I am a writer of science fiction and fantasy who lives with his daughter, three dogs, and two ferrets. I work in sci-tech during my day job. Love goth and metal music. Looking for friendship, dating, and we'll see what develops. I am trying to make "Viking goth" a thing. I have an interest in knives, swords, and other blades and have a modest collection. I also have an interest in guns and do shoot Also, what I want from government is to mostly stay away.

When it comes to personal interactions I tend to have two modes.

One I term "deer in the headlights." Basically, I have no idea what to say. I freeze. It's not just a matter of I need a second to think, I really just have no clue what words should come out of my mouth. I have had folk tell me that this comes off as brusque or downright rude. And, well, I'm not intending to be it's just that a combination of social anxiety and utter cluelessness causes me to freeze. You can be my best friend in the world and I still have no idea what to say.

The second mode is when you get me going on a subject I'm passionate about. Then, the problem is the exact opposite; getting me to shut up. I get motivated about the topic and...well, that just takes over.

There are a couple of lesser modes for special situations as well.

The first of these is "polite greeting." "Hi." "How are you." "Nice day." "Things going well?" "Take care. Have a nice day." Basically "canned" phrases (which doesn't mean that they aren't well meant) that I have sometimes heard described as "polite noises." I can do that. I can even be sincere about it. It's just, you run out of those pretty quickly.

The last is "on stage presence" which is what I use when doing panels at cons or when doing training related to my work. It's sort of a toned-down version of mode 2 that relies on the more formal structure of a panel discussion or a training session to keep me from going overboard as I am wont to do without that structure.

The observant reader will note that what's lacking in there is a "mode" that is useful for social interactions, in particular for meeting new people. It is no great surprise that virtually all of my friends are folk I've met through science fiction conventions and thus were able to interact with initially via "on stage presence". Online also comes closer to that "on stage" than any in person interactions and, so is behind most of the _rest_ of my friends--those I didn't meet through cons, I "met" online. Indeed, I tend to be a lot more "open" online than I'd ever dream of being face to face with all but my absolutely closest friends.

And this lack is one of the major challenges of my life: how to actually meet and get to know people in "meat space" beyond the rote (although never empty, not for me) pleasantries.

Stenbocken

Bastant

177 cm

Blåa

Kaukasisk

Skild

Ja - hemma

Ja

Hål… Men bara i öronen

Annat

Hund, Exotiskt djur

Nej

Annat

Probably The Sisters of Mercy, or any one of several gothic/symphonic metal bands

Hard to say. Who have I read most recently?

This may seem odd, but Batman

YouTube channels like Toxic Tears'.

Universitetsexamen

Heltid

Forskning / Vetenskap / Ingenjör

Sr. Analytical Scientist

Mellan 600 000 ch 750 000 kronor

Med barn, Med husdjur

Allt är lugnt

Nej

Ja - en eller två

Tönt

Reserverad, Blyg

Läsa, Musik, TV , Internet, Fiske / Jakt

Umgås med vänner, Prova nya saker, Läsa en bok, Gå på museum

Something interesting, like a museum or other place where we can talk but where there's something to do if conversation lags.

Skydiving, SCUBA diving, exploring places nobody's been before.

Agnostiker

Aldrig

To make some small mark in the world.

Torr / Sarkastisk, Obskyr

Drama

Action, Science Fiction, Komedier, Romantik, Drama, Tecknat, Skräck, Thriller

Rock, Hårdrock

Fantasy, Fiktion, Skräck, Science Fiction, Jag är författare, Romantik

Känslighet, Humor, Omtänksamhet, Intelligens

I'll be honest. I'm not sure. Part of what I'm looking for is to find out what I'm looking for.

Vän, Dejt, Intimt