While I was spending the day trying to "lighten up," I was

[cboy4]

checking the avatars of some of the people weighing in on the homophobic candy bar ads.

My, my, my, the irony.

Did I really see a couple of members with John Conyers' avatars defending those commercials? :wtf:

And not in a polite way at all. Very, very nasty and closed-minded like.

How does that add up exactly?

Conyers, one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Congress.

A man who used to have Rosa Parks on his staff...considered one of the most liberal members of congress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conyers

And people who apparently have issues with civil rights choose the fine African American congress person from Michigan's 14th as their avatar.

Hilarious.

I'm sure Mr. Conyers, who fought for and continues to fight for the civil rights of all people would be thrilled to death he's the adopted mascot of ignorance for at least a couple.

And I can go on and on about some of the others. Oh can I.

Reckless use of avatars. Not illegal, but:

My, my my......the irony.

[danalytical]

1. I saw the commercial

And I thought it was more about testosterone and manliness than about degrading gays. I thought it was pretty funny actually. To a testosterone filled mechanic like in that commercial, I'm sure kissing another man would be reason enough to freak out. So they played it up for laughs.

[ThomCat]

4. That's the point.

To the average joe, accidentally kissing another man is supposed to be so shocking and horrible that they'll drink poison and mutilate themselves to prove they are real men. OMG, Being perceived as Gay is so ghastly!

It's a cheap shot, and it promoted the idea that being gay is not manly, and manly men are not gay. Those are stereotypes, by the way.

And it promotes the idea that being gay is to be avoided at all costs.

If that's not homophobic, then what would be? :shrug:

[cboy4]

5. I think the debate about the commercial has been done to

death.

I'm focusing on an irony.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Roland99]

6. Something tells me Conyers would understand the humor in the aired ad and not freak

like so many uber-sensitive individuals up here.

[ThomCat]

10. Something tells me you know nothing

about how he would feel about it. :)

[Roland99]

14. Conyers seems like a very level-headed person. Unlike some up here.

[ThomCat]

17. I actually agree with your post 100%

but I think we're looking at different people on this thread. :P

[cboy4]

16. See, this is what gets me. You don't know, do you?

And that's why it's ironic.

Frankly I believe Mr. Conyers, who has gone through hell in his life as a minority, would not find it funny . . ESPECIALLY, if the gay community finds it offensive, which it does.

[Roland99]

20. Oh, you speak for ALL gays now? I don't think so.

[ThomCat]

22. Cheap straw man argument.

It's already been used and dismissed. Please move on.

[danalytical]

27. You have quite an ego

You think you can just dismiss peoples opinions because you and a few group thinkers don't like them? You might want to take a step back and look at your posts and attitude.

[bettyellen]

38. actually he's just being dismissive to people who are stalking him.

he really doesn't owe them unlimited time and energy.

[danalytical]

41. Felt more like disregard for others to me

Seems over the top arrogant.

[ThomCat]

44. It would be nice if you saw more of my posts

or saw more of me at DU before calling me arrogant.

Seems a bit arrogant to jump to conclusions like that. :eyes:

I was here at DU for 4 years before I started coming to any conclusions about anyone's personality.

[uppityperson]

45. Perhaps you missed the background topics and those deleted sub-threads

[bettyellen]

70. with how much regard should he treat stalkers exactly?

and those that call him names?
you were totally missing the context, but once provided it, continued to be rude.

[terrya]

7. It's just so sad.

African-Americans: their civil rights are important.

Gay people : they need to "lighten up"

This must pose a quandary for thost people concerning gay and lesbian African-Americans.

[ThomCat]

12. Oh, African Americans have been hearing it too.

"It's just a joke. Lighten up." is a standard tactic that has always been used to justify bigotry, insults, bullying and dispicable behavior.

That's one more reason why I'm firmly convinced that all the branches of the civil rights movement should stick up for each other whenever they can. We all face the same tactics.

[bettyellen]

28. i was told here that we women ALREADY ENJOY 100% EQUALITY! LOL......

some dude registered here and made that claim. amazing, huh?

