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Re: jimmy
Thanks, jean. Always nice to have a "fan." 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 20, 2013 at 1:30 PM
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jimmy
i always enjoy the read!
posted by
jeansaw
on May 20, 2013 at 10:43 AM
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Re: I'm with Annacita
That's usually how it works, Mia. People do tend to fear those things they simply do not understand. But I think it goes a little beyond that when it comes to human nature and sexuality. Think of it this way: I'm sure there are many heterosexuals out there who engage in what many might describe as "less than discreet" activities that the gay community wouldn't necessarily approve of. Do you think the gays would then like to be considered heterophobic? Probably not, but I guarantee you won't be hearing that term being thrown around anytime soon . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 20, 2013 at 6:51 AM
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Re:
I understand your sentiments completely, Annicita, and you're right. There probably are many people who do actually fear the gay community for the reasons you've stated and more. But I believe the term homophobe is overused as a blanket assessment heaped upon anyone who shows even the slightest sign of disapproval of the gay lifestyle, regardless of their rationale for feeling that way. I still say, just because you dislike or disapprove of something doesn't necessarily mean you fear it . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 20, 2013 at 6:45 AM
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I'm with Annacita
I think a lot of the dislike and/or mistrust of the gay community actually stems from fear. Some are scared that spending time with gays will make them gay (as though it's a contagion). Others fear the moral ramifications it will have on our society.
Religious people seem to be afraid, feeling gay marriage threatens the sanctity of marriage as they interpret it in their bible. And there are a staggering number of people who fear anything they don't understand, including the gay lifestyle.
posted by
Mia890
on May 19, 2013 at 11:53 AM
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well yes there are people who misuse the term...but i have met many a person who is a homophobe....they literally FEAR them because they might actually hit on them or try to convert them! not saying they are right either...there are those who are phobic and those who just don't approve
posted by
Annicita
on May 18, 2013 at 3:35 PM
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Re:
Good luck, Dr JPT! Yes, people tend to use many words without considering their actual meaning or context. I'm glad you agree with me on this one. And if you ever do find that new word or term, please feel free to share it with the rest of us . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 11:49 AM
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I totally agree with you. I find most use and choose words without considering the literal or rhetorical context. I must think on this to pick a name to adequately define and describe.
posted by
Dr_JPT
on May 18, 2013 at 11:30 AM
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Re: JimmyA
Good one, Sir Wiley. I was going to try to add "No pun intended, huh?" but there obviously was a cute pun there! Enjoy your weekend . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 8:59 AM
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Re: Jimmy
It would seem, Naut, that an ideology can be feared as much as an individual can be feared, but that's not always the case when the suffix -phobe or -phobia is attached to certain words. I'm not afraid of Muslims or Islamic ideology on the surface, just like I have no fear of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Mormons, Atheists or any other "religious" organization or their ideology. It's the extremists I fear; the ones who exclaim "Believe in and follow my doctrine . . . or else!" And these extremeists are everywhere, amongst every society, and appear in every form of life imaginable. But I still say that the terminology we use should at least be accurate to the situation, or the persons involved . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 8:56 AM
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JimmyA
Oh well, it all seems very queer to me.
posted by
WileyJohn
on May 18, 2013 at 8:51 AM
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Re:
And that's what it is, mariss . . . a blanket term. Yes, sometimes it may apply, but in a vast majority of the cases, it probably doesn't! But when the news media uses it, they imply that someones fears the person themselves and not just the idea! And that's what I feel makes the term inaccurate . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 8:46 AM
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Jimmy
Which brings to mind that the term 'Islamophobia' was very deliberately coined and subsequently used widely by Muslim organizations to convey the message that 'fear of Islam' is irrationally pathological, which is patently absurd!
