Are YOU a homophobe?

[Eran of Arcadia]

As long as they don't make their homosexuality the main part of their identity, they are fine with me.

And let me just say now that I say the same about people who make their heterosexuality the main part of their identity, although there are not many (at least that I know).

 

[brainpan]

Hey, some of my friends are camp!

At least I retracted my anti-camp comments! I hope you didn't mind my association of camp with clowns.

 

[bhsup]

Nope. I disapprove of homosexual behavior on a personal level, but I do not fear them, and let's face it, for all the denials to the contrary that is the only reason that word is used. It's a blatant attempt to paint anyone who does not approve if it as fearful.

 

[RedRalph]

And let me just say now that I say the same about people who make their heterosexuality the main part of their identity, although there are not many (at least that I know).

Exactly. the hardman, "I can get as much . .. .. .. .. . as I want whaddaya mean you cant do 60 pressups ya wimp" act is as tiresome as "Ooo, someone said call the firebrigade out and I said theyre already 'out'". It bugs me when anyone makes one aspect of their personality their entire identity

 

[Che Guava]

Nope. I disapprove of homosexual behavior on a personal level, but I do not fear them, and let's face it, for all the denials to the contrary that is the only reason that word is used. It's a blatant attempt to paint anyone who does not approve if it as fearful.

Dang homofascists!!!

 

[Endim_Analys]

Do you mean "Do you have prejudices against people of non-norm sexuality?" or "Do you hoist an irrational fear that compells you to hatred and sometimes violence against said group?"

I would say that I have prejudice against ANYONE taking his "orientation" too seriously. But I don't hate. I consider myself liberated from the heterosexual bonds, and now I have a world to win. The classification of people into labels like "gay", "straight", "trans" or "bi" serve the purpouse of oppressing them, especially young people. What you gain by "coming out" and being personal with the entire world is increased prejudice against yourself, strengthening of the normative labels on a societal level and personal acceptance and execution of the behaviour of the label one has chosen for one self.

This goes for all of us, most visibly for gays, but most demanding for you straight folk.

Ha de

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

homophobia
One entry found for homophobia.
Main Entry: ho·mo·pho·bia
Pronunciation: "hO-m&-'fO-bE-&
Function: noun
: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals

The term is not limitted to fear.

 

[bhsup]

Yeah, I hear that bs argument all the time too, but let's be realistic. When you hear of a "phobia", the vast majority of the population are immediately going to think "fear".

 

[Phlegmak]

Since I'm not afraid of gay people, the answer is no.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Might be. But that doesn't make the argument bs just because the word means exacly what it means. Go take it up with english.

Do you want me to be PC towards homophobes? Do I need to start calling them: "Social behaviour challenged towards homosexuals individuals"?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well, like I said, the OP should provide a clear definitoon at least for the purposes of this thread.

 

[GinandTonic]

TBH I dont really give a monkies what people fancy.

 

[Phlegmak]

Might be. But that doesn't make the argument bs just because the word means exacly what it means. Go take it up with english.

Do you want me to be PC towards homophobes? Do I need to start calling them: "Social behaviour challenged towards homosexuals individuals"?

I know, I know. I get annoyed at words in English that don't mean what they obviously should mean.

Anyway, for all the meanings of the words homophobe, I am not one.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I am not homophobic, I have gay/bi friends and I like several bands with gay members

 

[Endim_Analys]

One can always ask for clarification. Unless it was Equuleus point to make it vague and unrepresentative of anyone's emotions I'd say the word homophobia is a stupid choice for a poll like this. It has too broad a meaning, and it is often interpreted far different by different people.

Cops usually use the meaning irrational fear leading to hate crimes and hate speeches (at least here), gay culture proponents usually use the flexible and inflexible attitude of counting all non-praise of their movement as homophobia and then thinking and expressing that ALL the people they have labeled are homophobes in the meaning irrational fear and hatred. Conservatives usually attack the term for being unrepresentative of their views, thus trying to deny the existance of ANY prejudice against gays.

Most people are what could be called "mildly homophobic", meaning that they have some prejudices but that these are mostly the ones enforced by gay oriented media itself. Most people are also at odds with the term for labeling them as having an irrational fear, when they just see themselves as having a normal and healthy world view.

It's always better to be specific if one want the answers to have a meaning.

 

[Endim_Analys]

Ziggy: How can the word mean EXACTLY what it means if it has several meanings according to your definition?

"irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals"

THAT is not an exact phrase.

 

[Che Guava]

Ziggy: How can the word mean EXACTLY what it means if it has several meanings according to your definition?

"irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals"

THAT is not an exact phrase.

Why not? Can't it be defined as any or all of those things?

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Child, you need to experience life a little more before you form those opinions.

I know both gay and transsexual people. They totally freak me out.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Ziggy: How can the word mean EXACTLY what it means if it has several meanings according to your definition?

"irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals"

THAT is not an exact phrase.

If any of those conditions apply, the term homophobia applies. That is the exact definition of the word. Doesn't mean you or I have to like it, but that's the way it is.

 

[Endim_Analys]

Why not? Can't it be defined as any or all of those things?

Lets say an example person A is a homophobe. According to Ziggy we have an exact definition of homophobia, that is: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. Now, according to my understanding (maybe it's a subconscious language barrier?) of the word exact, A has to be EITHER fearing, aversive or discriminating against homosexuals, or a combo. But if we know that A is lets say fearing of homos (you okay with this shortening of the word?) and not the other words, then A is not homophobic anymore, since A can't still fulfill the condition of being either of the words, but only one of them. Therefore such a term is uninformative as long as it does not mean all its constituents at the same time, or as long as we know the exact nature of A's condition. Of course it can still be used, but its meaning will be a little counterintutive.