SF try to make Strabane welcoming for Paul Berry

[An Fear Dubh]

While I understand your humour and realize that this was a joke at everyone. I feel it is in poor taste for a number of reasons. As the 'main' administrator you should not feel the need to make jokes about sexuality. As we want to broaden the appeal of this forum and 'gay' people must feel equally at home here as anybody else. As much as I dislike Paul Berry, I think it is wrong to single him out. His political career should not have fallen because of his sexuality. Maybe he was wrong to hide and speak out against homosexuality while hiding his own secret. But his political life was very much effected because of his sexuality (as it was also effected by his hypocrisy in condemning homosexuality previously). Because again I realize the joke but the hint is a reflection on unionism (which is a conservative type politics). And unionists might feel equally offended by this joke, and we need to move away from going out of way to offend the 'otherside'.
I do not want to be a 'stiff-collar' but we do not have to be offensive to make humour.

[Harry]

I'm not offended Setanta and take it as it was meant Your only gay if you pushback anyway ;D ;D

[An Fear Dubh]

So that is okay then!!?

It is good to know we are so all embracing.

[Wasp]

Well the title threw me but I wasn't offended in the slightest.

But I can see where afd is coming from and maybe it would be better in the jokes section. Saying that I probably have been guilty of doing the same on this forum so I will shut my mouth now, where's my coat?

[Wasp]

Setanta admit it, you hate gays, you have a major problem with them and you can't help but have a dig at them, especially Proddie Unionist ones.














Only joking.

[An Fear Dubh]

If people want to absolve themselves from jokes in bad taste by listing all the gays they know to show that they are not anti-gay then that is up to them. Racists made 'jokes' and then listed all the coloured people they knew to show how non-racist they were, as this was only a joke. Why not go to this gay bar and tell that story/joke and see how many people laugh and get the joke.

But for my part such jokes are unacceptable. The same as racist 'jokes' have become socailly unacceptable so we must make other such jokes unacceptable. And in a forum looking to expand its membership how will we appeal to new members who maybe from minority groups if we tell lewd and insulting jokes?

So no excuses, just apologise and retract.

[leeside]

This reminds me of a scene from the office?? ;D


Gareth: "My dad, for example, he's not as cosmopolitan or as educated as me and it can be embarrasing you know. He doesn't understand all the new trendy words - like he'll say 'poofs' instead of 'gays', 'birds' instead of 'women', 'darkies' instead of 'coloureds'."




;D ;D

[Bilk]

Women make jokes about men, men tell jokes about women. Gays tell jokes about those of us who are straight, c'mon guys get real it's a joke for god's sake. Soon there will be noting in the world to laugh at lest we offend someone, the world will be a very miserable place then, hope I'm gone before it happens.

[Harry]

AFD do you know any gay people and if so would you run past them what Setanta said and see if they find it offensive?? I really doubt they will.

[Wasp]

Actually Harry I was in the inn bar yesterday and as we were going on up the street one of the guys with us who is 100% gay started slagging us about really wanting to be gay etc.

After having quite a bit to drink I tried to put setantas comments to him and TBH he laughed it off and joked about his own sexuality with animals etc. BUT he did ask was he homophobic or just a gay basher.

When I explained no, he just as he originally did found the funny side to it.

[An Fear Dubh]

I am not against jokes, and just because some make them at the expense of others does not make them right.

Some are lewd and tasteless and can have their place in seedy company, but in an open forum, in the news section in my opinion is not the place. And I for one think that such 'jokes' should become unacceptable in any society.

It has been stated that we hope to attract new members, from all aspects of society, and I think such a 'joke' does not help this effort. In fact I think such jokes set the efforts back further. It further underlines my belief that some here are happy and comfortable with what is going on here and do not want to move forward or develop the group. And what is more depressing is that this is being lead by those who are the admin.

[Wasp]

Some are lewd and tasteless and can have their place in seedy company, but in an open forum, in the news section in my opinion is not the place.

I agree about the news section, should have been put in jokes section but I don't think setanta thought he would have got the reaction he did in fairness to him.

And I for one think that such 'jokes' should become unacceptable in any society.

Definately not mate, I have spent most of my life telling jokes that slag my own side, my own skin colour and my own faith as most of us do. Its the northern sense of humour which I believe helped many of us through the troubles.

It has been stated that we hope to attract new members, from all aspects of society, and I think such a 'joke' does not help this effort.

To an extent I agree but then again someone might see it as nothing more than a joke, but then again people can be very sensitive about their sexuality.

[earl]

anfeardubh said:

If people want to absolve themselves from jokes in bad taste by listing all the gays they know to show that they are not anti-gay then that is up to them. Racists made 'jokes' and then listed all the coloured people they knew to show how non-racist they were, as this was only a joke. Why not go to this gay bar and tell that story/joke and see how many people laugh and get the joke.

But for my part such jokes are unacceptable. The same as racist 'jokes' have become socailly unacceptable so we must make other such jokes unacceptable. And in a forum looking to expand its membership how will we appeal to new members who maybe from minority groups if we tell lewd and insulting jokes?

So no excuses, just apologise and retract.

Unless gay people are offended by being associated with Paul Berry, I don't really see your point AFD.

Setanta,

Everyone has a gay cousin. Mine is from Mayo and he loves to play cricket. I wonder if that's connected?