For example, to the Japanese fellow who over a period of ten months would phone us at all hours and complain about those “@bleeping@ gaijin men that corrupt and @bleep@ all those innocent Japanese women.” According to his theory, the situation would improve if we heeded at once his requests to stop running Lonely-Hearts ads.
Another grievance reaching us on a monthly basis comes from a reader who has discovered that gay men can be “cured” through counseling. “Take out ‘In & Out’,” he laments. “. . . Ex-gays at Exodus International . . . are always welcoming . . . those wanting to change [from gay to straight-Ed.]” Personally, I think that if society were a bit more tolerant, then no one would feel the “need” to change.
Sometimes even outwardly normal people appear confused: “You can imagine our surprise and embarrassment when we found our announcement opposite a large advertisement for prostitution [. . .] This comes a few pages after an article recommending a gay pick-up joint. [. . .] [This is . . .] damaging to our reputation and embarrassing to us as an institution of higher learning and as a women’s institution. [. . .] we do not believe that you can, in good faith, expect us to pay . . .” (sean.conley@sit.edu, Tokyo Women’s Junior College) Great, Sean. Thanks for refusing to pay after asking us to run your ad.
While the straight-sex vigilantes consistently offer us their advice, the anti-straight faction isn’t exactly sleeping: “Excuse me but your shitty little rag ain’t even good enough to line a bird cage. The only reason you’ve made it for 3 years is because you have some big names advertising in it. We’ll see how long that lasts. (Gdallah@gnj.or.jp)” Excuse me, but would someone please point out to this man that using the name of Allah in combination with bird cages is considered blasphemy? Send me a postcard, “Birdie,” once you have returned to your furusato.
And then of course there are the “reporters,” those who faithfully report their most recent discoveries: “I have just come across your joke of a magazine. I don’t know what I found more funny -- the hilariously antiquated editorial outlook or the pidgin English. In any case, as a member of the “straight” community in Tokyo, I find your attitude an insult to the intelligence of straight people. We do not want to be associated with turds like you. I suggest you get a job more worthy of your talents, like a road sweeper. Kind of insulting to road sweepers, I guess. (Jake Huston read20@hotmail.com)” Sorry, Jake. Art Hoffman has already quit his job at Tokyo YY and is now publishing his own magazine, Being A Hulk. However, being “straight” is not enough. In order to qualify as a reader of our distinguished magazine you must be an animal lover, too. (Please see Message from the Editor for details.)

Irmgard Vonn

P.S.: As from this issue we are discouraging negative feedback due to an acute (but hopefully temporary) shortage of personpower. Send your positive comments and commendations to yy@nexxus.co.jp