NBA center Jason Collins is coming out

[jakee 1,610]

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I mean IF I were Gay, I wouldn't have any problem telling the world,

Wouldn't you be too busy avoiding yourself?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[billvon 3,132]

>I mean IF I were Gay, I wouldn't have any problem telling the world

I think you would - because of people like you.

[NWFlyer 2]

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But they don't type in pink or anything so it can be hard to tell.

Except for Keith, of course.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Andy9o8 3]

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I'm just an old stick in the mud??

Subjects like you are like an inexhaustible pallet.

[rwieder 0]

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I think you would - because of people like you.

Are you saying that Gay people are afraid of being alienated by straights? If not, then whatever do you mean "People like me?" All I said is I would stay away from them, didn't say they should be killed, shot, strangled, taxed, levied or placed in gay reservations, so just WHAT do you mean BillVon? It looks like this really struck a nerve with you, I don't understand. Should my opinion NOT be just as valid as Jason Collin's?

And just to get back on topic here, this Jason Collins fellow merely came out b/c he was found out and fixing to be exposed. Lord knows it's better to own up than deal with the alternative. The press would have had a field day with him. Don't you not remember the long standing feud with Magic Johnson (LA Lakers) & Isaiah Johnson? (Boston Celtics) They used to kiss each other on the court before each game, No they're not gay, that I know of, but they were just really good friends. (They just recently got that resolved, 25 years later.) "People like me?" That's real close to a PA. IMO. How many "People like me" do you know of? You already told us how many gays you're aware of.

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[jakee 1,610]

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Are you saying that Gay people are afraid of being alienated by straights?

Friends, family, coworkers... yes. Many are afraid that people close to them, or people they have to deal with, might be people like you.

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Should my opinion NOT be just as valid as Jason Collin's?

His opinion is that he is who he is. Your opinion is that you dont want to be anywhere near him because of who he is. Do you see a qualitative difference there? What if the reason you couldn't stand to be around him was because he was black? Would your opinion be just as valid as his skin colour? Would that even make sense as a question?

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And just to get back on topic here, this Jason Collins fellow merely came out b/c he was found out and fixing to be exposed.

Not what he said. Have you been paying such close attention to a guy you claim you wouldn't want to be close to that you know differently? Interesting...

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How many "People like me" do you know of?

That's an easy one. Too many.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[billvon 3,132]

>Are you saying that Gay people are afraid of being alienated by straights?

"Alienated?" No. Having people bitch and whine about them? Sometimes, yes.

>If not, then whatever do you mean "People like me?" All I said is I would stay away
>from them

Like I said - people like you. There are people who want to go to DZ's to jump with their friends, and don't want to waste time with narrow-minded people who hose the manifestor/organizers by pulling off loads that they are on.

>It looks like this really struck a nerve with you, I don't understand. Should my opinion
>NOT be just as valid as Jason Collin's?

You can have any opinion you like. So can I. Your stance as you expressed it before is bigoted, and is fortunately disappearing pretty quickly from the world in general and skydiving in particular. So while it bothers me, I'm not too worried about it long term; it will die out, just as the attitude "I'm not sharing an airplane with a black skydiver!" has.

And like I said, odds are you are already jumping with people who aren't straight (or however you define yourself.) Fortunately it is within your power to control that; if you do not jump, you will never be forced to jump with someone who is gay.

[wmw999 2,602]

Any marginalized person (which could include black, hispanic, asian, white, gay, women -- it all depends on the setting) is subject to discrimination. Discrimination matters most when it's exercised by someone who has power. A manager who is biased, for instance, might rate up (or hire) someone who is like them, and rate down (or not hire) someone who isn't.

An organizer might not be willing to organize for loads that include gays (of course, they probably wouldn't last long unless they were the DZO as well). An instructor who only wanted to take small cute women wouldn't last very long. But they're still discriminating in the exercise of their power.

I work in a homeless shelter. There are some volunteers (other homeless) who we can't have helping to hand out clothing because they discriminate -- either for their friends, or against some group they feel alienated from.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[kallend 2,182]

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With as many gays that there are in the world, I really don't see this is news. Who cares. It's moot point. No one really cares who he goes to bed with.

+1

I'd never heard of the gay guy until this week.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Stumpy 284]

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if I was aware of that person I wouldn't be making any SkyDives with them and I would avoid them at any costs.

Wow. Just wow. There's some tolerance for you.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[Southern_Man 0]

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I'll start....NO! Do I care if other's are? Well I'll just say if I was aware of that person I wouldn't be making any SkyDives with them and I would avoid them at any costs.

