The intarweb made it possible for me to finally meet people in a way comfortable to me, and as an interesting side effect, made me able to cruise bars and such and cast aside my introverted side, at least for a night (or a slutty long weekend in more than a few cases).

Yes, a bar scene is what you make it. And there will always be those who cruise for sex in alleyways, parks and bathrooms (an increasingly Republican endeavor) because that is what they want. Sleaze will always be there as well.

I found my last couple forays into leather bars had turned into practically mocking parodies of their so-called ideals, and that made me stay away for a while now. It seemed there was some sort of loose club event going on, and the posturing and awkward role playing looked like the early tryout of American Idol with people completely clueless of how bad they were presenting themselves to others. Ditto some of the bear runs. I much prefer the small, intimate club setting, casual gatherings, etc.