Quick survey

selfinflikted said:

Ah. See, where I live, "queer" is the worst thing you could call someone. People get into fights and kill each other here, over that word. I would much prefer to term "gay" or "homo" or "'mo" or basically anything else to "queer" simply because of what could happen to me.

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I think lately (by which I mean "over the past 10 years or so") there's been an attempt to "reclaim" the word "queer". (I'm never sure if the Q in LGBTQ stands for "queer" or "questioning" - I think it can validly stand for both.) Of course, the trouble is, however much a group in society try to reclaim words that were once used to offend, that doesn't stop some folks in wider society continuing to seek to offend, and worse. But as a bisexual myself, I'm happy to be counted with the queer folks of the world.

David.

selfinflikted said:

You're such an intersting person to me, and even though I always assumed American culture was very similar to British culture, I'm finding out just by reading your posts that there are more differences that I first imagined...

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I'm not sure if it's necessarily British vs. American culture - it could just be the small subsection of society that I happen to spend most of my time around! Although I do get to interact with a wide variety of people in my life, I don't tend to share my sexual proclivities or my philosophical convictions with any but those to whom I am relatively close.

selfinflikted said:

Understandable. The only thing I think of when I hear "atheist" is simply "one who doesn't believe in gods." I guess, I'm not familiar with any stereotype regarding atheists. Or, maybe I'm just naive.

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I find that people assume that an atheist will necessarily hold all the same beliefs as Richard Dawkins/Christopher Hitchens.

selfinflikted said:

Ah. See, where I live, "queer" is the worst thing you could call someone. People get into fights and kill each other here, over that word. I would much prefer to term "gay" or "homo" or "'mo" or basically anything else to "queer" simply because of what could happen to me.

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I love the word "queer". To me, it can refer to absolutely anyone whose sexual orientation and/or gender identity is not totally in line with the (heterosexual, gender-typical) norm, and I'm very much in favour of allowing anyone to self-identify as queer. I like it because it forces people not to make assumptions about your sexual orientation.

selfinflikted said:

I still fail to see the difference

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Eh, it's just degrees of denial and affirmation of statements about God. It matters to me, for some reason Perhaps I'm just too much of a philosophy and theology student for my own good!

cantata said:

I find that people assume that an atheist will necessarily hold all the same beliefs as Richard Dawkins/Christopher Hitchens.

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Yes, because much like Jesse Jackson is the Emperor of Black People, the same is said for Richard Dawkins being the Atheist Commander. >.>

stan1980 said:

*laughs*

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Besides, that diagram is pure 100% science! not art!

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David Brider said:

I think lately (by which I mean "over the past 10 years or so") there's been an attempt to "reclaim" the word "queer". (I'm never sure if the Q in LGBTQ stands for "queer" or "questioning" - I think it can validly stand for both.) Of course, the trouble is, however much a group in society try to reclaim words that were once used to offend, that doesn't stop some folks in wider society continuing to seek to offend, and worse. But as a bisexual myself, I'm happy to be counted with the queer folks of the world.

David.

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That's true. I've noticed on tv (logo) and in gay publications that "queer" is becoming more and more accepted again. Just not here. Here = Lower Alabama. Yeah, that's right. Feel bad for me now.