Gay pride parade

[Curtisp]

All I have to say IS LOVE. "Some of you right wingers" should try putting more L O V E in your hearts.
This is 2010, stop the hating

For the record- i am neither right nor left

+1.."imagine"..

[PipenSnus]

Truthwolf has just as much right for an opinion as anyone else.

You're absolutely right. Everyone has a right to an opinion. People have the right to believe the moon is made of green cheese, that the earth is flat, and that God speaks to them through their dog. But having a right to an opinion doesn't validate the truth of that opinion.

The question is, what is the opinion based on? Is it based on solid, logical conclusions? Were those conclusions derived from observations of factual information, observations that can be repeated and verified for accuracy? Or were they based on conspiracy theories and "gut feelings"? The latter is rhetoric, not logic, although few people know the difference any more. Rhetoric is what demagogues use to manipulate opinion without resorting to fact or reason. It works all too well on most people, because our schools no longer teach critical thinking skills. The Powers That Be like it when people are irrational and impressionable.

I hold no ill will toward Truthwolf, and I don't blame him for his opinions, misguided as I find them to be. Like the vast majority, he was never taught how to distinguish truth from falsehood, and consequently he's been prey to any and every manipulator who wants to push his buttons, whether they be teachers, relatives, peers, preachers, or politicians. What does concern me is the behavior that might result from such opinions. Violence and discrimination grow in the darkness of twisted rhetoric -- they can't survive in the light of reason and tolerance.

[Curtisp]

+1 Pipensnus.. I am a straight male, but that last post got me a little "hot"..

[sgreger1]

Confucius writes, "Learning without thought is naught; thought without learning is dangerous."

[Roo]

You killed it with that post, Pipensnus! I mean that in a good way. That was very well spoken and thought out, and I commend your calm and non-combative delivery.

[PipenSnus]

+1 Pipensnus.. I am a straight male, but that last post got me a little "hot"..

I'm flattered. Hmm... maybe I should try something similar on one or two gay guys I know.

[PipenSnus]

Confucius writes, "Learning without thought is naught; thought without learning is dangerous."

"Doubt, and find your own light." -- reputed last words of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha

You killed it with that post, Pipensnus! I mean that in a good way. That was very well spoken and thought out, and I commend your calm and non-combative delivery.

Thanks. I learned to be non-combative from several people, but mostly from a friend who is a clinical psychologist. He taught me how to attack misconceptions without attacking the people who hold them. Very important if your goal is to enlighten.

[LaZeR]

I just wanted to say I'm actually getting a bit of a 'chubby' reading this thread and I am not gay.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

/Thread.

[truthwolf1]

God, how the hell did I wind up in a GAY WAR by myself! Mondays are such a bitch.

Allright, I surrender you win! PipenSnus mostly, (you're SO SEXY WHEN YOUR MAD!), Granola Roo and everyone else. I was completely wrong and you guys are all right. Peace pipe and a clap for you all

[snusjus]

While I fully support gay rights, having an orgy in public is a bit far for me. For instance, if a heterosexual orgy was going on, all the people would be arrested. I'm for equal rights, not special rights.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

ummmmm

[sgreger1]

ummmmm

Yah sf gay is completely different than normal gays. Very dif lol. Special rights doesn't even hit the tip of the iceberg. For those who have never been to sf, you need not be part of this discussion lol.

For example, have you ever eaten sushi and the people at the table next to you are wearing nothing but assless chaps and it's a Tuesday? It's cool in one way but kinda creepy in another.

[GoVegan]

Yah sf gay is completely different than normal gays. Very dif lol. Special rights doesn't even hit the tip of the iceberg. For those who have never been to sf, you need not be part of this discussion lol.

For example, have you ever eaten sushi and the people at the table next to you are wearing nothing but assless chaps and it's a Tuesday? It's cool in one way but kinda creepy in another.

Were you paying attention to the chaps or the sushi?

[CultLeaderLettuce]

As a gay male, I will say this:

a. I am not a fan of some of the things that go on at some of the gatherings that this thread is based on. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I am a big fan of finding the right person... orgies aren't my thing. Even if they were, with the threat of HIV, I don't know if I'd even want to participate in an orgy with strangers. Just too risky. Even though it's not for me, there are people who do enjoy things like that, so more power to them. I bet it's fun, just not for me.

b. Anti-gay opinions: Personally, I don't care if someone has an issue with gays, as long as they keep it to their own selves. People will always have something that they dislike, nothing's new. We are on a tobacco forum, and we feel the hatred of the anti-tobacco zealots every day. Maybe that's why so many people on this forum, even when conservative, do not support making special laws to keep gays from having the same rights as heterosexuals (isn't the idea of less laws/less government a conservative thing anyway?).

c. Gays and pedophilia: Seriously... gotta love the old "think of the children" line. Haven't we heard it enough when it comes to laws being passed pertaining to the tobacco products that we legally enjoy on this forum? Personally, I'd like to know how many gay people you know who are interested in having sex with minors? I bet it's probably a very low number, or even zero. Also, the numbers being presented as to how many cases of child molestation that are performed by homosexuals and heterosexuals that was listed probably does not account for the cases where the child never reported it (which possibly would be more of the case of something that happened inside a family, many of which could be heterosexual). If every person who were a victim of a sexual assault as a child were to come forward today and report what happened, I would not be surprised if the statistics would be a little different.

Anyways, I guess that all I can say is... I don't want special treatment. I also don't want people screaming that I want special treatment... especially when things like Proposition 8 and the Defense Or Marriage Act actually ARE special treatment. If someone is against special treatment of gays, break down those walls. And another thing that bugs the crap out of me are some people in this world who scream "gays are bad because they like butt sex!" Personally, I have known some straight girls who enjoy that same thing, so it's not just limited to gay couples. Also, it disturbs me that some people are so against homosexuality that they are obsessed with the sex lives of gay men. Personally, I've never looked at a heterosexual couple and thought "yeah, I bet they like the missionary position." Some anti-gay folk are so weird.

[Bigblue1]

Yeah, I've know/ have known chicks into butsex, and Who am I to deprive them of their wants. I'm just that kinda guy......