Slog - Comments on Letter of the Day http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51 A reader writes: I really found the article, "The Death of East Pine", very interesting. Learning about the history of that neighborhood, its growth, and the many changes was entertaining and informational. What I did not find interesting, or even respectful, was the following statement:"Through three decades, this block was a hub for Seattle music, nightlife, art, fashion, and small business. Also, prostitution, homosexuality, and drug use."Why is homosexuality referred to in the same sentence as prostitution and drug use? How does that have any relation to those subjects? I find it degrading and bigoted for Eric Grandy to imply... Copyright 2008 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:43:52 -0800 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:44:00 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Gitai Homosexuality and drug use go hand in hand, particularly if you count booze. Prostitution, not so much, but let's face facts, as a community we fags are a bit sleazy.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860244 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860244 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:49:36 -0800 Comment by Just Me I am gay and am proud to have homosexuality in the same breath as prostitution and drug use. It is what being gay is all about!!! Oh yeah and BB sex, don't forget about BBing.

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860246 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860246 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:50:23 -0800 Comment by Brad He's got a point.

]]> Brad http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860247 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860247 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:50:34 -0800 Comment by Ryan Red "Cutting Edge"? I didn't know that The Stranger was making any breakthroughs in the way news is delivered. It isn't delivered to my house via a hovering robot that projects a hologram of Dan Savage in a jumpsuit reciting the news or anything cutting edge like that.

]]> Ryan Red http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860250 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860250 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:51:02 -0800 Comment by Greg I suppose it depends on whether you find prostitution and drug use to be immoral or undesirable.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860252 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860252 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:51:28 -0800 Comment by paul All of humanity goes hand in hand with prostitution and drug use.

]]> paul http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860253 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860253 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:51:54 -0800 Comment by six shooter Oh, I get it!

This guy thinks prostitution and drug use are bad and homosexuality is not bad.

Prostitution, semi-homelessness, drug use, crazy people, non-lethal violence and poverty are all good when viewed through rosy, foggy nostalgia.

Hey, so is Kathleen Wilson! Thanks for convincing her to write again. I'd forgotten how much I love her. My secret crushes on Lindy and Kelly and lately whats-her-name-with-the-cookies will never compete with my original secret Kathleen Wilson crush.

x-o-x-o

]]> six shooter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860259 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860259 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:56:57 -0800 Comment by six shooter Megan. That's her name. Megan.

]]> six shooter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860261 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860261 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:58:06 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Clearly, this person needs to speak with Ecce Homo.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860270 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860270 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:03:56 -0800 Comment by six shooter Um... because all three (Homosexuality, Drug Use, and Prostitution) were considered immoral and borderline illegal necessities of city life shuttered into the same corner and ignored by the respectable people of the city who would never want their friends to see them partaking in those necessities.

Um... because you should get over yourself if you pretend to not know that refuges for the semi-criminal are also refuges for the semi-un-socially acceptable.

]]> six shooter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860271 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860271 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:05:09 -0800 Comment by Issur I say good riddance to that tacky block and welcome the Seattle's future. Who cares about Pony? A better bar will open up. And Man Ray in Manhattan would be considered tacky. As a foodie I look forward to the great restaurants coming and vibrant night life that will come with the new buildings. It will be more like Portland's Pearl district and that is a good thing.

]]> Issur http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860296 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860296 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:33:24 -0800 Comment by zombiesmmm trust eric grandy to never know where exactly in a sentence he should put the period. or actually a comma: "also, prostitution, homosexuality, and drug use" isn't even a sentence.

offensive content paired with offensive grammar.

]]> zombiesmmm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860302 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860302 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:40:17 -0800 Comment by Just Me Issur, enjoy another Subway and Teriaky place to replace 500 Pine! I am sure you will enjoy that. Oh, there will probaly be a nail salon and dry cleaners as well! PROGRESS!!!!

And I am sure the bars will open there too since all clubs open up in brand new construction with condos right above them. HA HA HA !!!

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860303 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860303 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:40:38 -0800 Comment by Judah Yeah, I have to go along with the people who're saying the letter writer has a point.

]]> Judah http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860308 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860308 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:44:50 -0800 Comment by Touring The Stranger is merely pandering to the relatively new anti-gay Tim Burgess crowd out there that has suddenly gained a powerful foothold in Seattle and will soon invade your bedroom.

