BisexualHelping out bi coworker

submitted by julesburm1891 from self.LGBDropTheT

A few weeks ago, one of my male coworkers came out to me as bi. He just walked into my workspace with cuffed pants to announce he brought lemon bars for everyone.

I’ve noticed a lot of bi people on here talking about the ridiculous things the bi subs are trying to make bi culture. Clearly, my coworker is going off these things while he’s in the process of figuring himself out. What advice do y’all have for being supportive of him (without making it weird) when his only point of access seems to be toxic reddit communities?

Edit: Hey guys, I’m not posting this to be a bully and I’d appreciate it if y’all didn’t make fun of him too. I’m looking for actual advice.

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[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 19 insightful - 1 fun19 insightful - 0 fun20 insightful - 1 fun -  (35 children)

Seriously??? I don't want to live on this planet anymore. This is so much second-hand cringe!!!!

I'd say don't say anything to him about the dumb memes he obviously found on Reddit because the potential for butthurt and "how dare you lesbsplain bisexuality to me???" is quite high, and he can just run to HR and cry about how you're being biphobic. #1 priority is to protect you and your job. If he specifically comes to you for advice, just tell him that as far as you know, the only requirement for being bisexual is to be sexually attracted to men and women. That's it. Everything else is just make-believe, and that most bisexuals who don't go on Reddit won't even get most of those references.

But if he doesn't come to you, just leave it alone. People take their identity way too seriously and I don't want him to get defensive towards you.

Also, just curious, how old is he? Did you get a vibe from him before he came out, or was it a surprise?

[–]julesburm1891[S] 17 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 1 fun -  (34 children)

Oh, yes. I had to stop myself from saying, “oh, sweetie, no” when it happened. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met and I really think he’s doing it because he thinks that’s what he’s supposed to do. (I definitely remember thinking I needed to cut my hair and watch the L Word as a teenager. But, it’s one thing to have that cringe as a youth and another thing to have it as an adult.)

He’s in his early 30s and I didn’t get that vibe from him beforehand. (But, I’m also pretty clueless.) When I mentioned it to my fiancée, the first thing she said was that she wasn’t at all surprised. (Actually, I think the exact phrasing was, “I’m more surprised he’s bi not gay.)

[–]oofreesouloo⚡super lesbian⚡ 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (15 children)

He’s in his early 30s

😱😱😱

Excuse me... what?

He's... in his... EARLY 30's and behaves like a clueless teenager 🥴 I've lost faith in humanity

[–]RedEyedWarriorGay | Male | 🇮🇪 Irish 🇮🇪 | Antineoliberal | Cocks are Compulsory 12 insightful - 2 fun12 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Western culture is often laughed at in the east for many reasons, this one being one.

[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 9 insightful - 5 fun9 insightful - 4 fun10 insightful - 5 fun -  (10 children)

I am older than him and still acting like even younger teen, ask florasis :D

[–]oofreesouloo⚡super lesbian⚡ 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

If you mean acting like a young teen as in "I still have a youthful soul", that that's awesome actually. :D But if you mean you're a teen as in "I can't cook for myself, I need others to take care of myself and am not capable of making decisions and/or being critical of things" then I would argue and say it's a bit problematic. I was criticizing the second situation.

[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

If you mean acting like a young teen as in "I still have a youthful soul", that that's awesome actually. :D

Well, thank you!

I can't cook for myself

Almost whole my life someone else was cooking to me, lol. At first mother, then husband (and he was chef cook in prestige restraunt), then both girlfriends I lived with.

I really hate cooking and can't cook very well. However, I need to be on very strict special diet because of my health issues, so I need to cook a lot of different stuff.

I need others to take care of myself

Someone, pleeeeease! QQ

am not capable of making decisions

I always hoping that someone else will make descision, especially in groups. But no one does, so I am ending up leading everyone always, lol. It is so annoying, I hate this :D

[–]florasisHOMOSEXUAL FEMALE/Pussy is my God and I'm monotheist 6 insightful - 5 fun6 insightful - 4 fun7 insightful - 5 fun -  (4 children)

I can cook pasta and make the decisions, if you like :D

[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 6 insightful - 6 fun6 insightful - 5 fun7 insightful - 6 fun -  (3 children)

Hard to refuse!

