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Posted on: September 6, 2010 10:07 PM, by PZ Myers
Here's a little chat with the president of the Montana tea party, Tim Ravndal:
Dennis Scranton: "I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions."
Tim Ravndal: "@Kieth, OOPS I forgot this aint(sic) America no more! @ Dennis, Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?"
Ravndal has since been ousted. Don't joke about murdering gays where the liberals might notice!
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denialism blog 02.14.2012
respectful insolence 02.14.2012
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confessions of a science librarian 02.13.2012
starts with a bang! 02.13.2012
Comments
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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September 6, 2010 10:14 PM
Are any of us surprised the Teabagger leadership are homophobes?
Posted by: Katharine
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September 6, 2010 10:21 PM
Someone ought to tell them all the sane hear banjos comin' from their direction and are paddling FAST.
Posted by: phoenixwoman
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September 6, 2010 10:22 PM
'Tis Himself: I'm not. The only surprise is that he lost his TP gig over it. The Koch brothers must have figured he was bad for business.
Posted by: ckitching
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September 6, 2010 10:22 PM
Surprised? Not in the least. It is quite rare for them to be caught talking this frankly, though. Most times, they just murmur about the Ebil Ghey Agenda!
Posted by: Katharine
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September 6, 2010 10:23 PM
Someone ought to introduce him to the Log Cabins and the Pink Pistols.
Posted by: robertdw
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September 6, 2010 10:30 PM
But who is Dennis Scranton?
Posted by: Dae
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September 6, 2010 10:32 PM
I don't get the Wyoming reference. I don't think I want to, but... can anyone explain?
Posted by: MAJeff, OM
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September 6, 2010 10:35 PM
I don't get the Wyoming reference. I don't think I want to, but... can anyone explain
It was a reference to Matthew Shepherd.
Posted by: Newfie
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September 6, 2010 10:35 PM
reference to Matthew Sheppard. Story is in the link.
Posted by: Larry
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September 6, 2010 10:42 PM
Oh, but I'm sure he doesn't represent all the teabaggers.
Just most of them.
Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM
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September 6, 2010 10:47 PM
Dennis Scranton, Tim Ravndal, Virginia Foxx; all they want is their country back from the faggots and bulldykes.
(There are times my bile burns my throat and leaves me gagging.)
Posted by: Tomato Addict
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September 6, 2010 10:53 PM
The Tea Party just got a little bit better. That's still not saying much.
Posted by: jcim
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September 6, 2010 10:59 PM
so after reading the story, i hopped onto FB and sent tim ravndall a private message. well, it's not that private, here's what i wrote. in case you're slow, this is me showing condescension:
hi tim, it's a shame they voted you out. i don't know what's happened to america when the leader of a political reform group can't even make a joke about the murder of a faggot. it's those goddamn liberals.
in glen beck's name,jcm
Posted by: Rutee, Shrieking Harpy of Dooooom
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September 6, 2010 11:06 PM
...................
:O
That's the only response I have.
Posted by: Mark
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September 6, 2010 11:07 PM
To Tomato addict.
You comment that the tea party just got a little better implies that the leadership cares about what Tim wrote. I doubt they care at all. What they care about is that he got caught.
So I doubt very much anyone can conclude that the tea party just got a little better.
And in a few days or weeks, Tim will be right back where he was before except not in any official titled role. But he'll still be there.
Posted by: zzubzzub
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September 6, 2010 11:17 PM
Looks like his insincere apology is getting appropriately lambasted.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000593885615&v=wall&story_fbid=153047018054445
Posted by: McCthulhu is taking ∞ to eat all the pi
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September 6, 2010 11:27 PM
Last time I drove through Montana on the way to Alberta to visit family, the state was having a monster meth crisis. I can now see why. Ravndal must single-handedly account for half the state's abuse of mind-fucking illegal narcotic substances. They could be so lucky if he would just O.D.
AND
Janine, #11: Bulldykes? That's too wide a brush. Some are very shy, retiring petite Pomeraniandykes. I guess TeaBaggers wouldn't care that they come in different varieties. As long as they think they're lynching for Jeebus, well, they have an excuse for just about any abhorrent sociopathic behaviour, don't they? WWJD indeed.
Posted by: Basil
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September 6, 2010 11:29 PM
One of these days I'm going to invent a way to Taser people through the internet. I think this would solve so many of my problems. Well, it would at least make me a very happy person. Mmm, with great power, comes great amusement.
Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM
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September 6, 2010 11:32 PM
McCthulhu, as a queer female type, I reserve the right to exaggerate.
As for WWJD do? Why the love of a real man like him would turn any lesbian straight.
'cough'
'cough'
'cough'
'hack'
'hack'
'hack'
Posted by: csreid
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September 6, 2010 11:36 PM
Motherfuckers. I will never understand how anyone can discuss the vicious, unprovoked murder of an innocent man in such jovial tones. Evil bastards :'(
Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM
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September 6, 2010 11:47 PM
It is easy, csreid; LGBT people, by not following the strict gender laws set by out loving father, has forfeited their humanity and deserves all the pain the right thinking people can inflict upon them.
Just ask The Family.
Posted by: Girl Noir
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September 6, 2010 11:57 PM
O.o
The mind... it boggles. I can honestly say I've never been confronted personally with such complete, ingrained hatred, even being raised in Texas. Which I guess makes me extremely lucky, and also possibly extremely naive. But I think I'm okay with that.
Posted by: Timberwoof
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September 7, 2010 12:11 AM
"Jim Walker, Board Chair of the Big Sky Tea Party Association announced today…"
bla bla bla
I do believe Mr. Ravndal when he explained that he was in no way intending to promote violence and that he was not thinking about nor condoning the murder of an innocent victim in Wyoming in 1998 when he responded to some very disturbing comments made by another individual.
If Ravndal was not condoning murder, then he should have called Scranton on it. Instead, Ravndal joined in on the conversation and proved himself an asshole.
Jim Walker sort of called Ravndal on it, but in the wimpiest way possible. Ravndal asked for instructions … that's condoning.
I don't buy Walker's bullshit.
Posted by: PennyBright
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September 7, 2010 12:15 AM
I grew up in Laramie, and moved away when I was a teen.
When I heard about what happened to Matthew I threw up for two days solid - that something like that could happen in my hometown was so sickeningly unexpected and horrific.
Laramie didn't used to be that kind of place.
Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM
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September 7, 2010 12:27 AM
Penny Bright, Laramie did not murder Matthew Shepherd. Two murderous assholes did. Sadly, these types of murders can and do happen anywhere where homophobic murderous assholes are found; which is anywhere.
Posted by: MadScientist
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September 7, 2010 12:32 AM
Yet another reason why idiots shouldn't be ignored and their stupid beliefs shouldn't be "respected" or accepted.
Posted by: McCthulhu is taking ∞ to eat all the pi
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September 7, 2010 12:49 AM
McCthulhu hands Janine a Ludens, for the dry, hacking cough of someone trying to pry a tongue from a cheek.
Posted by: Deluded Creodont
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September 7, 2010 12:56 AM
Personally, I'd rather have my own personal kill sat for those situations, but that's just a personal preference.
Posted by: Pygmy Loris
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September 7, 2010 1:02 AM
Fuck. Cheerfully advocating the murder of an entire group of people is sick. Really, really sick. Like fucking KKK sick.
Posted by: Deluded Creodont
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September 7, 2010 1:05 AM
Hmm, link doesn't seem to work. Let's try that again: kill sat
Posted by: raven
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September 7, 2010 1:23 AM
Montana is sort of backwards and backwoods. They missed a fashion move bigtime.
Hating gays is so 2009. The haters for jesus have moved on. It's the Moslems, hosers. Damn, don't they have TVs and internet connections up there.
The Tea Partiers and bigots for jesus have long lists of groups to hate. So long that they have to rotate their focus. Yesterday it was gays, today Moslems. Tomorrow who knows? Maybe nonwhites again. Maybe scientists, Democrats, or atheists.
Posted by: cris_waller
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September 7, 2010 1:45 AM
@#6
"But who is Dennis Scranton?"
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=591939339&v=wall
Check out that profile pic. Let's see how many signs of a right-wing nutjob we can spot in one photo! Pickup truck, gun, bloody dead animal, shit-eating grin, pasty white face- all it's missing is a flag, a cross and an NRA bumper sticker.
Posted by: Walton, Marquis of Carabas
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September 7, 2010 3:28 AM
Shit.
That's really, really fucking scary.
I'm bi. I could easily imagine falling in love with another man. And it's difficult to get my head around the idea that there are people who would, in an absolutely literal sense, want to kill me for doing so - and that these violent thugs have actual political influence in the most powerful country on earth.
