Pink Dollar Mafia 5

SERIES COMPLETED 2 MAY 2017

 

Doing Business With Fags

A True Story And A Warning 

Number 1

Fags As Business Partners

 FuelMix would like to relate a true story of doing business with a fag.

1.  Once Upon A Time...

1.   Fag approached FuelMix and others to invest several tens of thousands of dollars in a restaurant in Fagland that fag would operate. FuelMix did his research and found that the space had been the site of several unsuccessful restaurants. That was puzzling.  For all the ballyhoo about the Pink Dollar, the captive market in the gay ghetto and the high pedestrian traffic, why were a succession of restaurants in the same premises failing....?  There was only one way to find out.  And that was to be Counter-Intuitive and put some very minimal financial skin in the game and observe the participants.


2.  FuelMix's Financial Skin In The Game 

2.   Accordingly, FuelMix radically reduced the intial amount that he was prepared to invest and told fag to find the rest of the money elsewhere. If and when fag got the rest of the money, FuelMix would think about it again before putting any money in. Fuelmix also demanded and was given, a copy of the commercial lease of the premises that fag had just signed and further demanded to see the management accounts regularly. Fag pouted and went away.

3.  A few weeks later, fag triumphantly delcared he had got the cash and asked FuelMix to contribute.  Instead, FuelMix announced he would further radically reduce his investment to no more than Two Thousand bucks.  A written repayment schedule was to be agreed immediately. Fag pouted and squealed, accusing FuelMix of being a pain in the ass. FuelMix shrugged and said, "take it or leave it." Fag agreed and signed the repayment schedule for Two Thousand bucks. This was going to be interesting. 

3.  Showing Up At The Business

4.   Periodically, FuelMix went to view the renovations at the premises and spoke to the other investors, who, as it turned out, were also fags. They were all mutual friends and had all invested much more cash into this restaurant venture than FuelMix. They bragged that they were "active investors". They repeatedly criticized FuelMix to his face for his passive minimal contribution. Behind his back they referred to FuelMix as the stingy, mean, foreigner who wasn't doing anything to get the restaurant up and running and that he shouldn't even be involved at all.  FuelMix was never invited to mix socially in their group.  His comments on looking at the "accounts" that perhaps the restaurant was burning through its cash too quickly, before opening, were brushed off.

5.  FuelMix observed the extent of the renovations and enquired whether any of the "active investors" had actually read the commercial lease of the premises.  The Landlord's consent was needed for a number of things including structural alterations and certain permits were required from the relevant authorities.  Again, FuelMix warned them about their cash burn rate. The other fags ridiculed FuelMix. They ignored him on the basis that they had invested considerably more time and money than him. Besides, THEY were all "friends" (and apparently living in the bubble named after the sitcom of the same name).

6.  FuelMix shrugged.  Thank goodness only Two Thousand bucks of his was in.  He was being perceived as the bitchy foreign outsider hung up on technicalities.  This was going to be interesting.  FuelMix had the first inkling why these premises, right in the middle of Fagland, were the subject of successive failures. 

4.  Opening Day Approaches

7.  Opening day for the restaurant was approaching.  The "active investors" were in a flurry of activity.  They were there everyday, blabbing to their friends and handing out flyers to pedestrians trumpeting the opening date of the restaurant.  FuelMix was nowhere to be seen, having already written off his Two Thousand bucks. 

8.  Not surprisingly, the Landlord balked at the structural changes that were carried out without its permission and (rightly) demanded that the premises be restored to their original condition.  As a result, the official permits could not be obtained from the Government.  It would cost a lot to structurally restore the premises.  The "active investors" panicked and demanded that FuelMix contribute more.  He refused and reiterated they should have read the commercial lease before having started any work and listened to his comments about the amount of cash being spent. 

5.  The Business Collapses

9.  The restaurant collapsed before it opened. 

10.  On looking at the "accounts" it was clear that there was no way the rent could be paid since most of the invested funds had gone on "decor" and state-of-the-art kitchen equipment.  The premises had notched yet another unsuccessful restaurant. 

6.  The Blame Game

11.  The gay "investor friends" who had invested a ton of cash, quickly turned hostile towards each other.  The blame game commenced.  The fag with the bright idea of starting the restaurant ducked out of sight - after promising to repay FuelMix first for "being soooo understanding.."  FuelMix shrugged.  This had become even more interesting. 

12.  Predictably, that fag disappeared - until FuelMix flushed him out and had a showdown.  Fag became more evasive and FuelMix formally bankrupted him - for Two Thousand bucks.


7.  Epilogue

13.  The gay "investor friends" fell out and their cosy social group shattered.  Harsh words were exchanged when they ran into each other at the bars in Fagland.  Bad blood was everywhere and the flyers trumpeting the new eatery lay scattered on the pavement.

