Not to sound to Seinfeld but, "What is with kids these days?" (Not to mention airline food lol).  I'm serious when I ask this question.  Usually I chalk it up to the usual stuff, I'm getting older and as I do, I think I'm becoming an old curmudgen who just thinks people in general are fat headed, asshat morons.  But I always assumed, even in the semi-innocent eyes of early teens, there was still some sembalance of God damned civility!
So much to my amazement, I get a text message today from my once serene and angelic little cousin.  She's thirteen, oh so impetuous at that age, and she asks if she can ask me a question "she just thought of."  I think its something simple, something she feels only I have some knowledge about.  Boy howdy was I frakking wrong!

She asks me, no word of a lie "Are you gay?"  Seriously? Seriously?  Super seriously? 

After counting to ten in my head, and taking quite a few deep breaths I respond with the least scathing thing I can, telling her that was rude and saying if she wants to be treated like an adult she should act the part. 
Right now I'll say it, NO, I AM NOT GAY.  Flamboyant perhaps, a charming SOB for sure, but not Gay.  I like lady parts, they're fun.  And my problem doesn't line in the essence of the question, assuming its true, pure curiosity.  The old adage isn't wrong, there's no such thing as a stupid question...(feel free to finish that as you wish in the comments).  There is, however, a wrong way to ask questions.  And a wrong way to react to reactions.

I was disturbed by the question, and yet to see a response simply saying "I'm sorry."  If she really wanted to know, I doubt a text message was the right way to ask.  And furthermore, how is it her bleeding business?  What happened to privacy, to letting folks do as they wish but still being polite to others?  Is that the problem?  Have we become so self-centred that we no longer think anyone elses feelings matter?  I think it might be.
I'm no innocent either, I'm known to make a rude joke from time to time, and with two friends now breeding, I'm fighting not to say fuck, shit, dick, whore in the kids presence.  That's a work in progress, and I realise in a polite proper world, swearing is probably frowned on.  But you know what, I've never just asked a person if they're gay.  It doesn't matter, its moot.  I know nice gay folk (Travis if you're reading this, big love) and they're nice because they are nice, not because they are gay.  I don't think of these people as gay or straight, just as good people.
So what's this guys beef?  Why's he suddenly Rantasaurous Rex?  Its the fact that some things are need to know, and I think we're losing sight of what those things are.  Its linked to so much TRL Celebrity Cootch Shot Videos and streaming news of who kissed who in the where.  No one needs to know, no one should care.  We should gauge a person on the person themselves, not on who they kiss or what they find attractive (with limitations yes, I'll beat you to the point and say that there are limits, no kids, no necros, no beasts in the hay and all that).  We just shouldn't ask, or try to know, because the simple fact is, its not really important.

To any and all parents, aspiring breeders, teachers, and others who influence youngins, teach em this please.
Peace out interwebz!