Now we'll see who's who, won't we??

I'll skydive with them. I mean unless they want to freefly or something.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[rwieder 0]

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And like I said, odds are you are already jumping with people who aren't straight (or however you define yourself.) Fortunately it is within your power to control that; if you do not jump, you will never be forced to jump with someone who is gay.

BillVon: You know what, your right. I've done a lot of praying and thinking about this matter, and I was wrong, and being a jerk about this whole affair. I want to offer a sincerely heartfelt apology to anyone who was offended by my bigoted remarks, and I ask for your forgiveness. I used to jump old SDH in Waller, Texas and there was this one dude, let's call him "Willie" I've done a lot of RW SkyDives with him, Willie was a really cool guy, we got on very well. I guess it was about a year on then I found out Willie was living an "Alternative" life style. By that time we had been such good friends, I couldn't begin to dislike him, In fact the thought never crossed my mind. We even spoke of it, and remained friends, and continued jumping together until I went to SDSM and started jumping there.

I want to renounce the remarks I made earlier, and adjust them to "Sure I would jump with them," and will treat them no better, or worse than anyone else. Again, I was wrong and I'm very, very sorry for my bigoted remarks. I can only hope forgiveness will follow.

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[mistercwood 287]

Wait. I... um... what? Did this actually just happen? Did someone on SC just change a deeply felt conviction based on dialogue with others? I... I don't understand what's happening here...

You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly.

[rwieder 0]

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Wait. I... um... what? Did this actually just happen? Did someone on SC just change a deeply felt conviction based on dialogue with others? I... I don't understand what's happening here...

No, not just dialogue. Do you not believe prayer can change things? As I said, "I was wrong"

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I've done a lot of praying and thinking about this matter,

I hope this helps you understand. Cheers!

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[mistercwood 287]

I did see that part - to be honest if anything that would normally lead me to expect you to be less likely to change your mind. Not taking a dig at you, but there are quite a few religious types who wouldn't budge on an issue like this. I like to believe they're a noisy minority... I'm an atheist myself, so to answer your question strictly speaking, no, I don't believe prayer can change things. But hey, here you are, so I'm not going to knock it!

You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly.

[rwieder 0]

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I'm an atheist myself, so to answer your question strictly speaking, no, I don't believe prayer can change things. But hey, here you are, so I'm not going to knock it!

I appreciate that, thank you.

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[popsjumper 2]

Maybe if we hold the door open long enough he'll somehow mosey right on out.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[wmw999 2,602]

Thanks for saying that. I'll admit that, having seen you post in the past (and I'm pretty sure met you at one time or another), I was surprised at your intransigence -- it didn't seem consistent.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Stumpy 284]

Wow again, but in the positive.
Colour me impressed. I hope I would show as much maturity in a similar situation.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[mistercwood 287]

SC's getting all civil and shit. End times are near, for sure...

You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly.

[Andy9o8 3]

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Maybe if we hold the door open long enough he'll somehow mosey right on out.

Sorry, don't understand the reference. Out of what? - the closet? the league? other?

[billvon 3,132]

Thanks for the post. Your willingness to take a second look at your beliefs is a reminder to me that I should periodically do the same thing.

[rehmwa 2]

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Thanks for the post. Your willingness to take a second look at your beliefs is a reminder to me that I should periodically do the same thing.

I thought the original post just forgot the smiley's and he was trying to make a point by posting a Devil's Advocate position..... I didn't think a lot of the crowd would see that so went to get some popcorn.....

I still think so.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Thanks for the post. Your willingness to take a second look at your beliefs is a reminder to me that I should periodically do the same thing.

I thought the original post just forgot the smiley's and he was trying to make a point by posting a Devil's Advocate position..... I didn't think a lot of the crowd would see that so went to get some popcorn.....

I still think so.

This.

[toolbox 0]

>Peoples private lives are theirs to live as they wish.

I agree,as long as a person doesn't cause harm to anyone else or anything else.
What happens between consenting adults is none of our business.
I think people should be able to use drugs and alcohol as long as they are not under the influence while operating machinery,or if the substance use might dangerously impair their ability to care for children or others under their care.
If you want to get paid for sex,or pay for sex, that should not be the business of anyone else either.
If you want to live on double bacon burgers at the heart attack grill and be fat it's your life and no one else should have a say in it.
LIFE LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!
I am surprised that this guys revelation of being gay is even news in this country in this day and age.
There are alot more news worthy events taking place around the country and the world.