14.  FuelMix finally understood why those premises were recording successive failures.  There was nothing wrong with the premises or their location.  The problem was the people. The gay ones. Period.

• Every one of the other investors was "an awesome friend" (although they weren't quite sure what everybody's surnames were);
• None of them had any prior investing exposure but were happy to throw large amounts of money in straightaway;
• The notion of financial control didn't compute;
• Everyone was "a recreational drug user";
• Decor, Ambience and Cuisine was everything;
• Legal and financial technicalities were boring;
• There was a problem in their attention span;
• No business plan - it would take too long and somebody else might grab the premises.  Besides, they wanted to focus on whether the cuisine should be fusion or nouvelle;
• Other than bitching, which was happily uncensored, nobody could articulate accountability and responsibility;
• Being cavalier with the details was absolutely consistent with the mentality of the generic fag;

15.  Sometimes it's necessary to pay (Two Thousand bucks) for an education just to get to the truth.  Once discovered, the knowledge is priceless.

16.  Since the rent had not been paid, the Landlord took possession of the premises and sold the state-of-the-art kitchen equipment to a group of str8 investors. They took a new lease of the same premises and opened a successful restaurant in the heart of Fagland.  What did the ghetto fags do...?  They boycotted it claiming that the identity of their "community" was threatened.  Meanwhile the str8 customers lined up to get inside.  The food was really good.  The restaurant continued for a few years until a developer bought the building, which was then torn down and replaced with pricey high-rise apartments and str8 people. The fags seethed in resentment.

Originally published 7 June 2006
Amended and Republished 12 April 2014 | 30 April 2017

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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Pink Dollar Mafia 4

SERIES COMPLETED 2 MAY 2017

Gay Men And Non-Profit Organizations

You know how gay men like to fade to mellow when they talk about “Non-Profit Organizations”? They have that contented look on their faces like they’ve just sucked expensive cock and cognac? After all, Non-Profit Organizations are part of “the community” right...? Gay singing groups, gay theatre groups, gay charities, gay outreach, gay activist groups, blah blah blah...

Heh…wake up fags. These NPOs are “in business”. Thanks to databases, slick snooping, a network of contacts and advertising, they have you in their sights. For what and when and why?

For your cash, when you die, coz you’re gay. Married gay or not, NPOs are now in direct competition with your significant other, and your favourite nephew and niece for your bucks when you croak. All it takes is a presentation by them and a little charitable bequest in your will. Hell, they’ll even tell you what to say and refer you to lawyers to help you draw it up.

Still feeling mellow...?

We have nothing against charitable bequests and donations to gay groups.  We've done some ourselves.  But we've never lost sight of the reality that NPO's are in business first. But what we want to know FIRST is.....are they actually being run AS A BUSINESS - or are they being set up as an ATM for superficially righteous fags from which they can suck cash to fund their holiday in Puerto Vallarta or Bangkok.....or attend that Circuit Party that everybody's talking about..?

• Ask to see their audited accounts.  If they dither, walk away now;
• If they don't like questions about their accounts, walk away now;
• Ask questions about their operations;
• Do a site visit and see what they are actually doing and how they're doing it;
• Just how effective does it appear to be..?
• What prior work experience did the principal officers have..?
• Do a Google search on them or a social media search on them;
• Do you get a creepy feeling when you talk to them..?
• If it looks flakey, it probably is;
• You have the right to say, "No thanks";

Originally published 7 June 2006
Amended and Republished 12 April 2014  | 30 April 2017

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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Pink Dollar Mafia 3

Wherever a business is located, FuelMix says that patronage should be governed not by common sexual orientation, but by quality, pricing, service, product and management. 

Business is about dealing with people on 3 levels: customers, staff and management. People trigger emotions. Emotions are all about communication. 

We contend that since many fags have never properly come to terms with their emotions, their interpersonal skills, even as business people, are lacking. Their own filters colour the way they do business – and more importantly, are perceived to do business.

Want proof..? Wander into a gay business in the ghetto and find a sales assistant. Oh sure, they can talk, smile, wink, make intense eye contact, stare at your body and lick their lips. But can they communicate...?

Gay businesses operating on the common sexuality theme, are operating in an old paradigm, particularly since Faglands are becoming more mixed. The shift should be towards serving the greatest number of people in the most effective way. That's why we might support gay businesses that move out of the ghetto.  Our favourites are those gay clothing businesses that have also gone online with gorgeous websites, hot looking models, excellent clothes that can be worn all day (rather than just in the clubs) plus international shipping and a pricing policy that makes sense.  The gayness becomes secondary and comparatively unimportant to the product, pricing and service.

And we'll happily pay for that kinda stuff.  And those clothes can turn straight men green with envy and send them running to those sites too.

Although we admit, we miss those occasions when we got our cock sucked in the fitting room by the horny sales assistant who thoughtfully closed the shop when offering to provide FuelMix with "personalized service". (The good news is that such shops also exist in Very Rich Megacity...you just gotta know who to know and when to go...).

