Dave Cullen Interview re:Ultimate Brokeback Forum

[Lynne]

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=290073&rel_no=1

The above article is a nice interview with Dave Cullen, founder of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum.  He talks a little about his history, why he thinks Brokeback Mountain influenced so many people, and some of their members' future plans.  It's definitely worth checking out...

Thanks,
-Lynne

[Aussie Chris]

This is pretty good Lynne, very diplomatic from DC though.

[Lynne]

Which parts did you find 'diplomatic'?  The analysis of why Crash won Best Picture over BBM? or was it something else?

I don't spend a alot of time at www.davecullen.com, but when I first learned of his work, I did read all of his blogs annd Salon articles about gays in the U.S. military.  I thought he's a very talented writer who comes across as an 'everyman' - a good observer of human nature who doesn't take himself too seriously.  I recommend these to anyone who hasn't already been exposed to his writing.

About 'Crash', I saw it this weekend...It was OK, just fine, some good performances, but I can't see how anyone would even put it in the same category as BBM.  And I think I have enough perspective now to be objective there.

-Lynne

[Aussie Chris]

Which parts did you find 'diplomatic'?  The analysis of why Crash won Best Picture over BBM? or was it something else?

Maybe non-confrontaional would have been a better word?  Well he didn't abuse at anyone and he merely recounts the possible contributors for Crash's win over BBM rather than giving his view/perspective.  It read more like a commentary rather than providing any insight into what he thinks.

[TJ]

I don't consider Mr. Dave Cullen to be an "everyman." I have read some of his comments in his own forum where he seemed to claim he knew everything and on certain subjects related to people in the Central States, he seems to know very little.

[Lynne]

Here is my cynical and probably completely unworthy theory and I mean this entirely tongue-in-cheek:  Dave Cullen is being diplomatic because he wants the media to be kind when his book on the Columbine massacre is published next year...

Vocabulary is essential in a forum isn't it?  Let me try for something more meaningful than 'everyman'.  I have by no means read DC's every post on his forum so I can't speak to those.

What impressed me were his articles in Salon about gays in the U.S. military and the 'don't ask don't tell' policy.  If anyone has any interest in the subject, I highly recommend them:

http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2000/06/06/officers/index.html

It seemed that DC went to great lengths to develop contacts in that world and patiently bide his time until he was sufficiently accepted that people affected by this policy would be open with him about their personal experiences.  I didn't find anything especially profound there, but it seemed to me a realistic glimpse into a world where many of us have no direct knowledge.  I work with military-types all the time in my day job, but we never discuss our love lives

-Lynne