[–]florasisHOMOSEXUAL FEMALE/Pussy is my God and I'm monotheist 6 insightful - 5 fun6 insightful - 4 fun7 insightful - 5 fun -  (2 children)

That's right, future wife :D

[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 6 insightful - 6 fun6 insightful - 5 fun7 insightful - 6 fun -  (1 child)

Hey! I haven't said yes...yet.

[–]oofreesouloo⚡super lesbian⚡ 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Ummm okay!

[–]florasisHOMOSEXUAL FEMALE/Pussy is my God and I'm monotheist 5 insightful - 7 fun5 insightful - 6 fun6 insightful - 7 fun -  (0 children)

LMAO

[–]FrostyNugsI'm allergic to nuts 9 insightful - 3 fun9 insightful - 2 fun10 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

Some people will age, but never really grow up no matter how many years pass 💀

[–]wafflegaffWoman. SuperBi. 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Late bloomer. It happens, especially to LGB people who've encountered a lot of non-acceptance. Let's give him a break. The early 30s is still pretty young in some ways, for some people. It might seem "old" to an observer who is just turning that age themselves, but trust me, it ain't. Make some friends two or three times your age and you'll see. Make sure they laugh at you and call you "kid" when you say you're getting old, too.

I've met late bloomers who were about to turn 60. So 30-ish? Yeah, in some ways he's starting over. Let him.

[–]oofreesouloo⚡super lesbian⚡ 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I think early 30s IS very young. But not young enough to believe that your sexual orientation has something to do with your clothes or something stupid such as lemon bars. I'm sorry but that's a little ridiculous. I realised my sexuality at 14 (and no, my mother didn't accept it well and it was kinda bad at first because I also lost friends) and I never thought "oh wow, I'm a lesbian! That means I can't sit straight, I wear beanies and play soccer, I'm so gay tee hee". I did went through a phase of self discovery yes about my "identity" and my tastes etc etc (like ALL teenagers) and I did question lots of things and preconceived ideas like "do I have to act masculine if I'm a lesbian?", but I reflected on things... I didn't swallow every bs I saw on the internet. And I was 14 and didn't know ANYONE who was homosexual at the time... But I give the benefit of the doubt to teenagers, because despite me not having gone through anything that stupid, I can kind of understand why teenagers do lots of stupid dumb things. But early 30's? Yeah, sorry, but no. I wish him the best of course but I can't help but to feel shocked.

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (17 children)

I was seriously expecting a 22-24 year old kid. I was even going to cut him some slack and make a comment like "Yeah, I used to dress like total cliche when I was kid too, with my flannel shirts and everything!" (hey, it was the 90's! At least it was trendy!)

I guess it's true, 30 is the new 20....

[–]julesburm1891[S] 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yeah, it’s a little embarrassing, but I think it’s because he’s finally coming to terms with himself and hasn’t ever met another bi guy IRL. (The amount of embarrassment he had coming out to me indicates this has been a long struggle.)

Idk, I just want to be there for him in some way because coming out sucks.

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

You're a good coworker <3 Hopefully you can help set a good example for him that being LGB just means being a normal person who happens to have same sex attraction. Despite all my dramatics in the other comments, I do think it's kind of cool that a bisexual guy actually came out to people. According to statistics I've seen bisexuals are the least likely to come out, so that's something positive at least.

[–]reluctant_commenter 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (14 children)

I guess it's true, 30 is the new 20....

I hate that some people treat increasingly older adults-- 18, 20s, now 30s?-- as kids (I know that you aren't! just observing generally). I had to become fully independent at age 20 and I was amazed at how many people I knew in college believed they were literally incapable of performing "adult" tasks like setting up gas services or doing your own taxes-- let alone being emotionally independent. If people need help learning to do these things, that's totally okay! But to say that someone is still "just a kid" at age 20, 25, 30, is completely inaccurate.

It's so crazy to me that someone could, in their 30s, be so swayed by the lemon bars thing. Like, whoa. How much of a sense of self does that guy have...? I don't want to sound critical, but I just can't wrap my mind around it.

