Homophobia

[Zorak]

It's quite elementary actually. Your OP listed the definition and almost everyone... and I mean almost everyone on this board takes that to mean that anyone that is against that lifestyle for whatever reason is a homophobe when that isn't the case at all.

What sort of lifestyle?

 

[Panacea]

I don't think it's pathetic to be honest... people are certainly entitled to their opinions, so long as they don't let their disagreements prevent them from interacting from someone whose lifestyle they don't agree with.

People are certainly entitled to be assholes, I just think it's pathetic to be one. Negative and ugly.

 

[Guyzerr]

It's just as pathetic to "disagree" with homosexuality as it is to be homophobic, clinically. Those people deserve mention in this thread.

What reason would you have to quote me and then use the word " pathetic " in your response to me?

 

[Guyzerr]

What sort of lifestyle?

You know exactly what I mean but I gotta give you credit for trying to draw me into a fight that isn't going to happen. Nice try though.

 

[Aries]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/homophobic

ho·mo·pho·bi·a
n.
1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2. Behavior based on such a feeling.

 

[Guyzerr]

People are certainly entitled to be assholes, I just think it's pathetic to be one. Negative and ugly.

And your definition of an asshole would be what? Someone that doesn't agree with your opinion I suppose.

 

[retro]

I would suggest you read the definition again then. What you and the others are doing is twisting it to mean what you want it to mean. If it isn't a true phobia as you say it isn't then leave the phobia part out of the word.

It's a colloquialism to be honest, and generally used to refer to a wide range of negative attitudes, up to and including actual fear. You could more accurately state that it's sexually based prejudice, but homophobia has become an all-encompassing term for such things.

 

[Guyzerr]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/homophobic

And you posted that for who's benefit?

 

[Darrell]

It's quite elementary actually. Your OP listed the definition and almost everyone... and I mean almost everyone on this board takes that to mean that anyone that is against that lifestyle for whatever reason is a homophobe when that isn't the case at all.

Here is another definition, does this better fit what everyone is saying?

ho·mo·pho·bia definition
Pronunciation: /ˌhō-mə-ˈfō-bē-ə/
Function: n
: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals

I would say that definition covers what everyone has said here. Don't you agree?

 

[Aries]

And you posted that for who's benefit?

Everyone's. The definition was being discussed. So I posted the definition.

 

[retro]

People are certainly entitled to be assholes, I just think it's pathetic to be one. Negative and ugly.

and you're entitled to your opinion as well :24:

I just draw a distinction between disagreeing with and having a prejudice against. I know my sister was involved in theater during high school and college, and became friends with a lot of gay guys. She considers them all to be her friends, even if she doesn't approve of or understand their sexual orientation.

 

[Zorak]

You know exactly what I mean but I gotta give you credit for trying to draw me into a fight that isn't going to happen. Nice try though.

No guyzzer, I don't know 'exactly' what you mean. I can't pressure you into explaining if you don't want to.

 

[retro]

Here is another definition, does this better fit what everyone is saying?



I would say that definition covers what everyone has said here. Don't you agree?

That's the definition I've always associated with homophobia.

 

[Panacea]

And your definition of an asshole would be what? Someone that doesn't agree with your opinion I suppose.

You suppose wrong. My definition of the word asshole has a lot of components, but disagreeing with me is not one of them. Still, I find disagreeing with homosexuality an asshole opinion and rather silly. It's no one's place to disagree with someone else's consenting adult sexual relationships.

 

[Panacea]

and you're entitled to your opinion as well :24:

I just draw a distinction between disagreeing with and having a prejudice against. I know my sister was involved in theater during high school and college, and became friends with a lot of gay guys. She considers them all to be her friends, even if she doesn't approve of or understand their sexual orientation.

I think there can be a teeny bit of distinction between them as well in some cases, but not much.

 

[Darrell]

It's no one's place to disagree with someone else's consenting adult sexual relationships.

This.

 

[retro]

It's no one's place to disagree with someone else's consenting adult sexual relationships.

That's like saying that people aren't allowed to have an opinion about anything though. So long as they're not telling people that they're wrong and going to burn in hell or something, a simple disagreement with something isn't inappropriate in my estimation. :dunno

That all being said... being afraid of, prejudiced against, or otherwise having a negative opinion about someone because of their sexual orientation is pathetic and disgusting. I think that's something we can agree on.

 

[Guyzerr]

but homophobia has become an all-encompassing term for such things.

Ok so now we're getting somewhere after all this time.

What you just said speaks volumes of today's generation. There is a vast difference in ideals / attitudes / definitions between my generation and the one that's right after mine and unfortunately it's forgotten by the masses.

When I talk to people in your age group a memory comes to mind on something that happened over 20 years ago. I had a young fellow working for me and he was into what I considered " headbanging " music. One day he asked me to listen to one of his tapes on the way home and after a long discussion I agreed. I stuck it in and managed to hear about 2 minutes of it before I shut it off. The next morning I gave it back to him and made a snide comment about that not being music bla bla bla. His only comment to me was " every generation has it's own thing. " I've never forgotten that and when dealing with the younger crowd I am forever reminding myself of his words. It's made me much more tolerant and able to get along with people much younger than myself. Matter of fact it also helps me get along with the really " old fuckers " like my mother, uncles, aunts etc as well. When " the kids " of today realize other age groups think differently this world will be a much better place. I know it won't ever happen... matter of fact it will just get worse.... but there's always hope.

 

[retro]

Ok so now we're getting somewhere after all this time.

What you just said speaks volumes of today's generation. There is a vast difference in ideals / attitudes / definitions between my generation and the one that's right after mine and unfortunately it's forgotten by the masses.

When I talk to people in your age group a memory comes to mind on something that happened over 20 years ago. I had a young fellow working for me and he was into what I considered " headbanging " music. One day he asked me to listen to one of his tapes on the way home and after a long discussion I agreed. I stuck it in and managed to hear about 2 minutes of it before I shut it off. The next morning I gave it back to him and made a snide comment about that not being music bla bla bla. His only comment to me was " every generation has it's own thing. " I've never forgotten that and when dealing with the younger crowd I am forever reminding myself of his words. It's made me much more tolerant and able to get along with people much younger than myself. Matter of fact it also helps me get along with the really " old fuckers " like my mother, uncles, aunts etc as well. When " the kids " of today realize other age groups think differently this world will be a much better place. I know it won't ever happen... matter of fact it will just get worse.... but there's always hope.

But generational gaps don't excuse prejudices either. Unless you're talking about the terminology itself, in which case we're in agreement. But just as "queer" doesn't refer to referring to something strange any longer... people need to stay up with the times on what words mean now as opposed to what they meant 20 years ago.

 

[Guyzerr]

It's no one's place to disagree with someone else's consenting adult sexual relationships.

You're right... it isn't but if they do that doesn't make them a homophobe or an asshole. It's how they go about disagreeing that would turn them into an asshole or homophobe.