Nicely put.

Personaly I find his style and his take on Fresno and the Fresno Dwarves refreshing.

Mr. Rob DeFrees,

In America we place our name at the end of our mindless drivel.

Very truly yours,

Tommy_Tower

this is hilarious

Glad I'm not Chris delivering newspapers.(The Family Guy)
Now we know where the popsicles are at.
LOL

Rob DeFrees

If there are old geezers acting wicked to patrons, am shocked that YOU or any one else using the facility would not tell management of the activity. Should think that old geezers looking for "candy" would soon stop a layabout if they knew folks would let management know.
This story smacks of an "urban legand" told so oft it is believed.

This picture should be removed and will be reported to the Feds.
Shame Shame Shame!

...well, we all have our faults and failures...

(when not much older than this fellow, my sister bought me a pair of nylon 'parachute pants,' (black) similar to what Sting wore when the police were just breaking out, (this was in the early early eighties.)

Threw 'em on (as I was a starving art student at the time, actually my mom broke out in tears when I first arrived back home, 6'2" weighting in at a svelte 160lbs... (sticks indeed,)
--anyhow, threw 'em on, and proceeded to wait at the trainstation in Newark, hoping to catch another train down to Philly... (headed back to school from Birthday weekend...)

Said pants on said self warranted a TON of looks by men in argyle sweater-vests and more than a few comments and invitations...
(Not quite the goal I had in mind...)

To which, having missed my train, and seeing several hours waiting in the trainstation (or worse, out in front of it on the sidewalk,)
I phoned up m StepDad, explained the situation at hand, and asked '...how fast can you get here?'

...Thank God, I don't have the physique nor bad fashion sense to try that again...
(stupid stupid stupid...)

Rob DeFrees

I think the thing that bothered me most about the young lad was his complete lack of fashion! Hmmmmmmmmmmm, perhaps he was calling self that word(means a bundle of dried sticks) to have some one set his outfit on fire.

Gobsmacked that the lad would wear horrid green shorts to call attention to his "chicken legs".

first off:

none of the comments written above (to my knowledge,) had anything to do with 'outrage.'

Perhaps that's what is desired, as this is someone looking for attention:

'...I'm a scandal, this is a hot-potato subject, whoooo, hot-button hot-button, outrage, scandal, I get to choose the words I want, look at me, scandal-scandal, I'm provocative...'

unh-huh.

Something tells me that this individual may not be adverse to seeking attention, (their photo does not really depict the shy and demure type.)

-they also seem to be a bit 'aspiring,' (for this noteriety? being 'Fresno's Faggot?' ...um, gee, I've been fresno for three years now, know a lot of 'alt.' lifestyle folks...
have never heard of this individual.
I'd recommend a better PR man.

Regarding being 'Fresno's anything.
um, okay, well everybody needs a goal, good luck, and I hope all sorts of noteriety and praise comes from your efforts.

(Personally,)

I happen to be of the camp and discipline of less talk, more action (shocking I know, consideirng I've never met a keyboard I didn't like...)
--but what I mean by that is:

Are you an artist?
great.
Are you aspiring?
great.
Are you gay, straight, bi, transgender?
That's fine too.

Lotsa people are.
So what?

Personally, when it comes to respecting somebody's efforts, I tend to be a lot more 'in their corner,' and supportive of them when it's about the work that they do, the intergrity of that, the integrity of them, their reasons and causes, ---as well as how they can see and accomplish better and furthering their cause.

-Is this some sort of
'we need to build image and gay rights,' thing?
(I'm assuming that 'faggot,' in this sense is still referring to a derrogatory term for male homosexual,)
--I suppose you can twist it to that.

--But I think the person attempting it is going at it the wrong way. (again, just my opinion.)

There is a time and a place to present anything, and there is also a time to be direct, or indirect, or simply reflective.
There is also something to be said for class and dignity.
(..sorry, but my glbt friends and family are all over that class-dignity-timing thing...)

Sociologically?;
I'm totally aware of the whole concept of 'recapturing,' phrases, to remove the negative,
--which takes the wind out of the sails of prejudice.
(part of this is why I laughingly call myself a 'hillbilly,' sometimes...
(I mean it's true, I am one, but I see the humor in it, but understand that such phrases are initially meant to be insulting.)

I (again, personally,)
Think that what is happening here is
A.) generating buzz and controversy (congrats, more posts, more readers, attention granted.)
B.) making a big deal out of what is basically nothing (straight and gay folks have been around for a long time, probably WILL be around a long time,
-and I personally,
(so long as a person is not being ostracized, picked on, or anything negative, ---and is being afforded the same rights and nurture as anyone else?
--Really don't care what a person does with their private parts, gender description, bedroom, backseat, (whatever.)
In a lot of ways it's a non-issue.
--and I certainly hope folks are able to have bigger and better definitions in life than who and what they want to bed. (Really, can we aim a little higher?)

So that's kind of a sticking point.
--Though I realize that growing up in any environment 'different,' is difficult,
--and growing up gay in Fresno has got to be really difficult?

I think there are ways to go about it that are beneficial and healthy (as opposed to,) ways that are derrogatory and forming of onesself in a negative fashion.

-I don't see being gay as negative.
(therefore)
I DON'T think it's suitable to include a negative description in it for ones own definition.
(unless that individual (themself,) feels it's negative.
-So dislike of the phrase is as simple as that.

Regarding the age/legal thing?
Pretty much that stands as is.