Originally published 27 May 2006
Amended and Republished 12 April 2014 | 30 April 2017

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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Pink Dollar Mafia 2

What kind of businesses can be found in the gay ghetto..?

1.  Small Retailers:

• hair stylists
• travel agents
• clothing shops (if they're bringing in European body conscious styles for gay men, watch out - their prices can be higher than downtown and online)
• cafes and restaurants
• organic food shops 
• bodybuilding accessories, protein shakes, supplements and vitamins
• gay "lifestyle" shops selling accessories like picture frames, stationery, cards
• gay porn shops
• bars and clubs

They may describe themselves as "boutique businesses" that cater to their "community".  Unfortunately, that may be a euphemism for saying that their cash flow hangs by a thread.

2.  Larger Retail Brands:

• Fast food outlets
• Starbucks
• Gym franchise
• Cinema chain
• Car dealerships

3.  Professional Services:

• Interior Designers
• Computer Tech and Web Designers
• Small Accounting Firms
• Small Law Firms
• Small Medical practices and dental offices 
• Gay Realtors
• STD clinic

Gay accountants and gay law firms deep in the ghetto, have their hearts in the right places.  But they're never going to get anywhere - and perhaps they don't wish to. Their client base is not the greatest and frankly, neither is their expertise.  We've used them.  We know. 

The gay law firms concentrate on modified family matters, wills, immigration, landlord and tenant (remember the renters in Fagland that we mentioned in Part 1..?) FuelMix has not personally experienced being ripped off by them since lawyers and accountants are member of professional organizations and that’s fine. If anything, FuelMix acknowledges them for the work they do and they are often flexible on their fees. They have to be – just to survive in the ghetto.

What we found unconscionable were the antics of the ghetto-based interior designers, decorators, electrical contractors, computer techs and web designers.  Like some of the Small Retailers listed above, these guys were blatant in the imposition of a "gay tax" for doing business with their "fellow man".  

How did we find that out..?  Simple. By doing a comparison test. FuelMix didn't live in the ghetto, but on several occasions, called them up without revealing that he'd seen this guy's ad in a gay rag. We then asked our ghetto-based buddy to call the same guy requesting identical work - and saying he'd seen the ad in the gay rag.  He was quoted a price between 25%-30% more.

Originally published 26 May 2006

Amended and Republished 12 April 2014 | 29 April 2017

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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Pink Dollar Mafia 1

It's considered “loyal” for gay men to patronize gay-run businesses. That automatic “community” thing. FuelMix thinks that’s a crock. Granted, there are gay businesses that deserve patronage. But there are also gay businesses that should be shut down, condemned or shunned for ripping off  their clientele, just because they can (and gay men are stupid enough to fall for it).

Some would squeal that the above comments apply to all businesses dealing with consumers. True. But this is a blog about urban faggtory and FuelMix hereby declares that there is a distinct and pervasive “fag tax” – which does NOT apply to other str8 consumers, is not regulated by law and is intra-discriminatory.

It is a Pink Dollar Mafia payment, a premium for patronage with no commercial basis other than the owners knowing that their customers suck dick.

Gay businesses need not have gay owners. In fact, our completely unscientific observations suggest that, much to our surprise, it is the gay-owned businesses that are the worst extortionists.

We have noticed that generally, commercial longevity is  not a characteristic of individual gay-owned businesses. There are several reasons:

• 2 more more gays make lousy business partners –  unless they have a good grip on their sexual behaviour and general professionalism, promiscuity breeds a certain treacherous mentality;
• gay customers are notoriously fickle and vicious;
• gay ghettos have a fluctuating, young and often transient population, usually renters.  They don't appear to have sustainable purchasing power (although in the West this may be changing due to large number of str8s moving in and turning it into a demographically mixed neighbourhood).
• widespread affluence (in the absence of gentrification) does not occur in gay ghettos (subject to what we said above). It occurs well away from it;

The pervasive commercial mentality in the ghetto is one of scarcity and cynicism. The combination of emotional treachery within the business and an outward looking commercial cynicism, leads to business instability. The short term solution is to grab and gouge like there was no tomorrow.  High rents don't help either.

Originally published 26 May 2006

Amended and Republished 12 April 2014 | 29 April 2017

Copyright © 2006 – 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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TravelGayAsia Hong Kong Sauna Reviews

We saw some outright lies appearing on TravelGayAsia's Hong Kong sauna reviews:

• One very large sauna in town described as "too small" and "compact"
• One reviewer claiming there were 23 people in a sauna that is well known to be "dead" and that there were professional masseurs on duty;
• The suspicious promoting in glowing terms of a recently opened 24 hour sauna that is more well known for its claustrophobic decor, lack of private rooms - and a lack of people.
• An allegation of anti-white racism of a sauna that has NEVER had a door policy;

• Readers may submit reviews of gay saunas in any Asian city;
• We reserve the right NOT to publish reviews we deem suspicious, inaccurate or self-serving;
• FuelMix no longer gives personalized sauna advice;

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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Gong Guan Sauna 1

1.  A reader wrote in yesterday to inform us of a new gay sauna opening in Hong Kong in May 2017.  It will be in the Yau Ma Tei / Jordan area. "Gong Guan" can be loosely translated as "Man Mansion" or "Man Gathering Place" or something like that.

