I mentioned Fat Gay Sam previously, as an example of a somewhat unfortunate nickname at the bar. Yes: he is fat. Yes: he is gay. But the nickname came from there being two Sams at the bar. The other Sam is lean, and hetero. When there are two people with the same name at least one of them will get a nickname. So: there is Sam, and there is Fat Gay Sam. Of course, Fat Gay Sam could've been just Sam, and the other Sam could've maybe been Lean Straight Sam. But it usually doesn't work that way. The one farthest from the perceived norm gets the nickname. Unless the person closer to the perceived norm already has a cool nickname. Like Reno, say. Or Chain Dude. Then he gets his nickname, too. And -- no -- you cannot pick your own nickname. You will be laughed at mercilessly. Unless people are afraid of you. Then 'Eight Ball' it is. For instance. This nickname dynamic happens outside the bar, of course, albeit in a more neutral form. Say there are two Johns in t...

Rumors went round the bar a few months ago about two of the regulars having hooked up for sex one night. They are both in their fifties, and probably figured that their Perfect Other wasn't coming into the bar anytime soon. And they were probably drunk. So: if they were in college it might have been considered rape. Which is another reason why the bar is better than college. Afterward, the guy told others that the woman's genital hygiene was atrocious. Yes: the rotting fish analogy was made. I thought this was poor etiquette on the man's part. And his own hygiene is not stellar, at least from a sweaty, disheveled same-clothes-day-after-day manner. From this: I would not bet on him changing his underwear daily. And I certainly don't wish to view those underwear to confirm my suspicion. But I think they would. Confirm my suspicion, that is. So I don't believe that particular stone should have been cast. When the rotting fish analogy was made the flamb...