Comments on: George Takei on Tim Hardaway Homosexual Comments (Video)

By: Steven Taylor

Steven Taylor — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:35:44 +0000

I used to think that the word "homphobia" was a misnomer. However, there are people who actually are afraid of homosexuals or are irrationally concerned that their children will become gay if they don't play with the right toys or if you dress your boys in pastels (I kid thee not: I have heard otherwise well-educated persons in their thirties say such things). And then there are people like Hardaway who called himself a homophobe and who clearly has an irrational reaction to gays. As such, the word has more salience than some may think, although I do think that the word is often mis-applied to people who simply have moral objections (to object to homosexuality is not to be afraid of it). The bottom line in terms of the humor, it isn't like Hardaway, a relatively young man and a former athlete really has anything to fear from George Takei, a man who will be 70 in April. As such all the "rape" talk about is rather silly.

By: floyd

floyd — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:32:15 +0000

Maniakes; Takei's commentary works because it treats a controversial subject with humor,which anyone could understand, instead of constant whining and stupid "made-up" words, like "homophobia" which are meant only to insult and and obfuscate!

By: Steven Taylor

Steven Taylor — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:52:11 +0000

Also a factor is Takei was parodying an irrational fear that many homophobes have about gay people (that is, that gay men are constantly trying to molest or seduce straight men).

This is the point.

By: Paul Barnes

Paul Barnes — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:14:24 +0000

For some reason, I think George is going to be remembered more for his humour than Star Trek. Just sayin...

By: Maniakes

Maniakes — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:32:33 +0000

Also a factor is Takei was parodying an irrational fear that many homophobes have about gay people (that is, that gay men are constantly trying to molest or seduce straight men).

By: Rodney Dill

Rodney Dill — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:18:01 +0000

I had to look through the video again to be sure and I think its a stretch to claim that the punchline is "you will be raped." Takei said, "some day when you least expect it I will have sex with you." while statement in itself doesn't preclude rape, it could include other scenario's as well. There are a number of factors that would determine where the opposite would be found funny or offensive or funny by the public. Jimmy Kimmel claiming to have surprise sex with Rosie would probably be found funny (well maybe disgusting). Iron Mike Tyson claiming to want to have sex with Ellen probably wouldn't sit that well.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:21:25 +0000

YAJ-

My post was in response to this line:

I personally see the humor in this, but wonder how it would be received if the same words were used but the sexual orientations were reversed.

Whether or not jokingly threatening rape is an appropriate response is not relevant to this particular line of your post. The line was about the response of the public. The reason people aren't up in arms over Takei's comments is because of the perception that Hardaway deserved it. The point of my post was that the public's response to the reverse would be the same IF the perception was that the lesbian deserved it.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:54:19 +0000

Brian,

I don't think you quite get the point. Hardaway exercised his free speech rights (I don't know who he is or what he said, but I can get it from context). The response was to threaten him with assault (legally defined as an unwanted touching) or sexual assault (what we used to call rape). I realize that this is all done as a joke, but the punchline of the joke is essentially "you will be raped".

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:53:09 +0000

YAJ-

As long as Ellen or some other lesbian said she is heterophobic, I think it would be well received as an appropriate and hilarious response.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:38:56 +0000

Just a question, but what if a straight actor did a similar spot which ended with a promise that one day, when she least expected, he was going to have sex with Ellen DeGeneres (or some other self admitted lesbian)?

I personally see the humor in this, but wonder how it would be received if the same words were used but the sexual orientations were reversed.

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » George Takei Takes On Tim Hardaway

Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » George Takei Takes On Tim Hardaway — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:37:08 +0000

[...] H/T: Outside The Beltway [link] [...]

By: Rodney Dill

Rodney Dill — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:56:23 +0000

Ha! sounds like the appropriate response.

By: » OTB News

» OTB News — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Archives December 2006 August 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 [IMG Outside The Beltway | OTB] Iditarod XXXV OTB Caption JamTM George Takei on Tim Hardaway Homosexual Comments (Video) Gilmore: McCain, Guiliani, Romney Phony Conservatives (Video) N.Z. Bear Named Blogger of the Year CPAC - Mitt Romney Army Secretary Resigns Amid Walter Reed Probe Katie Couric in 3rd Place South Carolina Straw Poll