2.  The poster appeared in a Chinese language gay site and the link is here:

https://sogayhk01.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/%e5%8f%88%e6%9c%89%e4%b8%80%e9%96%93%e6%96%b0sauna%ef%bc%81/

3.  Another reader provided an English translation today (underlining and bold print by FuelMix):

As you may be already aware, in mid-May there will be a new sauna opening in Yau Ma Tei or Jordan area.  It is called Gong Guan (meaning Public Mansion) - see the poster and its design.  The sauna is rumoured to target mature guys (younger guys are of course welcome there).  As the Dad bod type guy is in, mature guys with a slight belly and designer stubble are well sought after.

The author supports the new sauna.  Aside from being a new outlet for gays, the sauna is being promoted by its hosts.  The sauna gets the author's approval [literal translation is "respect" but that word may be too far away from the context].

4.  If any reader finds out the exact address, please let us know and we'll publish it.

5.  We have 5 preliminary comments:

1. If it is in the Yau Ma Tei or Jordan area, it is likely to be in an old building, circa 1950;
2. If it is targeting mature guys, we would be pleasantly surprised if it was open 24 hours.  When we did a review of KK Fitness in Jordan a few years ago, the ageing clientele were falling asleep in the afternoon;
3. There would then be 3 saunas in the Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei areas catering to the mature crowd - namely, Galaxy, KK Fitness and Gong Guan. (QQ Fitness in Wanchai also gets a mature crowd).
4. We wonder whether Gong Guan sauna may be the new incarnation of the very famous (notorious..?) gay bath house known as Yeuk Tak Chee.  This was in the Prince Edward / Mong Kok area (which is just north of Jordan and Yau Ma Tei).  In the days when gay sex was criminal in Hong Kong, Yeuk Tak Chee, which operated as a traditional Chinese bath house since 1950, was well known as the place to go for massage, pedicures and M2M sex with older Chinese guys and gwailos.  They had private cabins or "resting areas" and we we were told, a customer could discretely request gay porn magazines from the front desk.  Word on the street was that the older guys were excellent cocksuckers (especially the ones who could remove their dentures...)  At the time, it was the only real gay sauna with a specialist clientele - although it never advertised itself as that for obvious reasons.  Yeuk Tak Chee closed in the 90s some time after gay sex was legalized and after the first wave of saunas opened:

• BA Fitness -  Fenwick Street/Lockhart Road,Wanchai;
• Bobson - Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui;
• Central Escalator - SoHo;
• Gameboys - Lockhart Road,Wanchai;
• Rome Club - Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui;
• [      **     ] - Wyndham Street (next to Propaganda's old location);
• [      **     ] - Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, around the corner of what was then Dimaru Department Store and which is now Fashion Square;

**  We can't remember the names.  If anyone does, let us know.

5. For some time, we have been hearing of customer dissatisfaction with the staff  in Rainbow, located in Yau Ma Tei.  This caters to chubs and mature guys.  Gong Guan may be in the same vicinity and apparently will cater to the same crowd. 

• Readers may submit reviews of gay saunas in any Asian city;
• We reserve the right NOT to publish reviews we deem suspicious, inaccurate or self-serving;
• FuelMix no longer gives personalized sauna advice;

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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Hutong Sauna 18

2/F Kar Wong Building
639 - 645 Shanghai Street
Mong Kok
Kowloon
Hong Kong
MTR: Mong Kok Station, Exit A2

(Cross Shanghai Street from Mong Kok Station Exit A2.  Building entrance is actually on the pedestrian-only part of Fife Street)

Tel: 2396 9595
Web: Hutong Sauna
Open 24 hours 

 

WORD ON THE STREET UPDATE 26 APRIL 2017
HUTONG A LAUGHING STOCK

Hotness Factor Still Crashing
Customers Fed Up of High Prices 

Toxic Attitude Of The Guys Who Show Up 

On the humid and slimy streets of Very Rich Megacity, we ran into 2 of our friendly GAM-Throats-On-The-Street looking pissed off as they twittered between themselves.

"Hey fags!!" said FuelMix brightly, "gimme some news..!!  Why you looking more ugly than usual..??!!"

"Aaaiiiyaaaahh...." crowed the young skinny one, "Hutong sooo greedy..!!  I go yesterday after a few weeks and now the "official" entry cost is HK$230.00".

