I got tagged in a 10 facts thing, so....
1. I used to play Quake 3 Arena in a clan. We did ladder matches and tourneys among our small clan community. It was pretty fun, and it was one of the first times that I ever tried out for anything and was accepted based solely on skill. I worked really hard to get as good as I was to join, so it felt awesome when I finally made it.
2. I have moderate clinical depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It's not a fun combo. If I seem hesitant or non-responsive...it's probably because my anxieties are having a fit. I am trying to work through them more and more every day.
3. Despite being great at Q3A, it has been so long that I'm basically casual tier on FPS games now.
4. I came out as gay when I was 12, and I don't really regret it...but it did make things a lot harder. Given the things I've learned while navigating the world as a more femme-identified gay guy, I wouldn't go back and wait on coming out...so it's not like I'm mourning losing my relative privilege from being closeted. What made it so hard was the communities I lived in. I say communities because as soon as it became apparent that enough people knew about me, my family would move. I blamed myself for this. I was trying to make friends, and real friends want to know about your life. I thought telling them wouldn't be a problem, but it always ended with having to move. I distinctly remember my father hitting me with a belt when he learned that I had come out to a friend of his, which I actually didn't do. That friend seemed like a good person, and I had only let my guard down to act more like myself which read to her as gay. That was enough for punishment, I guess.
Even through all that, the moving and the punishment...I'm happy that I was honest about myself. Nothing teaches you more about the need to care for others like seeing how people will treat you when you're different. While a lot of gay dudes who are like me (white cismales) don't seem to internalize the same lessons, I try to apply those lessons as much as possible in understanding the struggles of others.
5. I'm an atheist. I am the type of atheist that is "so made", in the sense that I have a fundamental inability to accept religious doctrine. I'm also a big lover of science. I don't really care enough to try to argue with others about these things. As long as someone's beliefs don't actively (or even passively, really) work to destroy or oppress someone, I'm cool with whatever you think the universe is all about.
6. I lived in NC before moving to NYC. Weather still has no idea what it is doing here. Coat in the morning, burning death by 5pm is a common occurrence all along the east coast it seems.
7. The first three CDs I ever owned was Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar, TLC - CrazySexyCool, and Le Tigre - Feminist Sweepstakes. I didn't buy many albums until I was in High School because my school was right next to a music store, so that was my collection to that point.
8. I think it's a crime that some of the people in Darren Aronofsky's original friend and cast group haven't seen similar success to his. Pi was a success because of a collaborative effort on the part of his cast and crew, and Requiem as well to an extent. It's also particularly upsetting that Samia Shoaib didn't see more recognition, considering her qualifications, talent, and input. She may have played small parts in the films, but her input on the process should be documented and recognized as well.
9. I believe in justice. I have a hard time understanding why the internet (and society) views that as a negative thing. Believing in the potential for all people to have and give human dignity, and working toward that...is NOT a personality flaw.
10. Okay...last one...hmm...I have been gaming since I was 8 years old. My first system was an NES, which I mostly played Mario and Zelda on. My mother LOVED Dr. Mario. She could kick anyone's ass at it any day, and was rather proud of that fact. I had consoles up to the point the PS2 came out, and then was a PC gamer from then on. My favorite games of all time have to be: Quake 3 Arena, Killer Instinct, Final Fantasy 7 (nostalgic value), Pokemon Blue, Sonic 2, Killing Floor, and...uh...a bunch I don't remember.
Alright! That's all! I hope I mixed in enough personal and heavy stuff with fun things to be interesting...and now for the TAGS
(make sure to check the post tags to see if you've been tagged, then make a post of your own! sorry if I didn't tag you for this one, I STILL LOVE YOU AND YOU CAN TOTALLY MAKE ONE OF THESE POSTS ANYWAY BECAUSE I WANNA KNOW STUFF :D)
