Recently we have had a problem in my high school (which is located in an upper middle class suburb in Ohio) with people continually using "gay" and "faggot" as adjectives to describe anything they don't like. There is even a girl in my math class who simply shortens it to "TSG", text-messaging style. We had an LGBT-equality protest today. Only me and around ten other perople (in a school with over 1800 students) showed up. An average football game usually draws in several hundred.

Yeah, it's sad.

In high school, this one A-hole would say "that's Jewish" in regards to things he didn't like.

Now, I'm an atheist, and I was then too, but that doesn't change the fact that he needed to be hit in the face with a rolling pin.

I know what you're saying Dragoon but you can't honestly say that after so long the idiots don't eventually get to you.

Yes, there are always idiots who want to subjegate others. They are also protected by free speech (at least in most web-friendly countries), so you can't just shut them down. Thus, the greatest quandry of modern government: how do you keep stupid people from changing the government while allowing smart people to participate in it.

Of course the idiots will get to you from time to time. The real question is how do you trump their crap in the long term. I was born a few years before the Stonewall riots, and there was absolutely no such thing as an openly gay student in my early-'80s North Florida high school. I've already lived to see not just a high school of sorts named for Harvey Milk, but to see a time when fear of queers is righteously good material for the Comedy Central New Hour. It could be lots, lots, worse. Concentration camps worse. Which is also good to keep in mind.

Indeed. Just because we aren't actively hunting down "sodomites" any more does not mean we can stop trying to improve this (and other) countries.  Although sometimes it seems like an uphill battle.......

The sad part is, if people read the baseless accusations people post, they are often comparable to the post of shade1978x except they are being completely serious so no one would know that he was or was not being sarcastic. Also, a concept some people can't quite grasp the concept that sarcasm is largely based upon the intonation of voice which we (hopefully) all know is not translated through text.  Sarcasm tends to have some sort of humor in it, and when no humor is present it makes that person who used that "sarcasm" stupid and ignorant. In my personal experiences, sarcasm can really only be portrayed through text when you actually are familiar with the opinions of the person who said it. Also, psychoak I would kindly ask you not to talk down to me because I am fully aware of what sarcasm is and when it is appropriate. Now maybe you identify this as sarcasm because its taken out of context, but if one were to read the other comments of this person they would most likely get the impression they were being quite serious.

How did he get that 72% figure? My guess is it is based on a poll which asks if you have ever been called 'gay' in multiplayer chat. 72% or higher would be an accurate figure for that.

And we come full circle (if you'll pardon the avatar pun) to the rampant homophobia in American youth culture. It seems that as the reasonable people create more reforms, the extremists get more, well, extreme. Which again brings up my problem as an amateur philosopher: how do you keep the extremists and idiots out of government without implimenting a system that can be abused by an unscrupulous leader to keep the reasonable and intelligent people out and let the extremists in?

True, but when the idiots stop huring insults and start hurling stones or pipe-bombs, you need to take some level of action. I think it's about finding the right balence between order and freedom.

If at some point you feel that some jerk is getting under your skin, just ignore him/her/it. Dont take anything too seriously especially when it comes from someone you dont even know. Before getting frustrated, leave the room/internet/tv and go do something you like. Dont give in to the stupid games some people are playing, its not worth it. Life is too short, dont waste it trying to deal with idiots, you will lose precious moments you could have shared with someone you love or with yourself. At the end of the day think positive, dont let negative "energies" affect you and do what you want in your life. No matter what path you choose there will always be positive and/or negative consequences to your choices. But that does not matter because those will be your choices and no one elses. So live your life the way you want it to be and dont pay attention to what other people are thinking. BE YOURSELF!!!!!

Great post and point.

Anyone who avoids a product because of (questionable) rumors about it being associated with a certan group of people is a moron. Either you like that product or you don't. Grow up people.

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