Youth Values

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Hen-Gen

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I was talking to a neighbour recently (17 yo schoolboy) apropos a discussion I’d earlier had with my husband. I asked him whether racism and /or homophobia were widespread among his contemporaries. He confirmed that they were both very much alive. The values in Lerwick may not be the values found in London but this is, nevertheless, disapointing.
It is unusual in my experience that social values lag behind changes to the law. It is usually the other way round.

I would have predicted that TV soaps and the music industry, to name but two, would have consigned these prejudices to the dustbin of history. I would also expect young people to rebel against the prejudices of their parents. Clearly too much to hope for!
 
Sadly Hen-Gen homophobia is very much alive and kicking and racism to a lesser extent in this part of the world, it seems to be the men who bear the brunt of the homophobia issue I find. A friend of ours has just found out his niece and nephew are that way inclined and his first words were "not having them in my house" As though it was some contagious disease.
TV doesn't seem to have had an effect around here on peoples attitudes
 
While there is still a lot of homophobia and, sadly, racism is rife here, among young people here, it seems to be "cool" to be gay/bi/transgender etc. Friend of mine, when her daughter was in school as a teenager (now around 19 and married), she was, apparently, the only straight/non transgender pupil in her year, a class of about 45 teenagers.
 
Interesting topic and one relevant to me at the moment. A few months ago when chatting to my daughter (late 20's), she announced she had a "hot date" that evening. When I asked her what he was like, she told me it was a "she", not a he. The reason I was taken aback was because she has only ever had boyfriends. She has started seeing a man recently , but told me it is the norm nowadays to experiment . In addition to this, my 23 year old son, who has only ever had girlfriends announced last week that he is in a relationship with a man. This man dresses as a woman when he goes out at night. I cannot deny this has been a tremendous shock to me, but that's because they previously only had same sex relationships. I'm not homophobic at all. I haven't experienced any bullying in my work circles either, but I don't work in the city.
 
Am I allowed to say that I’m a gay homophobe! Who people sleep with is their own business. And equal rights are very important. But those who insist on being excessively camp or who attend Pride marches in ridiculous clothing threaten to undo all the good work that some of us have spent a lifetime achieving.
If we are all equal then why try to publicise stereotypes that make us unequal.
 
I don't mind the excessively camp gays, I am ok with gay pride, if that's what they feel they need to do. I'm happy my grown up kids can tell me things, rather than have a miserable existence hiding their feelings, as was often the case years ago. What's normal anyway? ?
 
I'm normal! My imaginary friend told me so! No, at least 50% of my office are gay or lesbian and are much more sensible and respectable than me.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, human nature changes on a much longer timescale than the ideas it generates. Youth are pretty much being blown by a hurricane at this moment. I might be wearing rosy glasses - Leamington is a pretty liberal place to be but our lad (of 25 odd years) both makes me wonder where sensitivity went and surprises me when railing against injustice.
 
The perfect cartoon for a chicken forum.
Let's just hope for this -
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/16/i-have-some-important-things-to-tell-transgender-kids-today-right-now-youre-perfect
 
Excellent Marigold is the cartoonist a forum member as the cartoon was perfectly timed for this topic.
OH was on a bus back from Thurrock the other day having been to take a pic of the Tall ship Belem sailing down the river, when 5 teenagers sat around her, they stunk of marijuana and were quite happily chatting about their probation officers and the fact they were going over to the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent to do a deal with someone and were bringing back a grands worth of "gear".
This was all so open and obviously normal for them. I did say to her that people are seen at the bus station and the toilets buying drugs these days, and nobody does anything
 
That’s the way of it. I’m sure the police would say that their workloads are stretched and so they concentrate on crimes of violence.
Personally I think that drugs should be legalised anyway so this would take it out of the polices hands. I personally don’t like cannabis but then I don’t like tobacco either. Having said that I see no particular reason to deprive others of their fun. All drugs are harmful but so are many lifestyle choices.
Imagine Tesco’s having a drugs counter. Blow on special offer, buy one wrap of heroine and get another one free, a free kaleidoscope with every pack of LSD.
Brave new world, huh?
 
You'll need to engage your sense of humour for this but I think the gay revolution is great.
It could be the answer to world over population. ;)
Not a fan of any sort of racism.
 
Nothing wrong with it at all as you say, and the "pink pound" is worth a lot to the economy. it is sad that in this century so many people are still so racist, without seemingly having a reason to be.
Apart from the smell of the marijuana which is foul, just think how much in tax could be gathered in if it was legalised.
 
bigyetiman said:
Apart from the smell of the marijuana which is foul, just think how much in tax could be gathered in if it was legalised.
Click to expand...

As long as the normal smoking ban applies - I don't want to "secondary smoke" cannabis :o :shock: :-)03
 
Another heartening bit of news. Do they have any like this in Lerwick, HenGen?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/16/london-council-saves-gay-fetish-club-from-redevelopment

But on the other hand ...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/14/bus-driver-suspended-for-refusing-to-drive-bus-with-rainbow-number
 
Marigold said:
Another heartening bit of news. Do they have any like this in Lerwick, HenGen?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/16/london-council-saves-gay-fetish-club-from-redevelopment

But on the other hand ...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/14/bus-driver-suspended-for-refusing-to-drive-bus-with-rainbow-number
Click to expand...
Two extraordinary stories Marigold. And no, I think Lerwick would struggle with a venue of this ilk. I hear that there is an LGBTQ social group that meets in the theatre bar but evenings out in Lerwick are completely beyond us remote islanders.
Also I have doubts about ghettoisation. I’ve never felt the need for a club for blue eyed people or right handed people. :D

The first article is surprising not because of the nature of the club but that the local authority would protect it. How right on!
I’ve never been to such a place, not even as a voyeur/tourist because I was too scared. :shock:

I can’t see bigyetiman refusing to drive a bus with rainbow colours. I wonder what religion the actual bus driver was?
 
Phew, that's my Saturday nights out safe then :lol: :lol: :lol:
As for the bus story, I drove the Brexit bus once, and the Chelsea open topper when they won the European championship, and Arsenal' s one year. that story about the bus driver went around at work and general view was we are paid to do a job, and what is on the side of the bus is irrelevant, non of the Christian or Muslim drivers had a problem with it.
 
Indeed bym. I’m certainly not saying that all Christians or Moslems are homophobic. What I am saying is that probably the greatest single cause of homophobia in modern Britain is due to religious teaching.
Even the Dalai Lama has expressed some fairly homophobic views.
 
You might find this interesting Hen-Gen.
https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/
 
Meanwhile, if you're overweight, don't go for a pee in Porthcawl!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/16/seasides-town-new-toilets-feature-high-tech-anti-sex-measures
 
Shadrach said:
You might find this interesting Hen-Gen.
https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/
Click to expand...
One would have to be inhuman not to feel compassion for the man. His coming to terms with his true nature must have been immensely painful.
Nevertheless his was a religion that has been the cause of pain/suicide to countless others. So if it’s another nail in the coffin then bring it on!
 
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