Do people who try to stop gay love deserve to be punished?

[Yonadav]

In mere reality, we're having an entirely different discussion than the one you want so desperately to comment on.  Or..you know, we would be, if you could hold off from smearing shit everywhere.

You might be trying to turn the discussion into something different. I'm responding to the OP. The child in the OP shouldn't be acting out of a desire to punish. A huge part of growing up is learning that you don't have a right to confer upon yourself the right to punish others. Maturity is being fair with others, even when they have done something to hurt you. Yes, you have to do something to protect yourself from hurt. But retaliation is generally immature and antisocial.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yeah, fuck that kid for being so immature and vindictive and antisocial.  He should really grow up!  



-aaaanyway......, Der..you usually can't talk people out the kind of the mindset that produces these interactions.  They didn't talk themselves into it.   They'll either realize that it was stupid..or...the other shittier end of the coin..they won't. All a person can do is make peace with who their parents are, who they are, and what sort of relationship that entails. Whatever that is, douchebags parents aren't entitled to anything. With any luck, a child will outlive it's parents, and all that will be left of those people are the stories their children tell about them. The parents have a unique opportunity to influence those stories, for better or for worse. Insomuch as they influence them for the worse, they've misjudged their position in that dynamic. Hopefully, whatever their parents relationship was with them outside of this issue will end up washing out that bit of unpleasantness in that eventual retelling.

What do you think? Other than that one thing, decent folks? Decent enough for a mulligan?

[brewer]

I'm not referring in a legal way. Freedom of speech is very important, even if that means hearing a lot of bullshit. I am referring on a personal way.
I was thinking about the following imaginary situation. A gay kid comes out to their homophobic parent, said kid being financially independent. The parent doesn't disown their child and speaks politely, but won't change their mind no matter what and doesn't want to compromise or give up. So the kid says: "Gay couples can be as healthy as straight ones. As long as its true love and they respect eachoder it shouldn't be any problem. You are forbiding me to meet the love of my life for no good reason and as punishment for it you yourself won't be able to have contact with someone you hold dear, that being me.". I was thinking that this isn't the best option if you are trying to convince someone to change their mind, but is it possible that the parent deserves this punishment, or that the relationship isn't worth it?

This is not limited to "gay". It could be applied interracial, interfaith, difference in age, difference in background.............a ginger(  )

Severing the relationship has many facets. Is it being done to punish the parents or preserve the individual? Will it be lifetime or will be revisited after a time? Will it continue but exclude a portion of the relationship?

I've cut some people off completely, some were family (but not parents). Some I regret a little, but most not. The things being done/said either really violated closely held positions or I didn't really care about the person.

[The Valkyrie]

I'm not referring in a legal way. Freedom of speech is very important, even if that means hearing a lot of bullshit. I am referring on a personal way.
I was thinking about the following imaginary situation. A gay kid comes out to their homophobic parent, said kid being financially independent. The parent doesn't disown their child and speaks politely, but won't change their mind no matter what and doesn't want to compromise or give up. So the kid says: "Gay couples can be as healthy as straight ones. As long as its true love and they respect eachoder it shouldn't be any problem. You are forbiding me to meet the love of my life for no good reason and as punishment for it you yourself won't be able to have contact with someone you hold dear, that being me.". I was thinking that this isn't the best option if you are trying to convince someone to change their mind, but is it possible that the parent deserves this punishment, or that the relationship isn't worth it?

This idea of personal unilateral punishment is getting out of control. You aren't trying to get along with others when you think that way. It is vindictive antisocial thought. Should I punish people for this? Should I punish people for that? Or would the world be a better place if someone were to handcuff me to a cinder block and toss me into the river?

I prefer the term "random execution of the undeserving"

[no one]

There's an old saying:
The mind of a bigot, is like the pupil of the eye. The more light you shine on it, the more it will contract.

I am not exactly sure who said it first. It wasn't me, that's for sure.