OUTonline
By Jason Villemez
© 2007 Jason Villemez

The most innovative minds of today, gathered in one place to discuss cultural and political trends of the day. No, I’m not talking about a Harvard community forum. I’m talking about the Internet’s premier Web site for mouth-watering gossip, tongue-slicing debate and simple nonsensical foolishness, the Data Lounge.

Data Lounge (www.datalounge.com) began in 1995 as a portal for GLBT news, gossip and politics, and has since evolved into one of the most highly trafficked message boards in cyberspace. Over 6.5 million viewers come to read, post and debate topics as diverse as the Osmonds and transvaginal ultrasound, which, as painful as it may sound, is a real medical procedure.

Sometimes debaucherous, sometimes crude, but always hilarious, the site is a hodgepodge of serious and silly. One click might take you to a diatribe on the Writer’s Guild of America strike, while the next click takes you to someone pondering whether the writers for the Porn Guild of America are on strike too. Perusing the site is akin to dipping your hand into a box of chocolates, or a snake pit, depending on your sense of humor.

Venomous as some of the commentary may be, there is more than mere opinion slinging going on here. Most often, threads are based on real news stories or, as many would prefer, real gossip. Why do you think biographer Andrew Morton, whose latest work chronicles Tom Cruise, is currently in hiding? If you guessed it’s because of an irate Scientologist, you’d be one of many. If you guessed that it’s a publicity stunt for the book, you’d be one of many, too.

The great thing about Data Lounge and sites like it is that it isn’t just a place to talk to and trash other people. Those who post are letting their brow down all the way, so to speak. While the site revels in gossip based in reality, it is completely open to subjects even the most headstrong person would be timid in broaching. It makes for one of the most diverse and open places on the ’Net and is a testament to our community’s creativity and comedic genius.

What European city is the best for energetic young gays? Why, Vatican City, of course. What is the role of homosexuals in nature? To give heterosexuals something to aspire to.

For those who are wary of checking it, there is more to the site than the aforementioned. On the same page as the above topics, there is a discussion on the latest review of the “Young Frankenstein” musical, a group sharing Thanksgiving dinner menus and a topic devoted to all the inconsistencies in “The Golden Girls.” You weren’t the only one who thought they were senile.

Rounding out the types of subjects found in the lounge, there are serious political discussions on the latest Democratic debate, as well as why liberal bloggers can’t stand Hillary. There are relationship threads with serious discussion on monogamy, and further discussion of the relationship differences among ages, races and cultures.

After you finish your leftover turkey and tackle your shopping on Black Friday, take a break and check out a real melting pot, with more wit than Oscar Wilde and more laughs than your lungs can handle.

Contact Jason with feedback at outonline@gmail.com.