[ThomCat]

35. There are crazy people here at DU.

There are crazy people here on this thread. And people who go out of their way to insist that bigotry isn't bigotry, and that people who oppose bigotry are liars who don't know what we're talking, too.

[bliss_eternal]

30. Thank you, Thom....

:hug:

Apparently no one notices when a few make efforts to bridge these gaps.

[ThomCat]

36. Some notice.

:hug:

[treestar]

8. Lighten up

Now you're offending Conyers' supporters.

[etherealtruth]

9. I didn't see the commercial

From what I've heard about it there is no need for me to.

[Zhade]

11. I'm gay. I saw the ad. Wasn't offended.

We don't all have to see what's not there, do we? I mean, to still be considered part of the community?

:eyes:

[Darkhawk32]

13. Actually, to most people at DU, there's a litmus test.

[bettyellen]

29. didn't rove invent that phrase, "Litmus test"? i've only heard it on Faux "news"....

[Darkhawk32]

Yes, that's right. I'm a Republican spy. Or maybe you're a double-agent?

:eyes:

[ThomCat]

37. Nice of you to admit it.

You've certainly never posted anything progressive.

[Darkhawk32]

48. Nice bit of libel there too. n/t

[mainegreen]

43. Actually its a term from chemistry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litmus_test_%28chemistry%29

And a rather old colloquialism to boot.

:)

[verse18]

15. IMO, I thinks it's mostly others, who are not part of the GLBT community,

Telling people who are part of the GBLT they have no rights to their own feelings about the commercial, and telling them whether they should be offended or not.

[ThomCat]

19. That's hillarious

given the number of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals on this thread. :rofl:

[verse18]

32. Were you responding to me or post #11?

I was responding to Zhane's comment about still being part of the community even though he/she wasn't offended by the commercial.

[ThomCat]

40. I was responding to the idea

of straight people telling GLBT people, especially a crowd of us, what we're allowed to be offended by.

[verse18]

46. Me too!

I thought you and LostinVA misinterpreted my reply. :hi:

[LostinVA]

50. I think I did -- sorry!!!

[verse18]

51. No problem!

:hi:

[LostinVA]

21. No, we're all part of the gay community, as is GLAAD, the HRC, etc.

Or, are they suddenly non-gay entities? And I sudden;y straight? Huh?

And, all we want is to have a right to OUR opinion.

Jeebus. Eat your own, why don't you.

[Darkhawk32]

25. No one ever said that the GBLT folks couldn't be offended, but if you state that you weren't ....

you're immediately labeled a homophobe.

[cboy4]

18. Who said you're not part of the community? I'm pointing out an

irony about avatars.

[uppityperson]

26. No, but is good to accept that some people were offended & that offence is real.

As opposed to saying "I wasn't offended so no one else should be either". NOT saying you are saying this, but some have. Tolerance and understanding to those who were offended rather than making fun of them. I think that is a part of the community.

[LostinVA]

39. We all have a right to see what is or isn't there

It's very disappointing, your insulting us like that. I give you the respect to say you didn't see how trying to kill someone with a wrench because they kissed you wasn't offensive, so I kinda wish you had given it in return because I DO fins that offensive.

*sigh*

What a day on DU.

[bliss_eternal]

54. "You" don't see it....

so it doesn't exist?

[sniffa]

59. ooh, somebody's gonna get to sLeep in daddy's bed tonight

[uppityperson]

23. Avatar irony exists. Sometimes we each get smacked upside our head by our beliefs.

[Darkhawk32]

24. The bigger irony is... the ones that claim to be most tolerant are the most intolerant of all. n/t

[cboy4]

31. Yes, yes....and you know the blacks too. Jesus, always crying

racist when they don't get served at a restaurant at the same pace as the white customers.

Plus, every time they're arrested, they're always accusing the cops of beating them.

They seem very intolerant also.

Minorities. They're always whining.