I suggest, on the other hand, that people should routinely adopt the term 'Islamonaziism' as a term descriptive of what that whole ideology is about...
posted by
Nautikos
on May 18, 2013 at 7:39 AM
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Some actually do seem to fear the idea, but It should be everyone's right to disapprove or stay away from it. I think it is used too much as a blanket term when it only applies to some.
posted by
mariss9
on May 18, 2013 at 7:17 AM
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Re: the media seem to love finding a new word they have made up and then
Thanks, Kabu. I honestly wasn't sure if there were going to be those who might actually disagree with my argument/rationale. And you're right . . . this is not a rant against the gay community whatsoever, just that particular word. Yeah, the media just loves to come up with these terms and titles, and then force them down our throats over and over and over. However, I still consider myself to be a Free-Thinking Non-Conformist ( go back and revisit my very first post! ) and since I've always found this term to be incorrect and inaccurate, I've never, ever used it or gave it any credence. That's why I say, you can disapprove of something without necessarily fearing it . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 7:02 AM
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Re: No argument here!
Absolutely, Katray. In a good majority of the cases, it really is wildly inaccurate! And you may be on the right track with that H.D. idea. Even anti-homo may be considered a little more accurate, because there's no actual fear implied. I think we've got to come up with something new . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 6:54 AM
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Re:
That you would be, C C T. I've thought long and hard about this one for quite a while, and I really think it's about time to change that term, or at least redirect it toward those who it might actually apply to. But now the fun part will be coming up with a new term . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 6:42 AM
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Re:
And that's all there is to it, sam. I think I would be more apt to fear a straight person who was mean-spirited, terribly abusive, extremely obnoxious, overly vocal and potentially violent than a gay person who was quiet, reserved, loving, giving and basically kept to themselves. We've got to find a way to drop phobia from the equation . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 6:39 AM
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Re:
Okay, adnohr, that probably makes some sense, although I would still consider it fairly inaccurate. Yeah, not only does our wonderful news media continually come up with these slightly ridiculous terms, but they'll go out of their way to perpetuate them for as long as possible too. And of course, the more the public reads and hears them, the more apt they will be to use them! I still say that particular term needs to be changed . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 6:19 AM
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Re:
Thanks, FSI. This has actually been on my mind for quite some time, as I am constantly hearing this term applied toward anyone who says anything even remotely negative against the gay community! And I think it is wildly inaccurate, as my diatribe has explained. But now the trick is, coming up with a more apropos term . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 6:14 AM
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Re:
Well there ya go, lustor. You say you dislike seeing gays in public, but would you say you feared seeing them in public? Probably not, right? But of course it goes without saying that you also fear and dislike the bombers! That of course makes perfect sense. See the difference? That's why I say, people can dislike or disapprove of something without necessarily fearing it . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 18, 2013 at 6:09 AM
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the media seem to love finding a new word they have made up and then
thrashing it to death .....yes there are far more terrible happenings in the world than to worry about people's bedroom activities or whatever. It seems to me that the Gay community is far less aggressive and more loving and accepting than a lot of other people who should have learned more than they have. but as you say this post is about the missuse of a word and your argument is a bucket that holds water for me dear friend.
posted by
Kabu
on May 17, 2013 at 6:52 PM
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No argument here!
Maybe homosexuality-dis-approver? Too long? Could be abbreviated - H.D.?.....:) "So and so is a H.D." Seriously I've never thought about how wrong phobic sounds in relation to this meaning, but it does...
posted by
Katray2
on May 17, 2013 at 4:37 PM
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Well what is there to disagree with Jimmy, I would be a fool to try to argue against common sense.
posted by
C_C_T
on May 17, 2013 at 11:33 AM
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I think phobia is overused, too! I have a brother who is gay and has been that way all his life so I have never understood what the fuss is all about! He likes men and he's happy so that's that for me! sam 
posted by
sam444
on May 17, 2013 at 11:23 AM
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Apparently the term was first used by journalists in the 1800's (don't many of our terms come from the media??). The phobia part is described as the fear of contagion, of losing what is considered normal family structure.
posted by
adnohr
on May 17, 2013 at 10:45 AM
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Jimmy, I wholeheartedly agree with you. I do not feel that homophobic is an apt term. You have done a fine job of analyzing the word.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on May 17, 2013 at 10:03 AM
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I fear people that take other peoples life, like the bombers. I dont dislike gays I just dont like watching them in public I know a lot of gay people especially through my daughter she always took them under her wing
posted by
Lanetay
on May 17, 2013 at 9:59 AM
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