*sigh* *eye-Roll*

[Lilith666]

David and Jason Benham just lost the chance to host a reality show after Right Wing Watch posted a video showing David commenting about the homosexuals' "demonic" agenda. (This cracked me up. Like gays are a bunch of incubi sent by Satan to corrupt America.) Anyway, HGTV, which planned to host the show, has not found it funny. They've called it off and some people are saying they're being persecuted based on their religious beliefs.

 

Well, first of all, if a company is sponsoring you and word gets out that you said a dumb thing like that, you've got to expect serious consequences. HGTV doesn't want damage to their reputation.

 

Second, this habit that the public/media have of being outraged every time someone opens his mouth and makes a blockheaded remark is ridiculous. They should expect it by now. When Phil Robertson said that thing about gays, people acted as if they'd never heard it before, as if he were the only one in the world who thought that way. We all know there are homophobes/heterosexists, sexists, and racists. Why are people so shocked when they express their views?

 

I don't think it's on YouTube yet, or I would post it, but I liked what one man on CNN's discussion about this had to say: that people should be able to listen to others' viewpoints without throwing a fit. Conservatives like the Benhams are as much a part of diversity as Elton John or Ellen DeGeneres. Why do we feel so threatened whenever someone expresses a view we don't agree with? It's not as if the Benhams are going to have new laws installed that will reverse marriage equality and Lawrence vs. Texas.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/showbiz/tv/benham-brothers-hgtv/

[flockoff]

I guess this discussion is going to flow in the same direction as when you said bakers should have the right to discriminate against gays. That's not a comment against you so much as an observation.

 

My take is it's easy for us with progressive social views to say what you're saying now, but it wasn't so much the case twenty years ago for gays or fifty years ago for blacks. We're at the point in history, or getting close to it, where most people know not to say those things in public unless they think it's worth ruining their life. So it's easy to say, "our work is done now, what's one more idiot going to do?". But not everyone agrees.

 

I'm fine with people who make statements like that being shunned and unwelcome. If people who think that way have hope of changing, there's plenty of things they can read to edify themselves. For the rest of us what they say is a waste of time and it's hurtful to people.

 

As for "acting shocked," that's what the media does. It gets ratings and sells papers. They know it's not actually surprising that people still think this way.

[par4dcourse]

Charlotte itself is pretty liberal, but the outlying circle of counties are mostly god-fearin' christians. Most locals don't want to see and hear xian crap, but they are understandably hesitant to be as vocal as the holy rollers.

[FreeThinkerNZ]

I guess this discussion is going to flow in the same direction as when you said bakers should have the right to discriminate against gays. That's not a comment against you so much as an observation.

 

My take is it's easy for us with progressive social views to say what you're saying now, but it wasn't so much the case twenty years ago for gays or fifty years ago for blacks. We're at the point in history, or getting close to it, where most people know not to say those things in public unless they think it's worth ruining their life. So it's easy to say, "our work is done now, what's one more idiot going to do?". But not everyone agrees.

 

I'm fine with people who make statements like that being shunned and unwelcome. If people who think that way have hope of changing, there's plenty of things they can read to edify themselves. For the rest of us what they say is a waste of time and it's hurtful to people.

 

As for "acting shocked," that's what the media does. It gets ratings and sells papers. They know it's not actually surprising that people still think this way.

Well said.  People with homophobic, sexist or racist views are entitled to express them, and those with progressive social views need to stand up and express theirs.  The work is never done.

[Lilith666]

 

 

I guess this discussion is going to flow in the same direction as when you said bakers should have the right to discriminate against gays. That's not a comment against you so much as an observation.

 

My take is it's easy for us with progressive social views to say what you're saying now, but it wasn't so much the case twenty years ago for gays or fifty years ago for blacks. We're at the point in history, or getting close to it, where most people know not to say those things in public unless they think it's worth ruining their life. So it's easy to say, "our work is done now, what's one more idiot going to do?". But not everyone agrees.

 

I'm fine with people who make statements like that being shunned and unwelcome. If people who think that way have hope of changing, there's plenty of things they can read to edify themselves. For the rest of us what they say is a waste of time and it's hurtful to people.

 

As for "acting shocked," that's what the media does. It gets ratings and sells papers. They know it's not actually surprising that people still think this way.

Well said. People with homophobic, sexist or racist views are entitled to express them, and those with progressive social views need to stand up and express theirs. The work is never done.

No, it isn't. It won't be as long as there are people like the Benhams (who unfortunately can have children and pass on their views).

