Opinion

[Krispers]

Coming from a straight guy I wished to get opinions on if you would feel this is 'offensive'. This was offensive to me and Im not even gay. I had spoke to "Uncle" about this and he thought I should come post.

While looking around for new juices to try, I came across a vendor who has my favorite 'drink' and was about to order but then noticed its description which I quote: " *Mojito*
What? I don't think it's a gay drink.

A refreshing drink with lime and mint, blended with rum and a touch of sweetness." it made me feel uncomfortable purchasing. and it seems to me and "uncle" that they are saying there is someting wrong with wanting a product that is associated with being a "gay drink".

When I emailed the vendor, was told that it was a comment from family guy and sent a youtube video to the link and also told " I understand your feelings on the subject. No offense is meant to anyone. XXX was quoting a movie , or a book passage , when he created that. I don't think he realizes everyone doesn't read, or watch what he does , or even remember things as well as he does." Which to me, and a judge, 'ignorance of the law does not make the crime any less valid' and same goes with discrimination, just because someone else doesnt read/watch what you watch doesnt mean you can quote it and not get a reaction from it.

So is it just me that is offended by it?

 

[beebopnjazz]

I knew exactly which vendor this was because I recognized the description.....
I didn't feel it was a 'homophobic' statement - just an odd way to describe it and I don't see what's "gay" about a mojito.
I would think the majority of the population doesn't watch "family guy" either...so it is possible this vendor is offending people using that quote.

 

[Uncle]

As I mentioned to "You" - No I do not think you are wrong to think it is offensive, because to "Me" it is and just as offensive as anyone who would refer to something as being "GAY" as being a wrong "choice" be it a alcoholic drink, clothing, furnishings, etc. and even "Nic-juice" . . .

AND - to use the excuse that it was a quote from an Animated Cartoon Show makes it worse . . . I guess if they said "Well there is nothing wrong with that" as Jerry Seinfeld did when referring to people who might be "Gay" on his show that would have been okay too . . .

AND - I see no difference here . . . Although, whoever replied to your email and concerns said that the "Vendor" was trying to be "humorous" - as far as I am concerned - they were not, they were being insulting . . .

Just "My" Personal Opinion and . . .

BTW: There is a huge project going on right now by GLSEN trying to get the younger generation to stop using the phrase "That's So Gay" when they are being insulting to others (or to describe something) . . . This "Vendor" should check it out . . .

 

[Uncle]

AND - These links from the Internet and A Google Search . . .
"What? I don't think it is a Gay Drink" . . . It seems some people do:

http://afoodoflovething.blogspot.com/2010/12/mojito-i-dont-think-its-gay-drink.html

http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2008/09/24/are-mojitos-gay/

 

[DJJames]

Well the problem here is the relationship...

If one of my cousins had made that juice and sold it like that, I would have probably laughed knowing they love me and my husband and are all supportive, etc.

Now it being a stranger, I would have winced a little, and moved onto the next vendor thinking, eh he's sitting on the edge of being comical and offending others and although I'm not really offended & I don't think this person is out beating up gays at night, it doesn't seem like a great business decision knowing it could alienate some potential buyers - which may mean if he doesn't know good business, he may not know how to make good juice?

BUT... then again, maybe the majority of his clients are Family-guy watching straight guys who would find it hilarious and he's catering to particular clients - but then those same guys, would they really buy a "gay" drink flavored juice? Yeah... I don't know. Some marketing ploys work, I don't know that this one will. But i'm not offended but I'd probably walk away from the sale though.

 

[Krispers]

Thank you DJ, your opinion does make quite a bit of sense.

 

[Uncle]

However, the problem for "Me" arises when the acceptance of "Well - Boys will be Boys" attitude and that it is just targeted to those who might purchase the item - only continues the perpetuation of the bigotry and prejudice . . .

Which in effect, is just repeating the same old question - If it doesn't directly affect me so why should I say or do anything ? ? ?

Well, I guess that it's Okay then since the comment was only targeted to specific people and those who didn't want to be seen as being "Gay". . .

SO, I guess "We" don't need to be concerned . . .

WOW - That's Right "We" Have "Gay Rights" Now Don't "We" . . .

No need to be concerned about "Chick-Fil-A" either . . .

 

[DJJames]

Well Uncle lol call me jaded...

I can't fight every gay right fight there is to fight. I'm getting long in the tooth, and there is part of my life that I would love to enjoy. Do I want things to be better for the younger homos? Well sure.. I've done a great deal of fighting to help.. and will continue - on some fronts. But not every front. I don't have the energy, nor the desire to.

I don't say anything to this gay mojito juicer NOT because I want to turn the other cheek, but for me it's simply not worth it. :shrug:

However, I did more than my fair share of education & lamenting & letter writing about Chick Fil-A.

