Why such a big deal?

Jimbuna · 04-29-13, 03:59 PM

I honestly don't see why this story merits coverage on a major/reputable news site in this day and age.

I doubt he's the first and won't be the last so what gives?

Quote:

US basketball player Jason Collins has come out as gay, the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to do so.
He declared his sexuality in an article for Sports Illustrated, announcing: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."
Collins said he had struggled with his sexuality for years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22341153

Tchocky · 04-29-13, 04:28 PM

Right there in the article. He is the first.

It's a big deal.

NeonSamurai · 04-29-13, 04:50 PM

For the LGBT community it is a pretty big deal. In the world of athletics (which is lets face it, macho male driven), gay athletes have had to stay in the closet or risk losing everything (career, endorsement opportunities, etc.). They can also be at risk to attacks by anti-gay people/groups.

By coming out during an active career he is taking a big chance, even in this day and age. As many of my LGBT friends would say, things really haven't changed all that much, there is still a ton of hatred and oppression going on out there in the real world.

nikimcbee · 04-29-13, 04:56 PM

I blame our Victorian upbringing.

Sailor Steve · 04-29-13, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

By coming out during an active career he is taking a big chance, even in this day and age. As many of my LGBT friends would say, things really haven't changed all that much, there is still a ton of hatred and oppression going on out there in the real world.

I'm old enough to remember the time when he couldn't even have played in a major league sport, not for being gay but for being black. I hope it works out well for him, and that it allows more people to be themselves.

u crank · 04-29-13, 05:21 PM

I think this guy will definitely open the door for others. Good for him.

The pro sports leagues will also make sure that they are on side.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3062518.html

Ducimus · 04-29-13, 05:29 PM

This was front page news on CNN. Call my crazy, but I don't think anyone's sexual orientation is newsworthy, let alone be on the front page. I could care less if Johnny, Joe, or Jimbob packs it up the poopchute or not. I really don't care about peoples personal decisions that have no bearing on my own life, liberty, etc etc.

The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.

ReallyDedPoet · 04-29-13, 07:46 PM

In this day and age it is still big news ( sadly ), let's hope stories like this do eventually make it just another story.....
Not so long ago coming out was a big thing, then it became more of a common thing, this is another step for the LGBT Community.

mookiemookie · 04-29-13, 08:00 PM

"Gee Rosa Parks, you act like no one has ever been asked to move seats on the bus. What's the big deal?"

If you can't see why this is a big deal, you're ignorant. Willfully or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

This was front page news on CNN. Call my crazy, but I don't think anyone's sexual orientation is newsworthy, let alone be on the front page. I could care less if Johnny, Joe, or Jimbob packs it up the poopchute or not. I really don't care about peoples personal decisions that have no bearing on my own life, liberty, etc etc.

The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.

It speaks volumes about your own prejudices. You honestly can't see how the FIRST ACTIVE PRO SPORTS PLAYER to come out of the closet is newsworthy?

Jesus, Takeda is right.

GoldenRivet · 04-29-13, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

If you can't see why this is a big deal, you're ignorant. Willfully or not.

only the truly ignorant deal in such blatant absolutes.

its the typical "agree with me or your a poopoo head" mentality

its as big a deal as one chooses to make it. IMHO, it was a slow news day perhaps.

I havnt any problem with the guy being homosexual... i was eating a cheeseburger in a local venue when this came on the tv... the place was packed and the general mood of the place seemed to be a collective "meh"

my concern about this guys sexual preference is at a zero

mookiemookie · 04-29-13, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

only the truly ignorant deal in such blatant absolutes.

its the typical "agree with me or your a poopoo head" mentality

its as big a deal as one chooses to make it. IMHO, it was a slow news day perhaps.

I havnt any problem with the guy being homosexual... i was eating a cheeseburger in a local venue when this came on the tv... the place was packed and the general mood of the place seemed to be a collective "meh"

my concern about this guys sexual preference is at a zero

QED

Brace yourself, but your opinion on the matter means nothing. There's always going to be individual people for or against an idea. We care about individual instances more when they reinforce existing social problems because everything -- our thinking, our practice, our policy -- ultimately derives from our culture. One of the main methods to solve social problems is to change the culture by restricting and chipping away at the negative reinforcements.

