Ivandra Ceruden wrote...
leggywillow wrote...
It just boggles my mind that people think it's okay to make a mean homophobic statement as long as they preface it with "I have a gay friend" or "I'm totes not a homophobe but-". That's just not how it works.
Having a token gay, black, or female friend that you claim to respect does not mean you have somehow entered an exclusive club that gives you permission to make sexist, racist, or otherwise cruel statements. At least not without getting called out on it.
As for the first part of your post: Ok, what should be said then, hm? The littlest thing one says wrong and one gets immediately shot at all sides by people jelling 'OMFG HE/SHE HATES GAYS BURN HIM HE/SHE IS A HOMOPHOBE'. Give me a break, it's never good, even if one tries to be polite. Oh well, 't is the internet, anything is allowed, I presume.
I however agree with the second part of your post. Of course people shouldn't be using such statements just to say something offensive. It's just this 'don't-you-dare-stepping-into-the-hornet's-nest' attitude that bothers me. People flaming and calling bad names just to vent their opinions and convictions...
In this case, that's quite simple: don't say anything. If the only thing you can think of to say is an entirely unconstructive and possibly hurtful opinion ("I think all these images of ManShep and Kaidan hugging are disgusting"), then maybe you should just refrain from posting it.
However, if you actually have an opinion that could spark discussion and is more than just a mean opinion but still possibly inflammatory, go ahead and post it. But at least attempt to be respectful about it, and don't attempt to hide the fact behind a shield of "HEY I KNOW A GAY GUY". It's not so much the statement itself as what it connotates: that the OP
actually thought about it, realized that what he said was mean, and decided to go ahead and post it anyway with a qualifier that he hoped would excuse him from the flames.
Modifié par leggywillow, 19 septembre 2011 - 08:23 .