gareth thomas suffers homophobic chants.

Quote: SmokeyTA "I havent decided this at all, Gareth himself has said so.

[sizeWhere has Thomas given thr reasons why he kept quiet about his sexuality. Do they match the reasons you gave? Certainly not in the Sunday Times piece
[/size
It doesnt matter how Thomas took it. Im offended because i find homophobia offensive. that isnt by proxy, it offends me, because I am offended by bigotry. And it isnt ignorant to say that lack of empathy is indicative of some mental health problems. In fact it is a defining characteristic in some. If that was the case i wouldnt judge you for it, i would hope you get all the help and support you need.

[sizeYou were not the subject of name calling, you were not there, you did not hear what was said, the subject of the verbal chants has not complained, yet you classify it as homophobic and bigotry. Arbiter and offence by proxy.You choose the word empathy to help cover your own glaring hypocrisy. Mental health issues a subject of derision are they?[/size

how is it hypocritical to challenge homophobic behaviour? i would do the same for racism, anti-semitism, religious discrimination or any important issue. We just arent talking about them right now because they arent the issue at hand

[sizeYou and and all the offended by proxy mob have probably dished out abuse yourselves at some time, but because it's you that did it the target isn't deserving of empathy. Abuse is abuse, there is no hierarchy of verbal abuse in my book. It's all wrong.[/size

so then it doesnt matter that Thomas didnt make official representations because other people could, quite naturally be offended by homophobic insults even though they are directed at one specific person. Again it isnt offence by proxy. Its called empathy.

[sizeOffence by proxy. I have read that many Cas fans self regulated their numbers by telling them to quieten down.[/size

I havent decided this, by its very definition insult someone on the basis they are gay is homophobic. It kind of defines the word. Like any empathetic person i am offended by bigotry and discrimination. You think these things arent that important. that says more about you than me.

[sizeYou have decided what is and isn't homophobic, a real buzz word that one isn't it? Think we need a few more to help cover all those equally offensive instances of verbal abuse that don't get the same attention as this incidence. I haven't said what is right or wrong, I am not attempting to be an arbiter or offended by proxy or moralising[/size

i think we can take from your desperate avoidance of the issue that you really dont think there is no hierarchy of abuse. And you accept it is complete nonsense to equate racist comments with mild insults. Its just you dont equate racism with homophobia. You think being racist is much more offensive than being homophobic.

[sizeI don't think there is an hierarchy of verbal abuse. It's all sticks and stones to me.[/size

I dont need to clarify they hate anything. Whether they are so ignorant as to not know the meaning and offence behind what they are singing has no baring on whether it is offensive or not? And i no the inference was the homosexuality was wrong and offence was intended because of common sense? if not to offend Thomas or pejoratively comment on his sexuality why do you think they were singing it? Were you under the impression they were performing a public service and passing on some important information that we all needed to know through the medium of song?

[sizeYou are again playing the arbiter by saying what the meaning was behind what was said. How do you know what the intent was, you weren't there. How do you know, other than your rampant offence by proxy, that there was a clear meaning that homosexuality was wrong in what those Cas fans said? You didn't hear it or see the people saying it.[/size

no, read it again. I said Thomas chose to keep his sexuality to himself because of the fear of the response from bigots. Im pretty sure things like this were part of it. No a gay man shouldnt deny his sexuality. he should be free to do whatever he pleases. But he has a choice to deny it. Why he would want to i dont know, but he has the choice

[sizeWhere has Thomas stated why he kept it quiet? You really think anyone can deny their sexuality? i think you will find that actually accepting their sexuality is the most painful issue for the LGBT community. Reading Thomas stories on this, it was also his experience, so for you to say sexuality can be denied by choice shows a complete lack of understanding of the subject.[/size

If i hear something offensive i will be offended. I just dont find jokes about peoples weight carry the same level of offence as homophobia. Just like i dont find jokes about people being bald as offensive as racism. You apparently do
No. You are wrong. You havent comprehended what I said at all. These arent complex things. Its fairly simple.

[sizeThere you go being an arbiter again. It's not what you find offensive, it's how the victim is affected by what is said to them. Offence by proxy does not work, do you see?[/size

My indignation is not consistent because i do not believe that A) all offence is equal, and B) all things are equally offensive.

[sizePerhaps you need to check with those who are subjected to the abuse about how they feel?[/size

Strangely you seem to have pretended that your argument is actually mine.

Ill put this simply for you. One short sentence you may be able to understand (you see here where i am being patronising? im doing that because i know there is a certain level of offence implied within that. That offence is fairly mild so it can express my frustration at your ignorance. But isnt so offensive as to cause real hurt)

I do not equate mild insults like fatty, w@nker, etc with homophobia or racism.

Your whole argument is based on their being no hierarchy of offence. If this is the case you would be happy to admit you see no difference between calling a black player a monkey and Steve Ganson a fat t0sser.

[sizeAbuse is abuse, it's all equally wrong and it's simply the fact that Thomas is a high profile union signing who has recently come out as to why comments made to him are attracting more attention than those made to others. Rank hypocrisy and offence by proxy from the de-rigeur bandwagon jumpers.

Don't do it to anyone, full stop.
[/size
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