/rant lol

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (13 children)

I really don't know what's happening, I think especially because of this shit economy and because the cost of living is so high and because of school debt and credit card debt and other kinds of debt, many American 20-30+ year olds can't leave home and start their lives, and it really sucks for them. They are living in a twilight world where they are half-child/half-adult. But I read stories on /r/amitheasshole and there are stories about adults who can't wash their own dishes or clean their own mess, and it boggles my mind. Like grown men who are husbands who complain about their wives wanting them to help with the baby, but "AITA for wanting to play my video games instead?" Like... What??? Is it that they are so crippled by depression/trauma that they'd rather fight for 2 hours and make everyone else in the apartment miserable than to spend 10 minutes cleaning up after themselves and be an adult, I don't get it?

I don't even know what my point is, LOL I'm just so flabbergasted by how immature and unripe these latest batches of adults are. (This is not meant to insult anybody here, I'm just generalizing based on a few bad apples. Of course there are tons of mature Millenials/Gen-Z out there too!)

[–]reluctant_commenter 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

(redacted)

I don't even know what my point is, LOL

Lmao I don't know what mine was either haha, but I really appreciate talking about this. I don't talk about it with people IRL much because I don't want to sound like "I'm not like the other girls!1!1"-- which is not only dumb but a cop-out conclusion.

But I don't understand why this is happening. Sex-based discrimination is certainly part of the answer but I think there's a lot else to it, as well.

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

Yeah, generational trauma has a lot to do with it, I think.

Have you heard of the 4F's? (Fight, flight, freeze, fawn.) There's a guy named Pete Walker who wrote a book about Complex PTSD that has some in-depth info on this stuff (for example, I'm mostly freeze, but when it passes a certain level of threatening, I go into a beast mode version of fight.) You sound like you might be a mix of flight+fight.

Even if it ends up not applying to you, it will apply to so many people around you that it's still a valuable resource:

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/20556323

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

Checking in to say I have diagnosed complex PTSD and mine is definitely a result of intergenerational trauma. Looks like I’m going to end it by not procreating. . . .

In me it caused a lot of dissociative behavior that I never realized was happening but it really fucked me up with understanding my sexual orientation as I was in such a fog and so disconnected from my body.

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Looks like I’m going to end it by not procreating. . . .

Me too. A relative tried to nag at me about it, and I was basically like "The abuse ends with me." I'm not bringing in a kid into this world. Not happening.

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I think the other thing is that we who have family-induced CPTSD often have to raise ourselves and our siblings so we don’t have the urge to raise more humans when we have firsthand experience with how horribly wrong it can go. I like kids but I’d rather dote on other people’s and work on making this world a better place for them.

The other thing I find embarrassing is that yes, I have childhood trauma and no, it’s not sexual and not from a man, but that people will be like “well of course she ended up gay because of it.” Throughout my life I just craved normalcy, independence, and stability and the ability to create my own life so I was very in denial about being gay because I saw it as a threat to this. I am still guarded about who knows, and still don’t share it widely. I deal with internalized homophobia as a result of it. The queer-jacking has made everything SO MUCH WORSE because it went from being “you can be gay and a normal, productive member of society” and live whatever life you wanna live with most options not closed off and now it’s “look at me and how oppressed and intersectionally vulnerable I am and everyone must center me.” Plus the codification of the desires of those with cluster B personality disorders into law has been, dare I say it, triggering. It’s been really bad for my mental health honestly. Definitely encourages my dissociative tendencies.

[–]reluctant_commenter 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Jesus, are you me? Every part of that is true for me as well, lol.

You know-- do you think maybe, part of why some lesbians can't wrap their head around the idea of late bloomers / being in a relationship with a man for years without realizing you're lesbian, because they don't understand the extent of the damage from complex trauma? They say, "How could you not know you were gay?", but dude, I didn't even know what my favorite fucking color was til like last year, that's how much my abusers tried to stamp out my individuality.

Perhaps this is a conversation better continued over message or another post, haha. I don't want to derail too hard.

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

You know-- do you think maybe, part of why some lesbians can't wrap their head around the idea of late bloomers / being in a relationship with a man for years without realizing you're lesbian, because they don't understand the extent of the damage from complex trauma? They say, "How could you not know you were gay?", but dude, I didn't even know what my favorite fucking color was til like last year, that's how much my abusers tried to stamp out my individuality.