"Really..?" said FuelMix, "I haven't been there and I wouldn't pay that anyway. So you paid HK$230.00..?"

"No" said skinny GAM, "I have so-called "discount" member entry of HK$150.00..."

"That doesn't sound like a discount to me..." muttered FuelMix, "that is the listed entry price for Jungle and MyWay which are also open 24 hours".

" I know", said skinny GAM, "It is getting too expensive..."

"So....did you have fun in Hutong..?" enquired FuelMix

"No...not really" said skinny GAM, "the guys coming to Hutong are not so hot...lots of Mainland Chinese tourists from all over China showing up there...OK....some are good looking, but many are fat and there are also fat guys who used to go to Alexander..."

"What about the Hong Kong muscleboys who go to Hutong...?" asked FuelMix

"Stand around, stand around...pretend they are too good for you...just makes them more ugly..." sighed the skinny GAM, "it all feels like a waste of time and money....they think they are so 'special'..."

"Where are you getting action then, these days?" asked FuelMix 

"Easier to cruise on the streets..!!"  giggled skinny GAM, "or go to Physical gym - ANY Physical gym..!!" 

His gym fit friend grinned and nodded. 

"Interesting", thought FuelMix, that was consistent with the  complaints and annoyance he had heard in MyWay a few weeks ago. 

And No, faggot, we're not taking sides by trying to promote one sauna against another. Nobody pays us for our reviews. We're just faithfully reporting what we hear from those who give us information.  You draw your own conclusions.

• Readers may submit reviews of gay saunas in any Asian city;
• We reserve the right NOT to publish reviews we deem suspicious, inaccurate or self-serving;
• FuelMix no longer gives personalized sauna advice;

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
ON A MOBILE DEVICE, VIEW THE WEB VERSION OF THE BLOG

My Way Sauna 16

4th Floor, Kuo Wah Building
340 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong

MTR: Wanchai, Exit A4 - but it's a long walk;  OR Causeway Bay, Exit B
My Way is actually about 5 minutes walk from Soda Sauna (formerly Action Sauna) in Causeway Bay.

Telephone: 25749098
Website: http://www.mywayjungle.com/ 

Price: Standard Entry HK$150.00  | Under 25 HK$70.00
Note: Open 24 hours

Note:
1.  My Way Sauna and Jungle Sauna are under the same ownership;
2.  Staff speak good English (standard of English has improved at both places);
3.  All prices and promotions are in Chinese on their website;
4.  My Way Sauna and Jungle Sauna open 24 hours; 





1.  30s White Guy Shows Up At My Way - Gets Action!!

1. When FuelMix showed up at MyWay on a weekday evening, a thirty-something white guy was getting sucked in the shower by a fat GAM.  They then took it into the Steam Room.  White guy was delirious at the attention.  Fat GAM couldn't believe his luck and serviced him a few times.  White guy wandered around looking smug, smiling at everybody.  We're not sure whether he was a resident or a tourist.  Either way, we'll give him credit for showing up.  We've said it before that more white guys in MyWay, might not be a bad thing.

2.  My Way was quite empty that evening, and the customers were disappointingly average - with rather a lot of chubs.  But that didn't stop the attitude reaching its usual heights.


2.  In Other News...

1.  It appears MyWay is making money.  The previously white towels have been replaced with red and blue towels, monogrammed with the initials "MW".

2.  Some cosmetic "enhancements" and a slight reduction in the overall clutter of the premises:

• TV Lounge near the entrance has more seating, including bar seating in the corner near the tanning room;
• Toilet has inspirational personal development slogans in English (that baffles us since MyWay's online advertising is mainly in Chinese);
•  New doors on the Dry Sauna and the Steam Room. (We liked the old glass doors better);
• Chinese-style birdcages around the light fixtures in the Locker Room and elsewhere.  Not sure what the hell is going on there;
• Dried twigs and branches used as vertical space dividers near the computer table and the entrance to the Dark Room adjacent to the Lockers.  Those fuckin' twigs are sharp, so be careful.  No idea what they were thinking;
• Deep in the Dark Room, immediately outside the small porn viewing room towards the end, the management has installed 4 vertical metal bars from floor to ceiling. It is intended to give a "dungeon-like" feel. You will hit them (literally) just as you turn the corner and if, like FuelMix, you bruise your shoulder, you will probably emit some of your more colourful Chinese;
• Again, just a few steps further in the really, really dark part of the Dark Room - right at the end - are another 4 vertical metal bars;

3.  Honestly, we don't know what the fuck these guys were thinking with vertical bars.  They would have been better off by just putting a pole and letting the Hong Kong guys shows off their pole dancing moves.