I can never understand why. :eyes:

[Darkhawk32]

33. Sorry, but nothing you state is the equivilant of this commercial. n/'t

[ThomCat]

42. You're so right.

There's some threashold before it can be taken seriously. Mocking perceived gayness, saying that gayness isn't manly, and saying that manliness is the antidote for gayness... That's not important at all. No bigotry there at all. Nothing to see here. Everyone just move along...
:eyes:

[Darkhawk32]

47. Sorry, but I don't see it. I see mocking of homophobia. That's all. n/t

[uppityperson]

52. So do you have to be nasty to those who do see homophobia?

That is the bigger question. Can you accept that those that see it truly see it, accept that, respect them for their opinion, even though it be different from yours?

[Darkhawk32]

53. That question needs to be asked of the others that attacked me first. I just don't back down to...

bullying.

[ThomCat]

55. Says the guy who followed me to this thread to continue

the bullying.
:rofl:

[Darkhawk32]

57. On a thinly-veiled callout thread, you bet.

[uppityperson]

60. So you have to attack back if you feel attacked.

You can't stop yourself from responding nastily? You have to teach whomever you feel has attacked you a lesson perhaps?

[uppityperson]

49. Does Judy Shepard agree?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x140349
Oh, never mind, I see you have weighed in there also. Just because her gay son was murdered for being gay, guess that must make her extra sensitive or something. :sarcasm:

[bettyellen]

34. and there's anothe talking pont from Faux news.... Big fan, it would seem?

[KoKo]

56. And...What is your "THING" with Conyers? Except YOU want to pait

him into some BOX for "Freep Attacks." What's next? Waxman?

[Bluebear]

61. whaaaaaaaa??

[sniffa]

62. nope. the next target is....................

[uppityperson]

64. Speaking of irony

[Bluebear]

66. ...

:spray:

[bliss_eternal]

68. Do you have a point, KoKo...?

It's not all that clear from your post. On the other hand, cboy's post and point is quite clear--at least to me. Do you need some sort of clarification?

Is the concept of people using a Conyers avatar and defending bigotry overwhelming to you?

Not sure why that would somehow equate to a "Freep Attack" in your world.

[cboy4]

69. Gee, I didn't notice any Waxman avatars during my inventory

of at least 10 different threads.

But if I were to locate such an overwhelming irony involving Waxman avatars, you can count on me to raise the issue.

I'm fair and balanced! :hi:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

58. What's Conyer's views on gay marriage?

Just curious.

[Bluebear]

63. Task Force D.C. Leadership Awards honors U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. was honored for his longstanding commitment to justice and equal rights, including his work in passing a transgender-inclusive hate crimes measure in the House. Conyers managed the opposition on the floor of the House to a court-stripping bill and the Federal Marriage Amendment, and successfully led the case for transgender equality by writing a hate crimes bill that explicitly includes transgender people, persuading his colleagues to support the measure and working with the minority leaders and his colleagues to get the measure passed in the House.

Conyers told the filled ballroom at the beautiful Omni Shoreham Hotel that he was “proud to come here tonight, and proud to stand with you.” He noted the progress the LGBT rights movement has already made, and that it is gaining more and more support.

As for the oft-divisive political climate, Conyers said: “What we’re looking for is a different way.” A way that embraces the dignity of all people, rather than a way that seeks to conquer and divide. Conyers told the crowd he would proudly display his Leadership Award in his office.

http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr938_050706

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

65. So what's his position on gay marriage?

Does the link answer my question?

[Bluebear]

67. I am not a reference librarian, sorry you don't like the link

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

71. I'm going to lock this.

Do not post "flame bait" discussion topics. While there is no clear line regarding what constitutes flame bait, the moderators have the authority to shut down threads which they consider too rhetorically hot, too divisive, too extreme, or too inflammatory. Please use good judgment when starting threads; inflammatory rhetoric does not normally lead to productive discussion.

Do not start a new topic in order to continue a flame war from another discussion thread.

Do not talk negatively about an individual in a thread where they are not participating. Do not post messages with the purpose of "calling out" another member or picking a fight with another member.

best,
wakemeupwhenitsover
DU Moderator