tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816482089804053692.post7161471246097326414..comments2012-02-05T21:20:00.146-08:00Comments on The Land of Cheese: In a World of Lolcats and BroniesTheCardinalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870420587091712847noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816482089804053692.post-76054506336756287612011-12-20T19:56:33.397-08:002011-12-20T19:56:33.397-08:00I know that we all do like to believe that things ...I know that we all do like to believe that things really are better now, and they are to a certain extent. However, I could still see this book being written by someone who grows up in very homophobic family and community -- our narrator could easily believe he could overcome his sexual orientation through so-called "conversion" therapy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546808391292960371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816482089804053692.post-67403599116747784282011-12-09T07:20:36.275-08:002011-12-09T07:20:36.275-08:00That is exactly the thought I was having during ou...That is exactly the thought I was having during our discussion. The society in which Kochan grew up in was very restrictive as far as sexuality was concerned. It was not a question of whether some was gay or not it was assumed that everyone was straight and gay was not something that anyone talked about or even mentioned. This puts him so far behind his mask that, like we discussed, he completely disassociates that part from himself. I definitely think that if he had grown up in today's society he would have found an outlet for his fantasies (however disturbing they are). With the various internet sites and groups out there he would have been able to both feel comfortable with his thoughts while at the same time keeping them secret, if he wanted to. In my women's study class we talked about how married men who are discovered to be pedophiles have wives who had absolutely no clue. These men were able to so cleverly hide their obsessions that the one's they were married to had no idea. While I am not saying it would totally work in Kochan's case, he would have a better chance at keeping up that facade of normalcy while being able to indulge his true self.Eilis Petzkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11540111518795836985noreply@blogger.com