any other lgbtq people find groups of straight couples a bit odd?

[Anonymous]

Growing up my parents played a lot of games with their friends and regularly had time to have dinner with the same friends at least once a month. And drank. They joked more. People don't joke as much these days. Too many people get offended. All these activities were done with both sexes but before and after them the women and men were separate mostly.

[Anonymous]

I have never actually seen this happen in either work social situation or neighborhood ones. It's usually just small groups of both genders.

[Anonymous]

Single gay dude who is an anomaly as a homeowner in a professional educated suburban neighborhood dominated by families. A few comments:

Straight men do tend to like sports. Not all of them, certainly, but enough of them. And sports is something they can talk about that isn't politics. Politics, in case you hadn't noticed, is highly divisive these days. Many people, particularly centrist suburban people, prefer to avoid politics or other cultural topics. It's almost inevitable that the topic will drift to sports at some point. Nothing wrong with it. Most neighborhoods aren't Takoma Park.

Men and women do gravitate towards sex separated groups because of common shared interests. Straight women like to talk about children and raising children and the schools. Men don't. Women aren't as interested in talking about sports to the extent men can. But plenty of times the social settings are fully mixed. People who want to accuse me of gender stereotyping need to get over it. It is just what it is for many people and there's a reason those stereotypes exist.

Last, but not least, groups of straight couples aren't deliberately exclusive or closed to gays or lesbians. There is no power play agenda here. If anything, they're more closed towards singles rather than by sexual attractions as it's easier for couples to have social activities with other couples. Think of all the people dining out at restaurants. Couples with other couples. Rarely a couple with a single friend.

A lot of people do meet friends through their children's playmates. Not all the playmates' parents become close friends, but think about it carefully. A child may have 10 or so playmates, out of which two sets of parents become close friends over time. Perfectly normal. Especially as you end up meeting those parents more often than your single friends from your city days.

"Queer" people who live by the identity are more cliched and stereotypical and far more likely to exist in bubbles of lockstep beliefs and identikit conversations than your run of mill suburban couple. I can more accurately predict just about everything about person who calls themselves queer than straight people or gays and lesbians who don't call themselves queer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Single gay dude who is an anomaly as a homeowner in a professional educated suburban neighborhood dominated by families. A few comments:

Straight men do tend to like sports. Not all of them, certainly, but enough of them. And sports is something they can talk about that isn't politics. Politics, in case you hadn't noticed, is highly divisive these days. Many people, particularly centrist suburban people, prefer to avoid politics or other cultural topics. It's almost inevitable that the topic will drift to sports at some point. Nothing wrong with it. Most neighborhoods aren't Takoma Park.

Men and women do gravitate towards sex separated groups because of common shared interests. Straight women like to talk about children and raising children and the schools. Men don't. Women aren't as interested in talking about sports to the extent men can. But plenty of times the social settings are fully mixed. People who want to accuse me of gender stereotyping need to get over it. It is just what it is for many people and there's a reason those stereotypes exist.

Last, but not least, groups of straight couples aren't deliberately exclusive or closed to gays or lesbians. There is no power play agenda here. If anything, they're more closed towards singles rather than by sexual attractions as it's easier for couples to have social activities with other couples. Think of all the people dining out at restaurants. Couples with other couples. Rarely a couple with a single friend.

A lot of people do meet friends through their children's playmates. Not all the playmates' parents become close friends, but think about it carefully. A child may have 10 or so playmates, out of which two sets of parents become close friends over time. Perfectly normal. Especially as you end up meeting those parents more often than your single friends from your city days.

"Queer" people who live by the identity are more cliched and stereotypical and far more likely to exist in bubbles of lockstep beliefs and identikit conversations than your run of mill suburban couple. I can more accurately predict just about everything about person who calls themselves queer than straight people or gays and lesbians who don't call themselves queer.

Ha! Yes to this part especially

- Lesbian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like when we're at a neighborhood party, why do the men cluster and talk about beer and sports, and the women cluster and talk about kids? It's a different dynamic (with less obvious gender conformity) when it's not a large group/ party, but the party setting seems to really play up gender dynamics? And in parties guys dominate mixed gender conversations. Anyone else notice something similar? We're in a pretty liberal area.

I work in a male dominated industry so talk to everyone about everything. But sure if that’s how social parties group up, whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like when we're at a neighborhood party, why do the men cluster and talk about beer and sports, and the women cluster and talk about kids? It's a different dynamic (with less obvious gender conformity) when it's not a large group/ party, but the party setting seems to really play up gender dynamics? And in parties guys dominate mixed gender conversations. Anyone else notice something similar? We're in a pretty liberal area.

Bad try at trolling. Amateur to the max. Men rarely talk about beer. Ever.
Sports maybe especially the politics of their children's travel sports.
Getting together with mutual friends & update of what everyone is up to is a subject.
Or.occasionally golf or golf trips.
Women talk about kids, but more about schools or planned activities and family vacations.
Try harder.

Wut? I'm a homebrewer and long time craft brewing enthusiast who has visited nearly 300 breweries. If I'm at a party, damn sure I'm going to bring up beer as a topic.

And I don't give a ship about golf.

[Anonymous]

I'm a guy, don't have the sports gene, and I find it annoying. I'm often more interested in the conversations the moms are having than the dads. Even among our progressive cool friend groups, the gender divisions are so entrenched. It's weird to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m straight and I think it’s weird. The women’s conversations are often far more dull than the men’s conversations. The segregation is odd.

Same here. I'd rather talk to the men. At least its often about interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m straight and I think it’s weird. The women’s conversations are often far more dull than the men’s conversations. The segregation is odd.

I find it so weird too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Straight man, and I don't really get it. I mostly hang out with women talking about kids in these situations.

Ugh. Why???

[Anonymous]

People naturally discuss common interests. What's the big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m straight and I think it’s weird. The women’s conversations are often far more dull than the men’s conversations. The segregation is odd.

let me guess, you're NLOG right?

[Anonymous]

When I first got married my MIL and SILs got upset with me because I joined the men in the living room to watch sports and talk about sports after any family event while they cleaned up and started getting ready for the next meal. They thought that was inappropriate for a young woman. I didn't care, I did it anyway, I love sports. 1970s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not find it odd at all. It is what they have in common so they discuss it.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like when we're at a neighborhood party, why do the men cluster and talk about beer and sports, and the women cluster and talk about kids? It's a different dynamic (with less obvious gender conformity) when it's not a large group/ party, but the party setting seems to really play up gender dynamics? And in parties guys dominate mixed gender conversations. Anyone else notice something similar? We're in a pretty liberal area.

Bad try at trolling. Amateur to the max. Men rarely talk about beer. Ever.
Sports maybe especially the politics of their children's travel sports.
Getting together with mutual friends & update of what everyone is up to is a subject.
Or.occasionally golf or golf trips.
Women talk about kids, but more about schools or planned activities and family vacations.
Try harder.

Wut? I'm a homebrewer and long time craft brewing enthusiast who has visited nearly 300 breweries. If I'm at a party, damn sure I'm going to bring up beer as a topic.

And I don't give a ship about golf.

Does the fact that you like beer and want to talk about it have anything to do with the fact that you are a straight man with a penis? I didn’t think so.. so yes, it is trolling. It’s very stereotypical of those that are straight. That is like me saying why do all gay men walk with a twitch or have a lisp when they talk.