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homobigotry on mythbusters

Aerik

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Tonight's episode of mythbusters included an experiment to test if Tory and Grant would use more gas when driving stressed than relaxed.

In the experiment, they are primed with either relaxation or stress before driving a set-out course.

Tory's relaxation: watching the director's cut of bladerunner while getting a massage from a woman. An older, 'homely' looking woman.

Tory's stress: he enters the "torture" tent where he gets a massage from a man ("madd matt's man massage"). And no alternate movie watched.

So without even having to watch a movie he hates, just getting a massage from a man is not only stress, but is literally called torture.

This bigotry against homosexuals is intolerable, and should not be condoned in such a manner by either Mythbusters or the Discovery Channel.

There were additional bigotries in tonight's episode. It seems every time they cook something, Adam Savage has to do this really lame stereotypical French accent. I like my science without xenophobia, thank you very much.

Then Tory had to catch himself from saying "x is a bitch" in front of Kari. If it's wrong to say it in front of a woman, it's wrong to say it at all.

Misogyny, homophobia, and xenophobia, all in one episode.
 
Considering that they live and work in San Francisco, I think your criticism is misplaced.
 
Oh yes, bigotry doesn't happen in places where the targeted victims live above average. Right?

Wrong. Just effin stupid, that.
 
How many times do we need to hear Jaime complain about not doing the show in Texas until you begin to suspect there's more than just the space issue?
 
Aerik, in life there is a small section of the population that seems to want to go out of its way to be offended. I'm sure some of 'em enjoy the fact that they feel this sets them free to indulge in a bit of the old righteous indignation.
I don't know if that's you, but that's how you're coming across in that OP.

That Mythbusters show is pretty light-hearted stuff; why take it so seriously?
As to the homosexuality, well I always just assumed that the one with the ridiculous moustache must be batting for the other side.. but I could never be arsed to investigate it. Nor can I now.
Relax. Maybe get a massage.
 
Aerik said:
Tonight's episode of mythbusters included an experiment to test if Tory and Grant would use more gas when driving stressed than relaxed.

In the experiment, they are primed with either relaxation or stress before driving a set-out course.

Tory's relaxation: watching the director's cut of bladerunner while getting a massage from a woman. An older, 'homely' looking woman.

Tory's stress: he enters the "torture" tent where he gets a massage from a man ("madd matt's man massage"). And no alternate movie watched.

So without even having to watch a movie he hates, just getting a massage from a man is not only stress, but is literally called torture.

This bigotry against homosexuals is intolerable, and should not be condoned in such a manner by either Mythbusters or the Discovery Channel.

There were additional bigotries in tonight's episode. It seems every time they cook something, Adam Savage has to do this really lame stereotypical French accent. I like my science without xenophobia, thank you very much.

Then Tory had to catch himself from saying "x is a bitch" in front of Kari. If it's wrong to say it in front of a woman, it's wrong to say it at all.

Misogyny, homophobia, and xenophobia, all in one episode.
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You are too soft.
 
I'm a rather vocal opponent of anti-gay bigotry and many here could verify this claim. I just watched the episode in question and I did not find anything offensive at all.

Tory is not gay. If Tory feels uncomfortable having another man touch his body I'd say he is entitled to feel that way. Nobody should be taken to task for their feelings alone. I did not hear Tory say anything that sounded like irrational fear or loathing of gay people. It is not irrational for someone to not enjoy being touched in an intimate way by some people. Tory did not express any loathing of people that are gay, at least not that I noticed.

Grant seems to be quite likely a gay man, yet he and Tory work together effectively.

As far as Adam's pretense of a French accent, I was reminded of Monty Python sketches, and it seemed to me that Adam might have been imitating the Monty Python
style of fake French accent. Some might see this as being in poor taste, but it hardly rises to the level of xenophobia. Look up the definition of the word.
Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of that which is foreign or unknown, especially of strangers or foreign people.[1]
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(Wikipedia)

Doing an exaggerated accent for humorous purposes is hardly displaying fear or contempt. It was a joke.
 
Aerik said:
Oh yes, bigotry doesn't happen in places where the targeted victims live above average. Right?

Wrong. Just effin stupid, that.
Click to expand...

What's effing stupid is someone commenting on a show that they haven't watched much of... the way you have done. I've probably seen every episode of the show, and I've seen the way they have interacted with people of all sorts. I've also seen the sort of places they have purchased many of their props... and if those places weren't "gay friendly" they were sure as hell "kink friendly." I have a hard time believing that people who are comfortable in fetish shops are going to be homophobic, let alone anti-gay.
 
