Poll: Non-Heterosexuality: A Possibly Unpopular Opinion

[CloakedOne]

I'm straight myself, but to me, I see sexuality as something you cannot control, nor would you want too. You have to proud of what you are. Furthermore, I think that anyone of any sexuality should be able to state it on the internet without fear of backlash, and to tell them that they should deal with the backlash seems wrong, but that's the world we live in. One of prejudice and intolerance of difference. So while I'd like to say they should put the details anywhere without fear of backlash, the backlash is going to exist for a long time.

This is a pretty good summation of my sentiments. should they keep it to themselves? Well, if they don't like people disagreeing with them and upsetting them, I could see how keeping it to themselves might help them socially. On the other hand, they shouldn't be bashed for who they are so they should not be encouraged to stay quiet just because LGBT people don't sit well with straight people all the time. They should not feel like criminals for who they are. It's like you said: everyone has an opinion. I believe that people should be far more accepting of each other and that we cannot accept truths that we don't perceive. LGBT people SHOULD be allowed to be open about it and be prepared for the consequences, but the consequences should not be slinging hate and threats. There are a lot of intolerant people out there and, sadly, I don't know if that will ever change.

 

[Agayek]

-snip-

I dunno if I would say that they should be expected to quietly accept any hassling from random idiot #748823, but I will agree that everyone needs to shut the fuck up about it.

I basically subscribe to the "Don't ask, don't tell" school of thought. Entirely because whatever sexuality someone happens to be really doesn't matter (except when I'm trying to pick up chicks, then it matters a little bit). The only time it's relevant at all to tell someone your sexuality is if they're hitting on you and you aren't interested.

There's a couple of other situations where it might be somewhat relevant, but those are by far the minority. Everyone just needs to shut the fuck up about it, on both sides of the debate.

On a quasi-related side notes, Gay Pride parades are probably the stupidest thing the gay community have ever done. We get it. You're gay. No one with any sense cares. Stop making fools of yourselves and blocking traffic.

 

[bobknowsall]

-snip-

I dunno if I would say that they should be expected to quietly accept any hassling from random idiot #748823, but I will agree that everyone needs to shut the fuck up about it.

Oh, I never said anything about accepting hassling, just avoiding that hassling in the first place.

 

[DMonkey]

Context people, CONTEXT!
Backlash for being gay on the internet?
You will also receive backlash for preferring one console to another, or mixing up there/their/they're... I once had two pages devoted to calling me stupid for not liking the Big Labowski...
The internet is full of angry little children, and if you can't handle the taunts of a 14 year old on the other side of the world who goes apeshit over some *stupid* reason, then might I recommend a more suitable activity for your overly sensitive nature like clutching blankets, or talking to a bush, and leave the internet to people who know where the Big Red X, and the /ignore command is.

 

[bobknowsall]

I'm sorry, I didn't realize what I was saying could be interpreted as "GRR, TRANSGENDERS SHOULD DIE GRARH!"

My mistake.

Did I actually say that was my interpretation? No.

If you're going to trans-bash, do it elsewhere. It's irrelevant to the thread, and I don't particularly want this thread to turn into a discussion about, "Man, transgender people are so fucking delusional".

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

People should just deal with it. My dad is like me, be gay and go do your gay thing just don't be hitting on me - well you can but I'll have to let you down gently.

Nice save there. The whole "Don't go hitting on me" thing always bothered me, because it's like a latent sort of discrimination. But yeah, saying "I'm not interested" gets the point across just fine. There's no need to overreact, right?

I think one of the greatest charms of having gay friends is they tell you you look sexy in drag, or when you find other times to actually use a mirror in the morning to brush your hair. I don't think it's latent discrimination ... just common sense to have gay (or male homosexuals in my case) friends to improve your self-esteem.

If you're gay (male), you have a DUTY to tell your straight (male) friends that they look awesome and handsome, and generally wonderful when they make an effort to do so. Especially before they attempt to talk to a girl they are interested in, but are completely spineless around them.

I'm not sure how it works with straight girls and lesbian interractions ... but damnit ... one girlfriend I had was the direct result of gay intervention. That being said she was batshit crazy so I guess I blame him more for his actions than thank him for it.

 

[Sebenko]

Now, "transgenders" just need help. Everyone dislikes something about themselves, but that doesn't mean they have a "true self" trapped within them that can only be freed by chemicals and surgery. Its the same mental process as conspiracy theory, natural confirmation bias reinforced by the internet giving plurality to every inane thought anyone has ever had.

*cough* Otherkin *cough*
I think. Might be some other lunatic fringe group.

If you think there's something wrong with transgender, Otherkin will make will make you eat your eyes just so you can throw them up again. Look them up, because I won't.

Yea, furries and such. No one disagrees they're batshit insane.

"Transgenders" are close enough to homosexuality that gay groups shrugged their shoulders and included them, "as the more the merrier." What pisses me off is how they're reinforcing these people's delusions to further their goals. Its the same as if PETA merged with all the "otherkin" groups to further (mythical) animal rights.

