None of my best friends are gay

[b0tias]

But I've come to find it pretty off-putting when the term is used as an insult.  In my grandma's day they routinely used various hurtful racist terms without understanding the harm they were doing. Times have changed.  Why not fast-forward and dial the gay hating WAY back?  Thanks a bunch. A person can choose not to make a movie with limited skill or talent at their disposal and must take the consequences when they do otherwise, but the gay thing is not so much with the choice.

[Sideswipe]

what's the point of this thread?

[RVR II]

what's the point of this thread?

Huh huh.. You said point.. Th'that was cool. Huh huh..

[Action Batch]

Why not fast-forward and dial the gay hating WAY back?

While I respect your opinion, I disagree with it. I don't see what the guys [Mike, Kevin and Bill] are doing as "hating gays." There is a big difference between making fun of someone, and hating them. I could see a male friend of mine wearing a pink shirt, and say something like "Hey hot stuff, what are you doing later?" I'm poking fun at him. Some people might think the joke isn't in very good taste, but it isn't hateful. Hateful would be "If you're wearing that shirt because you're a homosexual, you had better stop now before you burn in hell for being a disgusting sinner."

[D.B. Barnes]

But I've come to find it pretty off-putting when the term is used as an insult.  In my grandma's day they routinely used various hurtful racist terms without understanding the harm they were doing. Times have changed.  Why not fast-forward and dial the gay hating WAY back?  Thanks a bunch. A person can choose not to make a movie with limited skill or talent at their disposal and must take the consequences when they do otherwise, but the gay thing is not so much with the choice.

Jeez. Exaggerate much?

[RVR II]

I try to avoid public restrooms

[b0tias]

Thanks for your respectful reply.  I'm all for you pretending to flirt with your friends.  I don't think the Rifftrax crew are evil people, and I am a fan.  But using the name for a member of a minority group as an insult is not an act of love or respect.  It's kinda the opposite, even if 'nice' people do it.  I don't feel all loved and respected when men use the word 'woman' as if being like a woman were the worst thing a person could be.  I have this feeling it's not because they see women as smart, intelligent, courageous people, since surely any guy wouldn't mind being those things?  I know it's inconvenient to folks who are in the habit of this sort of humor, but these kinds of insults really are kinda hateful.

[Action Batch]

Ahh. Yeah, I see that as mainly a cultural thing. You do have a point, using the term "gay" to mean weak, inadequate or odd, rather than members of the same sex relations, but still the connotation is there. I've been a fan for a while now, and I've heard them poke fun at just about every group out there, to include themselves (on a regular basis.)

Humor is subjective; It's very tough to be edgy and funny, whilst remaining kind and accommodating. All I know is that when Mike, Kevin and Bill make a joke, that joke is born of love, of that I am certain.

[b0tias]

I get that riffing isn't about being anyone's mamma, but I notice they manage to do it without using the 'n' word or other racist slurs.  They probably understand that saying someone is a second class citizen is never loving no matter how you say it.  I'm just suggesting that they might want to extend the same courtesy to gay folks.  I know change is hard.  I can tell that my grandma still doesn't quite understand why those sorts of terms aren't OK anymore even though she doesn't use them.

[Action Batch]

I do see what you are saying, but I wouldn't want the guys to start to censoring themselves. Hell, I've even complained that they BEEP out the curse words. For me, I'd rather listen to the jokes that they want to write, as opposed to the sanitized versions of them.

[b0tias]

I don't want them to censor themselves either.  I totally agree about the beeps.  But maybe if people explain to them kindly  that homophobia is just as harmful and hurtful as racism they might not think those kind of jokes were all that funny anymore.  Stranger things have happened.

[Action Batch]

homophobia

I don't agree that this is what's occurring. I'm not trying to undermine or invalidate your feelings on the matter, I just don't see it that way.

[RVR II]

homophobia

I don't agree that this is what's occurring.

The Batch of Action has spoken

[D.B. Barnes]

homophobia

I don't agree that this is what's occurring.

The Batch of Action has spoken

I'm waiting for Action Back Fat to weigh in on the issue.

[Action Batch]

The Batch of Action has spoken

And lo, but from on high did he speak, and from whence he did say "Oh hai Mark!"