The Heterophobic Wave

[JMHX]

I'm up to my man-tits in people complaining that homosexuals are discriminated against and hated. They liken their treatment to slaves or Jews in World War II, at great insult to the actual suffering of those groups. I've never seen a group of gays being turned away from a restaraunt with a fire hose. Have you? I was reading a story in Details that brought to light an interesting situation I thought would be worth commenting on: the rise of heterophobia and the lampooning of the straight man.

Cape Cod has recently had a lot of problems with hate speech concerning gays. What makes this so different is that gay men have been scrawling "Breeder" on the cars of straight men and generally making life rough for the woman-inclined. Though you never hear about that. You never hear about it because that isn't how gays are supposed to act. That isn't how they are portrayed in the media. Contrast Will from Will and Grace with any number of straight men on television: Jim from Yes, Dear; Earl from My Name is Earl; Denny from Boston Legal. With the exception of perhaps Jack Bauer, the straight man is a slob, an ignorant idiot, someone to be saved from his own blunders, a slovenly, usually out-of-shape dolt out of touch with fashion.

Compare that to gay men on television and you begin to see what is, increasingly, a heterophobia. The straight man is not cool in comparison to the gay man. Gay men - thin, trim, perfectly coiffed and dressed, hanging around the trendiest night spots - those are the television idols. Is there a show on television that has someone like Will living in a slum apartment like Earl's? No. With the exception of perhaps Sex and the City, do you see people like Ray Romano at The 21 Club? No.

They don't serve their kind.

[Elfer]

There's stupid hateful gays and stupid hateful straight people. I am not in any way surprised to hear about vandalism against straight people because of the fact that they're straight, because there's always idiots out there in every demographic. This is not a problem on the rise, it's an inevitable problem embedded in the natural variation of human behaviour.

As for portrayal in the media, you give an intensely biased sample. You have only selected characters from sitcoms, and there's a very specific reason that those types of characters appear on sitcoms all the time. I don't see how you didn't understand this off the bat, but maybe it's just because I think more about the theory behind comedy more than most people do.

The reason men are portrayed at incompetent, bumbling morons on sitcoms is because it's funny. The reason you never see an incompetent gay man is because if you're going to have another bumbling moron on your show, there's really no function served by making the character gay. The reason you make a gay character is so you can have a character with wacky stereotypical gay personality traits.

The whole point of a sitcom is to set up situations that are condusive to making jokes that appeal to a broad audience. This is done with stupid straight guys, intelligent sarcastic women, and trendy homosexuals.

If you look at say, any show that ISN'T a sitcom, where the intenet is to create intriguing situations for the purpose of inciting conflicts, you'll see that everything is completely different.

Or if you look at other characters on the same sitcoms you mentioned (ex: that stupid gay guy who hangs around with the bitch with the annoying voice from Will and Grace, Alan Shore or Biff Slabchest from Boston Legal, etc) or characters on other sitcoms (Jerry from Seinfeld, most of the chracters on Andy Richter Controls the Universe, particularly Keith, or any other sitcom where they have a "straight man" [straight man here referring to the role of a straight man in a comedy duo, not a heterosexual]), you'll see that all you're doing is drawing attention towards things you're pissed off about.

The only sitcom you mentioned without a competent straight guy that I remember is Yes Dear, a show which needs incompetent guys to complete their formula of two incompetent brothers getting involved in some ridiculous sort of competition while being ridiculed by their smart and sarcastic female characters. That's far more an example of gender portrayal disparity in sitcoms than sexuality disparity.

In conclusion, even if sitcoms were "the media," you'd still be wrong.

[Korriken]

well, what do you expect? personally it kinda spooks me when i consider what a local preacher said a while back, "the world is becoming progressively more anti christian" and i take a look around and realize, HE IS RIGHT. you look at how the bible tells you to live, then look at the media today, they are almost exact opposites.

the bible tells you not to have sex out of wedlock, the media encourages it.
the bible tells you not to covet other people's belongings, the media encourages you to want what others have.
the bible tells you to not be prideful of yourself, the media tells you to be prideful.
the bible tells you to seek a person of the opposite sex for a partner, the media tells you to find someone of the same sex for a partner.

those are just a FEW things.

and if some asshat gay paints "breeder" on my car, I'll shove a baseball bat up his ass..... then again, he might enjoy the experience.. i better bash his head in with it.

[Pwnage-In-A-Can]

Not to sound like a raving lunatic, but I belive the whole heterophobia montage is a ploy in order to make straightmen seem like the unnatural and moronic ones. In order to spread the impression gaymen are more socially/mentally acute.

