levasseur@morgan.DEC (Ray EMD & S Admin 223-5027) (11/27/85)
A net.motss penpal that I met a year ago has been quite nice in that he has taken the time and effort to fully format just about every Jason article I've posted into manuscript form. I've met this person last Spring while he was in Boston on business. He would rather remain anonymous since he is not as looudmouthed as I am about declaring my sexuality and has asked me to post an article he wrote un- der the pseudonym of Dionysus. I read the article and think that it's pretty good, therefore I'm posting it at his request. Regards, Ray (aka) Jason ----------------------- cut here --------- cut here ----------------------- Page 1 Auntie Dion Chatters Auntie Dion Chatters On Well, everybody has heard or seen Jasons witty discourses on Life and other useless topics. Auntie Dion tries to fill the breach, what Jason doesn't cover Dion tries. Of course, there might be good reason why Jason didn't but that won't stop our Auntie. So, enjoy the Compleat Gay Advisor and Encylopaedia. Chapter 1 Hustlers, or Take the money and run During your life you will meet up with a class of people called "hustlers". Yes, I know that the Gay slang calls a male prostitue a "hustler" and I include many of those in my classification, but I consider a hustler a broader group and distinct from the User/Loser that Jason talks about. But they are related and overlap. Let me tell you about one. I had an ad in the local bar rag. "Danny" answered. He lived near and was lonely. After a couple of dates it was clear that he was an aimless soul. Later, it turned out that Danny and his family were at odds. He moved in with me and Lee as a house boy for a while. We'd give him room and board in exchange for cleaning house and cooking, etc. It was made very clear that he had to pay for his own booze and cigarettes. Well, things went on okay for about a week. Then Lee discovered a couple of packs of cigarettes missing. And I discovered half of my trove of pennies gone. Then Lee was missing his loose change. Over the 4th of July we left the house in Danny's care. When we got back we found much of the booze gone and other small disturbing things. For various reasons, Lee never got around to giving Danny hell for filching the cigarettes, and then eventually Danny split. We were aware that he might be leaving and Auntie Dion Chatters Page 2 were not too broken up about it. But one day he wasn't there when we got home from work. After an inventory of the house and several days later we discovered that we were missing: a back pack, a Stetson hat and some clothes, some jewlery and part of a coin collection stored in the basement. Later we got a call from a "boy" asking if we needed a house-boy. Danny wasn't a "real" hustler [prostitute] but close, he had had sex with us and we suspected he hung around the right neighborhood, but we don't think he actually was. Lest you think we were unjustly accusing Danny, note that he left a bag of clothes behind but last week when Lee as in the Nutbush, when Danny saw Lee, Danny vanished in record time. You'd think he would ask for his clothes. For the information of all you good natured people, Auntie Dion has the following thoughts to help you should you meet this particular species of baracuda. o Keep your valuables locked-up. Better yet keep anything important in a safety deposit box. In hustler circles it is common to go home with some one and while you are busy (in the bathroom or shower) to rifle your dresser. Don't keep valuable jewlery in or on your dresser. Watch your checkbook; a common thing is to steal a check or two from the middle of the book (or several out of an unused checkbook). o Know your tricks: Their name, where they live and what they do. You need to know enough to come after them should something be missing. o Hide your important things before the fun and games start. Wallet, house and car keys, even watch. This is especially important if you are a heavy sleeper and you and s/he plan to sleep afterwards. Make sure your doors have dead bolt locks that lock with a key from the inside. When with a trick, lock it and hide the key. Then he can't leave without your knowlege. [One man saved his life that way. The hustler couldn't escape.] o If you are going to his place make sure you remember how you got there, especially if you take his car. It might be a bad trip if afterwards he kicks you out and makes you walk. If your are in doubt and your hornyness won't wait make sure some one knows where you went. [Read Jason on Fagbashers]. Page 3 Auntie Dion Chatters o Know your tricks: If someone strange is involved, check him out first. It is a good idea to become friends with an old-timer in each bar you frequent so you can get the dirt on people. Lee was saved from a bad night because a local he knew could tell the dirt. o Watch out for repeats. There are many stories about people getting ripped-off or killed by a hustler after several times together. In additon to the more criminal behavior there are other things to watch for. - The person who is always asking you to pick them up and drive them. - They always seem to be broke and want you to buy them a drink (or loan them a pack of cigarettes). - If they are sharing rooms, they borrow your clothes. - They want to borrow money. Maybe large sums. Now what has the "hustler" have to do with Jason's Losers and also the male prostitute. [Thought you'd never ask]. They are basically the same personality. Most people have heard of the "Gold-digger". These sort of people have the idea that someone else will solve their problems. The prostitute has reduced this to a monetary science. The Loser has so many problems he can't. The hustler still isn't ready to sell his body for money, but he isn't above taking advantage of people. Not all hustlers are theives. Some are con artists and some are just free-loaders. I have noted that the most of those I call hustlers are either quite hot looking or have a good, pleasing, almost ingratiating personality. They can persuade you to do more than you ought and ofter more than you might otherwise. The problem, of course, isn't limited to the Gay world -- female bimbos abound. The trouble with Gays is that the emphasis on superficial beauty starts the young and beautiful into thinking that because they are so hot looking they can have what they want. Then they find that people are so enraptured with them they can get away with anything. The last type of Hustler is the most dangerous and the hardest to defend against. They come on to you. They seem to want to be your <whatever>. Then they move in and things go well. But, they really are just biding their time. Soon they will take the money and run. Remember the guidelines above: Auntie Dion Chatters Page 4 o Keep all personal as well as valuable items locked and preferably out of the house. An ex-lover actually would break open my strong box to see what was in it. Others snooped in my bank records. o Don't let people know your financial affairs. How much you make, your bank accounts, credit card numbers, etc. [This helps them know how much to ask for or wheedle. It also gives them grist for gossip.] o Keep your credit cards locked up. One of Lee's lovers filched the cards and ran up several thousands of dollars of bills before Lee found out. o Make sure that all and sundry know that you will go to the cops if bad things happen. Then do so. [Good reason for being out to people]. Remember that many hustlers get away with things because no one takes action. o And if the person does ANYTHING bad take action. One person's bad experiences started because he allowed a boy to get away with forging a small check. o Also remember that the hustler has no shame. He will deny that he did it. Or, worse yet, confess and ask forgiveness. (This depends on how sure he is that you know and can prove it). I suppose that the parasites will always be with us. The key is to recognize that and develop techniques to live amongst them. We all need to learn to say no and to sense when things are not quite right. Then why do people get into trouble or get involved with hustlers? First, these people really take advantage of their sexuality and their looks! Some people are so hard up for < affection, sex, what you will > that it is easy to lull their suspicions and take advantage of them. Some hustlers are so agressive and suave they fast talk you into things. Most people are nice and good-natured and don't like to say no. Gays are even more afraid of rejection than straights. Thus, any friendly person is to be treasured. Better a neurotic queen than nobody. Better a User than nobody. Then of course are those who have an optimistic outlook. Like Candide, some people still think that people are decent and honest. Some are, some aren't. And some think they are smarter and clever than the hustler and are willing to take the chance. Page 5 Auntie Dion Chatters The real problem is those people who tend to be attracted towards the hustler either as a personality type or as a sexual image. We all know them or of them -- the chicken hawk, the auntie who likes the rough trade. There isn't much that will help those people. It's like the moth and the candle. They have to be realistic about the risks and act to minimize them. And, hopefully they will learn and become more cautious. But what about the rest of us? Be careful. Lock the doors and watch out. -- Dionysus