Notes of a Cranky Professor of the Queer Persuasion

I have chosen this title because of several reasons:

1) I am a person of the Queer persuasion¹ 

2) I am an emeritus professor² 

3) and when I was a young person, I would describe irascible old men, of which I am one, as cranks.³

4) I am cranky, very much so, especially when I am unable to partake of my morning espresso. 

I desperately need an editor.⁴ Without such a person, my sentences become Faulkneresque⁵ and tiresome to read. I have offered to compensate one of my housemates, but they say they are afraid to do so out of respect for me. Absurd. Now that the title has been explained, I will describe why this journal exists. 

I am old, and my hands shake. Because of this, I am unable to shave my face, use a typewriter, or write clearly with a pen. If I were to use a typewriter or a pen, placing my thoughts on paper would be a Herculean task and a noisome chore. If I am not tired, I am able to apply myself to the use of the dictation software here.⁶ The unfortunate reality is my voice also shakes when I am tired. I would like to record my thoughts while I may, before I lose cognition or the will. Placing my words here would allow me easier access to my thoughts, as opposed to flipping through journals.⁷ I am quite fortunate that I am able to organize my thoughts, and have help. 

Having said all of that, I must apologize for ignorant remarks made in my last piece. In my enthusiasm for all things Shěn Qīngqiū⁸, I forgot 兔兒神, Tù'er Shén⁹, of all people. Tù'er Shén is a God who is worshipped by Queer persons all over China. I may have forgotten Tù'er Shén out of pique, but that does not excuse my behavior. Please accept my apologies. As a Queer person somewhat familiar with Chinese culture, let alone a scholar, the omittance of a being venerated by my Queer siblings¹⁰ is shameful. This sort of erasure is something that I have fought all my life, and to find myself engaging in the same behavior is inexcusable. Again, I whole-heartedly apologize.

After I had published my piece on my beloved Shen Qingqiu, I have been kindly informed of other Queer Deities in other non-Western pantheons. I have said kindly, because everyone was extremely polite. When I was much earlier in my career, I had to learn to accept all criticism graciously, no matter how rude the source.¹¹ Ignoring constructive criticism is wasteful. Doing so is like throwing away a particularly unprepossessing oyster , and losing the pearl of wisdom. The lesson was difficult to learn, but necessary. Oh, so very necessary.

^{1. I should probably phrase that differently, as it implies that Queerness is a choice, and not a state of being. Someone who is able to engage in a relationship endorsed by society does not mean they shed their Queerness in the same manner as a molting crustacean their shell.}

^{2. Like the student who very kindly created this website for me, my younger acquaintances will and do argue the emeritus part.}

^{3. My younger friends object to that description, but anyone who believes an octogenarian is not old would either be deluded, or a centenarian. And none of that young of heart nonsense, thank you very much.}

^{4. An author without an editor is very much like a person who is their own lawyer}

^{5. My personal favorites by him are The Hamlet, The Town, and The Mansion. I am very fond of Ike Snopes, the boy who fell in love with a cow. I’m sure she was a lovely cow.}

^{6. How I long for the days when one was able to lie back on the sofa and dictate to another person. It sounds very Bohemian and dégagé.} 

^{7. Flipping through journals is very distracting, and an endangerment to productivity}

^{8. Except for Luò Bīnghé. I only pay attention to him because he had the very good sense to marry Shěn Qīngqiū. That, and his extremely important role in Chinese Queer history. But more for Shěn Qīngqiū.}

^{9. The Tù'er Shén story, prior to his ascendance, is quite sad.} 

^{10. Out of respect for persons (both Queer and not) who do not ascribe to the binary gender system, I have been trying to use siblings instead of brothers and sisters . If I forget, please remind me. I am trying.}

^{11. Believe you me, some of those sources were quite rude.}