Tolerance and contacting one's inner Umbridge (Was Re: Sex Pref SHIP)

[zesca]

No: HPFGUIDX 77884

Severus "no thank you, I'm straight" Snape:

I really hope this does not become a pride fest saying that Harry is gay. H=
e 
obviously is not, ... I am slightly tired of the homosexual front reading g=
ay 
themes into everything from comics to cartoons that my children watch, 
Sponge Bob comes to mind. Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with 
the alternative lifestyle of this group of people, (my sister is, and I ado=
re her 
partner) I just don't care for their "it 
has to be in your face" policy. 

NOW madeyemood:
Interesting, this idea of tiresome in your faceness. 

I imagine if I were a member of a sub-group (a Jew during the "holiday" 
season, for instance) I might feel compelled to express how tiresome I foun=
d 
the assumption that I am a member of the majority. Merry Xmas for you, 
perhaps, but how can you possibly know about *me*? 

In these multicultural times the backlash seems to take the form of "oh, pl=
ease, 
don't ask me to be politically correct." 
 
Well I say, whence this expectation that everyone submit to the norm. Is th=
at 
considered remotely hip or interesting anymore?

I imagine if one is gay or less conventional in one's self-definition in a =

predominantly straight and somewhat identity prescribed world it rapidly 
becomes tiresome to consistently encounter the assumption of whatever 
norm. Whether or not one is straight one can still be bored/offended/annoye=
d 
by the constraining of expressive options.

I was reminded how, as a not officially partnered person, I tire of the 
imperative to procreate or be legally partnered. I don't understand what su=
ch 
things have to do with health insurance or property acquisition, for exampl=
e.

My big question is: 
where does the entitlement come from to literally state "I don't want this =
public 
forum to include discussions of 
whatever?" 

Since whatever happens to have been the gay topic more than once, I 
wonder how people can rationalize saying not only do I not want to bother t=
o 
simply avoid the clearly labelled posts, I'd rather everyone think and talk=
 
about this aspect of the books in a way that I enjoy rather than in a way t=
hat's 
interesting to them.
  
What nerve!
 
Really, who cares about honoring anyone's phobias, gay or straight, Christi=
an 
or Jew, TBAY, SHIP or FILK? In the context of this sort of forum, such a 
request is creeepily self-indulgent, and, I'm going to disagree with you he=
re, 
Snape, inherently bigoted; no matter how you feel about gayness in general,=
 
it's simply not appropriate or consistent with guidelines to ask people to =

constrain their expression according to your proclivities.Further, it doesn=
't 
make sense given the ease with which your involvement can be sidestepped. 
In short, who cares what you care for, Severus.

On a canonical note, this whole issue strikes me as rather Umbridgesque. No=
 
actual Dark Arts, kiddies, could be seen as Please refrain from exploration=
 of 
the cultural shadow, listees. Perhaps we should all confine ourselves to 
theoretical discussions of how to avoid the need to post.

I think JKR would find this whole outburst similar to mudbloodthirsty madne=
ss 
and feel both amused and disappointed by our folly.

> Garrett
> P.S. I'm a christian and think this gay thread is evil!

As for the comment by Garrett, is that sort of thing permitted? I find the =
tone 
startling. Does this seem unfairly censorious of me?

South Park's Museum of Tolerance comes to mind, all of a sudden. I know 
humans are in large part despicably obtuse, but I do my best to shine some =

sort of light into this skanky dark discourse.

I hope (maybe even pray) that my forthrightness has agitated just the right=
 
amount. My goal is to illumine rather than to shame. This sort of discussio=
n 
makes me fear for us muggles. Rather than collapse in fear, or elegantly 
sidestep, occassionally I attempt the reasonably assertive posture. 

madeyemood