It's a political movement of overgrown schoolyard bullies. Unfortunately, the bullies have guns, and they can vote.
Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM
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September 7, 2010 3:33 AM
Walton, I am sure you know of this but many of these teabagging homophobes are opposed to anti-bullying measures in schools. Because the bullies should be free to play Smear The Queer on those who do not put up a proper gender front. Mob action in order to keep the sexual rabble in line.
Posted by: chaseacross
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September 7, 2010 3:42 AM
Wow. Just... wow...
These people are going to take the House in November. Where did my country go after 2008?
Posted by: Andyo
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September 7, 2010 3:43 AM
Assholes just wanna disassociate themselves from anything that can be used to argue they're racist homophobic motherfuckers. That they ousted him doesn't say shit. It's just because people are finally starting to point out that they are what they always were.
Posted by: Felix
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September 7, 2010 4:09 AM
Looks like when the TP starts cleaning house, there will be no one left. Here's another leading member, practically declaring the war on gays opened:
http://mtcowgirl.com/2010/09/06/kristi-allen-gailushas-declares-war-on-the-gay-community/
Posted by: Marjolein
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September 7, 2010 5:39 AM
Every time I read stuff like this, there's only one thing I can think...
I'm só glad I don't live in the USA.
Seriously. I read an article last week about an information campaign on transgender issues is being set up for the European Union. By informing European politicians about transgenders, they're trying to get better regulations for namechanges and such.
For instance: in many countries (in Europe), you can only get an official sex-change on your papers if you've had the sex change operation. So even if you're done with all the hormonal treatment and such, and have changed your body in every respect except for what's between your legs, you can't get your sex officially changed until you get that last operation...
They're trying to fix that now.
Long live the old world.
Posted by: triskelethecat
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September 7, 2010 7:02 AM
This is a sad commentary when people can joke about a murder like that. I'm glad he was ousted by the TP, but, as was written above, I'm sure he'll be given something under the table to make up for it.
OT:
@Walton: you know, reading your postings over the years, if I wasn't in the US, married, and well over twice your age, I think I'd be in love with you. You've really grown up wonderfully. And no, I don't care if you are bi, as long as you don't care that I think I am.
Posted by: Mattir-ritated
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September 7, 2010 7:18 AM
The horrifying thing is that I can totally see people that I deal with in real life saying such things and then being surprised and offended that someone would take offense at their bullying. Whatever one does in response to such hate only becomes grist for the "we haters are the real victims" mill.
Except, possibly, for the ComicCon protest response to Fred Phelps. Mockery might actually be able to move the Overton window a tad.
Posted by: Andrew Hall
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September 7, 2010 7:44 AM
I'm looking forward for the Tea Party's 15 minutes to be over. Unfortunately it won't be until after the election.
http://laughinginpurgatory.blogspot.com/2010/09/30-days-of-blasphemy-day-5-strategic.html
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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September 7, 2010 8:14 AM
This is horrid. I know our country isn't filled by these kinds of idiots, but still, our country is putting these people in places of power. In a civilized society, there should be no way a person like that should ever be allowed to hold any government power.
America is so backwards. Seriously I'm pondering leaving this goddamned shithole. I hope in the next two years something happens that changes my mind.
Posted by: MetzO'Magic
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September 7, 2010 8:27 AM
In the linked article, further down in the Big Sky Tea Party's announcement that they sacked Ravndal, is this little gem of a disclaimer:
Must be a very, very, small organisation, then.
Posted by: ambulocetacean
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September 7, 2010 8:28 AM
Ugh. Did you see what Scranton has posted on his Facebook profile page?
Sanctimonious, illiterate scum.
In other homophobic social-networking news, Australia's swimming sweetheart, Stephanie Rice, is in the shit for calling South African rugby players "faggots" on Twitter.
Posted by: Shala
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September 7, 2010 8:42 AM
America is so backwards. Seriously I'm pondering leaving this goddamned shithole.
While I can't disagree with you on that, I've never heard of a country that's actually tolerant enough of LGBT people that would make me feel comfortable coming out to them.
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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September 7, 2010 8:55 AM
@Shala:
Yea - but at least other countries aren't actively trying to deny equal rights to an entire people because some idiot religion finds it 'icky'
Posted by: ambulocetacean
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September 7, 2010 9:10 AM
Actually, I'm pretty sure they are. Everywhere from Australia to Saudi Arabia.
