What is it about gay kisses

[Salu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4412240.stm

Sensationalism. That's all. A marketing ploy from the TV company. It really winds me up. It always causes widespread whisperings across the country concerned (maybe not Holland.... ) because it's contentious, so bad publicity is good publicity.

Whether you feel it is appropriate or not, it's still only used for a bit of quick media publicity....

Well the question really is, why should a gay kiss attract such publicity? Answer, because it's not been shown on TV before. And then the bigger question - why not?

[bmxbandit]

if they just showed the kiss and didn't make a song and dance about it, would anyone have cared? (or indeed noticed!)

[Salu]

Originally Posted by andyl

Well the question really is, why should a gay kiss attract such publicity? Answer, because it's not been shown on TV before. And then the bigger question - why not?

It attracts so much publicity because whether you accept it or not its not wholly accepted in the majority of the public. It's not an everyday thing, people are only just coming round to the fact that homosexuals are being open with it.

Originally Posted by Salu

It attracts so much publicity because whether you accept it or not its not wholly accepted in the majority of the public. It's not an everyday thing, people are only just coming round to the fact that homosexuals are being open with it.

Well of course it is an everyday thing for millions of people, but you are of course right that, because it has not been portrayed before, it comes as a shock to some. Still, gay kisses on TV here now don't attract this kind of attention because of Brookside breaking the taboo some years ago and other programmes following suit. The same goes for language.

[punky]

Originally Posted by andyl

And then the bigger question - why not?

One answer, I think, is that people think that its catching. As if your son will see the gay kiss on TV and think: "Ooh, i'd like to try that". Being a devout catholic country, that's a bit of a no-no there.

Also, to some bigotted people (mainly the older generation), it makes their stomach turn to see it. Its due to the fact that because homosexuality is against the natural order of things. Note I didn't say it was wrong, nor unacceptable, because it isn't wrong or unacceptable. However, naturally, people kiss etc, as part of a mating rituatal. They mate to reproduce. Gay people can't reproduce, so biggoted people see this change to the natural order of things to be like a perversion (along the lines of other alternative healthy sexual practices). Change, especially a perversion, does upset people.
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Originally Posted by andyl

Still, gay kisses on TV here now don't attract this kind of attention because of Brookside breaking the taboo some years ago and other programmes following suit. The same goes for language.

Interesting how when two girls kiss though, isn't anywhere near as offensive as two men (like when Eastenders did it). You have that hypcrisy in there. As in Screeching Weazel's excellent song "I wanna be a homosexual", the "I hate fags"-type are normally the ones that get jollies off seeing fake lesbians in jazz mags.

[Jon M]

Interesting irony there.

Saying that (paraphrasing) "all those repulsed by homosexual behaviour are bigots" is in itself a bigoted statement.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Jon M

Interesting irony there.

Saying that (paraphrasing) "all those repulsed by homosexual behaviour are bigots" is in itself a bigoted statement.

No, it isn't. Look up bigoted at dictionary.com. Someone who is intolerant of someone's sexuality, is a bigot. It doesn't matter whether they are my best mate or I want to kill them. Their beliefs still makes them a bigot.

I have not expressed any bigotry (intolerance) in my post at all. If its bigoted to point out another bigot, then that means we all are. Furthermore, it isn't bigotry to criticise other people's beliefs, either.

[Jon M]

I'm fully aware of the definition.

Your belief is that homosexuality/homosexual behaviour is natural, right and acceptable.

Equally, my belief is that homosexuality/homosexual behaviour is unnatural, wrong and unacceptable.

If you had stopped short of labelling all those with a differing point of view to your own as bigots and just said "I disagree with their standpoint" you wouldn't have been making a bigoted statement at all.
However, by saying what you did you crossed the threshhold I'm afraid.

It is perfectly possible to disagree with someone's life choices and not reject them as human beings, so I don't believe I am intolerant of homosexuals any more than I'm intolerant of those who lie, commit violent crime or steal from their elderly parents.
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Originally Posted by punky

Someone who is intolerant of someone's sexuality, is a bigot.

The important word there being "intolerant". I totally agree with what you have written there.

Disagreeing or being repulsed by something does not neccessarily imply intolerance.

I find homosexual behaviour totally offensive, yet I have no problem with my homosexual friends. I don't judge them and they are happy knowing my beliefs.

[Angua]

just for fun see the link in this post

[punky]

Originally Posted by Jon M

If you had stopped short of labelling all those with a differing point of view to your own as bigots

You are putting words into my mouth. I have said people being intolerant of homosexuals, makes them bigoted. It doesn't change anything whether I agree with them or not, they are still bigoted. That isn't an opinion, its a fact. Its the definition of the word.

It is perfectly possible to disagree with someone's life choices and not reject them as human beings, so I don't believe I am intolerant of homosexuals any more than I'm intolerant of those who lie, commit violent crime or steal from their elderly parents.

Hmmm, you say homosexual behavior is offensive and unacceptable, yet you must obviously accept it, as you claim to have homosexual friends. Rather schizophrenic way of living. You must obviously accept it as you claim not to be intolerant of homosexuals.

[clarie]

Originally Posted by Jon M

I find homosexual behaviour totally offensive, yet I have no problem with my homosexual friends. I don't judge them and they are happy knowing my beliefs.

Either you have chosen the wrong word there in 'offensive' or your sentence is a complete contradiction. What exactly do you mean by offensive? Is homosexuality something you would never ever want to try yourself, or do you mean that it actually offends you, personally to see two men kissing?

[Jon M]

I find no contradiction at all, I don't want to make this into a religion thread yet again, but I can't explain myself without a slight diversion in that direction.

As a Christian, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and therefore the same as everyone else on this planet.
I am not singling homosexuals out here, just making the point that I accept them as people in the same way I accept my family, friends or collegues despite their sin.
I do not however, see sin in my family or friends and agree with or support what they're doing.

The closest people to us are capable of offending us in many different ways. It doesn't change the love I have for my wife if she hurts me by sinning. She also forgives a lot of the sin I commit, it doesn't have to come between us.
Likewise, my gay friends understand my point of view, and as a sinner I am no different to them, I just have different weaknesses.

If you've heard the phrase "love the sinner hate the sin" hopefully that adds some meaning to it.

[Orior]

Hmmmm. In my opinion (which I rate very highly) hetro men feel like puking when seeing two men kiss. Is it vice versa for gay men?

[Russ B]

Isn't it possible to dislike certain behaviour in a person yet tolerate it and not let it show in your outward appearance?