TotallyOz Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 How To Deal With Homophobes OnlineIn many ways, the Internet has been great for gay men. It's given us ways to contact others like us, make allies in the straight community, get laid, and generally feel less alone. But there is a downside as well. It also allows us to come in contact with right wing homophobes who will try to tear down everything we've accomplished.Some of these homophobes mean well, but have simply been given wrong information because of a general lack of education about homosexuality in our public school systems. Others are hateful and are trying to convince other people who may not have an opinion on homosexuality one way or another to come over to their side. Either way, you may be tempted to debate with them. If so, here's some advice on how you do it.If they say homosexuality is a choice.Point out that acting on homosexual impulses is a choice, but being homosexual is not. Explain that scientists have discovered a gene that is directly connected to homosexual feelings.If they say that the gene proves that homosexuality is a “birth defect.”Tell them that no, it simply proves that there is a natural component to homosexuality and that it means that being homosexual is no different than being born with red hair.If they say that CDC information shows that more gay men than IV drug users contract HIV in any given year.Agree with them in principle, but then point out that there are many, many more gay men than IV drug users which means that, by definition, there are going to be more cases. Point out that the CDC also says there are more cases of HIV spread through heterosexual conduct than through IV drug use as well.If they say that gays are perverted because they have anal sex which means they like shit.Show them the current studies that show that 44 percent of straight men have had anal sex with their female partners, and that similar numbers of women report enjoying anal sex on a regular basis. Therefore, anal sex is sort of the great equalizer among gays and straights.Often they will say that they have never met a gay person and don't understand why there seem to be so many of us online.First off, you can ask them how they can judge a group if they have never met a single one of their members. Secondly, you can point out that they probably have met any number of gay men or women in their lives, but simply don't know it, because not every gay person goes to a pride parade and people are not likely to share details of their sex lives with people who they can tell might become aggressive or hateful to them.They might try to tell you that homosexuals are unmanly or effeminate and try to act like women.This one is easy. Find pictures of your favorite daddy muscle top. Then find a picture of John Mayer. Ask them which of the two seems more like a real man – the pretty straight boy or the masculine queer.Sometimes they will try to say that the gay lifestyle is unhealthy.In this case, you can easily inform them that gay men are much more likely to hit the gym on a regular basis than straight men are. And that lesbians are much more likely to be vegetarians than straight women are – meaning they'll have lower cholesterol levels and be less prone to heart attacks.If they say that the Bible prohibits homosexuality.Tell them that it really doesn't. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is the Bible saying it's not a great idea for straight men to cheat on their wives by having anal or oral sex with female prostitutes – which was true at a time before condoms existed. Also point out that the Bible prohibits eating shellfish, wearing polyester, and dozens of other things that they do on a regular basis. Ask them why they pick and choose to hate the one thing the Bible actually says nothing about at all.If they say that gays only like shitty dance music like Madonna or Lady Gaga.Simply post them a YouTube link to any song by Rob Halford or Judas Priest. Finding a straight man under age 50 who doesn't think Judas Priest kicks ass is difficult, and even the most hardcore homophobe would have trouble giving Halford any shit.In the case that they try to equate homophobia with pedophilia.Point out that studies show that between 70 and 86 percent of all sexual contact between adults and children occurs between an older male and a female child. Also point out that the higher percentage of 86 percent represents communities that consider themselves particularly Christian, where there is a higher level of stigma on non-married sexual content.Sometimes they will say that we are trying to recruit them.Ask them if they shop at The Gap. If they say “yes,” assure them that we are not interested.Finally, if they use any hate speech against you at all.Just look up the website's contact information and report them for hate speech. No site wants to be known as one that allows hate speech – and, in fact, allowing threats to be made online can get a website in lots of legal trouble.Keep doing this, and you can deal with any homophobe online – and help spread tolerance and understanding throughout the online community. cc boytoy.com 2013 BiBottomBoy 1 Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Promoting rational thinking in our culture is one solution.. We can argue our points but it won't work on people who are guided by irrationality and bias. They will just ignore you. We need to help people trapped in irrationality, bias and fear to see things clearly. Then we will be able to carry out conversations. Homophobes seem to be scared. Scared to see their world view shaken... It's hard for them..but if we can promote the right tool, "Rational thinking" then they will come around.. Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Yes, but there are also people who are figuring out if they should be homophobic or not - if we let the homophobes be the only voice we lose. Quote
Members MsGuy Posted January 28, 2013 Members Posted January 28, 2013 Well, if you're more interested in exploding their heads than reasoning with them, just post that most straights you've met don't seem to feel any need to get all that worked up over homosexuality. And that, in your experience, there's a high percentage of gays repressing their sexuality among those 'straights' that do. After that, no matter what they post, just keep replying "Yep, yep, just what I thought." until they flame out. Guaranteed to work 96% of the time. TotallyOz and AdamSmith 2 Quote
Members RA1 Posted January 28, 2013 Members Posted January 28, 2013 I hate flaming out but then that is a different description for someone who flies turbine aircraft. Best regards, RA1 AdamSmith 1 Quote
AdamSmith Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Well, if you're more interested in exploding their heads than reasoning with them, ROFL! Yours is precisely the logic of today's Dilbert... RA1 1 Quote