[Lilith666]

As for "acting shocked," that's what the media does. It gets ratings and sells papers. They know it's not actually surprising that people still think this way.

Not just the media, but people themselves. "Oh my goodness, a social conservative! Those exist?!?"

[Aries256]

They exercised their right to free speech and met the consequences. People are still fired today simply for being born the way they are.

[midniterider]

David and Jason Benham just lost the chance to host a reality show after Right Wing Watch posted a video showing David commenting about the homosexuals' "demonic" agenda. (This cracked me up. Like gays are a bunch of incubi sent by Satan to corrupt America.) Anyway, HGTV, which planned to host the show, has not found it funny. They've called it off and some people are saying they're being persecuted based on their religious beliefs.

 

Well, first of all, if a company is sponsoring you and word gets out that you said a dumb thing like that, you've got to expect serious consequences. HGTV doesn't want damage to their reputation.

 

Second, this habit that the public/media have of being outraged every time someone opens his mouth and makes a blockheaded remark is ridiculous. They should expect it by now. When Phil Robertson said that thing about gays, people acted as if they'd never heard it before, as if he were the only one in the world who thought that way. We all know there are homophobes/heterosexists, sexists, and racists. Why are people so shocked when they express their views?

 

I don't think it's on YouTube yet, or I would post it, but I liked what one man on CNN's discussion about this had to say: that people should be able to listen to others' viewpoints without throwing a fit. Conservatives like the Benhams are as much a part of diversity as Elton John or Ellen DeGeneres. Why do we feel so threatened whenever someone expresses a view we don't agree with? It's not as if the Benhams are going to have new laws installed that will reverse marriage equality and Lawrence vs. Texas.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/showbiz/tv/benham-brothers-hgtv/

 

Any media exposure is good media exposure. Any opinions by tv networks are driven by $$$.

[TheRedneckProfessor]

Charlotte itself is pretty liberal, but the outlying circle of counties are mostly god-fearin' christians. Most locals don't want to see and hear xian crap, but they are understandably hesitant to be as vocal as the holy rollers.

I still contend that Kannapolis could go to hell and no one would even notice.

[Orbit]

False victimhood is the latest tool in the apologists' arsenal. These guys are not victims. Corporations carefully control their public images--if you say a bigoted thing, and HGTV doesn't want to be associated with bigots--buh-bye! That's the free market that the fundies love at work. It is not discrimination, and to say it is is an insult to groups who are really discriminated against.

[par4dcourse]

 

Charlotte itself is pretty liberal, but the outlying circle of counties are mostly god-fearin' christians. Most locals don't want to see and hear xian crap, but they are understandably hesitant to be as vocal as the holy rollers.

 

I still contend that Kannapolis could go to hell and no one would even notice.

Monroe for me, and I agree.

[TheRedneckProfessor]

 

 

Charlotte itself is pretty liberal, but the outlying circle of counties are mostly god-fearin' christians. Most locals don't want to see and hear xian crap, but they are understandably hesitant to be as vocal as the holy rollers.

I still contend that Kannapolis could go to hell and no one would even notice.

Monroe for me, and I agree.

 

True, but let's not forget those uppity folks up in Davidson.

[ExCBooster]

Yeah, I agree: follow the money - media outlets don't want to hurt their profit margins, and rabid bigots just gain more credibility with their in-group when they do get cancelled, or whatever.

 

I kind of see it as a good sign: At least people are outraged, and enough people are that networks think they'll lose market share over these things. 

[florduh]

Too many live in fear of offending someone. Many people have unpopular opinions (today) due to their experiences, upbringing, community or religion. These reasons make those opinions justified to them. Those making public statements or taking public action based on their prejudiced opinions will lose them jobs and support, and rightly so. However, I think we have gone too far when surreptitious recordings of private conversations are released and witch hunters dig up someone's unfortunate slip from 20 years ago. We are all entitled to an opinion and we are entitled to privacy. What we are not entitled to is being a public ass and reaping no repercussions for that.

[Aries256]

again as someone who has been affected by idiots like them, I hold no sympathy. HGTV was simply keeping lowlife scum off their network, and listening to their viewer base. Im sure these two morons will find a tv station like daystar who will throw money at these loons for their show.

[Lilith666]

I don't feel bad for them, either. I just think the term "extremist" is over-used: extremism is attacking people over what they choose to do/believe, not just expressing an unpopular opinion that everyone else has heard several times before.