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Originally Posted by Lodestar_1977
Then how on earth did you think we procreated then? Since you are all mostly Euro offspring. Just thought Id mention it.
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Originally Posted by MrQuizzles
A wizard did it.
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Originally Posted by Golden_Girl_EU
But not Dumbledore.
Or Gandalf, for that matter |
No wizards here mate, Nah, your general wizard tends to like more your fantasy lands, not had any of that round here since... oooh, hard to say really.
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Originally Posted by Golden_Girl_EU
Croatoa is fantasy-ish - and Cimerora can be too.
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Originally Posted by Wolfesbaine
Hmm... pumpkins, or loincloths... which to choose, which to choose.. :P
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Originally Posted by Lodestar_1977
I really dont mean to belittle your point at all and while I of all people am a big beleiver in accepting ones responsibility I think the door swings both ways. I agree it could be irrisponsible to use a word without knowing its true meaning. But I also beleive it is for others to choose not to be offended also. In other words it gets us nowhere by attacking everyone insisting they should change.
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I tottally agree with you Draggynn. I try to do the same. I think it is demeaning to continue to use the word in that way.
Similar to your example is the fact that some people who are offended by that usage are afraid to speak up about it because they will automatically be labeled as gay themselves (whether they are or not, whether they are ready to come out or not). I had this issue at work. I work in a residential treatment center for adolescents, and would treat that usage about the same as if they swore in front of me. One boy looked at me and said, "Why? Are you gay or something?" And I had difficulty coming up with a proper answer since I didn't feel that any of the residents need to know my orientation.
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Originally Posted by Draggynn
...Yeah...we are not going to see eye to eye on this at all. I mean any person can choose whether or not to be offended by any manner of derogatory terms, but that does not make them unoffensive. And I think I hold people to higher standard than you do.
I recognize that when people say "that is so gay" they may not realize that the term is offensive to some people, but when I tell them that I find it offensive, I expect them to stop. I used to be in the bad habit of referring to things I found dumb as "retarded" but after being informed that this was indeed still a term that people found offensive (in this case it was by a friend that had a mentally challenged sibling) I now try very hard to refrain from using that word. To be honest, personally, people calling something gay doesn't really bother me, but I will continue to inform people that I would rather they not use that term. Why? Because there might be someone out there who is gay and is closeted or simply not out to the people involved and every time they hear the term gay used in a derogatory manner it makes it that much harder for them to come out to those people. If the people are using gay in a derogatory way because they believe being gay is wrong, then the "it doesn't mean homosexual" argument holds no weight. If they have no problem with a person's sexual orientation, then using the term gay in derogatory manner sends the wrong message to their potentially closeted friends and acquaintences and should still be avoided. I think that it gets us nowhere if we simply allow these words to go by unaddressed. I will always ask people to stop because there might be someone out there for whom it will make a difference. I just can't envision any situation where I think using the term "gay" in a derogatory manner would be okay since you can't be certain of a person's sexual orientation. |
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
Quote:
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Wow, this turned into quite an interesting thread. I come from a rather unique perspective in that I was brought up in a very religious Catholic family in a small town somewhere in the mid-west. Fast forward to September 1995...I moved to Seattle(mostly on a whim...another story for another time).
My first longterm job was as a salesman in a Futon company, and my three co-workers consisted of a straight man, a lesbian, and a gay man. After working with these wonderful people over a four year period, I came to not only love them, but understand completely where they were coming from psychologically. I was introduced to the very active gay community in Seattle, and found them to be amongst the most wonderful people I've met in my life.
With that said....going waaaayyyy back to the OP...I completely understand(even as a hetero man) why he was looking for a gay supergroup. Even a city as progressive as Seattle has it's fair share of bigots and idiots.
For my part, I'd join a gay SG/VG simply because IMHO, the gay community are some of most honest and incredible people I've ever met.
Sorry so late to the thread...I don't post very often, but just wanted to share my feelings on the matter.
Edit: I would vote for Dan Savage for any public office....this guy is freaking awesome!
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Originally Posted by Draggynn
...Yeah...we are not going to see eye to eye on this at all. I mean any person can choose whether or not to be offended by any manner of derogatory terms, but that does not make them unoffensive. And I think I hold people to higher standard than you do.
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Originally Posted by Lodestar_1977
Really? Because if you look at all my posts that is exactly what I said. If the intent is meant as offensuve then absoloutely that person or persons are ebing deliberately inflamatory. Im really not sure why you think I said otherwise. Excpet of course in the event you didnt read my full post properly and took the part you chose to pick as "at fault" and dare I say it "out of context".
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Originally Posted by Lodestar_1977
I think the door swings both ways. But I also beleive it is for others to choose not to be offended also.
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Originally Posted by Lodestar_1977
I mean you hold people to a higher standard than me? Do you really? Please do tell how you came by this decision.
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Originally Posted by Lodestar_1977
attacking everyone insisting they should change.
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