Why do some straight people think they are better than gay people ?

1. 67

   Lady Guinevereposted 11 years ago

   Why do some straight people think they are better than gay people ?

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2. 90

   celeste inscribedposted 11 years ago

   I think it is a lack of understanding a different way of life. A different thinking. We become so involved in our own norms that we forget that we live in a diverse world. I would love to see the day when we are more open to our differences and stop judging folks just because they don't fit into a cookie cutter world. Thanks for a great question Lady Guinevere.

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3. 79

   Christofers Flowposted 11 years ago

   It is first of all a human trait to find all kinds of ways that people think they are better than others.  Many of them are culturally based and quite small.  Newer cars, better address, sharp clothes, right kind of accent, then there are the bigger ones:  color of skin, language, religion, education.  So let's not be surprised that straight people might think they are better than gays.
   
   An obvious 10% minority is going to bring a look of superiority from the 90%.
   
   Many people are "uncomfortable" with gayness and therefore that lack of comfort leads to feelings of "superiority".
   
   Also, there is a continuing question in the minds of humans:  Is gay behavioristically adapted?  Or is it "genetic".
   
   I think many straight people say:  "Why do I have to care about you?  It's your bed now lie in it.  Why am I forced to honor you just because of your sexual habit?"
   
   Those who think it is genetic, I think, have more of a sympathetic opinion.  They see how difficult it is to get up each day and have this special "situation".  They realize the social, cultural and day to day challenges that face them.  Thus, they don't feel superior.  In fact, they may admire them for having the strength to deal with their sexuality and still try to succeed at everything else.
   
   Those who think they are to be generally admired, unless an individual tests their sentiments, like anyone else, are the ones who even become the "friends" of gays; because they have met those people at work, or home or socializing and have decided that they make good friends.

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4. 38

   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   The lower part of human nature naturally tends towards looking down on those who are different as being "not as good as" - it happens all the time with various forms of prejudice.  Often people use things like religion as an excuse for their behavior, but honestly I think when people look down on others for any reason - it is actually because they have their own inferiority issues and seek to make themselves feel better at the expense of others, rather than doing things to better themselves.

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   1. 0

      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Respectfully, I have to disagree with this answer.

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   2. 38

      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      disagree all you like, it's still true throughout history unfortunately otherwise there wouldn't be wars, civil rights issues, slavery etc.

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Inferiority issues??

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   4. 72

      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Do you have a *reason* for disagreeing?  With what, specifically do you disagree.  And, does the "inferiority issues??" comment honestly indicate the respect you claimed above?

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   5. 38

      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "inferiority issues" - meaning people look down on others to feel better about themselves.  those who find fault with other people tend to feel inferior themselves, hence the need to belittle others and engage in prejudice.

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   6. 72

      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I know, Christin.  I was agreeing with *you*.

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   7. 38

      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I know I was just trying to clarify what I meant by that thanks

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   8. 61

      IDONOposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      ChristinS: I know plenty of people whose very existence relies on tearing people down, in order to build themselves up because they are not capable of progress on their own merit. That to me is an inferiority issue. I'm with you on this.

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   9. 0

      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm sorry, I just do not believe this to be the issue when it comes to homosexuality. It is a lifestyle that disturbs people because it is not the norm. I am trying my best to answer this without offending anyone.

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   10. 38

       ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Who says it's not normal? It's quite normal actually and many species have naturally occurring homosexuality.  Birth defects aren't normal - yet we'd be appalled if people said the disabled were somehow lesser than those who are not.

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   11. 0

       JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       About 4 out of 100 babies that are born have some type of birth defect. Which really brings me to the center of the problem with homosexuality, no babies. If it is not a reproductive relationship (as it was meant to be) then our civilization is gone.

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   12. 38

       ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Oh yes, we have a horrible population problem. There is naturally occurring homosexuality in species to prevent over propagation of the species. It baffles me how many lame justifications people can come up with for prejudice against gays.

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   13. 0

       JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Is it normal for a man to bare a child? No. So this means it IS NOT normal. God has told us to be fruitful and multiply. Men cannot do this.

