ted@teldata.UUCP (08/28/84)
****************************** I am back for a day to train my replacement and I had a chance to read some of the replies to my observations. I am sorry I could not have posted those observations sooner so there would a chance for rebuttal and discussion My complaint was about the hypocrosy of the gay or feminist attitudes I mentioned. I don't think there is anything in my statement to indicate any bigotry on my part towards gays, feminists, or anyone else. Sophie's inferrence is that since I object to the bigotry backlash from gays or feminists that I am bigotted against these groups. That is absolutely not true. She is practicing such bigotry by making that assumption. If I agree with the feminist movement in general but disagree on one particular point or method, does that mean I am against the whole group and a bigot too? I do listen to the ideas of others and will change my mind if the evidence warrents it. Steve, your reaction is exactly what I am complaining about, any criticism, even a slight criticism, brands the critic as a raving bigot who probably burns crosses in his spare time. The movements I mentioned are asking for equality, acceptance, and understanding but some of the members of those movements are not willing to reciprocate to any degree. Instead of running of at the mouth when you hear a contrary point of view, stop and consider for a moment what was said and then make counter points. Why should my statements wound you so deeply? The only wounds I have are those of being falsely accused. Have you ever thought that a general comment may not apply to you directly? That smacks of adolescent self conciousness. Matt suggests that it is not safe to generalize based on a limited sample and agree wholeheartedly, but my comments where based on my experience on the net and applied to people on the net. I cannot resist expounding some more on my view of immaturity as it appears on the net. Let me ask a couple of questions. Why do some people fly off the handle at any or every statement that is contrary to their views? Why do some people insist on calling their opponents names? Is this not immature? I can admit to being wrong and somewhat immature (even at age 41). I also admit to not taking a most of the traffic on the net too seriously and to being a bit of a rabble rouser. A bigot I am not. My judgements of people are based on knowing them and how they think and act not any one charctoristic. The most repulsive thing to me is people who love football and insist upon boring me with the details of Sundays game even after I have expressed disinterest. I don't care how much you argue against it, being gay is abnormal, and is caused by environment, or society or whatever and is not a congenital condition. You are not or cannot be born gay, some influence in your life made you that way. It's much the same as prefering brunettes over redheads. This is not to say being gay is wrong or undesirable, or that this is a treatable disease, or that gays should be subject to any discrimination, but neither are they entitled to any exclusive rights. I suppose this view makes me a bigot, but I contend it does not because it does not affect the way I treat gay people. If you were come in contact with me socially or professionally you would not find my actions toward you to be bigotted and would probably find me to be supportive. My final analysis of the net is that a good 25% to 30% of the news groups are a total waste of expensive resources. And some of you will delight in pointing to this submittal as evidence of that. Its been fun but I won't miss it.