[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

nothing paranoid there. In a former life, I worked in both retail and corporate levels of a national book chain. Store employees were almost universally stereotypical lefties: gender-confused; immature; nihilistic; self-consciously enigmatic. Notably, there were no more than a couple of handsful out of dozens, if not hundreds of women I met in that company that I would have considered emotionally healthy. The exceptions were generally the few corporate employees who didn't rise through the ranks. The place attracted lesbians like nothing else I've ever seen (other than the psych hospital I worked in for a couple of years).

The corporate officers were, likewise, almost all stereotypical middle-aged lefties: men who were either painfully nerdy or flamboyant homos; women who reeked of gender/identity issues. It was a study in dysfunction.

Your instincts are on the nose.

[tommix2]

You describe those people so well. Just as I have observed at some big book stores.

[Ditter]

>>>>>>"gender confused, immature, nihilistic, self-consciously enigmatic, painfully nerdy, flaming homos">>>>>>

Those are the best descriptions of bookstore employes that I have ever heard! I especialy like "painfully nerdy". May I use that one? LOL