Ignorance At It's Best

[Soron]

The moderator here suggested I post this here for discussion. I orginally posted this on the BDSM board. Thanks, Etoile


This is an e-mail I recieved from a guy I used to work with. He sends me jokes from time to time. I wrote him back after seeing this and told him not to send me any e-mails, period, and why. It takes me back to when BDSM was even less accepted than it is now. What bugs me the most, is that people have their own little agendas and can't see past their own ignorance.

One thing here that got me, was the alledged response from ABC. Does this sound like a major TV network responding to a viewers e-mail? God, I hope not.

But, isn't this the same crap that those of us that lived the lifestyle for a time have to put up with when we talk openly about it to vanilla lifestylers? Any discussion?


Subject: Disturbing words from ABC TV

ABC TV - A MUST READ

If more of us took a stand maybe we could have some decent TV
programs.

J.N. is a coach in Childress, Texas.

J. writes:

My name is J. N. I wrote to ABC (on-line) concerning a
program called "THE PRACTICE." In last nights episode, one of
the lawyer's mothers decided she is gay and wanted her son to go
to court and help her get a marriage license so she could marry her
'partner.' ! I sent the following letter to ABC yesterday and really
did not expect a reply, but I did get one.

My original message was:

ABC is obsessed (or should I say abscessed) with the subject of
homosexuality. I will no longer watch any of your attempts to
convince the world that homosexuality is OK. THE PRACTICE
can be a fairly good show, but last night's program was so typical
of your agenda.. You picked the 'dufus' of the office to be the one
who was against the idea of his mother being gay and made him
look like a whiner because he had convictions. This type of mentality
calls people like me a "gay basher." Read the first chapter of
Romans (that's in the Bible) and see what the apostle Paul had to
say about it.... He, God and Jesus were all 'gay bashers'. What if
she'd fallen in love with her cocker spaniel? Is that an alternative
lifestyle? (By the way, the Bible speaks against that, too.)
--J. N.

Here is ABC's reply from the ABC on-line webmaster:

How about getting your nose out of the Bible (which is ONLY a book of
stories compiled by MANY different writers hundreds of years ago) and read
the declaration of independence (what our nation is built on), where it says
"All Men are Created equal," and try treatin g them that way for a change!
Or better yet, try thinking for yourself and stop using an archaic book of
stories as your lame crutch for your existence. You are in minority in this
country and your boycott will not affect us or our freedom of statement.

J. N.'s second response to ABC:

Thanks for your reply. From your harsh reply, evidently I hit a nerve.
I will share it with all with whom I come in contact. Hopefully, the
Arkansas Democrat Newspaper will include it in one of their columns and I
will be praying for you.

- -J. N.

Note: Wouldn't Satan just love it if people stopped using the Bible
for a crutch? Please resend this to everyone in your mailbox.

-- Thanks, J. N.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

You know what i find appalling? It is not the e-mail itself, so much as the person's wording. Saying "I have a problem with alternative lifestyles" is one thing. Using the bible to explain why they have a problem is something all together different. I guess my point is this...every one is entitled to their opinion. Everyone does not HAVE to feel the same way. Making a statement and backing it up with facts (at least to the best of one's ability) is a much better way of protesting than dragging religious beliefs into the mix.

That being said, it is amazing how much one person's LIFESTYLE choice seems to offend so many. But if You think about it...no big changes have ever occured until the general public was made aware of said LIFESTYLE...(women's rights, anti-war protesters, civil rights). In my opinion...I would not have told said person NOT to send me any more e-mails...I would have told the person that we do not agree on this Particular issue. If, after that, the person sent anything else along those lines...it would be the end...but not until I had a chance to explain where i felt the fallacy was in their thoughts. We lead by example, not by words. It is how it is.

PET
(shelly)

 

[Miss Molly]

I am very skeptical as to the veracity of the ABC reply.

It reads to me like propoganda designed to stir up bad feelings. A big corporation like ABC will generally reply with a simple "Thank you for your feedback." type of reply, not insult those who write to them with complaints.

 

[Mischka]

I am very skeptical as to the veracity of the ABC reply.

I looked it up on Snopes, and it's true. A programmer responded instead of the usual customer service department, and ABC sent a follow-up "the views of our employees do not necessarily reflect the views of the company" backpeddling letter.

Honestly, I would prefer if people like the programmer wrote the response letters instead of the wishy-washy "we have no opinion" letters the companies normally send out. If you decide to air a program, have the backbone to support your decision.

 

[Miss Molly]

I looked it up on Snopes, and it's true. A programmer responded instead of the usual customer service department, and ABC sent a follow-up "the views of our employees do not necessarily reflect the views of the company" backpeddling letter.

Honestly, I would prefer if people like the programmer wrote the response letters instead of the wishy-washy "we have no opinion" letters the companies normally send out. If you decide to air a program, have the backbone to support your decision.

Well, I stand corrected!

I agree, I would prefer an honest defense of their decisions.