Posted by Isis at 147.129.97.250 on February 28, 2002 at 18:00:51:
In Reply to: It's cool you stepped up on this and said what you posted by phone monkey on February 28, 2002 at 17:01:44:
I think it would be insulting to Kevin if I sat here and acted like I thought everything he did was golden. And I've been known to praise the man to a level some feel is outlandish at times (rock on, Sexual Chocolate), so I feel that my praise can be taken with more weight if I also am honest about the things I DON'T like. I criticize only because I really care about and respect what the man does. I want him to achieve his fullest potential and I really believe he's worth a lot more than cheap humor. I respect that he's so daring about controversial subjects -- it's when I see him doing something cliche (which is what I think gay jokes are) that I'm disappointed.
As for your co-workers...that's odd. People can be sensitive. I don't find what you said to be offensive at all, but everyone has their issues, I suppose. I generally feel it's best to be honest about whatever you feel -- at least if it's out in the open, even if you're totally wrong, we can discuss it like adults.
: thought about this.
: Funny thing about humor, ...
: ... when a joke doesn't work, or when we try to explain why we are laughing at something we shouldn't, it's very revealing. Who laughs, who doesn't. Who speaks up and who doesn't.
: Back a couple of years ago, I was working in a very gay-concentrated environment, about 50-50 or so division between straight and gay, but you'd have to do the census again every few months to see where some people stood.
: Anyhow, a friend had come from a lecture and said the lecturer had said that the straight community has no right to comment on the personal habits of someone who is gay.
: I said, Bullshit. If a friend of mine is blowing it in personal relationships, straight or gay, I'm going to tell them. I don't care their gender stance - some things you just say because you have to say them.
: It caused a sudden shift in my relationship with some of my gay coworkers. They seemed to believe I really meant that.
: And, being socially awkward, I had not even realized that my comments on some aspects of their life had been interpreted as being related to their being gay.
: And they really weren't because I have lousy radar on that.
: Point being, you've got the courage of your convictions. Good for you.