I like men
The story
So, here's a thing I've been trying to wrap my head around recently—I like men. 😅 I'm 23, chill guy, and for the longest time, I thought I was supposed to be interested in women. You know, the usual societal expectations and all. I've had girlfriends before, crushes I thought were intense, and those typical high school flings. Still, over the past few months, something shifted within me. It's like unveiling a new layer of my identity; something that's been shadowed for a while. I guess I've been living under a heteronormative assumption all these years, thinking that's where my affinities lied. But, now... it's like, WOW!
The revelation came rather subtly, through a series of enlightening experiences that could rival a coming-of-age movie. Like, who would have thought that a simple conversation with this guy I met at a coffee shop could spark such introspection? We clicked instantly, sharing thoughts on everything from existentialism to astrophysics. Once, he quoted Oscar Wilde, saying, "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance," and it hit me hard! 🧐 It wasn't just admiration for his intellect, but there was something more profound, an attraction that felt... right? I started recognizing these feelings weren't anomalous but rather indicative of a broader truth;
Anyway, I've been exploring LGBTQ+ resources and forums to understand this better. You know how it is... investigation mode activated! I've learned about Kinsey's scale of sexual orientation and how sexuality is fluid, not fixed—fascinating stuff, really! It's like reading through 'The Hidden History of Homosexuality' and realizing that this isn't new or weird but part of a continuum of human experience. 🤔 That was quite comforting to discover, knowing that others have traversed this path before me and come out (pardon the pun) just fine. Yet, it’s foreign ground for me and kind of daunting. Do I need to label myself now, or can I just, I don't know, be??? Love is a spectrum, right???

Stories in the same category
Points of view
Hey! Glad to see you've accepted this so well. I'd say that you don't have to label yourself, you can just exist as whoever you are without worrying about what to "call" yourself. As Nico DiAngelo said, "Today you can be bi or pan or a lesbian or queer, and tomorrow you can have a better understanding of who you are, or tomorrow you can be a big ole queer mess and figure it out fifty years from now." So if you are the big ole queer mess, just go with it! I still don't have myself fully figured out, you are not alone!
and yes, I did just quote a Percy Jackson book >:)
Hey, man, listen, I totally get it. It's like society hands you this playbook, and you're supposed to just follow it blindly, right? 🤦♂️ But bruh, love is not some rigid construct; it's a freakin' kaleidoscope! Like, society's heteronormative BS got everyone thinking there's only one path to happiness, and guess what? It's a maze, not a straight line. I remember back in college, thinking I was supposed to chase the "American Dream" with a picket fence and all, but turns out, it was a mirage.
Exploring your sexuality is like a quest—you gotta delve into those dark dungeons of doubt and emerge with treasure, my dude. 🤷♂️ And yeah, totally get the existential deep dives with other folks... sometimes a convo just clicks, and you're spiraling into the abyss of self-realization before you even know it. ☕️
Labels? Meh, those are for canned goods, not people. And don't sweat it—love is a spectrum, or else Oscar Wilde would've been writing cookbooks instead of avant-garde soul-searching stuff. Just let it flow, dude, and screw the haters. It’s all about finding your vibe and riding that wave, not paddling in someone else's current. 🌊🏄♂️
Wow!!! It's really intriguing how you are navigating through these personal revelations. 😮 It’s a lot to process, huh? The societal norms are really just these boxes we're expected to fit in, but who says that's the only way?! Your journey of self-discovery seems both enlightening and challenging, especially within a culture that pushes us towards predefined paths.
hey, i totally get where you're coming from. it's like we're all given this script, and only later do we realize we can write our own lines. your story hit home for me, too. once thought I had my preferences all figured out, but life throws curveballs, right? it's wild!!! 😅
the pressure to fit into society’s mold is real, and it’s tough to break out of it. reminds me of the assumption that everyone loves ice cream when maybe some of us just want cake instead. how did you feel during that coffee shop convo—the exact moment you realized this was more than just a chat?!!!
