Why don’t you take advantage of E-mail technology? Instead of publishing a single response to a letter you received (probably via E-mail!), why don’t you send a response directly to the person with the problem? Then wait for the advice seeker to respond, and publish the whole back-and-forth for your readers. That way we wouldn’t be left wondering how things turned out. For example, I’m sure everyone wants to know if Giddy Schoolgirl slept with her TA. If you published chat-style threads instead of a Q&A we would know!
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But I did find your suggestion of adopting a Q&A&R (question/answer/response) format rather intriguing, THS. So I conducted an experiment: I selected two letters from my incoming E-mail and responded to them personally:
You always seem to be giving advice to breeder chicks and baby-makin’ boys these days. How about helping out a fellow fag? I’m 35 years old, attractive, and trying to date. I met a hot guy who tells me he wants a relationship. The problem: Kyle’s dick only gets hard when he ties me up. I’m adventurous and let him do it once. Now he insists I like it because I was willing to do it at all. I probably know the answer to this, but can people only aroused by bondage find gratification in normal sex? Is there hope? –Michael
I’m a gay man with HIV. When guys I date discover that I have HIV, they often react badly. Why don’t other gay men have more compassion? Where can I meet guys that don’t make a huge issue out of my status? –Dan Fan in Toronto
But I suspect that you won’t get off your lazy ass. Like a lot of other shit-for-brains poz guys out there, you’re probably happier complaining. And hey, where does someone who calls older gay men “barf bags” get off asking for compassion?
Send questions to Savage Love, Chicago Reader, 11 E. Illinois, Chicago 60611 or to letters@savagelove.net.
