• FrostyTheDoo@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    As a good exercise for personal growth, you should ask yourself why seeing that gives you the heebie-jeebies.

    • Liz@midwest.social
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      10 months ago

      Eh, I think it’s pretty clear that some amount of homophobia is innate as much as homosexuality is. Some people just plain find it gross. As long as they respect everyone’s right to have their own lifestyle, that’s really what tolerance and getting along is all about. We can’t except everyone to like everything, so we should be proud when they put up with harmless things they don’t like.

      • Patapon Enjoyer@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I wouldn’t say innate, that makes it sound like humans are born homophobes.

        Unavoidable when you’re raised in a homophobic society and something to improve.

        • jpeps@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          I don’t think the argument has been phrased well by anyone but there is possibly something to it, it’s just that ‘heebie jeebies’ is a really loaded and unhelpful phrase. I think a lot of people insert themselves into the media they watch, so if they are not sexually or romantically interested in men, watching two men kiss may not be a 100% positive experience for them, in the same way that watching two straight people kiss might not be the most engaging experience for a gay person.

          • Patapon Enjoyer@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            If you watch the comedy masterpiece Norbit, the intent of the Eddie Murphy’s relationship with his large wife, also played by Eddie Murphy, is to cause distress on the viewer in a similar fashion. It’s very avant-garde in that way

        • Liz@midwest.social
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          10 months ago

          I did actually choose innate intentionally. While I’m sure trying to prove it would be an absolute bitch, it’s not unreasonable to suggest some people’s homophobia can be innate in the same way homosexuality or asexuality can be. Some people are just built that way.

          In any case, I think the mechanism is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to my point. If you think something is disgusting but you know it’s fundamentally harmless, well, learning to get along is what it’s all about!

      • FrostyTheDoo@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I don’t disagree and I’m not trying to shame or put anyone down, my point is just that it’s productive and enlightening to learn these things about ourselves when we can. For me at least, it helps me improve in areas I find myself lacking, and meet other people where they are when they see things differently than I do.

      • Goblin_Mode@ttrpg.network
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        10 months ago

        Well said. I think it’s important to analyze your own prejudices so you can grow as a person; but so long as you accept that they are your own personal views and, most importantly, remain respectful of others, it’s not doing any real harm