THE NEW NORMAL AND RACISM

[justpassingthough]

Interesting article in the Hufftington Post about how bigotry is 'in' right now and how gay-friendly or LGBT themed shows can be the biggest offenders:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nico-lang/gaycism-and-the-new-norma_b_1927815.html?utm_hp_ref=tv&ir=TV

I think this article misses the mark, as these shows, when well written, often expose the hypocrisy,double standards and cognitive dissonance that exists in many of us.

 

[Ultimajock]

...it's a scam as old as Rochester Van Jones, Amos 'n' Andy and Beulah. These types whine about the "stereotypes" in sitcoms without bothering to point out that it's really the absence of dignified lead [fill-in-the-social-minority] characters on prime-time dramas as a counterbalance that's the problem. Anderson Cooper and Ellen DeGeneres have the daytime schedule fairly well represented...

 

[mnradiofan]

Well, last I checked, Comedy existed at it's best to exaggerate reality (take something very loosely based on fact and blow it out of proportion) and it is largely seen in reality that people who oppose gay marriage ARE MORE LIKELY to also be racists. Yes, it's not always the case, but it is hard to argue that the two don't tend to coexist on the very extreme side (just like comedy makes fun of liberals for over-caring about the environment).

 

[dhett]

and it is largely seen in reality that people who oppose gay marriage ARE MORE LIKELY to also be racists.

Citation please? What a load of garbage!

 

[mnradiofan]

and it is largely seen in reality that people who oppose gay marriage ARE MORE LIKELY to also be racists.

Citation please? What a load of garbage!

You want me to provide a citation on how reality is perceived? Wow, lighten up. What I'm saying is, it happens. Just like liberals are more perceived to be tree-huggers, and comedy reflects that. IT'S COMEDY. I've always said that if you are offended by comedy that you should just stay away from it all together.

Now, just because you are against gay marriage, and I'm guessing that you are by the fact that you are so offended by my post, doesn't automatically make you a racist, just like being a liberal doesn't make you automatically a tree-hugger. They are called stereotypes, and everyone does it. Hell, the stereotype for Muslims is that they all hate America and want to blow us up, but that isn't true either, yet it is made fun of that way in comedy ALL THE TIME.

I might be painting with a broad brush here (the very definition of a stereotype, btw), so rather than continue to argue, I think I'll bow out of this debate.

 

[justpassingthough]

So far, this argument has gone against what the article is trying to expose. Stereotypes about racists would lead you to believe that people who share racist views are more likely homophobic and/or against gay rights- as its usually the stereotype of someone older who grew up in a different era. As the article points out, though, bigotry is 'in'- in the sense that minority groups like gay Americans or the young working class girls on 2 Broke Girls are the ones making the offending racist statements. It flies in the face of the comedy trope where minorities or the oppressed band together and the offending force is some relic of a bygone era.

 

[LKellerIII]

and it is largely seen in reality that people who oppose gay marriage ARE MORE LIKELY to also be racists.

Citation please? What a load of garbage!

For what it's worth, I work with a lot of African-Americans. Many of them are quite religious, and tend to be opposed to gay marriage on moral grounds. In my experience, they are not racists.

 

[justpassingthough]

and it is largely seen in reality that people who oppose gay marriage ARE MORE LIKELY to also be racists.

Citation please? What a load of garbage!

For what it's worth, I work with a lot of African-Americans. Many of them are quite religious, and tend to be opposed to gay marriage on moral grounds. In my experience, they are not racists.

You are correct in that for voting for or against Prop 8 here in California, whites were the only group that voted against the proposition (for gay marriage). Asians, Latinos and Blacks all voted for the proposition and against gay marriage, with many suggesting that the stronger religious ties within these groups was responsible for the difference. Presumably, white Americans would probably be assumed to the group that is most likely racist. However, there really is no way to validate that claim as so few surveys ever asked the question 'are you racist?'. Even if they did, most people would lie, or would say no, not realizing that some of their views are rooted in a belief of racial superiority.

 

[mnradiofan]

So far, this argument has gone against what the article is trying to expose. Stereotypes about racists would lead you to believe that people who share racist views are more likely homophobic and/or against gay rights- as its usually the stereotype of someone older who grew up in a different era. As the article points out, though, bigotry is 'in'- in the sense that minority groups like gay Americans or the young working class girls on 2 Broke Girls are the ones making the offending racist statements. It flies in the face of the comedy trope where minorities or the oppressed band together and the offending force is some relic of a bygone era.

Yeah, that's more what I was trying to say. Of course I know the two aren't mutually exclusive, and everyone here makes good points.