Otherkin are to furries what furries are to normal people.

 

[Agayek]

As long as we say things like, "People really shouldn't bring it up unless it's relevant," then we are creating a hostile atmosphere for people of different sexual orientations. Heterosexuals don't have to worry about a slip because we're privileged, and if it comes out that we are hetero in a situation where it hasn't been previously established by a direct question, we don't care. But GBLT's have to constantly be wary, because they believe they will get backlash.

That's why I don't like this line of thinking. Because it isn't just about the relevance of your sexuality in a conversation. It's about all the little things you have to do to remove your sexuality from conversations to please the portion of the population that is offended or bothered by such things.

And now I hope I have been clear, but I am unsure. And this is a wall of text if I ever saw one. I think I'm going to leave this thread now. I've said my piece, no need to stir the pot further.

There is a really, really easy solution to this: Fuck 'em. Anyone who is honestly offended by someone else's sexuality (or anything else that does not affect them) is not worth paying the slightest bit of attention to. If they have a problem, they're not worth continuing to be around.

 

[HentMas]

its stupid, its like the argument in Japan that "Women get raped because they wear revealing clothes", i mean, really just because i do something that i have a right to do but is frowned upon, it doesnt mean that i should be blamed for the crap that every person that thinks differently than me would say (as you imply by asking if they should be made "responsible" for the "backlash")

and if i keep saying "IM GAY IM GAY IM GAY" i am probably neither gay and just a troll, but anywhay, there are attention seekers that use the argument, and they obviously want to dwell in their sexual preference more than in anything else

i don´t care about HGLBT people, just, dont rub it on my nose, i dont care and neither should you.

 

[Pearwood]

Well on one hand nobody deserves to be judged for anything like that but on the other hand the internet is a million-strong army of idiotic 13 year olds with prejudices against everyone even a little bit different to them and I strongly think anyone who sets foot in these retard-infested waters should be well prepared to have insults hurled at them.

"almost all of the gays i know want to hit the queers hard!" True, very true.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Yes, but only because I don't think your sexuality should be an issue (I'm one of those perfect world morons).

Besides, unless a discussion comes up in which the question put forward is directly 'what is your sexuality', or 'is this normal?' then it shouldn't even need to come up, and by bringing up your sexuality it's like any other idiot on the internet who likes to yell out 'look at me, I'm special so pay attention.'

So while I don't necessarily think people should keep their sexuality on the down low while on the internet, it's because unless it's relevant, I don't think anyone should say anything about themselves on the internet. It's the wider concern, not the issue, which bothers me.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

I have a Tran-sexual brother and they get so much grief, online or otherwise breaks my heart seeing how cruel some people can be.

Really? I myself am transsexual, and it is true, sometimes society can be so unbelievably, irrationally cruel. Still, my college is quite accepting, so my transition should go well. I hope your brother can find a supportive community as well.

OT: How many people do you see online who actively flaunt their sexuality or gender identity? This seems like a myth to me, and all its doing is stopping LGBT people from stating any facet of that part of their identity in order to keep up some sort of "don't ask, don't tell" gaming policy that only purports heteronormativity. I mean, jeez, should I be banned from the Escapist because I happened to reveal that I'm trans in this post, even though its related to the topic?

 

[FolkLikePanda]

I don't mind gays and lesbians, as long as their not dirty gits, trannies scare me a bit though, but if a person wants to make it clear they're different than they should be allowed to and if other people don't like it well then they're prejudice bastards. Hypocrisy FTW!

 

[JanatUrlich]

What. Hahhahaha noooo

Stop flaunting your heterosexuality in my face. You're fucking offending me, dick.

The fact is that people shouldn't have to hide their sexuality. It's not naivety and no-one's 'flaunting' it, it's just a fact that that person is a homosexual and they're not going to lie about it to make people feel more comfortable.

Homophobes should be confronted and if that happens on the internet, so be it. I'd rather they made their opinions known and got bashed for it than keeping them inside and never realising how fucking stupid they are.

 

[JaredXE]

I vote yes.

Now, don't get me wrong, standard non-homophobic disclaimer applies, but it really comes down to whether you think you are thick-skinned enough to handle the flaming. A great many people are just unaware how ragingly homophobic people can be, or not even homophobic but mentally and socially retarded.

I don't broadcast my heterosexuality online, so why should a gay person care to broadcast theirs. In fact, it's that attitude that pisses off a lot of the anti-gay activists. You don't see a straight pride parade, why? Because for one thing the organizers of such an event would be hit with a half-dozen lawsuits from GLAAD or the ACLU, another reason is that there IS NO REASON to broadcast your sexuality. Keep it in your stylish pants and in your home the same as I do.

 

[bobknowsall]

I mean, jeez, should I be banned from the Escapist because I happened to reveal that I'm trans in this post, even though its related to the topic?

You seem to be missing the point. I'm not advocating a new policy that bans or censors people for revealing that they're non-heterosexual. I'm trying to discuss the personal choice to keep things on the down-low.