A special coming up this week on Bravo focusing on the gay lifestyle on Fire Island.
Well, I guess Spring Break at Daytona Beach has been done to death…
Discuss.
Apparently you missed hearing the ruling from the language Nazi.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=39757&pagenumber=1
Actually, I was quoting from the promo for the show. Additionally, disturbing is the tag line:
“See how the other side lives.”
“the other side”?
Just nothing can sum up my feelings for that. Why do people continue to be ignorant idiots? I mean, get real!
Now they are assuming anyone has an interest in how the gay lifestyle is. As a chief who retired prior to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ruling I have always been very happy with my straight lifestyle.
ChiefScott:
Sorry buddy. You used the phrase, that means you’re a bigot. Please report immediately to your nearest Death Camp, Er I mean Happy Camp, yeah, Happy camp for reeducation.
Let’s see.
The Language Nazis don’t want you to use the expression “gay lifestyle.”
The actual Nazis murdered twelve million men, women, and children.
I really don’t like Nazi metaphors. (“What are you? Some kind of History Nazi?”)
Don’t forget my “Evil Nazi Groundhogs.” Clearly I have some kind of horrible agenda, don’t I.
I am growing very tired of having to cater to and justify myself in the face of little semantic peccadillos. I will use what terms I like. You can go ahead and attempt to derive or add whatever snide little connotations you choose. I don’t care. Go Screw if you don’t like it.
Actually, to know that you don’t care what you are telling people about yourself by your choice of words is a great relief, Scylla. It means I don’t have to give you the benefit of the doubt any longer.
Uh ohhhhh, looks like Skylla touched a nerve here. Meeeowww.
I have no interest in anyone who insists on deliberately misconstruing my terms in order to generate a faux indignance.
“Nazi” as a synonym for evil, even in jest has longstanding precedent. In one of the funniest episodes of Seinfeld, they referred to a cook as “The Soup Nazi.” Apparently everybody in America but yourself understood the humor in this.
The overexageration for emphasis is a common technique. Nobody (again except you,) seemed to think that the cook was an actual Nazi responsible for umpteen million deaths.
I am not interested in your benefit of the doubt. Make your judgement by what I write. I will do the same of you. I don’t extend the benefit of the doubt. I will assume that you are a reasonable and decent person until you prove to me otherwise, as you are now doing.
I think it is wrong that unreasonable people impugn another because they willfully misconstrue their terms. If I see somebody doing so, I will point it out. I am genuinely willing to go out of my way not to offend somebody I respect, and I do not willfully use terms that are likely to offend a reasonable minded person.
I am sick and tired of having to justify my use of common and acceptable terms to people who are deliberately going out of their way to misinterpret them.
I should no more have to curtail my use of commonly accepted language terms to satisfy you than you should be forced to change your sexual preference, or the color of your skin to satisfy another.
Again, if you find something objectionable in what I have just written, I’m sure it’s your problem, not mine. And no, if you don’t like it, tough shit.
I’m responding to you in the Pit, Scylla.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=765314#post765314
:: applauds Scylla ::
Anyways, did they mention when Bravo would show this special? After xtnjohnson’s (where is he anyways?) description of Fire Island way back in the middle of Ask the Gay Guy II, my interest is piqued. That whole gay lifestyle seems rather interesting.
Back to the hijack, I don’t see what’s wrong with using the term as I did. Certainly, Fire Island has a lifestyle that can be differentiated from the norm by the presence of a hell of a lot more overt homosexual behaviour. I suppose Fire Island lifestyle is more accurate, but not really as easily understood.
I think there is a critical difference between the way Scylla and myself have used this term and the way some homophobes characterize homosexuality as a lifestyle choice. I (and as far as I can tell, Scylla, but I won’t presume to speak for him) have never tried to claim that homosexuality is merely a lifestyle choice. We do see that there is also a certain lifestyle that members of the homosexual community tend towards.
I remember watching the documentary Before Stonewall on PBS late one night while doing laundry. I was rather intrigued with what I saw of the gay lifestyle in it. There seemed to be a certain exciting quality to the experiences of those who were first starting to find others like themselves and finding places where they could be themselves for the first time. In a way, while watching it, I wanted a part of that lifestyle. Not the homosexuality itself, just the lifestyle. And yes, I realize how bad life was, but I like the idea of being a suffering revolutionary.
Anyways, how would I be able to explain that last paragraph without using the term “gay lifestyle”? To avoid confusion, I would prefer a more accurate term that is not associated with the connotations that some people have given this term. And to close, I think I’ll pass on something I saw on the web somewhere: “If you’re straight… you have a life; if you’re gay… you have a lifestyle.” Kinda sums up the offense gays (justifiably) take at the term.
After thinking about it a bit, I figured that the term gay culture would probably suffice for what I’m trying to say. In the rare event that I might have cause to refer to a gay lifestyle, I’ll instead talk about gay culture. Not exactly the same thing, but about as accurate, I suppose.
Hastur’s not gonna run off and start spouting bile in the Pit if I talk about gay culture, is he? I mean, this is acceptable, right?
Woooooooo Hoooooooo, applause for Scylla! Now it is off to the pit to see what kind of nandy pandy item has been posted there.
Actually, this program is a repeat. It was on two or three months ago when they had some kind of “alternative lifestyle” week; they showed films with gay themes, the show on Fire Island and some other documentaries.
The Fire Island show was mildly interesting, but nothing to write home about.
Scylla, use whatever word suits you, and no doubt your true intent will shine through.
But consider yourself forewarned that using the phrase “gay lifestyle” might cloud your intent, as it is an emotionally- and politically-charged phrase.
Now we all can make educated choices.
Esprix
Scylla, you said:
thinks
I can see how using the term Nazi as a representation of evil, albeit extreme, can be funny; hell, that kind of humor is what makes South Park and the like popular. It’s comedy that breaks the rules a bit, that is not p.c. But the statement ‘everyone in America’ really gets to me; maybe I’m picky, but still, that’s a pretty general term. I’m sure you can find some holocaust jew, or pol, or anyone else who suffered under the Nazi’s, or the decendant of such, who takes that as a personal offence. It’s understandable that the person would take offence; it would be as if the Nazi’s wicked deeds were shrunk to comedy fodder. So I guess what I’m saying is that it’s okay to joke around, using the word Nazi as hyperbole for evil, but don’t be surprised and offended yourself if someone calls you on it. (I personally think using the word Nazi makes it that much funnier, Polish decent and everything.)
And I would never use it to deliberately piss somebody off. When somebody like Mattmcl goes looking for trouble wherever he can find it, and pretends to be all offended, I’m going to call him on it.
Is this a debate or flamewar? Seems like this thread should be moved.