This is my first post that I have been meaning to write for awhile, so it contains some late info.
As you may know there is a campaign called "ThinkB4YouSPeak." Which basically was created to discourge people (mainly middle school and high aged, since they use it the most. Believe.) from using the saying/slang "Thats so gay." When of their projects was replacing the stereotypes with other, much less harmful stereotypes (Like the stupid Jock, Stupid Cheerleader and Friendless gamer.) Even though these stereotypes are nothing close to homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, it might help some people think.
I first of the gamer campaign from a facebook fan page called "video games." The writer of the aritcle was upset, saying they were replacing one negative stereotype with another. (Note-The writer did say that it was wrong to use gay as a slur and that a lot of gamers have backwards views on both women and people who are GLBTQ) Apparently, that writer was not the only one to be upset over the gamer stereotype being used. It seems that a lot of gamers were upset over this. To which I reply, a huge-
What?!
As someone who is a trans male gamer, I will tell you right now-Gamer discrimination doesn't exist. Yes, some groups think some games should censored or some kids might make fun of other kids who like 'geeky' things. My friends have said some midly annoying things about mangas and video games, but its just a hobby. No one (To my knowledge) has ever been disowned, threaten with violence or killed for playing video games or calling themself a gamer. Even though I am very lucky to be born into a accepting family and have (thankfully) faced very little transphobia. Whenever someone does say something hateful, it is a lot more hurtful then when someone calls me a "geek." Its a insult in of itself to even compare the two.
Why is that the same group of people who tend to say such bigoted things at the drop of the hat, gets into such a tissy over a harmless stereotype? Why do so many people conisder it okay to act like this? Is there any silver linning?
Sorry for posting this so late, I didn't have time to write a post until now. I lost the facebook article, but found a good, but short article on this whole ordeal, however I plead with you NOT to read the comments.
And a picture of the poster-
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Yeah, how dare people object to being stereotyped and made fun of in a way that's less harmful than what some other people face.
From the linked article: "This ad campaign utilizes a form of roll-reversal. With it, the posters are meant to place jocks, cheerleaders and gamers in the shoes of a LGBT person to see what it's like to have their identity stereotyped, and to further witness what their (possible) anti-gay behavior looks like from another perspective. The problem here is gamers are only seeing the "gamer" poster, which diminishes the overall message of the poster series, and ends up looking like they're just picking on gamers."
The entire POINT of the campaign is to draw connections between hurtful, untrue stereotypes about social cliques and QLBTG people.
And, for the record, I think being called a geek is a compliment (though I generally get called a "nerd" because I'm less into electronics and more into books and trees)
The entire point = not possibly annoying or offensive?
I don't think so. It is commonly understood that you shouldn't stereotype people based on their social circle/extracurricular involvement (even if it does happen) and there is even time devoted to this in assemblies, commercials, and the classroom - not so for LTGQB people in America's schools.
This campaign asks the viewer to compare the generally vilified stereotypes with the one that is ignored or encouraged, with the goal of making them realise that using "gay" as pejorative is hurtful, and used to perpetuate false ideas about TBGLQ community.
I disagree. I do not think that it is "commonly understood that you shouldn't stereotype people based on their social circle/extracurricular involvement" because it happens every day on high schools and college campuses, the media, and our society as a whole. I think people say you shouldn't do it, but it is also normalized.
I respect the campaign, my objection is to the writer's claim that gamers have no right to object to being stereotyped. The obvious fact that stereotyping of geeks is less harmful than that of transsexuals doesn't mean someone is in "a tissy" if they're bothered by it. Since when does Feministing believe that people have no right to be indignant about what someone's decided is a "harmless stereotype"?
I had mixed feelings with these ads: It was nice to see something like this and I hope that it has a positive effect... but the one when Hilary Duff pops out of the dressing room, I was like, "Since when is she a gay-rights activist?" They are capitalizing on her popularity among young teens, I suppose, but that doesn't seem sincere to me and takes away from the intent of the campaign.
And I agree that jock, cheerleader, gamer etc stereotypes are much less offensive and can no way parallel homophobia, biphobia or transphobia.
This campaign can be seen as a (very delayed) step in the right direction in regards to PSAs about this, but I believe the creators of the campaign delve as deeply as they should have.
Isn't that one pretty old? I remember seeing a few years ago when she was like "how would you feel if I said "that's so girl wearing a shirt as a dress"?"
I disagree that its bad to use a popular celebrity who isn't known as a gay rights activist. She's a teenager who other teens look up to-- isn't it a good thing that she's against harmful stereotyping? If we say that the only people who can speak up about gay rights are the people who make it into their life's mission, then we are really missing out on the chance to make people realize that more and more the normal, average thing these days is to be pro gay rights.
I didn't mean it that way, it just came as a surprise and I questioned her authenticity. I think it is debatable if she is authentic and sincere.
I don't know what you mean by authentic , but why shouldn't she be sincere, and what does it really matter?