This is something that confuses many people, who initially look at actions as discrete instances and not in a broader social context, or who don't hold that culture has a profound real-world effect.

The broader social institution holds that gay people are deviants, and not worthy of being able to marry or adopt kids, or any other number of actions that society doesn't blink an eye at when straight people are involved.

So to bring it home - why is it a newsworthy event when a pro sports athlete announced he's gay? Our culture has long decreed that straight men are macho hunter/gatherers and homosexuals are effeminate deviants who have no place in the "normal" world, much less the testosterone-driven sports world. For someone to come out and break that mold - the first person to do so - that's newsworthy.

Things that can seem like a "who cares" event when analysed in a vacuum can make perfect sense when you look closely at their context.

GoldenRivet · 04-29-13, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Brace yourself, but your opinion on the matter means nothing.

neither does yours

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

There's always going to be individual people for or against an idea.

fact

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

The broader social institution holds that gay people are deviants, and not worthy of being able to marry or adopt kids

of course there are some who think this... but i think the broader social institution doesnt hold that ideal. hell, all i have to do is look at all the equal signs on my facebook, many of them posted by baby boomer white christians i would never have guessed to be supportive of anything not printed in the bible... i dont care what the bleeding hearts have to say... every person out there isnt a foaming at the mouth gay hater.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

So to bring it home - why is it a newsworthy event when a pro sports athlete announced he's gay?

its not

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Our culture has long decreed that straight men are macho hunter/gatherers and homosexuals are effeminate deviants who have no place in the "normal" world

some of them are effeminate deviants

does that make them sub human? no

i know a couple of them who could out-hunt most hunters i know in the freezing ass cold too

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Things that can seem like a "who cares" event when analysed in a vacuum can make perfect sense when you look closely at their context.

it is apparently a major event for you

its a minor event for me

im not going to bash the guy for being gay... its not a big deal. for the most part the response by the fans and other players has been "your gay?... ok well can you still sink it from the three point line?"

who cares...

in the world news this week lots of neat stuff happened... yet another gay celebrity type figure ranks pretty low on the list for me.

then again... this could have a lot more to do with the fact that im not even remotely a fan of basketball and thus wouldnt care to begin with.

i guess the point im trying to make is that we as a society have to stop making this sort of thing a big deal. sure, there will always be gay haters... just like there will always be racists.

i'm just as quick to hold the door for a little old black woman as i am for a little old white woman etc etc

and i have been just as quick to yes ma'am a clear and obvious cross dresser

i have said it before and i will say it again, in my life i have rubbed elbows with a lot of different folks - perhaps thats why i feel the way i do about the subject

04-29-13, 04:28 PM	#2
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Right there in the article. He is the first. It's a big deal. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

04-29-13, 04:50 PM	#3
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	For the LGBT community it is a pretty big deal. In the world of athletics (which is lets face it, macho male driven), gay athletes have had to stay in the closet or risk losing everything (career, endorsement opportunities, etc.). They can also be at risk to attacks by anti-gay people/groups. By coming out during an active career he is taking a big chance, even in this day and age. As many of my LGBT friends would say, things really haven't changed all that much, there is still a ton of hatred and oppression going on out there in the real world. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

04-29-13, 04:56 PM	#4
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I blame our Victorian upbringing. __________________

04-29-13, 05:21 PM	#6
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,744 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	I think this guy will definitely open the door for others. Good for him. The pro sports leagues will also make sure that they are on side. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3062518.html __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

04-29-13, 07:46 PM	#8
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,885 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	In this day and age it is still big news ( sadly ), let's hope stories like this do eventually make it just another story..... Not so long ago coming out was a big thing, then it became more of a common thing, this is another step for the LGBT Community. __________________ Back in the Day

04-29-13, 05:29 PM	#7
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	This was front page news on CNN. Call my crazy, but I don't think anyone's sexual orientation is newsworthy, let alone be on the front page. I could care less if Johnny, Joe, or Jimbob packs it up the poopchute or not. I really don't care about peoples personal decisions that have no bearing on my own life, liberty, etc etc. The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.