Hacker News Reader

> Your characterization of OSC is incorrect. He only believes sodomy laws should be used carefully to make sure people don't "shake the confidence of the community", and that most homosexuals should not be jailed.

Ah. Yes. My mistake. He thinks only the uppity gay folks should be thrown in prison in order to properly terrorize the rest, who can remain free as long as they understand how disgusting and shameful they are and don't try to corrupt decent folks.

You really think that's different? You really think that's better?

> I'm curious though - Communism has been far more harmful to the world than opposition to gay marriage. Do you also favor bringing back the anti-communist blacklists of the McCarthy era?

No. Obviously. You're confusing me with the other guy. I reserve the right to approve or disapprove of anyone I please, but I don't advocate systematic and/or governmental oppression of people I disagree with. That's what bigots do, and specifically what Card does.

"Blacklist." For fuck's sake. Card wants me thrown in prison; I want people to be aware of his feelings and make their own decisions; and somehow I'm the oppressor?

The communist blacklist was merely a list of communists published the Hollywood Reporter, making studios aware of their feelings so studios could make their own decisions. It later expanded to include other communists, who's feelings the studios were made aware of in order to make their own decision.

I didn't call you an oppressor. I agree with you that Card, much like the Communists in Hollywood, is an advocate of oppression.

But I'm still curious - in addition to making everyone aware of anti-gay opinions to make their own decision, do you also favor making everyone aware of pro-communist opinions to make their own decision? Perhaps distributing photos of anyone wearing a Che t-shirts so others can make their own decisions [1]?

(I'm not asking why you don't do it yourself, obviously you pick your own personal causes. I'm simply asking whether you would support others doing it, and if not, why not.)

[1] Yes, I'm being very naughty mentioning Che, the guy who put gays into communist labor camps. Am I citing him as a homophobe or a communist? Who knows?

>>The communist blacklist was merely a list of communists published the Hollywood Reporter

Merely a list! You might feel a little differently in 1950s USA with your name on that list. A list that meant the end of your career, blacklisting by friends and family (even sympathetic for fear of association.)

You're the second person in 24 hours to downplay McCarthyism as no big deal and it's left me scratching my head in wonder. Either y'all are ignorant about history, or y'all are stupid, and I'm not sure which I'd rather admit to if forced to choose...

Option 3 is that he was making the exact same point you are, and you failed to notice.

Thank you for pointing out option 3. I jumped the gun and for that I apologize. My reaction to the post was the "merely a list" bit and was definitely half-cocked.

I thought he was being facetious.

> That said, I do share his distaste for the gay rights movement's propensity to attack and attempt to blacklist and attack their opponents.

Uh, what do you think that the gay rights movement's opponents are trying to do to them? That, and in many cases, much worse.

>I'm curious though - Communism has been far more harmful to the world than opposition to gay marriage. Do you also favor bringing back the anti-communist blacklists of the McCarthy era?

Argument from consequences.

I do share his distaste for the gay rights movement's propensity to attack and attempt to blacklist and attack their opponents.

I have a dislike for the anti-gay rights movement's attempt to kill gay people.

Communism has been far more harmful to the world than opposition to gay marriage.

Spoken like a breeder.

Breeder, a heterophobic term of abuse, I presume?

It's about as close as you can get to a slur for heterosexuals. Hardly abusive.

And people wonder why I don't mind passing for straight.