here's what i learned at democratic underground today --

[xchrom]

''Being gay is a behavior, like smoking cannabis,''


that is an actual quote.

:grr:

[Phredicles]

1. context? link?

[xchrom]

7. i'm not exactly sure -- but i don't think we're supposed to link these things.

any way it's from that awful poll yesterday -- and there is just an amazing amount of bigotry out there -- and it's 2007 and very frustrating.

[LostinVA]

2. Yup, I saw that -- unbelievable

[xchrom]

9. it's 2007 -- i found the whole exchange beyond bizarre.

[LostinVA]

12. Along with more of the "being gay is only about sex" garbage

Gosh, when will your OP be locked, Xchrom?

[xchrom]

13. lol -- probably soon enough.

maybe i should develop a bad case of turrets and spout off some really filthy language.

i need to laugh.

[WI_DEM]

3. but, that is one ignorant person and not reflective of the community as a whole

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Richard Steele]

4. Unbelievable!

:banghead:

[xchrom]

11. oh it's crazy making.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Any particular reason why that comment deserves its own thread?

Stupidity is rampant at DU -- we are a cross section of society in that way.

I don't think it is necessary to start a new thread every time we read a ridiculous comment.

[xchrom]

8. hey it's my time -- you don't have to comment.

nobody is making you.

[Buzz Clik]

16. It's a legitimate question.

Is it your opinion that every stupid comment -- or any comment -- deserves a thread dedicated to holding it up to ridicule?

[xchrom]

17. there's a whole bunch of other threads for you to open and look at -- go there.

[Buzz Clik]

20. I'm on my way, bubba.

You can have your own personal pouting session.

Enjoy.

[xchrom]

21. and that's what i'm doing -- see ya.

:hi:

[trumad]

10. I'm interested in this thread...

if you're not, don't click on it.

[trumad]

14. Here's the post in question

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=335758&mesg_id=339958

[xchrom]

15. that's the one.

that whole post is so offensive to me -- i can't even explain it.

well, i can -- i'm very gabby.

but i thought this was a better way to blow off steam.

[Buzz Clik]

19. Right. And here's the whole quote:

Being gay is a behaviour, like smoking cannabis, it is a right and should be respected.
It is not the same as having a skin color that is not a choice, it is a behavior.
If you claim it is essential and not a behaviour, i ask you how you 'mate' with your
other to even 'be' gay when you are not doing any actions.... you simply love them inside
when you are not acting, yes... well then you are a normal person like the rest of us,
and it has nothing to do with sex... and sex is the only behavior, one that you are attached to,
as much as many are attached to their drug of choice.

I find the phrasing clumsy, and the use of the word "behavior" inaccurate. In context, it's not offensive -- unless you're trolling for a problem.

Running it up its own thread is ridiculous.

And, yes, I'm about to invoke the "Hide Thread" feature on this one.

[xchrom]

22. more from the bigots.

amazing.

[Buzz Clik]

24. I'm a bigot because I don't buy into your incessant whining?

For the love of God.

Cry yourself to sleep much?

[xchrom]

27. ok -- you didn't have to reply in this thread at all --

there's a whole bunch of 'em.

sooo -- who is being the whiney cry baby again?

there are a whole lot of people at du who are extremely interested in how people perceive and talk about gay folk -- it's extraordinarily important to them because they are gay -- see?

well, considering i think of the way you're thinking bigoted -- probably not.

look out now -- that's the obvious bus headed your way.

[gollygee]

25. That doesn't make any sense

Romantic love isn't just sex and isn't the same as non-romantic love. And "you are just a normal person like the rest of us" is simply rude.

[marmar]

18. Being gay isn't a behavior, but being stupid apparently is.....

I can't believe anyone with an IQ of at least 10 would be dumb enough to equate homosexuality to pot-smoking. Maybe he or she has smoked a little too much.:smoke:

[xchrom]

23. lol -- thanks marmar -- i needed that.

[Forkboy]

26. “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.

-Einstein

[aikoaiko]

28. Well, thinking, feeling, and overt actions are all behavior.

In one sense the quote, ''Being gay is a behavior, like smoking cannabis,'', is correct, but without knowing the context I would assume the original post was trying to imply that someone can just not be gay the way you can not smoke a doobie which is a strange analogy to be sure.

[gollygee]

29. No, being gay isn't a behavior

having gay sex is a behavior. The ability to be attracted to and romantically love people of the same gender and the inability to be attracted to and romantically love people of the other gender is simply a state of being.

[Moderator]

30. Locking

Please don't start new threads to continue flame wars in other ones, or call out members not participating in this discussion.