A major pet peeve on a plane.

[TalkyTina]

I'm not suggesting you're homophobic -- not at all. But identifying someone by their orientation has its fair share of issues. They were women, not gay or straight women. Just women.

Thank you for today's lesson in needless political correctness. Stating a fact about people to paint a story is not offensive. Why didn't you call me out on the fact that I stated the family was Polynesian? Wasn't that an unnecessary detail?

Sometimes details are just that...details, not meant to be offensive or have any relevance at all.

[Tim]

Thank you for today's lesson in needless political correctness. Stating a fact about people to paint a story is not offensive. Why didn't you call me out on the fact that I stated the family was Polynesian? Wasn't that an unnecessary detail?

Sometimes details are just that...details, not meant to be offensive or have any relevance at all.

"Polynesian" and "Lesbian" aren't terms that are equally charged in our society. And if you had insinuated something negative about the Poly family you would've been guilty of the same mistake. Your use of the lesbian label in describing the two rude women was poor storytelling and exposed your personal biases. That's really all there is to it.

Now's as good of a time as any to confront your biases, your use of socially-charged labels when describing negative situations, and your overall approach to people who are different from you.

[FMCoug]

"Polynesian" and "Lesbian" aren't terms that are equally charged in our society. And if you had insinuated something negative about the Poly family you would've been guilty of the same mistake. Your use of the lesbian label in describing the two rude women was poor storytelling and exposed your personal biases. That's really all there is to it.

Now's as good of a time as any to confront your biases, your use of socially-charged labels when describing negative situations, and your overall approach to people who are different from you.

So you can only be descriptive about people you are saying positive things about?

If she had said "women" instead of "lesbian women" would you say she should have said "passengers" since she is obviously anti-woman? Where does the madness stop?

Perhaps we should all start referring to each other as homo sapiens.

[Shaka]

I'm not suggesting you're homophobic -- not at all. But identifying someone by their orientation has its fair share of issues. They were women, not gay or straight women. Just women.

Or maybe they were obviously lesbians and she's calling it as she sees it. You know, keeping it real.

You're far too sensitive about this stuff.

[Tim]

So you can only be descriptive about people you are saying positive things about?

If she had said "women" instead of "lesbian women" would you say she should have said "passengers" since she is obviously anti-woman? Where does the madness stop?

Perhaps we should all start referring to each other as homo sapiens.

Let's not be extreme, FM.

[Tim]

Or maybe they were obviously lesbians and she's calling it as she sees it. You know, keeping it real.

You're far too sensitive about this stuff.

Right. She was just keeping it real. That must be it. Some peoples' reality must be really skewed, I guess.

That they were rude was "enough." Nothing else needed to be said.

[TalkyTina]

"Polynesian" and "Lesbian" aren't terms that are equally charged in our society. And if you had insinuated something negative about the Poly family you would've been guilty of the same mistake. Your use of the lesbian label in describing the two rude women was poor storytelling and exposed your personal biases. That's really all there is to it.

Now's as good of a time as any to confront your biases, your use of socially-charged labels when describing negative situations, and your overall approach to people who are different from you.

Wow, you're so very perceptive. You are amazingly able determine so much about a person by reading a statement on a message board. I really hope you work in a field where you get to analyze people for a living.

If you think that being a lesbian is something that shouldn't be stated about a person and needs to stay unmentioned then it sounds like you're the one with the problem. It's not offensive to be a lesbian or to call a lesbian a lesbian. Why don't you go ask a lesbian!

[TalkyTina]

So you can only be descriptive about people you are saying positive things about?

If she had said "women" instead of "lesbian women" would you say she should have said "passengers" since she is obviously anti-woman? Where does the madness stop?

Perhaps we should all start referring to each other as homo sapiens.

Yes, madness exactly.

I am a bit amused as this is the first time I have ever been accused of any type of homophobia.

[cowboy]

What the hell is this place coming to when a liberal and a tree-hugger can't even get along. In a normal world, you two should be exchanging holiday cards and arranging dates for your children, Moonbeam and Freedom, to exchange life commitment vows. Has the earth suddenly started spinning backward? If so, can I get a volunteer for someone to lead the music at landpoke's baptism?

[TalkyTina]

What the hell is this place coming to when a liberal and a tree-hugger can't even get along. In a normal world, you two should be exchanging holiday cards and arranging dates for your children, Moonbeam and Freedom, to exchange life commitment vows. Has the earth suddenly started spinning backward? If so, can I get a volunteer for someone to lead the music at landpoke's baptism?

BTW - I changed careers. I'm back in healthcare as of three weeks ago. I'm okay with you calling me a tree-hugger if you really want to keep doing it though. I think it's kind of funny.

[wuapinmon]

Yes, madness exactly.

I am a bit amused as this is the first time I have ever been accused of any type of homophobia.

He wasn't accusing you of homophobia he was merely pointing out the potential reader response to your writing.

[Tim]

Wow, you're so very perceptive. You are amazingly able determine so much about a person by reading a statement on a message board. I really hope you work in a field where you get to analyze people for a living.

If you think that being a lesbian is something that shouldn't be stated about a person and needs to stay unmentioned then it sounds like you're the one with the problem. It's not offensive to be a lesbian or to call a lesbian a lesbian. Why don't you go ask a lesbian!

Labeling someone negatively isn't something that should be overlooked. Your words weren't innocuous -- to suggest that what you said wasn't filled with obvious bias shows that you're not very aware of what you say. Of course no one is saying that you can't mention sexuality as an attribute *where appropriate*. The way you used it, however, was to imply that they were being rude BECAUSE they're lesbians. Perhaps you didn't mean it that way, but the construct you used and the tone you set implied that.

[smokymountainrain]

BTW - I changed careers. I'm back in healthcare as of three weeks ago. I'm okay with you calling me a tree-hugger if you really want to keep doing it though. I think it's kind of funny.

I thought Tim was the tree-hugger. It's hard to keep up around here sometimes.

[Tim]

Yes, madness exactly.

I am a bit amused as this is the first time I have ever been accused of any type of homophobia.

Who accused you of being afraid of homosexuals? Not me! I accused you of subconsciously attaching their sexuality to the list of reasons why you thought they were rude. That's not homophobia on your part, it's ignorance.

[Tim]

I thought Tim was the tree-hugger. It's hard to keep up around here sometimes.

I'm the bleeding-heart. I care about basic conservation as much as the next person, but I don't have any strong feelings toward environmentalism, etc.