I've been very vocal in my support of the rights of gays and lesbians. I'm a bit torn on this from the get go because I'm not a fan of PC. I'm just not. If someone is being racist or homophobic let's take them to task. As it is I don't think this rises to the level.

I've admitted on this forum my own discomfort (homophobia) with public displays of affection between men. I've not yet watched broke back mountain and likely won't. Though I should hasten to add that I'm very happy that the movie did well and my discomfort is MY problem.

We are still working through all this. It's been 30 years since Stonewall and 36 years since the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality as a disorder category from the DSM. I understand the frustration with discrimination and the desire to end irrational attitudes toward homosexuals and particularly the desire to be portrayed fairly in popular culture.

I don't think your cause is helped with this particular complaint but I will confess that I'm not gay and therefore understand why you see this differently than I do.
 
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If the show offends you, don't watch it any more. Problem solved!
 
DoubtingStephen said:
As far as Adam's pretense of a French accent, I was reminded of Monty Python sketches, and it seemed to me that Adam might have been imitating the Monty Python style of fake French accent. Some might see this as being in poor taste, but it hardly rises to the level of xenophobia. Look up the definition of the word.
(Wikipedia)

Doing an exaggerated accent for humorous purposes is hardly displaying fear or contempt. It was a joke.
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Again, in the context of the entire show's run, the claim on xenophobia or homophobia is ridiculous. Adam does probably over a dozen bad accents over the years. It is silly to claim that one of them is specifically xenophobic or homophobic, when the reality is that Adam throws in accents constantly as part of his humor and personality.
 
RandFan said:
I've admitted on this forum my own discomfort (homophobia) with public displays of affection between men. I've not yet watched broke back mountain and likely won't. Though I should hasten to add that I'm very happy that the movie did well and my discomfort is MY problem.
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Your discomfort is not necessarily homophobia. There has been at least one fMRI study which has shown that a negative "gut" reaction to male homosexual
behavior is natural among straight men. Your more conscious reaction that it is "your problem" is also a sign of the most healthy reaction.

Straight men are uncomfortable in the presence of male homosexuality. Well-adjusted straight men don't allow that discomfort to corrupt their view of other people. You seem fine, and I'm pretty sure I'm OK too.

The MythBusters folks seem pretty well-adjusted also... or else I think I might not be able to watch the show.
 
RandFan said:
I've admitted on this forum my own discomfort (homophobia) with public displays of affection between men. I've not yet watched broke back mountain and likely won't. Though I should hasten to add that I'm very happy that the movie did well and my discomfort is MY problem.

We are still working through all this. It's been 30 years since Stonewall and 36 years since the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality as a disorder category from the DSM. I understand the frustration with discrimination and the desire to end irrational attitudes toward homosexuals and particularly the desire to be portrayed fairly in popular culture.
Click to expand...

Obviously you have made a personal commitment to be rational and fair minded in your dealings with people. I'd love to live in a world where attitudes like yours were considered the norm, and all forms of intolerance were considered abnormal and undesirable.

When my kids were little I always told them that their feelings were always valid and OK, and they could do no wrong except by action, or in some cases inaction. I did this to try to counteract what was being told to them by Catholic clergy.

Your feelings and your emotional life are valid. Your decision to rise above your personal preferences to defend the rights of others is highly admirable. No reasonable person could ask for more from you.
 
Frankly I would be uncomfortable getting a massage from a man who is not my fiance- not because I think he would jump me at any second, I just wouldn't be comfortable with it. I have a female gyno as again, even though a male doctor would be just as competent and professional, I wouldn't feel comfortable with it. So just because Tory doesn't like getting massaged by a man, it doesn't mean he hates gay people.

Also with the accent- you're telling me you've never put on a stupid accent? My friends and I do all the time, from all different countries (including a really strong Australian drawl), because it is funny, not because we hate everyone who speaks differently to us.
 
Geez, this is just about as rational as arguing that if I, as a straight male, am made uncomfortable or 'stressed' when a gay man makes sexual overtures to me, that I am therefore homophobic. What...the only way to prove that a straight male is not homophobic is for him to prove that he enjoys being touched intimately by other males?

Or what about a woman who becomes discomfited and stressed if given a massage by a man (and I know many women like this)? Would that make her heterophobic?

I will freely admit that I am not very comfortable being given a massage by a man. This is because I do find it to be at least a moderately intimate experience...and therefore prefer to have a woman doing the touching. But to turn that around and try to make it some sort of homophobic thing is just plain stupid.

"Oh, my god...he's a straight male, and he doesn't like being touched by other men!! HOMOPHOBE!! HOMOPHOBE!!"

Bloody ridiculous.
 
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