Comments on: Rebuttal… of a kind… from Antwerp http://www.sexualracismsux.com/updates/2006/01/30/rebuttal-of-a-kind-from-antwerp/ ... because ours is the world of love. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:43:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: timbomb http://www.sexualracismsux.com/updates/2006/01/30/rebuttal-of-a-kind-from-antwerp/#comment-5 Tue, 14 Feb 2006 08:26:11 +0000 http://www.sexualracismsux.com/updates/2006/01/30/rebuttal-of-a-kind-from-antwerp/#comment-5 <p>But when I said that "the gay community is a good deal broader than he implies" I meant that the gay community is composed of a broader range of people than you describe. Hence things aren't as hopeless as you portray.</p> <p>Also, as I said, I believe narcissism is a stage that can be grown out of. You say talking will do no good, I say it can't hurt. If we don't try we don't know.</p> <p>Your argument in this comment seems to be that if every culture was as accepting of the gay community as Belgium, then the true horror of our narcissism would be more evident... is that really what you're trying to say?</p> <p>I'm still waiting for some justification for the "bloatware rhetoric" slur :)</p> But when I said that “the gay community is a good deal broader than he implies” I meant that the gay community is composed of a broader range of people than you describe. Hence things aren’t as hopeless as you portray.

Also, as I said, I believe narcissism is a stage that can be grown out of. You say talking will do no good, I say it can’t hurt. If we don’t try we don’t know.

Your argument in this comment seems to be that if every culture was as accepting of the gay community as Belgium, then the true horror of our narcissism would be more evident… is that really what you’re trying to say?

I’m still waiting for some justification for the “bloatware rhetoric” slur :)

]]> by: Antwerpenkaai http://www.sexualracismsux.com/updates/2006/01/30/rebuttal-of-a-kind-from-antwerp/#comment-4 Sun, 12 Feb 2006 10:46:57 +0000 http://www.sexualracismsux.com/updates/2006/01/30/rebuttal-of-a-kind-from-antwerp/#comment-4 <p>After having spent some time in the USA, I'd say that the gay community over there may be a good deal broader socially (well, they bring in the bucks, being a targeted niche-market), but only in some very select large cities, with very restricted liberties. "Internal discrimination" obviously remains a major issue, but liberties, general social acceptance and a caring legal framework are basically far more important.</p> <p>Being Belgian (like in Belgium, Europe ;-) I can marry my male lover, adopt a child and take legal action when I'm discriminated against. Most Belgians of all ages feel that tolerance and acceptance are part of our heritage. Hate-crimes against gays are virtually non-existent over here.</p> <p>In many parts of the world (including the US, Australia or even England, just 50 miles West from the Belgian coastline) this general, cultural acceptance does not exist.</p> <p>Which brings me to the point I made in my OP.</p> <p>When a society in general fundamentally does not discriminate against it gay citizens, the "self-centered, narcissistic bubble of the gay community" becomes an much more prominent (and visible) issue.</p> <p>I doubt whether "talking" to a group/someone with "issues" that generally take time to fade out (like narcism ;) can be of any use.</p> <p>We both come from very different cultures. Acknowledging that these differences are far more important than being straight/gay may be a step in the right direction.</p> <p>Peter - Antwerp, Belgium, Europe. http://spaces.msn.com/antwerpenkaai</p> After having spent some time in the USA, I’d say that the gay community over there may be a good deal broader socially (well, they bring in the bucks, being a targeted niche-market), but only in some very select large cities, with very restricted liberties. “Internal discrimination” obviously remains a major issue, but liberties, general social acceptance and a caring legal framework are basically far more important.

Being Belgian (like in Belgium, Europe ;-) I can marry my male lover, adopt a child and take legal action when I’m discriminated against. Most Belgians of all ages feel that tolerance and acceptance are part of our heritage. Hate-crimes against gays are virtually non-existent over here.

In many parts of the world (including the US, Australia or even England, just 50 miles West from the Belgian coastline) this general, cultural acceptance does not exist.

Which brings me to the point I made in my OP.

When a society in general fundamentally does not discriminate against it gay citizens, the “self-centered, narcissistic bubble of the gay community” becomes an much more prominent (and visible) issue.

I doubt whether “talking” to a group/someone with “issues” that generally take time to fade out (like narcism ;) can be of any use.

We both come from very different cultures. Acknowledging that these differences are far more important than being straight/gay may be a step in the right direction.

Peter - Antwerp, Belgium, Europe.
http://spaces.msn.com/antwerpenkaai

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