[MrBibz]

At 8/20/06 01:23 PM, Korriken wrote:

:you look at how the bible tells you to live, then look at the media today, they are almost exact opposites.
You do have a reasonable point, but the bible also says that when you have committed a sin you have to take clean goat without any defects, slaughter it, splatter the blood on the four sides of the altar, and burn the fat because the scents will please god. Haven't seen the media pushing for that one lately either.

Anyway, as a heterosexual male, I really don't care if the media portrays straight men as loosers. That is a good catch that you noticed this, Pandar. I think the "gays suffrage" is a little long winded, but just a little.

[Buffalow]

So....we're suppost to think that everyone hates straight people because a few select shows have slobby, fat, white straight men in contrast to a few select shows with trim, slender, (forgive me for saying this) sexy gay men? Yeah, ever think that the reason they have those shows on the air is because THEY MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH? It's television. If it wasn't entertaining, they'd take it off the air, but it is entertaining to people and gets good ratings, therefore it stays. This is rediculous.

[PenguinTamer]

Any kind of group that was discriminised in the past, is now using it against us. Gays, black people... even women.

[YHWH]

Now a straight white man is one of the worst things to be in America? I should have been born 200 years ago.

[PenguinTamer]

At 8/20/06 02:14 PM, Proud_American wrote: If it wasn't entertaining, they'd take it off the air, but it is entertaining to people and gets good ratings, therefore it stays. This is rediculous.

Hold on right there. Sometimes people on TV do try to provoke hatemail from gays because they think that's funny. Same for racism and stuff. And there's a lot of unentertaining stuff they don't take off the air o_O

[ImmoralLibertarian]

It's great when majorities bitch.

[YHWH]

At 8/20/06 02:42 PM, o_r_i_g_i_n_a_l wrote: It's great when majorities bitch.

Everyone bitches about something, no matter what.

[TwO-FaCeD-PaRaNoID]

Aha i see, that's why there are so many homosexuals taking part in mtv shows like:"room raiders" "taildaters" "dismissed". It has been said before but i just find it very disturbing to see two men making out. (i switch channels before they get the chance though)

[Sinthe]

What you have to remember is that a lot of the shows that you're talking about are comedies. Comedy is not supposed to be taken seriously. It's all stereotypes because that's what people find funny.

I'm not shocked by some gay people harassing straight people. Some people think that just because they were treated badly they should go off and treat others badly. It's shameful.

[Sinthe]

At 8/20/06 01:23 PM, Korriken wrote: well, what do you expect? personally it kinda spooks me when i consider what a local preacher said a while back, "the world is becoming progressively more anti christian" and i take a look around and realize, HE IS RIGHT. you look at how the bible tells you to live, then look at the media today, they are almost exact opposites.

the bible tells you not to have sex out of wedlock, the media encourages it.
the bible tells you not to covet other people's belongings, the media encourages you to want what others have.
the bible tells you to not be prideful of yourself, the media tells you to be prideful.
the bible tells you to seek a person of the opposite sex for a partner, the media tells you to find someone of the same sex for a partner.

those are just a FEW things.

and if some asshat gay paints "breeder" on my car, I'll shove a baseball bat up his ass..... then again, he might enjoy the experience.. i better bash his head in with it.

That's just some preacher with a persecution complex. It's become very... I would say "fashionable" among Christians.

Isn't the bible rife with examples of God tempting man to prove his faith? I would think that the media is the same way. Anyone who blames their actions upon the media is weak and they, quite frankly, deserve it.

As a side note, the media doesn't really encourage people to find same-sex partners. If anything, it glorifies heterosexual unions just like the rest of society.

[YankeeFli]

Ha you heard about the breeder thing too.

They had that in the Cape Cod Times, mainly in Provincetown, which is the gay capital for the North East.

Recently, various organisations have petioned the state legislature to allow the subject of gay marraige to be decided by the voters.

They petitioned and got enough signatures, and got the bill.

The thing is, due to the Freedom of Information act, various people got thier hands on records of the petitions and posted them online.

So harrasment towards the people that signed it, is not uncommon, especcially in P-town where men and woman have been surronded and insulted.

Then told to get themselves a new fashing design.

Alright so the last parts a joke.

[TwO-FaCeD-PaRaNoID]

At 8/20/06 02:57 PM, Sinthe wrote: What you have to remember is that a lot of the shows that you're talking about are comedies. Comedy is not supposed to be taken seriously. It's all stereotypes because that's what people find funny.

I'm not shocked by some gay people harassing straight people. Some people think that just because they were treated badly they should go off and treat others badly. It's shameful.

Well i am, because it is not a gay thing to harm other people, so if gay people start doing straight things(stereotypical speaking ofcourse), then we won't have anything of our identity left!

