Monday, March 26, 2007

Bartender Casanova

As most of you probably already know, I love to pick people’s brains. I love to know what they’re thinking and what makes them tick. I especially pick the brains of people I already know- or think I know at least. The most fascinating thing to me is, people are so unique and so different from one another. They think differently, react differently and want and need different things in life. When we stereotype certain ‘men’, we think of a sport’s fanatic, beer drinking muscular (or not) kind of guy. He’s got a pack of wolves he calls ‘friends’ and basically howls at any Sue, Jen or Jane. Okay, that’s a bit extreme, but let’s focus on those types for a minute.

There’s this one guy, who’s name I won’t mention, that constantly plants the idea of including himself in my girlfriend's and my relationship. He’s the bartender of a local pub in the area. Now, granted my girlfriend and I flirt and give each other googly eyes at the bar, but never anything risqué or inappropriate, but it’s totally obvious we’re a couple. We’re very friendly with him and tolerate whatever innuendoes come flying across the bar along with our beers.

Since I’ve experienced the task of being a bartender myself, I know that it’s important to make your customers feel as though they’re number one. Yes, I admit it- I flirted with my barstool warmers. They took care of me. The majority of my money was made through tips. Sure, I would give a nice friendly smile and some bedroom eyes while treating them every third drink, but it paid off. Don’t think men don’t do this either! This bartender flirted big time, so I played the game. I, as the customer flirted back. Why? To get free drinks. So the flirting can be finagled at both ends of the spectrum. And what better way to flirt with a guy who’s bartending at a straight pub while he’s looking over at two lesbians in need of some liquid medication? Perfect, or is it? It got a bit complicated as he ran outside after us giving us his phone number. “Come to my house and watch the game with me!” I’d only do that with The Boys at the Jammy! Totally faithful to those guys!

Think about this… What if I was straight and I walked into the same pub with a good-looking man at my side? That bartender would have never hit on me. Now, another question is this- and maybe my straight male readers can help me… Say if a man sees two lesbians (who he know for sure are together) walk into a bar or restaurant. The two of them are cozy in a corner talking and having a few cocktails. What makes them decide that it’s “okay” to approach them or buy them a drink? He would never do this if it was a male/female couple, but for some reason, he feels less intimidated by a female couple. Do you think it’s out of disrespect? Or do you think that most men feel that two women together aren’t as serious as a heterosexual couple?

If a man bought a woman a drink while she was with her boyfriend or husband, that would be totally disrespectful, right? Seeing a lesbian couple, you then have the possible scenario of a man trying to get one of the girls to jump on the other side of the fence. He feels that somehow, he has this magnificent power to make them straight after she’s been with him. “Well after you’ve been with me, you won’t want another woman again.” I’ve heard that so many times. I even took a man up on that once...or twice. It failed. I tried. Nothing. Nada. I’m still a dyke!

I’m not trying to implicate that I’m a manhater of any sort. I’m just trying to reason with men who have this type of mentality. Is it out of conceit? Or is it the whole ‘man should be with woman’ type of thinking---the Tarzan one brain cell concept? My opinions may be coming off very strong right now, but I’ve been hit with very strong ‘suggestions’ and ‘innuendos’ to the point of no return. Sometimes I feel like saying, “Get over yourself!” But other times, I play into ‘the game’ and make the guy feel what it’s like to be played with. Is it disrespectful? Maybe. A tit for tat? Possibly. Is it right? Probably not. But, I will say that it makes me perturbed when I see some buffoon trying to ‘get in’ on a very loving relationship. And that’s where the misconception of promiscuity and homosexuality comes in. Do they think we’re promiscuous just because we’re lesbians?

25 comments:

Craig said...

hmm ... it could be the old two girls and one guy fantasy memory he had looping in his mind?

Makes me wonder how many heterosexual men have that fantasy compared to the two guys and one girl fantasy.

I'm the former type guy - to me it doesn't really matter their orientation. Hey, it's my fantasy dammit ! ;-)

Catch said...

I think most guys think they can change you....once youve been with me you wont want another woman. Most guys are like that about anybody! lol. The old.."once youve been with me, you wont want to be with nobody else".....yada, yada, yada.....lol

Dirk_Star said...

I think something is wrong with my eyes.

Can you stop by for a look?

The Rev. Dr. Kate said...

For some reason, a great many men have huge egos without the equipment and finesse to match. Yes, there is a generalized male fanatasy out there about a man and two lesbians, but there are also alot of men out there who think they are God's gift to ANY woman - gay, straight or bi. I don't know what is driving your barteneder, but I'd dtay far, far away!

Zibi said...

Very interesting post Deb... alot of what you say is true and I guess the comments of Craig it perhaps what most men fantasize about

~Deb said...

I can totally see why men fantasize about it, but my question is, why is it okay to approach a female couple rather than a heterosexual couple? Fantasies---fine. But the thing that gets me is, the disrespect behind the gesture. I totally see the “obvious” – but it’s still unnerving sometimes walking into a public establishment. I can see if the guy who is buying the drinks has no clue if the two girls are together. What I don’t understand is the fine line between “being promiscuous” and just being a lesbian with her partner. Now, I will say that I tinkered around with this poor guy to see his reactions. I wanted to see what was brewing in that head of his. I even asked him a bunch of questions ‘why’ he liked my girlfriend and I so much.

He said, ”Well, whatever turns me on turns me on.” I guess I have my answer. When I first met this guy, he was so nice. But so are the ten million other bartenders trying to make a living. I just wish that ‘these types’ of guys wouldn’t spoil my thinking about the rest of the good men out there (I know they're out there) who value women and don’t make them out to be a piece of meat. Maybe it’s the water around these parts, but these men need more depth to them!

kathi said...