Though I realize the sexuality of a person starts at a very young age, and understand the need of folks to explore situations and themselves
-to find out who they are and what they want to be,

--the danger lies in openning oneself to others who are more than happy to exercise damaging and deviant behaviors
--and do such on a minor.
A minor is still a child.
--And that child is (still) the responsibility of the adults who are legal guardians of them.
(all sorts of flags go up there, who's responsible if this individual is treated negatively or harmed,
--which is quite likely in today's world.

So, I sort of see it as a bad situation on a lot of levels:
-person calling themselves by a derrogatory name.
-that derrogatory name defines what is considered the 'core,' of who they are (in a lot of folks minds.)
-the person is broadcasting a picture and this above mentioned definition (which also goes into 'intent,') on the internet
--AND they're a kid.
-that's an invitation to some pretty bad things.

And, regardless of someone's opinnion of this writing or the situation at hand, --I don't think anybody (myself included,) wants to see harm come to somebody, (even if their behavior is careless,)
--and I specifically wouldn't want to see harm come to this individual, (who is still an adolescent.)

When forming one's personality;
Everybody is allowed to make mistakes and have 'extremely bad hair days,' in how they present themselves and what they do,
---but there's doing such a thing in the round where it's permissible, protected, sane, and (awkwardly,) affirming of who a person is:
--and then there is doing such to seek attention in front of a myriad of others, some of which have very bad intent in mind,
--others who will see it as provoking ostracism and stepping back from 'decency,' on the issue,
--and a lot of folks (myself included,) who see it as a very stupid way to gain attention, -and quite self-destructive ta boot.

I agree with 'robdefres' on this:
It's sad.

This is not about:
'a young man's rights to identify himself how he chooses,'
it's not about
'the meaning of words.'
-people need to put down their protest signs and pick up their brains on this:

It's about somebody doing something really dumb, dangerous, and potentially (and already) self-destructive.
Which is sad,
---because (obviously,) this person has a viable and vibrant personality, (which is probably a lot of fun, and quite provocative to thought and creativity,)

-at the rate they're going, I doubt THAT is being pursued nor cultured so well,
-and I don't think it will continue, time-wise for too long in life, (again, it's self destructive.)

-and as for the 'it's only just a word,' argument?
...please.

Try going up to anyone on the street, calling them any of 'those' words, and expect them to say:
'...your words mean whatever I want them to mean, they are just words.'
--like they're on enough prozac to watch holocaust footage unblinking and barely squeek out the thought
'...must buy milk and catfood today...'
Don't be a fool.

-outside of the realm of academics and theory, (which means: 'real world,' --we all know that words mean things, and using the wrong word both causes and invites great damage.

Think not? walk into a 'rougher,' neighborhood, ---heck, go into a 'nicer,' one,
---and start hurling epithets.
I don't advise this, but everybody deserves a first rate and first hand education... if this is how you learn, so be it.

If this 'word,' meant nothing?
They wouldn't have used it to begin with.

Rob DeFrees

GIVE THE CHAP FOOD FOR THOUGHT

no disrespect, just curious.

so, by becoming outraged and granting the attention said person was trying to garner by doing so... you've achieved what?

Rob DeFrees

It is horrid for one to use a word that is not pleasant to define one's self. It is not funny, quite sad really.

someone called themself a faggot.

who cares?

As for the legal aspect, there could be an issue, I suppose.

He does go by Fresno's Faggot, though, by his own choice. In today's popular culture, particularly on myspace, there's nothing wrong with it. It's really nothing more than a word now, it seems. It's becoming rather trendy as opposed to being offensive.

Really, though, words are words. They mean what we make them mean.

SXR

aka revenge of the 'nerds'
calling oneself a 'punk'
-even use of the word 'queer,' as in 'queer eye for the straight guy.'
computer 'geek,'
and the ever-so-lovely use of the 'n,' word...

-and a little before your time, perhaps:
a quarter of a century ago:
Joe Jackson singing:
'...So don't call me a faggot, not unless you are a friend...' (Real Men)

If that's the attempt of this individual,
they're unfortunately falling right on their face,
as there really isn't anything dignified in the imagery, and it turns it from a type of empowerment to reduce the 'sting,' of the word, into crude stupidity.

-The further concern?
I'm curious as to what the legal ramifications of someone identifying themselves using sexual identity is, when they're under 21 and even under 18. (This is still (technically,) an adolescent, and therefore a child.

(Think Not?
--be over 18, and have any kind of intimate relationship with them along the lines of their 'identity,'(gay or straight,)
-You'd be arrested for unlawful interraction with a minor...

NOT the image and disposition most gay folks I know want to represent them by a long shot.

Maybe a better word would be 'jailbait.'

For a lot of people of any minority (gender, ethnicity) taking ownership of the word is taking away the power of other people using it to hurt you.

werd.

I am rather shocked by that headline too. That is a very hateful word and it should not be used. Seems like it should be edited or deleted.

so like, I'm sitting here wondering:
-Considering that this is a posting of an individual about their sexual orientation (in a very negative sense,)
on a public site,
BUT
-said individual is under the age of 21,
(16)

Is a parental consent required to post this?

I mean, it is owned by the BEE... yuh?

(I'm also wondering:
'...Gee, with the recent slandering of a pastor, based upon (alleged) sexual identity... and the obviously lacking in good taste nature of this post...
-could this be a prank???)

That's the funny thing about this place, ya know... there are people here who just plain are this messed up, and folks are like... 'um, yeah, well, you know, whatever...'

Rob DeFrees

Is it cute or clever for young folks to use such a label to identify one's self. "Faggot" is very harsh and can not believe it is a good thing to use.