Thursday, December 30, 2010

Descriptive or insulting?

I don't really know any homosexuals, well I do know one, but I've never discussed the issue with him, I don't even think he knows I know, certainly his parents don't. I have discussed various issues they have online in a few debate forums I haunt and mostly found them to be nice guys, level headed and not at all bothered that some feel uncomfortable around them so long as they aren't actually being abusive about it. The EDL have a Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender division which has always struck some as odd, well at least until you discover what Islam has in store for gays, they are treated well on demo's most people being of the opinion that what you do in your bedroom is your business, they don't mind being called gay either, it's all in context really...

Daily Mail.
Jobcentre bosses are investigating claims that staff taunted a couple with homophobic abuse during weeks of discrimination - calling them 'gay boys'.
Steve Mellor, 23, and Roy Pearson, 28, say they were victimised for being homosexual whenever they went to claim their benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions is now looking into claims that staff abused them and labelled them with the derogatory term.
Is "gay boys" a derogatory term though? It does depend on context, certainly it is descriptive, but was it meant to be insulting, or just that a description of the two guys and not meant to be insulting. I can certainly think of worse insults, though they claim they had no problems in in previous Jobcentres, just in this one when they declared themselves to be a couple. So, were the Jobcentre staff being rude and insensitive? I doubt it, no more than they treat pretty much everyone the same, the places tarnish the soul of pretty much everyone who works or attends them. Nothing quickly gives you a lower opinion of the general public than actually having to deal with them after all. I suspect this is just another compo claim, the guys being "professionally offended" I may be wrong of course, they may just be sensitive souls. Either way they should no more be upset about the designation "gay" if they are gay than I would by the designation "breeder" (I have the kids to prove it)
Personally I'm of the opinion that they should be told to "grow a pair" and be less sensitive, but I think that about most offended by insult cases anyway.

4 annotations:

All Seeing Eye said...

It's all a "show me the money" bandwagon now. Not surprising that the only serious debate about that 'two gays and the guesthouse' story from last week was as to whether it was a Stonewall setup or them freelancing as independent compo-merchants.

Frankly having a thin skin has become an industry and the only people really benefiting are the lawyers.

JuliaM said...

MummyLongLegs reckons it's bullshit publicity seeking.

Me too, actually.

Longrider said...

I'm with Mummy on this one. Having had to deal with the Jobcentre myself recently, this story has bullshit written all over it.

James Higham said...

Personally I'm of the opinion that they should be told to "grow a pair" and be less sensitive, but I think that about most offended by insult cases anyway.

Precisely.