Posted by: SQB (fuck death)
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September 7, 2010 10:54 AM
@Shala: Pick any one of the dark blue countries on this map. Avoid the yellow to burgundy ones.
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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September 7, 2010 11:09 AM
@SQB:
Ooh, Spain! Who wants to move to Spain with me?
Posted by: Timberwoof
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September 7, 2010 12:16 PM
What joker—I mean asshole—in the Tea Party wants to do is really not that far removed from what that other asshole in Belize did: lead people on a murderous rampage. When it happens, we'll hear all kinds of excuses: it was the will of the people, it was people exercising their religious right, it was not real so-and-sos. And these Tea Partyers are screaming about how moderate Muslims are not moderating the extreme ones: Do we get to complain about how the moderate Tea Partyers are not moderating the extreme ones?
Oh. There aren't any moderate ones. The secretary of the Wyoming Party who fired the president? He is an enabler. He did not decry the call for violence; he just covered it up.
Posted by: Timberwoof
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September 7, 2010 12:18 PM
Montana ... Wyoming ... I should know better.
Posted by: KillJoy
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September 7, 2010 12:19 PM
I guess I am lucky that I live in a fairly progressive and open minded part of the country (Seattle Washington), so I am not exposed to this variety of bigotry on any personal sort of level. In the 9 years I have lived here as a very open and enthusiastically proud gay man, I have had one incident, and that is hardly worth mentioning it was so mild.
I suppose my point is that those of us who do live in more liberal parts of the country are insulated to this stuff. It just blows my mind that there are still people out there who feel this way, and say this sort of thing with out giving any consideration to the actual human beings behind their sick little quips.. But, to people like these, Walton, myself, and millions of other people around the world are not fully human. And that is what terrifies me. Arguments from empathy do not work where there is this sort of disconnect.
So complacent queers, insulated and comfortable bisexuals and TG folks, its BEYOND time for us to stop tittering about teabagging the white house, and how COMPLETELY hetero sexual all of those closet case replublicans are, and maybe be a little scared. Be a lot more active. Register to vite if you havent already. Donate your time and your money and you moral support.
And now, I will get off my soap box.
KJ
Posted by: KillJoy
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September 7, 2010 12:21 PM
Sigh.
Preview button Killjoy.
Preview button. :(
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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September 7, 2010 12:52 PM
@KJ
I sadly live in Virginia, where our AG and Governor are trying to slowly take away homosexual rights through regulation and lawmaking that just make things harder. I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes illegal to be seen outside holding hands or hugging a same-sex partner.
I fear for the future of me and my beau.
Posted by: Gaebolga
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September 7, 2010 1:29 PM
Well, given the screwing over the Obama administration has been giving to their Progressive base (Guantanamo still open, torture still legal, public option given away before the discussion even began, caving in to business interests at the earliest possible opportunity, etc., etc., et-fucking-cetera), I'd say our country didn't actually go all that far in 2008. Symbolically, sure, but not much in the actual "change" department.
Funny thing; ShrubcorpTM used to screw their base over on social issues in order to cave to business interests at the earliest possible opportunity, too.
A cynic might note that the only constituency that has any real Federal-level representation at all in this country is businesses.
Posted by: Tor Bertin
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September 7, 2010 1:52 PM
It might amuse you to know that the Tea Party in Montana has set up the "Lest We Not Forget Fund."
Yes, you read that right. Lest we not forget.
Posted by: Gaebolga
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September 7, 2010 2:12 PM
What are they going to do with the fund?
Give every member a(nother) lobotomy?
Posted by: Katharine
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September 7, 2010 2:32 PM
Funny story:
I, a big liberal and big ally, just visited my doctor today, who works down the hall from Kook-inelli's old office.
Posted by: blf
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September 7, 2010 2:38 PM
Pocket it.
Posted by: Darreth
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September 7, 2010 2:38 PM
The ONLY surprising thing about this is that the man was demoted.
But you can be assured he'll show up somewhere else, swinging with both fists next time.
Posted by: 朴競花/박경화 (Gyeong Hwa)
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September 7, 2010 2:49 PM
This
Posted by: Citizen of the Cosmos
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September 7, 2010 3:41 PM
I wonder why people think this is even an issue. So some people are gay, so what? Why is this so terribly important to some people? I have heard them say that gays, simply by existing and not hiding, are forcing their lifestyle on others. I guess straights are not forcing their lifestyle on others.
