I certainly agree that there can be a gap between common usage of a word and correct meaning of a word. There can also be multiple ways to use the same word, even if one has a more-common and more-emotional usage... that's why I endeavored to illustrate the difference between saying someone may have "racist" feelings and calling them "a racist".
My intent was to get people to look at how culture may have subtly influenced how they react to certain ideas, not to call anyone a bad name. While I get that what I said can be misinterpreted, I'm genuinely upset that people read what I wrote and thought I was calling someone a bad name; surely, by now, it should be obvious that to do so would not be within the bounds of my character and my sense of honor. I used the term "some homophobia" because it is an accurate description, just like "some racism" is accurate; as a liberal-minded thinker, I try to acknowledge that I have some homophobic and some racist ideas that I absorbed and which I must work to confront directly in my own heart, if I am to expunge them and be a better person.
When it was pointed out to me that people read what I said as being accusatory of being a bigot, I quickly corrected my statement in such a way to make it obvious that I was NOT calling anyone a bigot, or saying that having "instinctive" revulsion toward a sexual behavior means the person hates anyone, only saying that we may not realize the degree to which culture has programmed us to have a particular set of attitudes toward the idea of sexual roles and identity, which even the most open-minded person may have absorbed without realizing it, and which upon reflection they may choose to expunge.
That is why the reactions, which continually claimed I was calling someone a bigot, based on the fact that the word homophobia is commonly (but not always!) used to refer to the actions of bigots, upset me so much. I get where someone could have had that reaction, initially, to my badly-worded intro, but it was only after my secondary explanations were totally ignored, and I was repeatedly straw-manned and accused of making statements I clearly did not make (with everyone apparently unwilling to read those follow-up explanations and modify their understanding of my original statement, in-context) that I became angry about it.
I'm not here to make anyone feel bad about themselves. I'm not here to shove an opinion down anyone's throat. But I will challenge people to think, even if they don't like the answers, and I will always defend myself against false accusation.
My intent was to get people to look at how culture may have subtly influenced how they react to certain ideas, not to call anyone a bad name. While I get that what I said can be misinterpreted, I'm genuinely upset that people read what I wrote and thought I was calling someone a bad name; surely, by now, it should be obvious that to do so would not be within the bounds of my character and my sense of honor. I used the term "some homophobia" because it is an accurate description, just like "some racism" is accurate; as a liberal-minded thinker, I try to acknowledge that I have some homophobic and some racist ideas that I absorbed and which I must work to confront directly in my own heart, if I am to expunge them and be a better person.
When it was pointed out to me that people read what I said as being accusatory of being a bigot, I quickly corrected my statement in such a way to make it obvious that I was NOT calling anyone a bigot, or saying that having "instinctive" revulsion toward a sexual behavior means the person hates anyone, only saying that we may not realize the degree to which culture has programmed us to have a particular set of attitudes toward the idea of sexual roles and identity, which even the most open-minded person may have absorbed without realizing it, and which upon reflection they may choose to expunge.
That is why the reactions, which continually claimed I was calling someone a bigot, based on the fact that the word homophobia is commonly (but not always!) used to refer to the actions of bigots, upset me so much. I get where someone could have had that reaction, initially, to my badly-worded intro, but it was only after my secondary explanations were totally ignored, and I was repeatedly straw-manned and accused of making statements I clearly did not make (with everyone apparently unwilling to read those follow-up explanations and modify their understanding of my original statement, in-context) that I became angry about it.
I'm not here to make anyone feel bad about themselves. I'm not here to shove an opinion down anyone's throat. But I will challenge people to think, even if they don't like the answers, and I will always defend myself against false accusation.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