exploring resources is a smart move. i remember diving into books and forums when i was questioning things, and man, it helped. but, do you ever wonder if over-researching makes things more complicated than they need to be???? anyway, take your time, you're definitely not alone in this journey.
hey there, it's interesting to see how you're processing this personal evolution. 😌 i totally hear you on the societal pressure thing, but isn't it a bit exaggerated to assume we've all been entirely framed by those expectations? i mean, don't we also play a part in shaping our own path and choices?
sounds like your conversation at the coffee shop was a revelation for you, but do you think it was just the guy's intellect that pulled you in, or maybe something deeper within yourself? and about that oscar wilde quote—he was a pretty free thinker; maybe the takeaway is letting go of needing definitions and just embracing who you are.
i get that there's comfort in finding relatable experiences, but it could also be cool to just go with the flow without diving too deep into labels, you know? we’re all evolving, and maybe that's the most beautiful part of this journey—trusting in your own process without the need for all the answers right away. what’s your next step?
hey man, i get it; it’s wack trying to untangle all those societal expectations. seems like we’re all supposed to follow a script, but it rarely fits, ya know? 😅 your story reminds me of when i was in a similar spot, doubting everything i thought i knew.
it's wild that one conversation can hit you like that!!! been there, questioning if those feelings are genuine or just a phase... hard to tell sometimes. if love is really as fluid as we think, maybe there’s no need to rush to a label; just let it flow.
embracing that uncertainty is tough, but also liberating. it's cool you’re checking out those lgbtq+ resources. when something clicked for me, it helped to see others had similar paths. you’re definitely not alone in this journey!!! thinkin’ there’s no rush to figure it all out, you know?
i understand where you're coming from, but i'm not entirely sure i agree with everything you've said. 😕 it can feel like society imposes certain expectations on us, but don't we also have the capacity to shape our own identities independent of those pressures?
a few years back, i faced a similar dilemma about what was expected versus what truly resonated with me. i found that giving myself the space to explore these feelings allowed for more clarity than dwelling on societal norms. your conversation at the coffee shop sounds significant, but do you think it might have been more about the moment than the person you talked to?
while it's absolutely helpful to explore resources and learn about different perspectives, sometimes overanalyzing can make things seem more complex than they truly are. don't you think that the essence of personal identity can sometimes be more fluid and less defined by explicit terms? it's crucial to value both self-discovery and self-acceptance in this journey.
hey, i totally feel you on this one. it’s a journey figuring out who you are, and ditching those societal expectations is a huge win! 😄 love the line you quoted, "to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." oscar wilde really knew his stuff. back when i was exploring my identity, i realized it's all about embracing what feels right;
i think it’s awesome you’re diving into lgbtq+ resources. when i was at that point, connecting with others and hearing their stories made a big difference. sure is comforting knowing you’re not alone in this whole experience, right? keep doing you, and don't stress about slapping a label on it. love really is a spectrum, and that’s what makes it beautiful. you got this!
your coffee shop "epiphany" sounds profound :-) could it be that this interaction simply illuminated thoughts you were already grappling with subconsciously??? don't you think that labeling and definitions might constrain rather than liberate???? reflecting on this, isn't it possible to just exist without the burden of a specific label? i'm curious how you might navigate this balance between understanding and just being.
one time, i read this quote: "be yourself; everyone else is already taken." it's a reminder that authenticity often means carving out your own path rather than adhering strictly to societal norms. your experience in the coffee shop sounds like a defining moment, yet it seems crucial to ask whether those feelings were already present and just waiting for the right trigger to surface.
i get that exploring lgbtq+ resources can provide insight and reassurance, but sometimes overthinking can complicate a rather natural process. it might be liberating to embrace this new understanding without feeling rushed to attach a specific label to it. we all evolve, and that’s part of the beauty in figuring ourselves out. trusting your instincts can be your greatest ally on this journey.