homophobia...

why are people who don't like gay people called homophobic?

a phobia is a fear........how is a dislike for something equated with being afraid of it? I don't like chicken liver, I'm not afraid of it. I don't like people who talk during movies, I'm not afraid of them.

some people don't like homosexuals because of their religious and/or moral beliefs or maybe because they just flat out don't approve of the acts they engage in (much like me not liking people who talk during movies)...........

I have no problem with gay people. Their all pretty nice for the most part. I was just wondering why the term "homophobic" is used at all....

Because it's as illogical and stupid as actually being fearful of gay people.

And some of them actually are afraid of gay people, afraid of what they're doing to our moral code and stupid shit like that.

And it has a nice ring to it.

It's like the emo thing; it's incorrectly used (in most cases), or how pedophilia actually only refers to pre-pubescent children, and there is a different name for the post-pubescent version.

The fear part comes from people who dislike homosexuals because they're afraid they are one.

-AC

Originally posted by BackFire
Because it's as illogical and stupid as actually being fearful of gay people.

And using the word incorrectly can be annoying sometimes, because it's used way too much just like "racist" often is.

Originally posted by Evil Dead
why are people who don't like gay people called homophobic?

a phobia is a fear........how is a dislike for something equated with being afraid of it? I don't like chicken liver, I'm not afraid of it. I don't like people who talk during movies, I'm not afraid of them.

some people don't like homosexuals because of their religious and/or moral beliefs or maybe because they just flat out don't approve of the acts they engage in (much like me not liking people who talk during movies)...........

I have no problem with gay people. Their all pretty nice for the most part. I was just wondering why the term "homophobic" is used at all....

As questionable as wikipedia can be (and highly debatable and all), this entry actually seems fairly well done about the evolution and usage of the word "homophobia" and how it has evolved beyond the literal meaning of its two parts (that is phobia as "fear" and homo as an shortened form of "homosexual."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia

The most relevant part being "Critics of the term".

The fear part comes from people who dislike homosexuals because they're afraid they are one.

I understand that.....but it is also applied to all the guys who don't like gay people simply because they think it is disgusting for a dude to suck another dude off. (I on the other hand find it mildy erotic).

The reason I posted this is because it seems as though today, homophobia is used as a slur as much anti-gay people use their derogitory slurs. It's like gay people are saying, "you don't like me because you're afraid of me".....a challenge to their masculinity or something. That, as it occurs to me, would be the ol' pot calling the kettle black. Resorting to a slur in objection to one using a slur against you.

The term phobia does not exclusively refer to fear, but to any "negative emotional reaction, e.g. anxiety, discomfort, fear, etc."

does that apply to just plain out not liking something though?

There are many things I dislike but cause me no anxiety, fear or discomfort. Spinach for instance.

who says it's even an emotional response?

ps. not being argumentative........don't misunderstand. I still don't see the rationale.

Homophobia by definition is intense dislike and disgust of Gay people and/or Homosexuality.

For men, Homophobia also refers to:

1) Fear of being or turning Gay

2) Fear that someone else will think he is Gay, therefore in order to dissassosiate themselves with Homosexuality, a man will publically condemn it.

It also refers to the general fear of homosexuality as a "destructive force against morality and values"

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
The fear part comes from people who dislike homosexuals because they're afraid they are one.

-AC

I always thought homophobia being used for someone who disliked homosexuals, or the act of homosexuality, simply meant that they were afraid of what accepting it would do to society.

What I mean is, some peoeple (Santorum) believe that if we accept homosexuality, we're one step away from bestiality. A ridiculous idea, yea, but one that is accepted by many people (my father included) nonetheless. Another thing thought of is that the constant barrage of homosexuality from the media will make our children gay. And we all know that gay children don't succeed in life.

But this is totally my own observation of the situation.

I think what you are talking about is plain Heterosexism evil dead

Just because someone prefers heterosexuality and does not condone homosexuality does not make them homophobic, but it does make them heterosexist.

Heterosexists are people who beleive thier sexual decisions, actions, and desires are somehow superior to that of a homosexual person's. Whether thier beleif is that heterosexuality is natural, while homosexuality is unnatural, that heterosexuality is normal while homosexuality is gross, or that heterosexuals are morally clean while homosexuals will go to hell...etc.

A true homophobe is someone who speaks out against, lashes out against, goes out of there way to harm, destroy, ruin, mock a homosexual person/couple/people.

A Heterosexist usually feels "sorry" for a homosexual, seeing them as somehow sick, impaired, or misguided.

I dont dislike.

I actually embrace them cause they work really well. They are (them who dont accept them) so because thry fear they might become homosexual themselves, IMO.

Homophobes are just the same as any other person who fears that one day a status might become the mentality of the mob.

Fear of the the novelty, the ideal and the the orientation. Always has been and shall be.

Since history tought us that homosexuality has been through the ages, it would be ignorance to deny acceptance that this matter occurs, Personally, I dony share the idealship, yet it would be pure ignorance to deny the the fact.

A better understanding will prevail on those who have mixed opinions or on those who are unsure.

Anyway, nobody reads this shit as I am one who never reads anything on this forum no longer as I got a busy life and should carrry on on with RAIB in Cumbria

It's just one in a long, long list of words with semantic drift, whose meanings are no longer literal to the root and have evolved.

i dont like screaming queens
i dont fear them.....i just find them very annoying
nearly as much as pc fools who use the old
"your unsure of ones sexuality if you dont like gays" line

its like saying that all racist whites desire to be black

fear or desire to be i should have said

im just saying that if someone disliking gays means that they have gay desires is ridiculous

Originally posted by Ushgarak
It's just one in a long, long list of words with semantic drift, whose meanings are no longer literal to the root and have evolved.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
The fear part comes from people who dislike homosexuals because they're afraid they are one.

-AC

i find that hard to believe. people are scared of spiders and would that make them a spider if there aracnaphobic? i dont mind gay people. for instance my cousin is gay and was it hard to except him for his sexuality? a little bit. just because my cousins gay dont mean im afraid of him or hate him. hes a human being for god sakes.

I thought this meant when someone is afraid of outdoors...not because of not liking gays😖

Well, let's see...I don't get excited when a guy and another guy start *beep* each other. I don't find it interesting nor something worth watching.

Now, give me two hot chicks licking each others *beep* and believe me...I'm going to get really excited. Now, why is it I don't like the guys doing each other? Heck! I dunno...I just know I like the two chicks over the guys. Figure it out yourself...am I a freak of nature? am I a weirdo for liking women over males? am I Homophobe? whatever....the fact is...I like chicks....I don't know why...I just do.

Would I be afraid of the two guys pulling a gun on me and forcing me to do a trio? Yeah, I would (which I seriously doubt in the real world someone would do sucha thing) would I be afraid of the two girls pulling a gun on me and forcing me to have sex? Oh hell NO! I'm game...take me and do away with me.

To summarize...."I don't like" does not imply "I fear". I don't like broccoli...and I have no reason to fear it.