On the one hand I get it because like how can you realize that you’re attracted to one sex and not the other when attraction is such a full-body experience? And there are a lot of lesbiantrenders out there and if I went on a date with someone and got those vibes, I’d be totally put off/kinda freaked out. But I do think it comes down to, as you said, people not understanding (1) all of the various circumstances, factors, trauma, disruption to life, etc. that make it difficult to process our feelings generally separate and apart from accepting ourselves as gay. These factors go beyond just societal attitudes toward homosexuality. And (2) that we as late bloomers are not new to our feelings of same-sex attraction. We are new to recognizing the full extent of the pattern, letting ourselves feel those feelings, putting a name to them, and internalizing them or to being in a position where we can finally accept those feelings even if we recognized them before.

Trauma makes it hard for you to put your feelings in context. I had a poor sense of self, and I was always being gaslit, and so I gaslit myself, and treated myself poorly generally. I also knew early on that I would have to make trade-offs in my life. I’ve never believed that I could “have it all.” I don’t really fit the profile of a lesbiantrender since I’m not shouting it from the rooftops, and outside of my one relationship with a man, I’ve been on two, maybe four dates, if you count the double dates where I went because it was my female friend who I actually liked who kept trying to set me up with guys lol. The one I wrote my embarrassingly gay letter to. The two solo dates I didn’t even want to go on but I told myself I should want to go on them and that therefore I should just do it because there was something wrong with me for not wanting to. And I never went in on more than one date. My only relationship with a guy was born out of us being close friends hanging out all the time for months. We actually never really “dated.” I have nothing to gain by making this up, but I do have a lot to lose, and I have.

Perhaps this is a conversation better continued over message or another post, haha. I don't want to derail too hard.

Yes, anytime!

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Hi! I didn’t realize this was you commenting so I’m not surprised but I was thinking that I relate to all of this. I am the independent one out of my siblings. They all have arrested development in various forms.

I do have some childlike qualities too but I’m driven and high-functioning so thankfully some people consider those qualities endearing because of the juxtaposition.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I feel so infantalised because I am living at home due to losing my job due to covid. Housing is so expensive and I feel like I'm still a teenager at 24 (not literally... you know what I mean). Financially it's hard to get to where I want / expect to be by now. I would never leave the chores to my mum though and I clean up after myself. It's bad enough being at home, but I can't imagine how grown ass people my age don't do basic shit around the house. It's not even hard, you can learn how to cook and wash your clothes from google dammit. Also I've had depression in the past and I have ASD. It wasn't severe at all but pretty mild. But you know what? You see a psychologist and go to your sessions, you learn the skills to cope and you do your homework and eventually it gets better. There are some people who have it really bad and they're different, but I don't have much sympathy for people who are sick / not coping as they should and refuse to do anything about it.

[–]RedEyedWarriorGay | Male | 🇮🇪 Irish 🇮🇪 | Antineoliberal | Cocks are Compulsory 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Lemon bars? I don’t get it.

If he comes to you for advice about being LGB, simply tell him that all he has to do is accept that he’s into both men and women. He doesn’t have to do anything else. Then give him advice about dating someone of the same sex. Tell him you would stand up for him if he experiences homophobia. And if he gets redpilled (by which I mean he wakes up) and rejects the woke nonsense, be there to guide him.

[–]julesburm1891[S] 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thank you.

[–]reluctant_commenter 10 insightful - 2 fun10 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

He just walked into my workspace with cuffed pants

I thought the reason people joked about this was because it was a coincidence that some people liked cuffed jeans, not that you are supposed to do that on purpose.... what am I missing here? Lol

Also, does anyone know why is there a "bisexuals and lemon bars" and "asexuals and garlic bread" meme? I don't understand it. I can understand memes about clothes at least because clothing can reflect the way we look at the world; for example, it's fair to say lesbians don't dress for men so maybe there are some commonalities there (on average, not everybody). But food..?

edit: Is it because they are trying to build a "bisexual subculture"? (Sorry bi people here, I know you are not involved in this nonsense haha, I'm just so confused.)

edit2: sorry, not trying to derail your post! I can move this conversation elsewhere if you want :)

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 12 insightful - 1 fun12 insightful - 0 fun13 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Don't quote me on this but I think lemon bars started as a joke on /r/bisexual: "welcome to the bi side, we have lemon bars" or something stupid like that. It's based on the "welcome to the dark side, we have cookies" meme. And then people just started going crazy with it. I'm not sure what caused the cuffed pants phenomenon. Do bisexuals have unusually short legs, or are they unusually bad at buying the correct length pants for themselves? I don't get it.

