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Discussion: How do you define homophobia?
Member Since: 11/4/2006
Posts: 37,808
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There are two possibilities as to why some people are homophobic. The fear that gay people will take over. They don't want that. Another one is that they are probably gay themselves and afraid to come out so they use that as a cover up.
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Member Since: 6/4/2010
Posts: 38,919
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
My view would be similar to your own. If you don't agree with homosexuality, then you are a homophobe. Some people may do a good job of hiding their thoughts, but more often than not their attempts are futile. If you don't agree with something then you can never be comfortable with it, so in certain situations it's quite easy to tell when someone's opinions are backward. Their true thoughts will come to the surface. Thankfully, Western society as whole is moving forward so opinions of that sentiment are no longer accepted and are generally frowned upon. I think homophobia is still a bigger issue than it's made out to be, it just often remains unspoken. Being gay is still considered a taboo to many people. Society is moving in the right direction, it's just going to take a long time to get there.
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Ding ding ding.
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Member Since: 6/18/2011
Posts: 547
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I think homophobia is going out of your way to say something negative, or just being negative toward gays. I don't think a person is considered homophobic if they don't 'promote' homosexuality, though. If you remain neutral, on the subject and don't say anything, because you pretty much don't care (like myself), then I don't think you're a homophobe. Being gay doesn't define a person. Gays are people too, they deserve respect.
EDIT: when I say don't care, I don't mean that in a shady way.
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Member Since: 11/11/2010
Posts: 11,240
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I'm becoming radicalized by this subject. You can hate gays all you won't but the once who get ghetto with it and call me the f word or put your hands on me i'm shutting it down. I will bust a homophobe head open esp this lame white trash douche that's in my english class. He looks at me wrong again and i'm killing his bitch ass.
Pon de Homophobe to death
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Member Since: 3/15/2010
Posts: 2,041
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Break down the word, homo and phobic
A phobia isn't something you disagree with a phobia is something you're terrified of
Aragnaphobia is extreme fear of spiders
Homophobia is fear of homosexuals...
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Member Since: 3/25/2011
Posts: 10,337
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Quote:
Originally posted by TREMendo
Break down the word, homo and phobic
A phobia isn't something you disagree with a phobia is something you're terrified of
Aragnaphobia is extreme fear of spiders
Homophobia is fear of homosexuals...
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Thank you for that stunning insight.
To me, homophobia isn't just the flat out ignorant comments and hate crimes, it's also the little things. When someone finds the need to constantly point out your sexuality during every day life circumstances, that to me is still homophobia. It doesn't even matter if the comments weren't necessarily offensive, homophobia still occurs when a gay man or women is marginalized and categorized by their sexuality. I don't think many people realize this yet though.
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by TREMendo
Break down the word, homo and phobic
A phobia isn't something you disagree with a phobia is something you're terrified of
Aragnaphobia is extreme fear of spiders
Homophobia is fear of homosexuals...
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Did you know that certain molecules are hydrophobic? By your reasoning, it means that molecules have a fear of water. But that's not true. Molecules don't have emotions (duh). In real terms, this actually means that they repel water.
Paedophile means in Greek "likes children". But a paedophile does much more than just "like" children; they abuse and sexually assault them.
Homophobia is not a fear of homosexuals. It is a hatred, just like anti-Semitism or racism. That is what this word means in English. You don't get to make up your own definitions.
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Member Since: 3/15/2010
Posts: 2,041
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Quote:
Originally posted by £100
Did you know that certain molecules are hydrophobic? By your reasoning, it means that molecules have a fear of water. But that's not true. Molecules don't have emotions (duh). In real terms, this actually means that they repel water.
Paedophile means in Greek "likes children". But a paedophile does much more than just "like" children; they abuse and sexually assault them.
Homophobia is not a fear of homosexuals. It is a hatred, just like anti-Semitism or racism. That is what this word means in English. You don't get to make up your own definitions.
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Makes sense, so phobia is less "fear" and more "anti"
So hydrophobic is like anti water...
And homophobic is anti-gay
Makes sense
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by TREMendo
Makes sense, so phobia is less "fear" and more "anti"
So hydrophobic is like anti water...
And homophobic is anti-gay
Makes sense
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Sometimes it means fear, like agoraphobia.
And sometimes it doesn't.
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
My view would be similar to your own. If you don't agree with homosexuality, then you are a homophobe. Some people may do a good job of hiding their thoughts, but more often than not their attempts are futile. If you don't agree with something then you can never be comfortable with it, so in certain situations it's quite easy to tell when someone's opinions are backward. Their true thoughts will come to the surface. Thankfully, Western society as whole is moving forward so opinions of that sentiment are no longer accepted and are generally frowned upon. I think homophobia is still a bigger issue than it's made out to be, it just often remains unspoken. Being gay is still considered a taboo to many people. Society is moving in the right direction, it's just going to take a long time to get there.