Posted by: SteveM
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September 7, 2010 3:57 PM
re 62:
Same here, it's almost like they think the only reason people are heterosexual is because we forbid homosexuality. And if homosexuality becomes "acceptable" then no one will be "het".
Posted by: Montana Cowgirl
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September 7, 2010 4:23 PM
Thanks for the link! You have a great blog here. I though you might enjoy the latest, this guy has been ousted from the Tea Party and it has made national news:
http://mtcowgirl.com/2010/09/07/ravndal-forced-to-resign-makes-nationwide-news/
Posted by: Gaebolga
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September 7, 2010 4:32 PM
@#63
Which is eerily similar to the claim I've heard some Fundies toss out, namely that belief in God is the only thing that keeps us all from going on some wanton stealing, raping, and killing spree.
To which I always reply: "Well, if that's the only thing keeping you in line, please don't lose your faith. Just remember that not eveyone is a homicidal psychopath like you, though."
I seem to recall reading a review of a study a few years back where the researchers hooked a sphygmometer up to a bunch of guys' funbits and recorded their levels of turgidity in response to different types of pron (straight, bi, guy-guy, girl-girl). It seems that self-identified homophobes were two to three times more likely to register an erectile response to guy-guy porn than non-homophobic men.
Posted by: SteveM
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September 7, 2010 4:49 PM
I was just reading the latest Scientific American piece by Michael Shermer, "Democracy's Laboratory: Are Science and Politics Interrelated?" where he reviews Timothy Ferris' book The Science of Liberty . It is a great response to the claim that America was founded on Christian principles, and instead was really founded on scientific principles.
But stories like the above (and all "teabag party" stories, actually) make me fear that maybe the experiment really has failed (or just about to fail) after all.
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
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September 7, 2010 4:58 PM
My response is different: I ask them if they tell their children, as they tuck them in at night, "I'm only doing this because of God. If I didn't fear hell, I would kill you while you sleep." Since most people don't do this (because it rarely occurs to them to kill their own children but for fear of God), they've no choice but to acknowledge fear of God doesn't factor into all that many human motivations, if they're honest.
Posted by: Gaebolga
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September 7, 2010 5:42 PM
Nice, Brownian. I'll have to try that next time; it seems a little less flamatory than calling them murdering nutjobs.
Posted by: rob
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September 8, 2010 12:35 AM
Aagghhh!! How depressing... Sometimes I feel like physically separating myself from the rest of humanity. If only I had an island somewhere where me and my dogs and the trees and other creatures could all live in peace and harmony. The love of ignorance and the capacity of the majority of humans for evil just appals me. And it's all informed by religion. But people just will not let it go and start living like sane, rational beings who want a better world for everyone, here and now.
Where will it all end?
Posted by: natural cynic
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September 8, 2010 12:42 AM
Sheesh, nobody's mentioned that Montana is where:
Men are Men and sheep are scared
Posted by: SQB (fuck death)
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September 8, 2010 3:32 AM
@Rob, #69: Or perhaps some kind of boat. Just bring the people you love, enough food to survive, animals and plants to repopulate the earth and float around while the world is -- brought on by climate change -- flooded by rains. Oh, wait...
Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnx5CyRW5h9VUvlDS7qrj52EXetroLAscE
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September 8, 2010 6:25 AM
Interesting choice of words by this Scranton person. Puts me in mind of some vile inversion of Abel Meeropol.
Posted by: Katharine
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September 8, 2010 9:37 AM
I find it hilarious how homophobic people hate gay people despite having no good reason and when pressed for the reason why they chalk it up to their imaginary friend or some sort of weird revulsion.
I'm straight and an ally and I feel no revulsion when I interact with anyone who is gay.
Also, I find it funny how a lot of homophobes are probably gay themselves. Self-haters are almost hilariously pathetic; the ones that hurt others through their self-hate should be mocked roundly and perhaps made to hate themselves for other reasons. :P Let natural selection work its magic; if we can get them to hate themselves enough for being insecure, immature idiots who can't stop harming others in their quest to deny themselves they might do the world a favor and rid us of their presence.
Posted by: Walton, Marquis of Carabas
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September 8, 2010 9:42 AM
Wow. Thank you. I'm very flattered. :-)