4.  Y'all know that pole dancing for men in Hong Kong is taking off yes..??



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• Readers may submit reviews of gay saunas in any Asian city;
• We reserve the right NOT to publish reviews we deem suspicious, inaccurate or self-serving;
• FuelMix no longer gives personalized sauna advice;

Copyright © 2006 - 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
ON A MOBILE DEVICE, VIEW THE WEB VERSION OF THE BLOG 

Now Boarding

Weary of hearing the antics of US-based airlines who confuse beating their competitors with beating their passengers..?

Will they go down in the history of the service industry as putting the "hospital" in "hospitality"...?

Get the feeling that a few years ago, flying turned into a shitty experience..?

There's an airline that agrees with you.  Operating from Kazakhstan:

Copyright © 2006 – 2017 FuelMix All Rights Reserved 
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A Whore New Me

The chubby, effeminate, very middle aged GAM who'd just entered the sauna premises, flounced and floated into the Locker Room.  Or more precisely, the wafts of Abercrombie & Fitch's, "Fierce" billowed in before he did. Multiple bangles on both wrists clinked like wind chimes, pudgy fingers glittered in a combination of metal and faux rings; and his neck was adorned with enough gold to make him a prime suspect in the pillaging of Tutankhamen's sarcophagus.

FuelMix stood naked nearby, next to his own locker, not knowing what to make of this.  Chubby GAM winked and smiled.  FuelMix smiled back, having sexually written off this one, but curious to know what this guy might look like naked - and whether that tonnage of bullion and stainless steel would come off or, whether chubby GAM would wander the sauna jingling like Santa's lost reindeer.

"I'll give him 5 minutes to strip and I'll come back and have a look", thought FuelMix, not having a fuckin' clue as to the impending metamorphosis...

Five minutes later, FuelMix re-entered the Locker Room.  Chubby GAM had a lousy body and all his trinkets were still in place.  A towel was wrapped around his waist and another was bundled in his arms.  His lips looked suspiciously red.  He pouted them and made kissing noises as he sidled past FuelMix. It was apparent that he had just applied lipstick.

FuelMix shrugged.  It wasn't the first time he'd come across a sauna fag with lipstick. [See the post, Age Appropriate].

Heading into the Dark Area looking for action, FuelMix surveyed the carnal buffet as they shuffled past in the dim light.  A few minutes later, the scent of "Fierce" hit his nostrils again, followed by the sound of clinking jewellery approaching.   

"Hasn't that chubby idiot showered....?" muttered FuelMix to himself, only to abruptly cut his own dialogue as he stared in disbelief at what emerged from the semi-darkness........chubby GAM had accessorized his bling and lipstick with a teased out wig and large sunglasses.  That's what he had bundled in the second towel he was carrying as he left the Locker Room.

"Hello baby...!!" purred chubby GAM, licking his lips and pausing in front of FuelMix.  "I like your  muscles..... such a cute face....beauoootiful delicious cock for my hungry red lips.....and..", he leaned over to whisper, "...my pussy is already greased for your thrusts..!!"

"Umm..." said FuelMix not knowing how to handle this one.

"Do you like to fuck a famous actress..?" panted chubby GAM as he bent down to lick FuelMix's nipple that stiffened immediately, "...a veerrry famous actress...."  He nuzzled FuelMix's armpit, inhaling deeply. "Do you want to thrust into a famous actress..? I can be such a woman for the right man...!!  I'm not going home until I have at least 6 cocks!!  Do you want to be the first man to take my virginity today...?  Hhmm..?"  He kissed FuelMix's neck as he sighed and panted.

"I'm not into confused middle aged men with a gender fetish, sorry", said FuelMix.

"Not even Elizabeth Taylor..?" murmured chubby GAM licking FuelMix's nipple again, "You can be the first of my 6 cocks.....you can open me up for today..!!...Think about it.....I'm just like a real woman - only better...!!!"

"Elizabeth Taylor..??!!" queried a fazed FuelMix.

"Watch closely..." whispered chubby GAM as he raised his head, shook it vigorously to tease out the wig and adjusted his sunglasses.  He stared at FuelMix in soft focus.

In the dim, distorted light of the Dark Room, FuelMix felt a chill down his spine.  Effeminate chubby middle aged GAM had morphed.  The resemblance was astounding. Big hair, big glasses, puffy face, double chin and all...

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FuelMix gulped. "Umm...no thanks", he said, feeling a dull headache coming on.

"Poor baby..!!"  cooed chubby GAM, "you can't satisfy a real woman who needs 6 cocks..." He floated into the darkness.

FuelMix stroked his chest where chubby GAM had been licking.  Traces of lipstick were on his fingers.

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Corporate Gay Activism 4

9.  Hypocrisy Of Hong Kong's Morality Militia 

a.k.a. Follow The Money, Darlin'

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1.  Faced with 2 "gay" rainbow-painted lions outside HSBC's head office, the "family values" crowd complained that as shareholders in the bank, they were given no choice in HSBC's decision to support (Gay) Pride and Diversity, both within the bank and apparently within society generally. They felt they were compelled to accept a homosexual lifestyle.  (Well, we're no fans of the homosexual lifestyle either, but we digress...)

