There's an obviously closeted old Christian guy at work who hits on me

[Sirotnikov]

Ask some screening questions.

eg. "What church do you go to?"

I say that any step that suggests interest, or provokes conversation with that guy, is NOT the kind of message Asher would want to signal.

[Asher]

Asher - is there really a risk posed by being openly gay in software business? I would guess in Israel it is considered among the more gay friendly, liberal minded industries.

There's a risk in any business. Some people are homophobic, not as rare as you may think (even if it's not outwardly obvious).

I've had enough bad experiences in my life with it that I'm guarded about it.

[Barnabas]

Yes. Nearly dead.

I am 25

[Asher]

Me too.

[SlowwHand]

Just hang him and be done with it. I'm not doing anything the rest of the week...

[Theben]

Was that an offer to Asher?

[SlowwHand]

I've said enough. If this dude ends up dead anytime soon, especially by hanging, I need to be able to account for my whereabouts.

[MrFun]

Too bad you're not out at work, Asher - it would have simplified a way for you get out of your situation with that dude. I came out at work fairly early on when in conversation I had with colleagues, we turned to what we did for the weekend.

I had planned to simply say that I went out to clubs and bars and leave it at that, without divulging anything else. Then one of my colleagues asked which ones. So I said I went to a few in the Dupont Circle area.

He raised his eyebrows slightly and said that I probably won't be meeting straight, single women there very often. So then I told him and the other colleague that that is fine with me, because I'm gay.

One of those two colleagues is a fiscally conservative Republican, and he and I get along just fine. Sometimes we still talk about dating in general (his dating experiences with women, and mine with gay men) and I am more open now about my social life at work. I keep my sex life private, though - and my straight colleagues keep their sex life private.

[SlowwHand]

Only crude people don't.

[SlowwHand]

dp

[-Jrabbit]

I've said enough. If this dude ends up dead anytime soon, especially by hanging, I need to be able to account for my whereabouts.

Send me your IP and login and I'll make sure you were here posting the whole time.

[SlowwHand]

[FrostyBoy]

I hate living in countries where people are openly gay. I get shivers down my spine when one flirts at me; I feel sick in the stomach.

Why won't girls do that. (More girls than usual I mean).

[Wezil]

I say that any step that suggests interest, or provokes conversation with that guy, is NOT the kind of message Asher would want to signal.

Hey Siro - read the post above the one you quoted. *whoosh*

[Elok]

I was going to offer Flubber's advice, more or less, but he beat me to it. Just be as uninteresting as you can possibly be. Respond with pleasant, noncommittal grunty-noises, as in "mm-hmm." While nodding and staring vacantly at your screen. Or try just looking as awkward as you feel.