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   14. 38

       ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       The bible also says men can have more than one wife, slavery is permitted, you shouldn't wear more than one type of cloth - you can't pick and choose and nowhere did Jesus ever specifically mention gays - your argument lacks merit.

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   15. 0

       JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You are quoting what you think scripture says without providing the scripture?? Romans 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and recei

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   16. 38

       ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You're still picking and choosing phrases that fit your own bias and are too closed minded to see it.  Fortunately, most people are evolving past this nonsense.I can pick and choose too "Judge not lest ye be judged" more xtians should try it.

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   17. 86

       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       JThomp42 - this may help you understand what ChristinS is saying: Suppose you are right about the unnaturalness of homosexuality. Even so, that is not a basis for a Xtian straight person to think he is better: See TTaylor3418 below, 1 Peter 2:17.

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   18. 78

       jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       JThomp - Romans was written in a time where Christianity wanted to get more followers. What better way to do so than denounce the more...pleasurable of Pagan practices. Man, u need to stop removing verses from context.

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5. 52

   TTaylor3418posted 11 years ago

   Well the Bible states at 1 Peter 2:17 to “honor men of all sorts.”

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6. 72

   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   Well, just because they may be straight doesn't mean their minds are.

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7. 46

   Ericdierkerposted 11 years ago

   Back in my younger days I remember walking into a bar that was a gay bar. Hey I was thirsty and needed a draft. seemed like everyone looked down on me. Back in them same younger days I walked into a all black bar, this time to listen to music, Seemed like everyone looked down on me. I was in Paris and ventured into a Bar in Pigalle, my Americanism stood out like a sore thumb, and seemed like everyone looked down on me. I went to see my elder son's band playing in a nightclub in Frisco. I am kind of old and everyone looked down on me. I live in a navy town and walked into a bar that was all military and everyone looked down on me. I definately have walked into country clubs where everyone looked down on me. I have been in spots where my Christian faith was looked down on -- a bundle of them. I am in a mixed race marriage and have been looked down on by both races. I am a little fat, and I get looked down on in gyms.
   
   Lady, I hope that boring answer, does answer your question. It really does not for me, and it never will. My family adopted a little bastard illegitimate baby boy of obvious different heritage. I hope my family would agree that boy helped teach us,, not tolerance but love for differences. I reckon most my life I would have to climb a ladder to look down on anyone.

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   1. 93

      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Love this answer!!! So true to all. Anyone who hasn't noticed being looked down on hasn't looked!

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   2. 67

      Lady Guinevereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I also loved this answer.In addition, When men came back from the wars they also brought back with them wives and children of the culture they lived in at the time.  China, Vietnamese, others too. Some still have predjudice labels today.

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   3. 86

      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There is a wonderful book about inter-racial marriage arising after wartime from England in World War II. It's called Chequerboard by Nevil Shute. It's an eye-opener about racism and the thinking that began to lessen it.

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8. 95

   cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

   Some people are so egotistical that they view all others as inferior. I really don't think it should be considered as representative of a large group of people ie. gay vs. straight. It perpetuates hate/intolerance and really irks me.

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   1. 46

      Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What a strange naive thing to say. I respect your opinion and must say that I will cogitate on it.  The reason groups are grouped is because they act alike. End of story. How they feel or think is fine and dandy. But not the test.

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   2. 78

      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Eric - perhaps Cat means that we shouldn't place all people of one group in the same box - eg "straight people who think they are better" in with "all straights" etc. Assuming that a group has the same opinion as 1 person within that etc.? I don't no

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   3. 46

      Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      jlpark, I think you and cat are on to something. I think it would be a cool idea if each formal club or group, actually went to the trouble to state the goals of tolerance and acceptance. I bet it would only strengthen them. And of course individuals

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9. 78

   jlparkposted 11 years ago

   I need to clarify this straight off  - my answer only applies to those straight people who actually think this...not ALL straight people - just as not all gay 'stereotypes' can be applied to all gays, nor can the same be done to straight people.
   