2.  Here's the list of their grievances that we set out in Part 2:

•  the painted lions were a "disgusting display";
• blurring of gender identity;
• discrimination against traditional values;
• emotional damage;
• HSBC's pro-GLBT policies had never been discussed at shareholders meetings;
• forced shareholders to recognize the homosexual lifestyle;
• infringed shareholders' freedom of conscience;
• threats to close their accounts;
• HSBC was arrogant in refusing to meet them and hold a dialogue;

3.  In other words, they were presented with a fait accompli. And they're right.

4.  But here's our take on the "family values" objections...this group of minority shareholders are complaining against something that potentially stands to make the bank money and create reputational goodwill.  

5. The same crowd were conspicuously silent in condemning HSBC's actions that cost the bank money and caused reputational damage:

• 2012 - HSBC hit with a massive fine in the US for poor anti-money laundering controls;
• HSBC's alleged links to terrorist financing;
• HSBC's via its Swiss office advising on tax evasion - and then setting aside US773 Million for potential tax investigations into them.
• 2014 - HSBC and 4 banks paid US4.25 Billion that the banks had conspired to manipulate currency rates; 
• 2014 - HSBC paid US550 Million concerning mortgage-backed securities that were made to appear compliant with regulations;
• 2016 - HSBC executives in London arrested for currency manipulation and fraud;
• HSBC one of 16 banks accused of manipulating interest rates via LIBOR;
• HSBC and other banks implicated in manipulating gold and silver prices;

6.  To which we would add, it's no excuse for HSBC to say all this took place outside Hong Kong.  HSBC is a global bank, that derives most of its income from Asia and has made it a point of focusing on the Asian market even more.

7.  Until 1983, the bank was incorporated in Hong Kong (then Bermuda, now London) and regards Hong Kong as a major operating base.

8.   To borrow the same language used by the Hong Kong "family values" crowd complaining that they were given no choice in HSBC's decision to support Pride and Diversity, the financial actions of HSBC briefly highlighted above (and probably by no means exhaustive) amounted to:

• "a disgusting display";
• blurring of ethics;
• discrimination against traditional values i.e. the prudent banker;
• emotional damage at the extent of the criminal and civil proceedings;
• never discussed at shareholder's meetings;
• forced shareholders to recognize a criminal lifestyle;
• infringed shareholders freedom of conscience;
• bank arrogance in refusing to meet them and hold a dialogue about the bank's actions that were attracting criminal and civil penalties in several countries;

9.  But y'all know gay guys are far easier targets than bankers, riiight..?? 

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Corporate Gay Activism 3

7.  Education, Affluence and Social Pressure
8.  Everybody's Got An Angle
9.  Hypocrisy Of Hong Kong's Morality Militia 


7.  Education, Affluence And Social Pressure

1.  Some general truths:

1. With increased education, comes increased affluence; 
2. With increased affluence, comes corporate and societal questioning; 
3. With questioning, people get uncomfortable and worked up;
4. Social pressure kicks in, ostensibly driven by a desire for fairness, equity and comparisons with other countries or, perceived social trends and societal shifts;
5. Bias, Bigotry and Beliefs emerge;
6. There is a clash in moral values; 
7. The situation:

• drops off the radar;
• simmers in the background;
• comes to the foreground via a catalyst;
• is compromised as a socio-political decision to nobody's satisfaction e.g. a company's internal policy stated in a publicly available Code of Conduct which is the subject of social heckling;
• is allegedly resolved by legislation as a socio-political decision with mixed results;
• is adjudicated by the Courts in the context of socio-politics, common law and legislation, to nobody's satisfaction and mixed results, but which may stand as acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour;

Rinse and Repeat.


8.  Everybody's Got An Angle

1. Hong Kong is an educated, affluent society (with really bad air pollution) which for the first time in its history, is undergoing immense societal and political polarization (a global trend by the way). There's a whingeing pro-establishment or, anti-establishment politician on every street corner, wealth inequality is staggering, locals are fed up with Mainland chinks "our Mainland brothers and sisters" (the semi-official Hong Kong Government phrase) and there's no shortage of social issues that need confronting and resolution. 