]]> Touring http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860311 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860311 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:48:47 -0800 Comment by Greg The problem with the new development is that east Pine just isn't poor enough any more. Sorry, guys.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860312 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860312 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:49:10 -0800 Comment by ecce homo Seattle gay culture is sleezy, and most of the stranger staff and slog readers seem to take pride in that. If any of the queers here would visit or live in the Castro, (I did for 10 years), you would shake your head at what passes for gay culture in Seattle. It makes me want to gag sometimes. While Seattle is very gay friendly, you guys act like you live behind closed doors in Des Moines. (Doesn't really surprise do to most of you being transplants). Toilet cruising, voluteer park, Pony, etc... are signs of a very unhealthy scene riddled with insecurities and self hatred.

You are not much more beyond gang bangs in gay bookstores. You just do it in toilets like Pony, and then call yourself "edgy".

]]> ecce homo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860315 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860315 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:54:47 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Six shooter, your point might have made sense back in the 1960s or 70s, when gay life was acutely marginalized -- to Pioneer Square, other parts of downtown, and later Broadway. By the time Pike/Pine "became gay", it wasn't.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860316 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860316 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:57:31 -0800 Comment by It's Mark Mitchell Ecce, I can always tell a post is yours by the time I've read the first sentence. Your point of view is always so fresh and interesting.

I think you'd be a fantastic guest blogger next Freaky Friday!

]]> It's Mark Mitchell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860322 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860322 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:07:13 -0800 Comment by KC Yup, bad phrasing.

]]> KC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860329 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860329 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:09:13 -0800 Comment by Gomez That dude is reading way too far into that letter and needs to chill the fuck out and/or choose a more worthwhile battle, like with actual bigots.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860332 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860332 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:13:44 -0800 Comment by hmm... I dunno -- I can go either way on that one. I wouldn't have noticed it if someone didn't call attention to it.

]]> hmm... http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860361 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860361 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:52:49 -0800 Comment by christopher Frizzelle Man, this comments thread is depressing me.

]]> christopher Frizzelle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860365 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860365 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:35 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Have to agree that the part I enjoyed the best was written by Kathleen Wilson.

And I enjoyed her correct observations about how insular that area can be.

Even though I enjoyed visiting it during SantaCon outings ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860369 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860369 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:59:05 -0800 Comment by Julie I'm with @22. I wouldn't have noticed it, but unless it was some sort of meta-commentary or joke, the wording seems slightly problematic.

]]> Julie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860380 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860380 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:11:35 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways That kinda bugged me, too, but it happens a lot.

I don't think Eric was being a dick, though, (isn't he gay?) and back in the day, of course, homosexuality WAS considered the same as prostitution and drug addiction.

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860384 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860384 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:15:49 -0800 Comment by inkweary Considering the recent outcry in posted in Slog decrying the Lifelong Aids campaign "condoms and meth go together" , I'd have to say the writer of this letter has a point. The negative response to that campaign when listed in Slog was overwheming. It can't be both ways. If Lifelong erred in linking gays and drug use, linking gays and drug use in an article in the Stranger is equally bad, or at least editorially inconsistent.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860389 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860389 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:19:08 -0800 Comment by christopher Frizzelle People:

1) Eric's not gay.
2) I am.
3) I added the word "homosexuality" there because it's funny. Shall I explain why it's funny? Are you familiar with Republican rhetoric about homosexuality?

]]> christopher Frizzelle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860407 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860407 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:32:22 -0800 Comment by Just Me @ Christopher, you're gay?? No way!!

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860431 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860431 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:51:45 -0800 Comment by ecce homo I guess the SLOG comments are now going to be yet another extension of repulsive gay singles hook up ad's.

I had no idea that anus's were so hard to come by.

]]> ecce homo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860448 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860448 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:06:18 -0800 Comment by la Christopher, I know it's cooler to have homosexuality in there, but I think the writer has a point. Putting homosexuality in there along with illegal activity seems like the writer is trying to continue to couch gay = subversive. (and of course, subversive = extra cool.)

Gay = just as boring as everyone else. (BTW, are lesbians in this drugs/prostitution category? Or just cool, subversive gay men?)

And yes, it was funny, but I see the point.

]]> la http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860451 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860451 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:09:23 -0800 Comment by Gitai @30 Anuses aren't terribly hard to come by. When we want an asshole, we just look to you.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860583 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860583 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:04:39 -0800 Comment by Irena @32, Goal!

]]> Irena http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860696 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860696 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:41:43 -0800 Comment by wbrproductions #4 - Win.

]]> wbrproductions http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860721 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860721 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:01:28 -0800 Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball Pike/Pine is Seattle's Mortville, and when you tear that out of our civic body, you might as well throw a mudball at Queen Carlotta.

So there.

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860827 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/letter_of_the_day_51#c860827 Nightlife Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:44:00 -0800