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Exactly. I was just a bit surprised to discover that so many younger people (I'm assuming CNN commenters are part of a somewhat younger demographic) could still harbour such bigotry. ATRL's demographics certainly shelter it from more vicious comments.
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Banned
Member Since: 10/28/2011
Posts: 21,283
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Homophobia is a fear or hatred of homosexuals.
I think fear, hatred or distaste for any whole group of people is disgusting. I remember all the stories I've been told by my family about how Black people were discriminated against in this country. Americans are only repeating what they've done to African Americans with Homosexuals. I don't stand for it at all. Homophobia is stupid, wrong and (insert another synonym for 'bad' here). I don't think being gay is choice. I don't think people are born gay either. I personally think sexuality is developed over the course of one's childhood. But still, no matter how a gay person becomes gay, whether it be by birth, choice or development, there is still no excuse for being prejudiced. Point, Blank, Period.
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Member Since: 11/6/2010
Posts: 8,184
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Quote:
Originally posted by TREMendo
Makes sense, so phobia is less "fear" and more "anti"
So hydrophobic is like anti water...
And homophobic is anti-gay
Makes sense
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If you are, say hydrophobic, 9/10 times if someone were ask you "Hey wanna go swimming?", you'd most likely say "No. I hate water."
It's not to far fetched to say homophobia is a fear of homosexuals and homosexuality because you often hate what you fear.
and I think this has already been established
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Member Since: 4/29/2011
Posts: 6,884
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Member Since: 3/4/2011
Posts: 1,638
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at the game of semantics going on in here.
You know, it's interesting how someone who tries to start a rational and critical debate about homosexuality's role in society is automatically labelled a homophobe. Just an observation.
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Member Since: 6/15/2010
Posts: 14,318
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
If you don't agree with something then you can never be comfortable with it
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This completely and entirely depends on the person in question. You probably disagree with the religious beliefs of dozens of ATRL members and even some of your real life friends but would it really bother you if you see them pray (if you're an atheist, for example)?
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Member Since: 7/18/2010
Posts: 29,717
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Quote:
I don't agree with the gay agenda being crammed down our throats everywhere. That's my point. See, I am not a bigot, nor homophobe as some of you have suggested.
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This is how I feel about it. I support gay rights, but it does feel so forced down everybody's throats. It's wrong to look down to gays and bash them for no damn reason in the first place anyways, but I just don't know. :/
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Member Since: 7/18/2010
Posts: 29,717
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Not sure how to define homophobia...
I wouldn't consider someone using the word "f_g" or using any other disrespectful words etc homophobic. I think it goes much deeper than just saying words. Words are words. It is a "phobia" for crying out loud.
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by Patri
at the game of semantics going on in here.
You know, it's interesting how someone who tries to start a rational and critical debate about homosexuality's role in society is automatically labelled a homophobe. Just an observation.
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But that's the problem - there honestly is no rational debate regarding homosexuality. There's no reason why anybody should care so much about it! It reminds me of reading Victorian texts warning of the grave dangers to humanity of interracial marriage.
Fallacious (and hateful) claims include the superiority of the "white race", the inferiority of the "Jewish race", and - yes - that homosexuality is a "choice", an "abomination", violates of the "laws of nature", and is somehow comparable to bestiality or paedophilia.
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Member Since: 3/4/2011
Posts: 1,638
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Quote:
Originally posted by £100
But that's the problem - there honestly is no rational debate regarding homosexuality. There's no reason why anybody should care so much about it! It reminds me of reading Victorian texts warning of the grave dangers to humanity of interracial marriage.
Fallacious (and hateful) claims include the superiority of the "white race", the inferiority of the "Jewish race", and - yes - that homosexuality is a "choice", an "abomination", violates of the "laws of nature", and is somehow comparable to bestiality or paedophilia.
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Read carefully. I said homosexuality's role in society. And there is a rational debate for anything.
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Member Since: 6/15/2011
Posts: 5,842
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Of course the dumbasses in the comment section wouldn't think they're being homophobic. Because calling it "scary and disgusting" and comparing it to pedophilia doesn't sound at all bigoted, right?
They think they're completely justified in their viewpoints, so therefore they won't see it as homophobia. To them it's some great evil that must be stopped.
Quote:
I've seen enough to know that there is no logical argument (i.e. not based on religion) to back up those views.
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Exactly. It's discrimination rooted in fear and ignorance, no logic whatsoever is involved in it.
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