Random Thoughts

[pcfan123]

Haha, just to appease the loonies a bit

The gay rights issue is the 'Civil Rights' movement of our generation. Our grandchildren are going to call us bigots for ever discriminating against them, the same way we call our grandparents bigots for living in a segregated society.

 

[Themer]

I still find it hard to imagine those who are against such acts. (Obviously not talking about you Mark.) Gay adoptions been legal here for over 5 years I think.

 

[MattW]

My main concern always is, how do you explain it? If you try and tell a kid, having two mums is perfectly normal, you'll have a kid who will get picked on. If you try and explain how it was something that they just felt was who they are, you'll fail trying to explain to a kid something that people spend years and years trying to come to terms to themselves.

How do you explain sexuality as distinct from gender to a kid? How do you explain to someone who grows up with two mum/dads, that they aren't necessarily gay?

But of course, I certainly don't think it is up to the government to decide that this isn't possible therefore they shouldn't be able to adopt, but I don't think the debate should be discounted as merely anti-gay sentiment - even though that's what it often boils down to.

Divorce is a much greater problem for children than the gender of their parents, but people survive that.

 

[pcfan123]

My main concern always is, how do you explain it? If you try and tell a kid, having two mums is perfectly normal, you'll have a kid who will get picked on. If you try and explain how it was something that they just felt was who they are, you'll fail trying to explain to a kid something that people spend years and years trying to come to terms to themselves.

How do you explain sexuality as distinct from gender to a kid? How do you explain to someone who grows up with two mum/dads, that they aren't necessarily gay?

That ultimately boils down to the parents and how they choose to explain the family circumstances to children.

Either way, its better than the children being left in orphanages waiting to be adopted.

I have yet to meet anyone who is against Gay marriage or gay adoption for anything other than religious reasons. Its basically socailly acceptable bigotry in the USA.

 

[pcfan123]

Thanks to Full Metal Jacket, us Texans can never live down that quote

Even found a graphjam on it

 

[Manly]

Is there anyone on the forum that you see their name in the last post spot and you just have to see what they've said?

For me it's treva, Mark, Highlander999 and (sometimes) Ollie_H.


I've been on the beer again, forgive me.

 

[CaptainOZ]

For me it's CaptainOZ

 

[pcfan123]

I deffo catch myself reading posts from specific people over others, more often though I catch myself not reading posts based on who has posted

 

[CaptainOZ]

I like to catch Dutchad's posts, if anything to see something about "sarnies" or "sad lettuces" :laugh

 

[pcfan123]

Anytime I see Themer as last post in the Jokes thread, its the 1st thing I check. That or Will_NA but he is rarely around now.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Is there anyone on the forum that you see their name in the last post spot and you just have to see what they've said?

For me it's treva, Mark, Highlander999 and (sometimes) Ollie_H.


I've been on the beer again, forgive me.

Considering I've read this whole page and hardly any of the last page, I'd say yes :laugh

 

[ZoraxDoom]

My main concern always is, how do you explain it? If you try and tell a kid, having two mums is perfectly normal, you'll have a kid who will get picked on. If you try and explain how it was something that they just felt was who they are, you'll fail trying to explain to a kid something that people spend years and years trying to come to terms to themselves.

How do you explain sexuality as distinct from gender to a kid? How do you explain to someone who grows up with two mum/dads, that they aren't necessarily gay?

This is the bigger issue. What is wrong with our society that it's teaching small kids that being gay is wrong? Is it the teachers? The media? Or ignorant parents?

That should be solved first. A kid shouldn't be picked on because his parents chose to live life the way it makes them happy. Parents shouldn't fear telling their kids what they are just because others might not accept it.

If there is no fear that the kid will get picked on or will suffer as a result, then there should be no fear in explaining to them what's going on.

 

[MattW]

What is wrong with our society that it's teaching small kids that being gay is wrong?

I think it is a lot less evolved than that. You have kids who clearly won't understand these sort of issues, they'll understand 'mum and dad' as that's what they'll see at their home. They will naturally then see anything other than that as unusual.

Again, I'll make the comparison to kids who have divorced parents, you have the same issues. Now society as a whole has a much less powerful opposition to divorce as it did 50 years ago, but you would still see that sort of playground prejudice.

Kids see difference in a much more simplistic way than someone who is older and I don't think it is possible to entirely rid society of the effects that has, no matter how desirable it might be.

Naturally the problem is made worse if the parent's do see a problem in being gay, like it or not lots still hold that view and it will be generations before we see homosexuality become accepted in most people's minds.

 

[Highlander999]

Is there anyone on the forum that you see their name in the last post spot and you just have to see what they've said?

For me it's treva, Mark, Highlander999 and (sometimes) Ollie_H.


I've been on the beer again, forgive me.

Awww ain't that cute

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I think it is a lot less evolved than that. You have kids who clearly won't understand these sort of issues, they'll understand 'mum and dad' as that's what they'll see at their home. They will naturally then see anything other than that as unusual.

Again, I'll make the comparison to kids who have divorced parents, you have the same issues. Now society as a whole has a much less powerful opposition to divorce as it did 50 years ago, but you would still see that sort of playground prejudice.

Kids see difference in a much more simplistic way than someone who is older and I don't think it is possible to entirely rid society of the effects that has, no matter how desirable it might be.

Naturally the problem is made worse if the parent's do see a problem in being gay, like it or not lots still hold that view and it will be generations before we see homosexuality become accepted in most people's minds.

From my experience with kids, they are simplistic, but they are a bit nicer than picking on someone because their parents are different. I've noticed them tease kids because the way they look or act is different. But then again, I don't know a huge number of small kids

The teachers could have a role to play in this. If they notice the kid has gay or divorced parents, maybe they could take it on themselves to make sure the other kids realise there is nothing wrong with this.