2.  Everybody's got an angle. Those that direct Corporate Social Responsibility in Hong Kong have 5 main choices:

• Environmental - airlines and shipping companies refusing to transport sharks fins that end up in restaurants (Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Air China and Orient Overseas Shipping Lines);
• Political - Companies caving in or not caving in to political pressure (Lancome's decision to pull its sponsorship of singer and democracy activist, Denise Ho Wan-sze and then temporarily closing its stores in Hong Kong to avoid protests);
• Charitable - corporate donations of time and money (SCMP's Operation Santa Claus or Central's Rat Race);
• Social Enterprises - corporate donations of time, money, expertise, access to the corporate networks of contacts to small companies engaging in beneficial social impact;
• The Really Sensitive Subjects - like gay rights and gay health in the corporation and in society (Japan Airlines and Tokyo Disneyland declaring their support for GLBT, Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS);
  

3.  And Hong Kong wants to host the Gay Games in 2020.  

4.  In other words, the entire Hong Kong Pink Bubble of gay rights that had been simmering in the background, has been given a double catalyst:

• HSBC's very public endorsement of pride and diversity at the end of 2016 via its "gay lions";  display outside its Head Office; and
• mounting anticipation that Hong Kong will host the Gay Games in 2020;

5.  If the spin-off is the rehabilitation of corporate image, that reputational goodwill might translate into dollars on the Balance Sheet.  From HSBC's point of view that's a Win-Win.

6.  Then add:

• openly gay local Chinese politicians;
• high profile events like the Hong Kong Gay And Lesbian Film Festival;
• gay activists speaking to the media; 
• gay artists and entertainers speaking to the media;
• increasing popularity of Hong Kong's Gay Pride "Pink Dot" on the Central Waterfront;
• gay expatriates in international companies who may be in a same-sex relationship (which is not recognized in Hong Kong);
• calls for anti-discrimination legislation to protect sexual orientation;
• a declining gay scene in Hong Kong and widespread suspicions of price-gouging;
• comparisons to gay rights and the gay scene in Taiwan;

and the stage is set for a showdown, compromise or resolution.  Remember, Hong Kong may be highly westernized and modern, but it is also highly conservative. 

7.  Rightly or wrongly, HSBC realized which way the (Gay) wind was blowing in Hong Kong and engaged in a pubic display of rainbow painted lions, which had multiple levels of interpretation. 

8.  It gave the bank a very public "First Mover Advantage" which we suspect will be used in the background with other multi-nationals to pressure the Hong Kong Government to overhaul gay rights in Hong Kong. Under Hong Kong's political structure, the Functional Constituencies in the Legislative Council give companies a lot of power to lobby and influence. 

9.  This thing is only just beginning.


COMING UP IN PART 4:

9.  Hypocrisy Of Hong Kong's Morality Militia

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Corporate Gay Activism 2

4. Reasons For Corporate Social Responsibility
5.  HSBC's "Gay Lions" In Hong Kong
6.  The Morality Militia Squealed
  
4.   Reasons For Corporate Social Responsibility

There are 7 reasons why a company would consider CSR initiatives:

• Kudos and awards from social monitoring or activist organizations e.g. "best company to work for if you're gay / black / female / care about the environment / whatever..";
• Appeal to "ethical" investors, both individual and institutional, looking to capitalize on a "feel good" factor;
• Repair or prevent reputational damage;
• Repair or prevent physical, financial, environmental or minority damage that they caused.  Sometimes that can be the result of legal proceedings or leaked disclosures;
• Exert pressure on the upstream and downstream supply chain of goods and services;
• Appeal to an existing but untapped client market;
• Position the corporate brand as overtly inclusive or socially aware - for recruitment and marketing campaigns;

 5.   HSBC's "Gay Lions" In Hong Kong

1.   HSBC is a major global bank with historical links to Hong Kong.  Outside its main office at 1 Queen's Road Central sit the bank's 2 lions, Stephen and Stitt.  They symbolize courage and prosperity.  They've been there forever - except that at the end of 2016, for a month, the bank added 2 replicas by a local LGBT artist painted in rainbow colours to symbolize pride and unity in diversity.



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2.   It's not the first time that HSBC has come out on a highly visible scale in support of LGBT.  Check out this video from 2014 showing HSBC's global celebration:



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3.   It's well known around town that HSBC recognizes same-sex relationships in its Employee Benefits policies.  They have been doing that for several years.


6.   The Morality Militia Squealed

1.  It didn't take long for the usual suspects that comprise the Morality Militia to squeal. A small group of "Family Values" types (apparently an alliance of 8 concern groups) showed up in Central to picket around the rainbow lions and vented their anger on HSBC's Facebook page.  The gist of their complaints:

•  the painted lions were a "disgusting display";
• blurring of gender identity;
• discrimination against traditional values;
• emotional damage;
• HSBC's pro-GLBT policies had never been discussed at shareholders meetings;
• forced shareholders to recognize the homosexual lifestyle;
• infringed shareholders' freedom of conscience;
• threats to close their accounts;
• HSBC was arrogant in refusing to meet them and hold a dialogue;

COMING UP IN PART 3:

7.  Education, Affluence and Corporate Social Responsibility
8.  Everybody's Got An Angle
9.  Hypocrisy Of Hong Kong's Morality Militia

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