Couple of things: one, because if you were with a man they'd get their butt's kicked and two, chances are even if you were with a man, they'd still hit on you, just when he'd gone to the mens room or wasn't within hearing or seeing distance. Oh, guess it does all come down to not getting his butt kicked. :) A jerk is a jerk. A good guy wouldn't do it whether you were straight or not.

Crassius Maximus said...

Big ups for staying faithful to us! That dude is a douche. I know women dig confidence, but at some point it can be taken too far. This situation is one of those times. This guy rationalizes it by thinking he could get with both of you at the same time, when he has no shot with either of you. Again, if you weren't so good looking, you probably wouldn't get hit on so much.

Natalia said...

The gay community has the promiscuous stereotype cornered, I am afraid. Lesbians are stereotyped as angry at men.

All of it is just bollocks. People are people. Each with their own values and beliefs.

Stereotypes are reinforced by the media and by those who'd rather label than appreciate by learning.

-N

~Deb said...

Then you also have the stereotypes of women appearing as 'weak' or without a backbone once a man approaches them. However, this case was different. If I had a man with me, I wouldn't have flirted with the bartender for a few freebies...But, the stereotype of lesbians being seen as "manhaters", sadly enough there are a lot of women who are like that. For me? I love men. I just don't want intimacy with them nor do I want to date them in any way. I have many male friends who are dear to me...love them!

And I highly doubt if it has to do with 'looks' so much. I think if any lesbian couple were to walk into a crowded room full of men, they'd definitely get hit on. (Depending or not they looked like women.) That's a whole other story in itself!

Matt-Man said...

I have CREATED far more lesbians than I have converted. ; ) I would buy drinks for both parts of the couple but not just the girlfriend of a man. That is just plain rude. Cheers!!

Seven said...

Deb,
I hope this doesn't set me up for attacks, but it seems to me when 2 straight women are talking with one another, they do so in a manner that is more intimate that straight men might engage in. What I mean is that a straight male like myself may not immediately understand you are an intimate couple. He may only see 2 women with one another, meaning in his thinking that your 'without men'.
I have watched women couples in social situations and wondered, and left not really knowing if they were a couple or not.
I would advise you to not feel too offended in any case. Men are natural seekers of women. Its our calling. The seeking needs to be necessarily separated from being predatory or rude. I have seen those men too and frankly they embarrass my gender. But if a James Bond type of smoothness approaches you and is simply misguided, its better not to be offended.
My straight guy 4 cents.

~Deb said...

I totally understand if a guy sees two girls hanging out talking. Women are more huggy, etc. But if this person knew for sure that the two girls were a couple, why would he think he had a shot getting in on the action? But, I do understand how men work kinda/sorta... So I do take it with a grain of salt, and I play into it of course. The funny part about it is, the man gets upset when we flirt back, yet nothing transpires afterwards. I just find 'those types' of men to be a bit conceited.

~Deb said...

And yeah, Bond is smooth. Unfortunately, these particular guys are not.

~Deb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pittchick said...

Interesting subject matter. Not really something I've given any thought to. I've had men buy me drinks before, but they are usually friends, so my husband would never be concerned about that.
I think I might get a headache if I try to figure out why men do what they do. I would be interested to know if any men out there have done such a thing, and if so, what was the outcome?

Enemy of the Republic said...

Good old Seven. What honesty! I love it. I also think Craig hit on it as well--I am amazed at how many men find women making love to be enticing. I guess I will just leave it at that.

Sandalina said...

I once heard a comedian ask why in the world a man would want two women in bed with him...he can barely satisfy one. LOL

Cinderella said...

I think sometimes they just want to be nice. Sometimes they may not even know you are 'together'. I have a beast friend and we are not a couple or anything but we sit close in bars and talk and whisper and guys buy us drinks and never think twice about it. I just think it's human nature. Men just want to be nice and social at bars, it is a social scene after all. I do see what you are saying though, I know if it were a female/male couple the drinks would never happen. I *think* most female couples are more gracious though, and that's why they do it.

=)

Cinderella said...

best* not beast hahaha

GW Mush said...

Interesting questions Deb!
Of Course all those questions are from your perspective, and I might add a few of my own based on being close to something like a male:)

In this day & age of gender equality, why are women using their sexuality to get free drinks? hehe

I dont go to bars, and Im guessing that men dont mind buying drinks for women simply cuz they were smiled at, but... heck... it seems everyone has their own games they play, hehe

Miss 1999 said...

You know, I have NO clue on this one-- I've known several men throughout the years who have had the "lesbian fantasy"-- You know, the one where he gets to hop into bed with two lesbians (when in reality, this really doesn't happen)

Anyway, I don't know if men think that buying women a drink will in someway, make this fantasy a reality, or if some men are just so dumb, they truly can't tell the women are lesbians-- it's untelling with some men.

All I know, is I'm sorry you've been disrespected like that, because you truly deserve better! *Hugs*

Dirk_Star said...

By the way, is this a Pay Per Post?

Nancy said...

There are *some* men who seem to approach a woman in a bar Kamikaze style -- they figure they have nothing to lose. Even if they make a complete ass out of themselves, they want to give it a shot. Some of these guys will actually get mad if the outcome isn't in their favor (I hate that).

I think some guys just want to run things up the flagpole and see what happens, especially if it means getting to make a very common male fantasy come true.

Charm School Reject said...

Honestly, I can't even count the number of times some random guy has hit on me, knowing full well that my husband (or whatever he was at that given time) was with me. This just happened two weeks ago. There are nice guys and there are pigs. Unfortunately, the pigs don't care who you're with, what your sexual orientation is, what color you are and, sometimes, how ugly you are. They want some and they will do what it takes to get some. He may even be doing it just to make you guys uncomfortable. There's no telling what is going through his head.