[buildup]

I think HipsterDuck nailed a lot of it. I had also noticed there was a sort of a gay influence, which is perfectly fine. Probably raises the (discussion) bar a bit. Usually when you have a non-random distribution its a group of factors. I am making broad generalizations. Gay men GENERALLY:

a) Have more interest in the community (observe their presence in volunteer & charitable activities)
b) Slightly more verbal, articulate willing to interact (in a good way)
c) I agree with the downtown demographic argument of Hipster (not that there is anything wrong with that)
d) Men are more interested in building exteriors; women in interiors
e) Visual arts, arts generally appeal to gays. Our discusisons about buildings dont usually get into engineering
f) Gay men are slightly more likely to reference their sexuality (this is fine)
g) And any group displaying a bias in one direction tends to increasingly tilt in that direction as similar people feel welcome.

As Richard Florida has mentionned cities benefit tremendously from the presence of gays who organize, attend and support urban events. This is partly because they are often 2-income and sans chidren.

MetroMan simply made an observation, nothing more. Patterns of any kind are interesting - confirming and understanding.

 

[LAz]

As Richard Florida has mentionned...

The guy is an idiot, with his notion that the creative class is what makes cities better than others.

The fucker has very little respect in the academics. It's the business class that likes him and keeps him going.

http://halliejones.com/Resources/Strugglingwiththecreativeclass.pdf
That there link ripped an extra asshole for him, er two maybe.

And here are some more slammed stuff that this bafoon got. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_class#Criticisms




He makes good money though. If only one of us could get a coroporate sponsor behind them. Heck, for millions who would not sing a particular tune?

 

[GraphicMatt]

Your measured and reasonable criticism of Richard Florida aside, his point that a strong gay community makes for a more vibrant and cultural city is, I think, a good one.

 

[adma]

But again, there's something about that gay-male dominance that can seem Provincetown-oppressive on occasion--at least, compared to the more gender/orientation-balanced universe of Spacing, et al.

I'm gay-positive. But too much gay-positivity can ironically be gay-negative--sheesh, let some air into this room, some gurls, some breeders, anyone...

 

[buildup]

I don't think anyone is going overboard, I was simply pandering to the crowd to establish my liberal credentials. Did I not sound adequately sincere?

 

[adma]

Though I could argue that within the urban-message-boarding universe in general, the queer male aesthetes are what check-and-balance a potential pin-dicked Libertrollian takeover, i.e. the apparently "straight" as an insult to straight, likely candidates for escorts' bad-date-lists, etc...

 

[buildup]

Normally I skim those posts convinced they are utterly beyond my comprehension. But I have re-read it many times on the hunch I am being mocked. Still not sure, but oddly demoralized nevertheless.

Liberal Arts weaponry should be turned against patrons/sponsors.

 

[Urban Shocker]

You are not being mocked. Anyone can see you're the sort of man who bends over backwards to be nice to homosexuals.

 

[buildup]

"Backwards"? Don't you mean forwards? I hope this fundamental confusion didn't lead to any awkward collisions over the weekend. Anyway, glad to see you are in one piece if slightly frayed. Welcome back!

 

[GraphicMatt]

Wait, hold on, Urban Shocker is gay?

 

[adma]

No, he's gloomy.

 

[kettal]

There has long been a connection between skyscrapers and gay men. Superman and especially Batman were accused of promoting the gay agenda many decades ago, and the christian alarmists would use the fact that these comics were written by gay males in phallic-shaped buildings as proof.

 

[Brandon716]

Probably because gay men generally have an interest in urban issues it seems, I would think. The gay population here may be a bit overstated though, I say your estimate is reversed. The forum may be 25% gay and 75% straight, but the gay component is vocal?

 

[buschic]

Ok, so I guess I should speak up now, I'm a long time UT lurker, joind a while ago, dont post much, when I have time to listen to Jaws or NVDA read to me, I will come and read, read some more, than post if I feel like it.

I'm definitely female.

disABLED

computer geek, transit geek, and I like touching different textures of stone/brick on buildings, I also just so happen to LOVE Toronto...

 

[taal]

You know, this has always bothered me, not that fact that there are a lot of gay men on forum but that there are not more straight ones ... I have no problem with either, just to clear! But do straight men not share similar interests in their own city - along with architecture / urban planning! It does come back to an issue of having pride (and an insert to better) the city/town/.. you live in. Maybe there there are other outlets (besides UT) that straight men use for this that I'm not aware of