# Queer Eye 8/19 - John V **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-eye-8-19-john-v/196270 "2003-08-19T20:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-eye-8-19-john-v/196270/61 "2003-08-22T18:07:02Z")
Well, first off, I guess it is true that positive stereotypes are still stereotypes. But I don’t think that this show can be accused of perpetuating stereotypes any more than can “Jeopardy” or “Junkyard Wars”. If real people happen to fulfill aspects a stereotype, that by itself is not bad. What about the negative stereotype of straight guys as bumbling, uncultured slobs? We all know one of these guys. Many of us ARE one of these guys. It wouldn’t be much of a show if conservative, mannered gay men attempted to wreak changes in conservative, mannered straight guys. Secondly, I’m assuming the stereotype you see being perpetuated is “Gay guys have better fashion sense/taste/food skills/people skills than straight guys”. Part of what blows that up for me is that you have people who are experts in their very different fields for apparently good reason. (Except for Jai, bless his heart, he ain’t got mugh to do). You don’t see Thom cooking or Carson at the spa. I tend to agree with those who say that the “Queer” part is more a way of taking advantage of the positive aspects of a stereotype in order to foster better understanding. “Queer” is what the five have in common, because there really isn’t all that much else. If nothing else, this show is helping to blow up the myth that all of gay male culture is an oversexed, mincing, feminized monolith. I see this as positive. I’m an apologist. Having become a huge fan of the show as a straight male who resembles the targets more than the hosts, the thing that sets it apart for me is its general good intentions. The subjects of the show are playfully trashed in the opening, but I’m seeing what I believe is genuine concern and desire to help on the part of the hosts. It’s infectious, especially compared to the mean-spirited tone of most reality-based TV. Really playful, positive, edge of your seat stuff. It’s perfect television. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-eye-8-19-john-v/196270/62 "2003-08-22T19:16:53Z")
Whether or not the show **perpetuates** stereotypes is not my point. My point is that people who either don’t watch it or have watched “a few minutes of one episode” feel they are justified in offering a critique and pretending like that critique is somehow informed. You pretty much are not able to offer any worthwhile critique of a series which has gone for six or seven episodes on the basis of three minutes of viewing time. You are simply not qualified. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-eye-8-19-john-v/196270/63 "2003-08-22T21:17:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*Are you denying it perpetrates stereotypes? You have a pretty difficult argument to make there. \*\* The Fab Five themselves addressed this issue in their interview in _The Advocate_ which was referenced earlier. They say it much better than I can. (I suggest reading the entire snippet and not just the “first few” sentences. :rolleyes: ) > [@](#): > > Carson: We always get the stuff about us engendering every gay stereotype. And one thing: Hi, it’s a reality show. We’re not cartoonish and we’re not pretending to be supergay or superstraight or whatever. We’re just being ourselves, and I’m not going to make any excuses for who I am, and I don’t think any of these guys are either. > Jai: It’s rude, because you’re commenting on who we are as people. We’re not playing a role. > Kyan: Just to play devil’s advocate, even if we are embracing a stereotype that gay guys are effeminate or whatever, so what? A gay guy can be effeminate. It’s OK. If somebody has a problem with it, they need to lighten up, and they need to open up their minds. > > … > Ted: So far the response has been so staggeringly positive, and if it turns out that there are going to be a couple people who don’t like the show, whatever. That’s fine. You’re entitled to your opinion. As far as backlash, you know what? Bring it on. We’re OK, we can take it. We’re not going to be worried about negativity. We’re going to keep doing our thing and doing the best job we can and I think let people respond the way they want to respond. > Kyan: This whole stereotype issue may force the gay community to look at our own homophobia. > Carson: Exactly. > Kyan: I’m all for guys being butch and guys being men. I identify with that and appreciate that. But if I’m going to stab my gay brother in the back who isn’t butch and who maybe acts a little bit more effeminate, what good is that? > Thom: It’s part of the deal. I have straight friends who are more effeminate than my gay friends. > Kyan: If being gay is only OK if you’re straight-acting, why are we letting them set the standard? > Carson: We’re being homophobic. > Ted: Being gay is such a huge diverse mix of types of people. Let’s not forget it’s the drag queens who started the whole liberation movement in the first place. We have to honor those— > Carson: Snaps for the drag queens who paved the way. [He snaps his fingers, and they all join in]. > Ted: Snaps for Stonewall. > Carson: Snapping. Furious snapping. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-eye-8-19-john-v/196270/64 "2003-08-22T22:58:30Z")
i was saved by nbc, now i don’t have to get up at 6am on sunday to see the show. i am amazed at the amount of stuff i learn from this show. every week there are interesting little tidbits and quite a few laughs. i think carson picked out clothes that john will wear. what is the purpose of buying a bunch of clothes that the guy wouldn’t wear? if you aren’t comfortable wearing something it doesn’t matter if you got it by being on a show or if you paid 30,000 dollars for it; it will sit in the back of the closet and never see the light of day. fashion people often wear things that i would never be caught alive in. that is what they do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-eye-8-19-john-v/196270.md?page=3)