Yes, they are trying to build a subculture, but you cannot do that by sitting at home and brainstorming stupid ideas on Reddit. 4chan can have a subculture because people are sitting in front of the computer shitting out memes all day and out of those thousands of daily memes, one or two of them start trending every few months, most of them die quickly, some of them take longer, very few of them hit legendary meme status. You can't just be like, "Okay guys, here's a meme I made up and I declare it to be funny." The internet hivemind has to decide that, not you.

But what do I know? Here's a guy handing out lemon bars ar work.

[–]reluctant_commenter 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks for clueing me in, I appreciate it lol.

It's based on the "welcome to the dark side, we have cookies" meme. And then people just started going crazy with it.

Gotcha, I mean even that seems like a tenuous thread to hang a meme on, but clearly people are very desperate for any sort of connection.

I'm not sure what caused the cuffed pants phenomenon. Do bisexuals have unusually short legs

Hahaha, that would be a reasonable explanation but I doubt it.

or are they unusually bad at buying the correct length pants for themselves? I don't get it.

Funny you mention it-- that is exactly why I started cuffing one of my pairs of jeans, I totally forgot about it haha. Well, this is just me grasping at straws: I thought it was sort of a "somewhat GNC, doesn't give a shit about clothes and didn't notice I bought pants too long" kinda thing. Because that's what it was for me. I happen to know a lot of other (self-described) LGB people my age, almost all bisexual, who did as well, so I thought they were that way too, but.... now I kinda think some of them did it on purpose like this lemon bar guy. LOL.

My other guess, is that clothing memes could have a small basis of truth, in some LGB people being ADHD/autism spectrum and not noticing and/or caring some common clothing conventions. edit: also I have ADHD so I would be part of this group I guess.

[–]julesburm1891[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Dude, you’re good.

[–]reluctant_commenter 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

Just wanted to add. I think this is a really important question to ask:

What advice do y’all have for being supportive of him (without making it weird) when his only point of access seems to be toxic reddit communities?

I am not bi so I can't speak to their experience, but the only thing I have found super helpful for myself in terms of accepting being a gay woman, is hanging out with another gay woman I know IRL. No offense I love talking with people here too-- but there's just something about in-person conservations and SEEING people live out their words in person, as another LGB person, that is healing and calming and supportive or whatever. (This place, for me, is more of a support for TQ insanity", though I wish I knew more "drop the T" people IRL.)

[–]julesburm1891[S] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

You make a good point. One of the most important things when I came out was actually getting to meet other lesbians and know I wasn’t alone. I suppose I should find at least one other bi dude in our city to casually introduce him to.

[–]reluctant_commenter 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks, and yeah that sounds like a good idea. Only if you have the energy for it though :)

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Yes yes yes! Even before you’re out or just dipping your toes, the amount of comfort this provides is amazing and does a lot to make you feel normal/like a human.

[–]reluctant_commenter 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I feel honored whenever you approve of my comments, I hope you know that 😆

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Aw it’s mutual. 🤗 I was recently wondering, “where has my intellectual compadre reluctant_commenter gone?“

[–]reluctant_commenter 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Aw, I've missed you too :) :)

I've been gone partly out of disillusionment with s/lesbians, and partly out of just real-life stuff. I'm super stressed over finances right now and I'm in an area that was heavily impacted by the wildfires. The past couple weeks have been a nightmare honestly.

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yea s/lesbians got especially weird and hostile for a bit and it’s still a little off. So many people coming in with an agenda and an axe to grind.

Real life is more important. I hope your finances get worked out, and I cannot imagine what it’s like living by the wildfires. How is this real life?

[–]reluctant_commenter 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, I might check back in on it in a few months or something. But it is still nice to see people like you and others over here :)

[–]PeakingPeachEaterfemale♀ | detrans🦎 | eater of peaches 🍑 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Oh, I thought this was satire...looks like your coworker might be trying hard to fit in?

There is no much to being bisexual, we just like men and women. That is all.

There really isn't a "bi culture" that I'm aware of...And I don't count that clown culture from r/bisexual because they are bunch of toddler who make up random stuff on spot.

Maybe the only "culture" thing is that bi people tend to be gender nonconforming or very comfortable with both masculinity and femininity?(at least I am, I don't care if people perceive me as masculine or feminine too much, I just am what I am...)

