According to some – the BBC, anyway – the world of the Internet is homophobic. That homophobic is an over used obloquy designed to stifle dissent is by the by, it would seem. However, like its equally repulsive cousin, Islamophobia, that is precisely what it is, a word that is played like a trump card as soon as anyone dares to stray from the path of true righteousness.
And here we have it again:
“It was my first love. It changed my life,” wrote hip-hop artist Frank Ocean on his blog a fortnight ago.
It was the first time he had admitted in public that he had had feelings for another man.
What followed was some pretty nasty commentary on Twatter and the like. Well, yes, unpleasant but hardly life threatening. And it is better that we put up with that than have our speech censored. Well, a reasonable person might think that…
Then we get the issue of Oreos supporting Gay Pride:
The ill will followed another controversy sparked by Kraft Foods on Facebook.
The US snacks maker had pledged its support for gay pride just over a week earlier with a picture of a cookie with a rainbow-coloured filling on its Oreo marketing page.
The post attracted more than 20,000 comments.
Many applauded the firm but some swore that they would never buy the biscuit again, that Oreo had no business talking about sexuality and that its effort was “disgusting”.
Well, actually, I agree with the comment – Kraft really shouldn’t be getting involved in sexuality. That is a matter for individuals and their lovers, no one else. If you make it public, well, the public will comment and sometimes the public will make negative comments – particularly the cretinous…
But, you see, not all of those comments are unreasonable. When I buy biscuits, I don’t expect the manufacturer to be shoving sexuality in my face. I don’t think I’ll be buying any Oreos either, frankly.
Of course, you can see where all this is leading, can’t you?
Some feel it remains too easy for people to post anonymous comments, knowing that efforts will only be made to identify them under the most extreme circumstances.
And that is the Trojan Horse in all of these stories. Expect more where this one comes from. Those who would have us register with the government to comment and would have government control over what we say will keep plugging away using words like “homophobia” and “Islamophobia” as the vehicle for their evil.
If you write stuff on a blog, you’re inviting the whole world to see it. Only a complete narcissist or a total idiot would assume that all of those people would approve…
Ah, but, people are not supposed to disapprove if someone says they are gay.
There are a lot of folk out there who really haven’t got the message yet.
I don’t like Oreos anyway. I would buy the old bourbon biscuits, but they’re too expensive here.
Who cares what a private company does?
I don’t especially. However, if it nails its colours to the mast, it shouldn’t be too surprised if there is a backlash. They are biscuits – Kraft should really be confining any marketing of them to biscuits, not sexuality.
Must admit, I’m homophobic. Well actually not as phobia is irrational. When some twat tries to feel me up in the gents, that isn’t a phobia!
Islamophobia. (WOW, the spell checker picked it up as not being a real word!) I have a very real fear of Islam, not Muslims. Islam would have us Infidels either executed or held as slaves.
When I found out about 9/11 I was hitch-hiking from Manchester in the general direction of Bradford. The young Muslim that gave me a lift was visibly shocked and I suspect afraid of repercussions. Do I hate him for what someone else did?
DaveE.
XX And that is the Trojan Horse in all of these stories. Expect more where this one comes from. Those who would have us register with the government to comment XX
I will register with the “Government” to comment, the day the press, who appear to be fighting FOR this, are forced to reveal every single one of their “un-named sources” before publishing a “news” story.