There’s a time and a place for everything, and a queue in a shop wasn’t it.
Well, I originally was going to say I’d mind my own business, because you don’t change hearts and minds by picking fights with random strangers at the grocery store. But I’ve always sort of wondered what it’s like to be a psychopath, so now I’m changing my answer to “I’d definitely react.” Raised eyebrow perhaps, or maybe I’d go so far as clearing my throat and loudly saying, “I say, that’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
Wow. That sure beats anything I had come up with. I’ll just say that’s an excellent analysis of the situation!
How about " Wow, great t shirt. Isn’t the divorce rate among heterosexuals terrible? "
I usually just say something a little sad like “love is a wonderful thing, it’s too bad everyone isn’t allowed to have it.”
In general, I don’t make comments about strangers’ clothing.
I wouldn’t personally say anything, but I wouldn’t look down on anyone who did. And I really don’t think it’s psychopathic to get pissed off by a bigoted t-shirt.
I guess I should say a little more about why I felt guilty for staying silent (I’m assuming here that those who’re “lecturing” about why it’s bad to say something are talking general situations, and not me in particular - if you did mean me, please reread the OP :)):
I felt like, by staying silent, I was part of (contributing to) the problem of homophobia, that I was just letting it go without consequence by not at least trying to call it out. “First they came for the Jews”, “Silence = Death”, and all that. I was letting something wrong go, and thus perpetuating it.
Again, I realize that I can’t fight the world’s battles, and that doing something would’ve been futile and possibly counterproductive/dangerous for me personally, but emotions are irrational almost by nature, and I’m just explaining where it came from.
To me the issue isn’t so much what side of the question someone (and his shirt) is on, but that they feel compelled to constantly proclaim everywhere they go. Of course it’s their right, and I’m not going to stop them, but it’s irritating. Ah well, as Mangetout mentioned it’s a handy guide toward whom to avoid.
That would be my view. You’re not going to change the mind of someone who is opinionated enough about the issue that they would be wearing that shirt in the first place. Everyone will just get angry over nothing.
You should see the Osama bin Laden T-shirts that are on sale here. They’re especially popular on lower Sukhumvit Road, where most of the Muslim tourists stay. But some Thais like them too. There’s not a big understanding of world events here.
I wouldn’t mind a Bin Laden T shirt as long as it is up to date with a hole in the forehead and fishes swimming about.
These have the twin towers in the background, at the moment of impact.
I only comment about T-shirts if I think they are funny. This normally means they have a geeky joke of some kind on them.
I like it when the idiots label themselves so the rest of us know what we are dealing with, though.
I wouldn’t comment on the shirt, but if on leaving the store I noted that he was having car trouble I wouldn’t offer assistance.
Yeah, this.
I find it difficult to believe that someone who would wear an anti-gay marriage T-shirt only holds that opinion because he hasn’t been called a bigot enough.
Regards,
Shodan
No need to give him the time of day if you don’t want. you can pretend you didn’t see it. I stand by the first amendment. so whatever works for you I guess.
Judgmental scowls work well. :mad:
This would not be fighting ignorance, it would be being a jackass. For all you know it was a borrowed shirt, or he was a gay guy wearing it ironically, or who the hell knows what. It’s a shirt, not a person.
Even if he was everything you assumed he was, you’re not going to initiate a thoughtful, reasoned discussion in the checkout line. The odds are much, much greater it just leads to “Fuck you,” “No, fuck you!” and both of you walk away more determined tan ever not to change your minds.