could probably still do things at your pace).<BR/><BR/>5) Coming out to sponsor probably means coming out to teammates as well.<BR/><BR/>6) I haven't come out to my family yet???? (I haven't read all of your blog).<BR/><BR/>I/We could easily argue all the rights and wrongs of your situation in terms of being a gay man having to deal with this. But at the end of the day, it's business, and business responds to our imperfect, unjust world. Period. If you enter that world, you have to be willing to play by their rules (at least for a while).<BR/><BR/>A couple of ideas: get some paper and write down the pros on one side and the cons on the other. At least it'll help to clarify your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>Try to find another gay pro athlete who is out and contact them for some advice.<BR/><BR/>Wish I could offer you more. For what it's worth, I found good and bad being a semi-closeted muso. I feel the good outweighed the bad. I definitely missed out on some things in my private life, but it was a great experience.<BR/><BR/>(I'm starting to think out loud here)<BR/><BR/>I guess that might be what it comes down to: Do you want to be a pro surfer (in the public eye, possibly in the semi-closet for a while, possibly putting your relationship under strain) or are you happy to give it up to be out of the public eye and the pressures it presents, free to be out in your relationship in all aspects (which, and don't take this personally, may not last forever).<BR/><BR/>What a rant! I've probably got the whole thing wrong this time as well!! Hope it helps. Try not to rush your decisions. If sponsors are chasing you want answers now, chances are (despite what they say) you can convince them to give you some time back home to decide.<BR/><BR/>Tom? What? Stop ranting! Oh, OK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152839024175002162006-07-13T18:03:00.000-07:002006-07-13T18:03:00.000-07:00Yeah... It's hard to figure ou what you are suppos...Yeah... It's hard to figure ou what you are supposed to do,but that's why they pay you the big bucks! Right? haha.<BR/><BR/>Just don't rush any decisions and I am sure that you will make the right choice.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07911665249694683585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152838846738833252006-07-13T18:00:00.000-07:002006-07-13T18:00:00.000-07:00dude you're so young, putting anything on the shel...dude you're so young, putting anything on the shelf wouldn't be forever. but then again , why do it if you can't enjoy who you are completely? sorry this is no help at all huh, but I'm definitely feeling what you're saying it reminds me when I was in college and saying everything right around my buds or gf, and then on weekends in my home city, the comfort of getting out and hanging with some gay buds. SUCKS. hang in there, and hopefully keep enjoying your awesome time. later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152837811588879702006-07-13T17:43:00.000-07:002006-07-13T17:43:00.000-07:00I understand what you are saying.I personally don'...I understand what you are saying.<BR/><BR/>I personally don't know about being the best and what sacrifices is worth it, except definitely not the sacrifice of being true to your own nature. <BR/>But maybe a bar is not the best place to enjoy your freedom?<BR/><BR/>Anyway I wish you all the luck!Bold oy!https://www.blogger.com/profile/15856733829223921741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11718287.post-1152830370377437462006-07-13T15:39:00.000-07:002006-07-13T15:39:00.000-07:00Its nice that you are wantig to not hide who you a...Its nice that you are wantig to not hide who you are because that hould never be an option. But also not pursuing something that you love becuase of who you are shouldn't be an option either. I know that it keeps on coming back this. So this is a really big issue in your life with no easy answer.<BR/><BR/>Just don't make any decisions becaus you are scared. It's easy to get caught up in the moment, but maybe this is one of those situations where you are going to need to take a step back before you figure things out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com