[Peter-II]

At 8/20/06 02:51 PM, TwO_FaCeD_PaRaNoID wrote: It has been said before but i just find it very disturbing to see two men making out. (i switch channels before they get the chance though)

Sure y'do, sailor. *wink*

But really, what's disturbing as two men making out? There's nothing disturbing about it - it's just as inappropriate as a man and a woman making out, or two women making out.

[ImmoralLibertarian]

At 8/20/06 03:44 PM, TwO_FaCeD_PaRaNoID wrote: Well i am, because it is not a gay thing to harm other people, so if gay people start doing straight things(stereotypical speaking ofcourse), then we won't have anything of our identity left!

So, being violent, or committing crime is a ‘straight thing’?

That’s bull dude.

[Sinthe]

At 8/20/06 03:59 PM, o_r_i_g_i_n_a_l wrote:

At 8/20/06 03:44 PM, TwO_FaCeD_PaRaNoID wrote: Well i am, because it is not a gay thing to harm other people, so if gay people start doing straight things(stereotypical speaking ofcourse), then we won't have anything of our identity left!

So, being violent, or committing crime is a ‘straight thing’?

That’s bull dude.

I think it's more along the lines of bashing someone for their sexuality. Though, I'm pretty sure that the straight people who do this are a minority of their own.

[emmytee]

At 8/20/06 01:23 PM, Korriken wrote: stuff

Just because people dont act exactly the way the bible tells them to doesnt mean they are discriminating or anti christian, thats like saying that just by being white im racially abusing blacks. If you want to base your life on some badly translated sandscript story then feel free, but dont bitch about people with a positive IQ not following your lead.

[Korriken]

At 8/20/06 05:08 PM, emmytee wrote:

Just because people dont act exactly the way the bible tells them to doesnt mean they are discriminating or anti christian, thats like saying that just by being white im racially abusing blacks. If you want to base your life on some badly translated sandscript story then feel free, but dont bitch about people with a positive IQ not following your lead.

i suppose you missed my point.i never said not following the bible is discrimination and anti christian. I said that its interesting that a lot of things the media portrays and good and proper, god forbids and discourages. and not just christianity, also islam and judaism forbids it as well, but of course, those are all abrahamic religions... anyway,

do i think Harry Potter is anti christian because it shows wizards and sorcerors? of course not, its entertainment and doesn't glorify anything in particular.

[Demosthenez]

Shit, who carers about WILL.

US STRAIGHTIES HAVE JAMES MOTHERFUCKIN BOND.

What is Will going to do when the Soviets invade? Whore himself off to Ivan, the secretly gay member of the Politburo? Pssh. James Bond would kill all those bastard commies and liberate America/Great Britain/Europe/the World all while having enough time to impregnate 12 women.

Now THAT is a hero.

[MrBibz]

What about Lost. All of the men on that show that express any sexuality are straight and most of them don't look like bums. Sure they might be stoners, rednecks, criminals, and sometimes just plain violent, but they're not portrayed as loosers. Heck, Hurley's the only one on the island that's fat, but he's hilarious (and he still scored a chick).

[ImmoralLibertarian]

At 8/20/06 07:58 PM, FAB0L0US wrote: US STRAIGHTIES HAVE JAMES MOTHERFUCKIN BOND.

James belongs to us, being a member of MI6. He'd help you guys repel the soviets only if we lent him to you...

[Demosthenez]

Yeah, just keep thinking that, thats what the CIA and America want you to think. . .

I mean, cmon. He has perfect teeth. British? No wai.

[MortifiedPenguins]

At 8/20/06 08:22 PM, o_r_i_g_i_n_a_l wrote:

At 8/20/06 07:58 PM, FAB0L0US wrote:

James belongs to us, being a member of MI6. He'd help you guys repel the soviets only if we lent him to you...

If Bush can get Blair into Iraq, Bond will be no problem.

Anyway, we have Jack Bauer and Swarchzeneggar.

[flashmonster666]

I hate fags.

[Sinthe]

At 8/20/06 09:08 PM, flashmonster666 wrote: I hate fags.

We hate you, too.

At least God is on your side. *rolls eyes*

[Pwnage-In-A-Can]

At 8/20/06 09:15 PM, Sinthe wrote:

At 8/20/06 09:08 PM, flashmonster666 wrote: I hate fags.

We hate you, too.

At least God is on your side. *rolls eyes*

It says in you're a profile you're a chick. Are you a hermaphrodite now?

[Sinthe]

At 8/20/06 09:24 PM, Pwnage_In_A_Can wrote:

At 8/20/06 09:15 PM, Sinthe wrote:

At 8/20/06 09:08 PM, flashmonster666 wrote: I hate fags.

We hate you, too.

At least God is on your side. *rolls eyes*

It says in you're a profile you're a chick. Are you a hermaphrodite now?

Yes. I'm a hermaphrodite. That's precisely what I am. Aren't you a smart one.

*rolls eyes*