   Why do some think they are better than gay people? A combination of ignorance, arrogance and fear. 
   
   Ignorance around what a person being gay actually means - to them (the gay person), to others (the straight person), and what affect that will actually have on anyone other than the gay person (none whatsoever, but...try telling people that!).
   
   Arrogance that because they don't understand how someone could be sexually and romantically attracted to the same gender - therefore that must be odd, and somehow inferior.  A lack of understanding doesn't make one better than another, but it's surprising how often people think it does - "I Don't get it, so I must be better than them".
   
   Fear - that to be equal to someone that they do not understand, nor know much about would make them lesser than they are now. Not realizing that to treat someone as an equal, which is what they are, is actually the bigger thing to do.
   
   I've wondered this in many areas - Europeans taking over indigenous populations of the land they just 'found' in history (My country's history is very much like this...though we have being striving to make sure that our indigenous population are equal....something that other countries have never achieved), Straight usually homophobic, racists etc. 
   
   All i can figure is that they are ignorant, and fearful but that arrogance gets in the way of actually working through all the issues they have. It takes a bigger person to push aside the arrogance and look into the fear and lack of knowledge.
   
   I'd also like to acknowledge that there are also some gay people out there who do the same in the opposite direction. NEITHER is in the right. We are all equal.

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10. 86

    SidKempposted 11 years ago

    I like EricDieker's experiential answer, and I want to wrap some theory around it. Every one of us has a fundamental identity, whether we recognize it or not. And many of us think that identity puts us in a category that is better than people in other categories. (Some think their own identity is worse.) We divide the one human race into subgroups. (Technically, this is called pseudospeciation.
    
    Often, but not always, our identity is based on gender or gender preference. So a man who identifies as a man looks down on women (acts as a mysogynist). A straight man or woman may look down on gays and lesbians. The identity can also be racial, leading to racism. Or it can be religious. Or it can be a national identity, leading to snobbery.
    
    Very rare is the person who says, "I am a human being, and all are like me!"

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    1. 46

       Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Bravo. Thank you for sharing that insight. The herd mentality offers comfort, yet yields this sad side of human nature. Perhaps it does wrap right back around to fear..

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    2. 86

       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, Eric. For more, see Eric Ericsson's bio of Gandhi, and the concept of pseudospeciation.

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    3. 95

       cat on a soapboxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for a very good explanation!

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    4. 46

       Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Sid thanks, I did some reviewing of that very interesting concept, learned much and have at least one book on the list.

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11. 68

    Rod Marsdenposted 11 years ago

    I don't believe it is always the case, at least from a male heterosexual point of view, of thinking they are superior to gays. Time and time again I see heterosexual women playing the gay card to either alienate heterosexual men who don't eat rusty nails for breakfast with a petrol chaser and a cigar to finish off the meal or heterosexual men they want to, for whatever reason, control. No heterosexual male wants to be regarded as a wimp no heterosexual woman would care for therefore he should seek affection elsewhere.
    
    No heterosexual male wants to be controlled in way of proving they want what they want. In either instance, the gay card when played by some woman is wrong. In both instances it is disrespectful to both heterosexual men as well as gay men. Who is to say there aren't gay men out there who start the day with a hearty breakfast of rusty nails? Who is to say a gay man can't agree with a heterosexual woman when it comes to many aspects of life?
    
    You have the woman, of course, who acts out of pure malice, the woman with pure intentions who is a little misguided and.the woman who acts impulsively and wonders why some guy is mad at her. Many women, or so I've been told, take their cue from their fathers as to how many who are heterosexual ought to act. If their father loves to watch footy and get drunk three nights a week then that is what they expect of young heterosexual men. If they come across some guy who doesn't like the footy or getting drunk three nights a week they can jump to the wrong conclusions hence causing tension, even hatred between heros and gays.  Most men aren't as thick skinned as we'd like women to believe. Regardless, we do have a tendency to fight for what we want and if an obstacle is put in our way we want to remove that obstacle. My thoughts at any rate.

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