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Re: ABC and Homos

Even before I read the post by TD, I was offended by the subject line...

Just a few things I feel need to be said...First of all, your rationale behind
the reason that ABC will not depict homosexual advertising is flawed.  You say
ABC is "trying to protect its viewing base."    You cite polls that were taken
showing that most regular  ELLEN viewers will not watch the coming out
episode.  You also claim that the reason that ABC will not air homosexual ads
is because it is bad for ratings.  This does not make logical sense.  ABC has
already decided to air a popular sitcom using a homosexual storyline -- they
have already taken the "ratings risk."  If ABC was all about ratings, why
would they choose to air the show at all?  Josh can correct me if I am wrong,
but his original post seemed to quesion this hypocritical stance by ABC.  Your
"ratings" logic only adds to the hypocrisy.

Second, you say that no one, Josh or ABC, has a right to tell us what to watch
-- we should be able to choose ourselves.  I think this is exactly right --
why can't ABC air the ads and I can choose for myself to watch or not to
watch?  Your pleas of self-censorship seem to feed Josh's position a hell of
a lot more than it does yours.  How can I make the decision to watch or not to
watch if ABC has already made the pre-emptive choice for me?

Finally, your entire post seemed offensive from the get go.  You quote Ellen
as being a "nice, family show" -- does this mean because it airs a sensitive
issue it no longer belongs in this category?  To say that the homosexual
theme is "some warped PC version of an otherwise good show" is narrow-
minded and negligent of the variety of lifestyles that do exist in our
society.  However, the one thing that boggled my mind about your post is
your "condoning" of homosexual activity (BTW -- I am sure the homosexual
community is grateful to have your "approval").  You say that what goes on
behind close door is none of your business, but revealing that behavior
leads to public reaction.  I can't help but wonder from the tone of your
post and your very memorable femi-nazi stance if you personally think that
the homosexual community should remain silent. I am biting my tongue, because
I want to make sure I am not reading too much between the lines, but the
tone of your post and the rhetoric that you have chosen makes me wonder...

The stance that ABC is taking seems to be indicative of how, unfortunately,
most of society deals with issues such as homosexuality, racism, and
sexism.  We recognize that these problems exist -- we are just afraid to
openly try to solve them.  ABC was right on track by airing an issue that has
been considered taboo by the industry.  I just wish they would fully stand
behind the issue that they have chosen and air the advertisements.

As for TD, I don't know you -- from the tone of your posts, I am not
really sure I want to.  However, I feel the L is a place to air out
our differences and should be a place of unrestricted rhetoric.  It seems
to me that everytime you sign on, you incite numerous people.  I hope
you are not using this open forum as a means of stirring up conflict and
as a way to get your "kicks."  Many of us feel very strongly about
some of the issues that you indict ... You are as entitled to your
opinions as I am to mine, but I hope you are expressing yours for the
right reasons.

Tara
Emporia

PS thanx Josh for bringing up an important issue that I am sure
many of us were not aware of...
Archive created by Jonathan Stanton (jonathan@cs.jhu.edu)
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