Evolving Perspective
Apr. 3rd, 2011 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shirtlifterbearWHAT I THOUGHT:
What I initially found most interesting about the backlash against the category of anti-homophobic bullying video I posted yesterday and the "It Gets Better" project videos, was that there was this undercurrent of well, bitterness-disguised-as-realism, as in:
"It doesn't get better, it didn't for me, so you better get a reality check here."
Um, really?
That's the message people wanted to send to young gay teens. No hope? No encouragement? Just "life's a bitch and then you become embittered?"
Time has passed, and my initial impression has changed.
WHAT I THINK NOW:
I believe that this Irish video actually represents the dramatic sea-change that has taken place in the past ten years in terms of homophobia and its societal acceptance. Yes, the world depicted in the video is a utopian "Big Eden", "In and Out" extreme, but it is not as far from reality as some would claim.
A few weeks ago, a drunken fan in the seats next to us at the Seattle Sounders game screamed "Faggot" at a player, and the entire seating section got quiet and very clearly Did Not Approve. He did not repeat the epithet for the rest of the game, nor has he in the subsequent three games I've attended.
I see a societal-norms trend that homophobia is now being classified as bigotry and is no longer acceptable on a community-standards basis, and that "Faggot" is in the process of going the way of "Nigger" in terms of disapprobation of its use.
So my position is now this:
"Criticize the encouraging videos all you want, but can you hold off doing so until the teens the campaign is directed at live long enough to understand your more-sophisticated position?"
Because really, if ONE kid believes it, that It Gets Better and doesn't kill himself, then the entire campaign is a success, and you want that too, right?
Right?
I'll put down some money right here that we will hear testimonials from kids starting in about two years about how they heard of the Youtube It Gets Better videos even way out in the sticks where they were growing up and being bullied, and that they clung to them like a lifeline. I'll even go so far as to bet you that at least ten kids will say that the campaign stopped them from killing themselves. I'll even give short odds. Any takers?
See?
It doesn't matter if the 99% of jaded youth goes "whatever" and cynics all over them, those kids are not the target demographic here. Too many of us grew up thinking we were the only people like ourselves in our small towns, and had no hope. The Kansasville, Wisconsin gay kid needs to see these messages of optimism as much as the budding lesbian in Pascagoula, Mississippi does.
Offer hope, people.
It's free.
What I initially found most interesting about the backlash against the category of anti-homophobic bullying video I posted yesterday and the "It Gets Better" project videos, was that there was this undercurrent of well, bitterness-disguised-as-realism, as in:
"It doesn't get better, it didn't for me, so you better get a reality check here."
Um, really?
That's the message people wanted to send to young gay teens. No hope? No encouragement? Just "life's a bitch and then you become embittered?"
Time has passed, and my initial impression has changed.
WHAT I THINK NOW:
I believe that this Irish video actually represents the dramatic sea-change that has taken place in the past ten years in terms of homophobia and its societal acceptance. Yes, the world depicted in the video is a utopian "Big Eden", "In and Out" extreme, but it is not as far from reality as some would claim.
A few weeks ago, a drunken fan in the seats next to us at the Seattle Sounders game screamed "Faggot" at a player, and the entire seating section got quiet and very clearly Did Not Approve. He did not repeat the epithet for the rest of the game, nor has he in the subsequent three games I've attended.
I see a societal-norms trend that homophobia is now being classified as bigotry and is no longer acceptable on a community-standards basis, and that "Faggot" is in the process of going the way of "Nigger" in terms of disapprobation of its use.
So my position is now this:
"Criticize the encouraging videos all you want, but can you hold off doing so until the teens the campaign is directed at live long enough to understand your more-sophisticated position?"
Because really, if ONE kid believes it, that It Gets Better and doesn't kill himself, then the entire campaign is a success, and you want that too, right?
Right?
I'll put down some money right here that we will hear testimonials from kids starting in about two years about how they heard of the Youtube It Gets Better videos even way out in the sticks where they were growing up and being bullied, and that they clung to them like a lifeline. I'll even go so far as to bet you that at least ten kids will say that the campaign stopped them from killing themselves. I'll even give short odds. Any takers?
See?
It doesn't matter if the 99% of jaded youth goes "whatever" and cynics all over them, those kids are not the target demographic here. Too many of us grew up thinking we were the only people like ourselves in our small towns, and had no hope. The Kansasville, Wisconsin gay kid needs to see these messages of optimism as much as the budding lesbian in Pascagoula, Mississippi does.
Offer hope, people.
It's free.
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no subject
Date: 2011-04-04 01:21 am (UTC)It doesn't mean I don't have hope. It just means I had a reaction to the video that wasn't puppies and sunshine.
EDIT: I should note that I'm talking about the new Irish video. I don't really understand the backlash to the "It Gets Better" videos myself.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-04 02:43 pm (UTC)So our two posts worked to get me thinking in a new way about the backlash. That's a nice synergy!
PS I asked people to dial it down about the negativity, after giving reasons. Is that so bad?
no subject
Date: 2011-04-05 02:49 am (UTC)I did notice that you agreed. :)
As for the PS... In general I'd say no, but I'm not sure if I'm being hypocritical to say so. I don't feel like I was being particularly negative, although the end of my reaction was *bleah*. (I actually loved the Irish video, up to and including the first guy offering to hold the other guys hand. And even the first couple or two after. It was just when it was the whole room, many of whom had just been smirking at the gay kid in the hall, joined in that I rolled my eyes and felt like I'd been sapped.) So if you really are saying that *I* (among others) need to dial down my negativity, then I do have a problem with it. Does that make sense?
no subject
Date: 2011-04-05 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-05 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-05 03:15 am (UTC)