 

[beartard]

I have to confess I'm probably desensitized to the whole "that's gay" thing since I'm in a social group where that's just how people talk, even though everyone knows I'm gay and doesn't care. It doesn't bother me. Hell, I've said it.

That having been said, I think with the current state of affairs in our country, for a business to leave the description as is (after being notified) would be a big mistake.

 

[Uncle]

Ah - "DJ" - "long in the tooth" you say, well from your other posts I see I've got you beat by 21 years . . .

And I might agree with you about not having to fight every fight . . .

However, since I have been involved with the fight since even before "Stonewall" for my rights and yours - and even before it became so "fashionable" to do so - What can I say . . .

More importantly, I hope I never think something is not worth "My" involvement, especially when something even minor as a description of a "Nic-Juice" that is seen as bigoted and prejudicial is brought to "My" attention . . .

Oh Well . . . I guess it is not the "Cause Of the Day" either . . .


EDIT: [url]"GAY PRIDE" Month Awareness[/URL]

 

[DJJames]

We all have our lives to live. And we'll all live them all quite differently I'm sure.

 

[Uncle]

​

AND - An Article From The "Huffington Post":

"That's So Gay" Is Not So Funny

Last week I was cruising through a Facebook friend's wall postings and came across a friend of his wearing the tackiest of holiday sweaters: a bright red schmata adorned with embroidered snowflakes and a quartet of Frosty the Snowmen. To boot, the poor fellow also wore a turtleneck emblazoned with a ring of snowflakes. "Absolutely hideous," I said to myself.

I then noticed the caption that my Facebook friend had written about this Yuletide fashion victim: "What can you say? Really, this may be the GAYest thing I've ever seen. WTF!!!" I paused and read some of the other comments: "tacky," "so manly!!!" and the like.

If you're like me, long out of high school, perhaps you didn't know that the word "gay" and the phrase "that's so gay" are now used synonymously for anything stupid, dumb, effeminate, flamboyant and, yes, hideous. In fact, "that's so gay" is one of the most prevalent homophobic slurs around these days.

What's the big deal? According to a recent Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) survey, "anti-LGBT bullying and harassment remain commonplace in America's schools" and that remarks like "that's so gay" foster a homophobic environment and worse. The GLSEN findings showed that 75 percent of high school students reported hearing remarks such as "......" or "...." frequently, with nine out of 10 often hearing "that's so gay" or "you're so gay" (meaning stupid or worthless).

I decided to ask my friend some questions. First, was his Facebook friend gay? "Of course not," he replied. I asked him if he meant to disparage gays and lesbians. "No," he replied. "Why, then, did you use that phrase?" I asked. "Because the sweater was ugly, tacky and hideous. That's so gay," was his response.

Honestly, he used the word "hideous," and while I tried to explain that gay is not a synonym for any of those words, he had had enough. Although I could see that he didn't consciously use it as an insult against LGBT people, the phrase had become a part of his generation's daily parlance, used and accepted in schools, Facebook and just about everywhere else.

Last fall, largely in response to the rising use of the slur in everyday argot, GLSEN and The Advertising Council launched a new public service announcement aimed at young people to halt the use of the expression. The campaign features actors Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes calling out teenagers for using "gay" to mean someone is stupid. In one of the spots, Sykes says, "Don't say that something is gay when you mean that something is dumb or stupid."

Not surprisingly, the problem goes deeper than language. The GLSEN survey also found that more than a third of all LGBT students experienced physical harassment at school based on their sexual orientation and nearly a fifth had been physically assaulted at school for the same reason. LGBT high school students who experience physical harassment are twice as likely not to pursue college, and their average grade-point averages were half a grade lower than gay and lesbian students not facing the same level of hostility, no doubt because the teens who felt themselves to be at risk were five times more likely to skip school due to "safety concerns."

What to do? Even if you think it's funny or a hip turn of phrase, don't forget that "That's so gay" is hurtful. Just because it doesn't have the same bite as "..." or "...." doesn't mean it's not harmful or hateful. It is. We need to stop using the word "gay" to mean dumb, stupid and worthless and to think before we speak (or post on Facebook). As Shannon Gilreath, a law professor at Wake Forest, explained to me last year, "Physical violence begins with bullying, name-calling and homophobic remarks. When nothing happens to someone [for making slurs], it escalates to violence." So, as teens say today: Don't go there.

 

[DJJames]

Well. Goodnight everyone.

 

[LostVapeMonster]

I was just thinking, maybe gay people should take up using the expression "that's so straight" to describe something they think is dumb.

Oh and P.S.
I'm straight and I would not take offense at that. I would LMAO.

 

[four2109]

If being straight had caused you to suffer discrimination, and to question whether your family loved you unconditionally all of your life, I think you would take offense. jmho.