[–]julesburm1891[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yeah. It’s like he’s trying to conform to Reddit’s idea of bi guys because he thinks that’s what LGB people do. I just want to figure out how to tell him that’s bullshit and he doesn’t have to do that without making it weird or hurting his feelings.

[–]PeakingPeachEaterfemale♀ | detrans🦎 | eater of peaches 🍑 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Hmm, my thought is maybe showing him that we are not "stereotypical" LGB people(from reddit)?

For example, showing him good bisexual (men) representation in real life such as Alan Cumming, Jason Mraz, David Bowie, Freddy Mercury, etc. ((Though I think some I listed are into LGBT and NOT LGB...I don't know those english/american celebrities too much, jus hear they are bisexual)).

Also, maybe show you are not a stereotype either from your group (Ex. Just because you're lesbian, doesn't mean the only thing in your closet is flannel).

Idk if it would make it easier to frame it in this way:

What would you tell a young lesbian in regards to (reddit) stereotypes? How would you let them know its okay to not be like that?

Idk if that may help.

Edit: Just an after thought but maybe let him know it's okay to be an individual and not "conform" to reddit bisexual? That we're not monolith. It's much cooler anyways being yourself than trying to conform...

[–]florasisHOMOSEXUAL FEMALE/Pussy is my God and I'm monotheist 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

How can some people being so idiotic. I can't.

[–]reluctant_commenter 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

One other idea, besides introducing him to people IRL-- are there any good movies/books/shows with LGB or bi people you could show him? Maybe him seeing that bisexuality doesn't have to look a certain way, could help. Also more covid-safe.

For example, I have not seen The Good Place but someone told me there was a thoughtfully-written bisexual character on there.

[–]julesburm1891[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

This is a really good idea! I’ll see what I can find with good bi guy characters. Thank you!

[–]reluctant_commenter 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

No problem! :)

[–]MezozoicGayoldschool gay 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This makes me especially sad - if Facebook and Reddit can so easily brainwash grown up people who are afraid to came out because of homophobia and spending there to see "how real LGB people are", then how much more damage this trans ideology is doing to young gays and lesbians? If teen gay comes to /r/LGBT and see "transmen gay" talks or comes to /r/actuallesbians and see there everyone is talking about penises and transbians, then how they would be damaged from those places?

[–]yousaythosethingsFind and Replace "gatekeeping" with "having boundaries" 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Is this cringe? Yea but this guy is just coming out and trying to fit in and has idiots in his ear telling him this is the way. He will probably get over this pretty quickly - the meme culture, not being bi - when he sees that it doesn’t transfer IRL.

This is just obvious but if you have a gay scene where you are, offer to take him there and introduce him to it.

[–]BiHorror 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

First, tell him to knock it off with cringy "lemon bars" shit. If he got that from those subreddits, advise him to stay away from those.

Although this is a lot harder than I thought: since he's still figuring himself out, maybe advise him to experiment more? If he truly is, then it's alright. Just don't do that stereotypical stuff. Maybe direct him to learn more about bisexuality (history wise like figures who were out bi and inventing, advocating, etc.)

I would say to go out and get to know other men... But yeah, that ain't gonna happen anytime soon with the virus but maybe online? Just stick away from toxic subs.

[–]wafflegaffWoman. SuperBi. 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

(I haven't read what's below yet.)

I'm not sure there is something I would call "bi culture"—if there is, I've never encountered it, but I haven't looked either (silly TRA / TQ+ nonsense does not count)—but he definitely should not poison himself with those subreddits. Better to take a slower, healthier road to figuring himself out. Just be, it's not a performance he has to do for anyone else.

I feel like suggesting he find some (older) books, if there are any, but I haven't actually attempted to seek such books, either, but I'm hopeful that something sane and healthy is out there. I hope he manages to avoid being damaged by the crap going on everywhere right now.

Maybe it would be helpful for him to stop by and visit us here. I can't predict how that would affect his process, but it's a thought. A reality check, at least. But he also needs to be careful how much wising up he does in public, lest he be harassed by the usual bullies.

ETA: I agree about watching your own back here, in case he has been influenced by the TRA Kool-Aid already.

[–]Seahorse 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Is this for real? Cringe

It's such a strange thing to witness, trying to artificially create stereotypes.

You have to be careful because that subreddit will call someone biphobic at the drop of a hat. In fact I'd just let him figure shit out himself.