# Why no Gay Bashing this time? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529 "2008-01-06T22:06:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/181 "2008-01-08T21:05:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” > > - **…Teddy Roosevelt.** I have infinitely more respect for those here who engage in rational, intelligent discourse----no matter their position----than those “timid souls” who hurl insults from the cheap seats. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/182 "2008-01-08T21:05:41Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] That’s an awfully long winded, “I can’t”, isn’t it? [/QUOTE] If you interpret clear, modern English that poorly, no wonder you got your ass handed to you in that old thread. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/183 "2008-01-08T21:06:26Z")
[QUOTE=woodstockbirdybird] No, it’s an “I’m not going to bother, because your argument is fucking retarded”. Subtle difference there. Eat hot death!, Woody [/QUOTE] _Eat hot death?_ Does your mother know you’re on the computer before your homework is done? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/184 "2008-01-08T21:06:52Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] I have infinitely more respect for those here who engage in rational, intelligent discourse----no matter their position----than those “timid souls” who hurl insults from the cheap seats. [/QUOTE] You’re a charter member. My seat is twice as expensive as yours. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/185 "2008-01-08T21:08:13Z")
[QUOTE=Crotalus] If you interpret clear, modern English that poorly, no wonder you got your ass handed to you in that old thread. [/QUOTE] How about it, **Crotalus**? I’ll open a thread and we’ll see how you do. Are you up for a discussion? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/186 "2008-01-08T21:08:51Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] I have infinitely more respect for those here who engage in rational, intelligent discourse----no matter their position----than those “timid souls” who hurl insults from the cheap seats. [/QUOTE] Oh noes! Wouldn’t want to lose the respect of some stranger on a message board! Next thing you know, you’ll be telling us how you’re very, very disappointed in us. Oh, the shame of it all! Me too stupid to debate, Woody ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/187 "2008-01-08T21:09:23Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] I have no quarrel. I appreciate your thoughts and feelings about it. And, I agree with your thoughts about people forcing “religious beliefs on my life.” [/QUOTE] So, you don’t oppose giving full rights and protections, including marriage, to homosexuals? ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/188 "2008-01-08T21:09:31Z")
[QUOTE=Crotalus] You’re a charter member. My seat is twice as expensive as yours. [/QUOTE] I’ll sponsor your renewal. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/189 "2008-01-08T21:11:32Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] _Eat hot death?_ Does your mother know you’re on the computer before your homework is done? [/QUOTE] That’s some nice “rational, intelligent discourse” (and so original, too!) you’re throwing around there. Better be careful, or some people are liable to lose respect for you. My Jesus unicorn makes the whole world smile, Woody ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/190 "2008-01-08T21:11:35Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] So, you don’t oppose giving full rights and protections, including marriage, to homosexuals? [/QUOTE] I have no stake in that issue. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/191 "2008-01-08T21:18:59Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] I have no stake in that issue. [/QUOTE] Well, cool. Believe whatever the hell you want, then. If it doesn’t affect me, I don’t care. (Although, seriously: you _did_ get your ass handed to you in that thread. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/192 "2008-01-08T21:22:19Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] … Sometimes, when I see someone like you or **Lightray** pound your virtual chests, I like to invite them to put their keyboard where their mouth is. You know, put up or shut up. … [/QUOTE] Ha! And here, I’d been thinking I’d overread into your trollish little comments earlier, and so apologized. Looks like my instincts were right, after all. Go, instincts, go! And, after reading through those threads… No. I won’t be putting up with a discussion involving you. I’d rather pound my head in with a hammer. But, thank you. After reviewing your participation in those threads, your disdain for me makes me feel all warm and special inside, like I got a gold star on my report card. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/193 "2008-01-08T21:24:54Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Well, cool. Believe whatever the hell you want, then. If it doesn’t affect me, I don’t care. (Although, seriously: you _did_ get your ass handed to you in that thread. 😉 ) [/QUOTE] hehe. And how many posts did you have in those 2 threads? Lemme guess… _None!_ And lemme guess your response if I were to offer you the chance to hand my ass back to me back all over again by way of a series of 5 threads (or so) I’ll start that deal with each of the accounts where homosexuality is “alleged” to be found. (I’ll pay special attention to you and your thoughts and make you my primary focus) [Some variation of] “No” ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/194 "2008-01-08T21:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] How about it, **Crotalus**? I’ll open a thread and we’ll see how you do. Are you up for a discussion? [/QUOTE] With you? About whether the bible condemns homosexuality? Probably not. I am satisfied to pursue my struggles with the bible in the small study groups I attend. I am interested in GD discussions of biblical topics, but I am most often content to read and learn in those. It appears to me that the supposed condemnation of homosexuality in the bible is not nearly as clear as Fred Phelps would have us believe, and that mentions of it, even if we credit the best-known interpretations, are rare. One of the principals of interpretation that I’ve learned is to beware of the hapax hazard, and arsenokoietes is certainly a biblical hapax. Another is the idea of reinforcement. If something is mentioned once or twice, it probably is of lesser doctrinal significance than God’s grace. My involvement here was primarily prompted by your asinine mischaracterization of **jsgoddess** ’s post, followed by a bit of banter. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/195 "2008-01-08T21:26:15Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] Ha! And here, I’d been thinking I’d overread into your trollish little comments earlier, and so apologized. Looks like my instincts were right, after all. Go, instincts, go! And, after reading through those threads… No. I won’t be putting up with a discussion involving you. I’d rather pound my head in with a hammer. But, thank you. After reviewing your participation in those threads, your disdain for me makes me feel all warm and special inside, like I got a gold star on my report card. 🙂 [/QUOTE] hehe You know, _“I can’t”_ would have sufficed. You’re chewing up perfectly good bandwidth. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/196 "2008-01-08T21:30:00Z")
[QUOTE=Crotalus] With you? About whether the bible condemns homosexuality? **Probably not.** I am satisfied to pursue my struggles with the bible in the small study groups I attend. I am interested in GD discussions of biblical topics, but I am most often content to read and learn in those. It appears to me that the supposed condemnation of homosexuality in the bible is not nearly as clear as Fred Phelps would have us believe, and that mentions of it, even if we credit the best-known interpretations, are rare. One of the principals of interpretation that I’ve learned is to beware of the hapax hazard, and arsenokoietes is certainly a biblical hapax. Another is the idea of reinforcement. If something is mentioned once or twice, it probably is of lesser doctrinal significance than God’s grace. My involvement here was primarily prompted by your asinine mischaracterization of **jsgoddess** ’s post, followed by a bit of banter. [/QUOTE] “Probably not” Go figure. And no fair with the non-debate debating. If you have some thoughts, don’t be shy. Put them to the test! ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/197 "2008-01-08T21:30:11Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] hehe. And how many posts did you have in those 2 threads? Lemme guess… _None!_ And lemme guess your response if I were to offer you the chance to hand my ass back to me back all over again by way of a series of 5 threads (or so) I’ll start that deal with each of the accounts where homosexuality is “alleged” to be found. (I’ll pay special attention to you and your thoughts and make you my primary focus) [Some variation of] “No” [/QUOTE] Dude, when did participation in a thread become a qualification for rendering an opinion on it? I didn’t get that email. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/198 "2008-01-08T21:30:35Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] And lemme guess your response if I were to offer you the chance to hand my ass back to me back all over again by way of a series of 5 threads (or so) I’ll start that deal with each of the accounts where homosexuality is “alleged” to be found. (I’ll pay special attention to you and your thoughts and make you my primary focus) [/QUOTE] It’s like a humiliation round robin. You think you have to play everyone before the rest of us can see how bad you are at this. Serious question: Do you believe it’s impossible for others to have seen and rejected your arguments from reading those threads? Have your arguments changed since then? (I guess that’s two questions. I edited.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/199 "2008-01-08T21:35:03Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] Serious question: Do you believe it’s impossible for others to have seen and rejected your arguments from reading those threads? Have your arguments changed since then? (I guess that’s two questions. I edited.) [/QUOTE] Obviously he does. He’s challenged at least four people in this thread to ANOTHER fight about the SAME subject because they hadn’t actually participated in the linked thread. As if another thread on the same subject will somehow result in a different outcome…it’s not that his facts were wrong, it’s that his opponents were stronger. So now he’s looking for new opponents, apparently, with which to plow over the same gladiatorial arena in the hopes that these ones will, apparently, give up before they’ve completely scattered his innards across the sandpit like the last ones did. It’s almost masochistic. Then again, he is Australian… ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529/200 "2008-01-08T21:36:12Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] “Probably not” Go figure. And no fair with the non-debate debating. If you have some thoughts, don’t be shy. Put them to the test! [/QUOTE] Oh, my beliefs are put to many tests. I sure enough that any discussion of this topic with you would begin and end no differently than previous ones which involved you, so nicely summed up by Atticus Finch years ago: [QUOTE=Atticus Finch] Raindog, this is how this argument looks to the outside observer: Raindog: Homosexuality is condemned in the Bible - see these particular passages. Diogenes: Well, those passages are misinterpreted - see various Greek translations that refute the common interpretation. Raindog: Well, I’m not sure about that. But homosexuality is condemned in the Bible. If the passages you cited don’t mean what you thought they meant, dredge up a few more or post alternate translations, don’t just repeat your assertion. I’d be interested to see them and also see if Diogenes has any response… [/QUOTE] Arguing with that doesn’t strike me as a test, it looks like a masochistic act. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-gay-bashing-this-time/432529.md?page=11)