sturtle [dot] com

Over the course of my life, I’ve had to come out several times. There was the homo coming-out–I enjoyed that one so much I did it several times: once when I was 14 (to a junior high pal and his older sister’s homo friends), then again when I was 19 (to a new group of homo buddies), and then the big one when I hit 20 (I was about to be outed to my then-girlfriend and chose to do it myself before things got nasty). Of course, I’m of the mind that if you’re a homo, you’re sorta coming out every day, so I guess I’m still in the process.

I’ve also come out in other ways: as a bear-lover (and I don’t mean Smokey), a social smoker (which makes me like a bisexual–neither camp wants me in their ranks), and here, on this website, I came out as a former D&D player (I could link to the archive file, but I’m not quite that masochistic). I only wish I could have come out as a deb–though now that I think about it, I look kinda crappy in white. Maybe it’s best I skipped that one.

As some of you might have guessed, today I must come out again. No, I don’t get into scat–despite some rude accusations from certain email correspondents who shall remain nameless. And I’m not crossing back over into heteroland anytime soon…. Any guesses?

None?

Okay. I’m a gamer. A pretty avid one at that.

Now, I don’t get into the mindless sort of shoot-em-up kickboxing stuff, and I don’t even look twice at the sports games, but give me a good Tombraider, and you’ll have just managed to shut me up for the next eight months.

My latest obession is Thief 2: The Metal Age. It’s got all the things that really get me going, notably good graphics and a low-kill/high-puzzle factor. But I gotta tell ya: the controls SUCK. They’re all over the map. My poor qwerty keyboard can’t handle it. But of course, that’s how I know I’m really hooked: my fingers are tied in knots, yet I still keep playing.

Why did I choose today to come out? Well, the office is really quiet right now–just a few people passing up and down the hall–and the only noises are the sort of sniffling and scuffling you hear in the game while you’re waiting for someone to turn their back so’s you can sneak into someone’s bedroom. Everyday sounds I’d normally overlook now have me pressing ALT-W and holding my breath. If it’s that engrossing, it must be pretty good, huh?

I’m okay with my game-lust, I guess. Just don’t tell my mom. She still remembers the happy day I finally gave up the Atari and the Intellivision (am I dating myself?). She’d be so disappointed.