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[Mononoke]

I def think it's rich considering how much herero sexuality is overt in media all the time. I'm okay with someone not liking overt sexuality in media in general regardless of preference (or finding that it can be done poorly).

If he meant that he thinks gay characters are written poorly and don't feel organic (stereotypes), okay. I think you can have that debate/criticisms.

 

[xDUMPWEEDx]

Because no one writes heterosexual characters as being defined by the fact that they are straight.

 

[jblank83]

Don't you think using the phrase “You’re going to like my lifestyle,” is extremely uncomfortable in a discussion about homosexuality?

No. In that statement he makes it explicitly clear he's talking about any character and any "cause", whether the cause is green energy, democrats, or anything else you can think of. He's talking about the integrity of the character from a literary, artistic standpoint. Is the character well written, from an author who envisioned the character as an actual person, or is it a walking talking cardboard cutout agenda? At the same time he expresses his personally discomfort with sex scenes of any type.

One can try to ferret out some other implicit psychological misgivings on his part by overanalyzing connotations and vague associations in attempt to find a bias or some bigotry, but that's a futile endeavor, a waste of time. All we have is what he explicitly states. Without any actions or pattern of behavior on his part to support such a subtextual analysis, that's a conclusion that can't be supported.

The only way to come to any real conclusion would be to further engage Crystal himself on the subject.

 

[Mononoke]

No. In that statement he makes it explicitly clear he's talking about any character and any "cause", whether the cause is green energy, democrats, or anything else you can think of. He's talking about the integrity of the character from a literary, artistic standpoint. Is the character well written, from an author who envisioned the character as an actual person, or is it a walking talking cardboard cutout agenda? At the same time he expresses his personally discomfort with sex scenes of any type.

One can try to ferret out some other implicit psychological misgivings on his part by overanalyzing connotations and vague associations in attempt to find a bias or some bigotry, but that's a futile endeavor, a waste of time. All we have is what he explicitly states. Without any actions or pattern of behavior on his part to support such a subtextual analysis, that's a conclusion that can't be supported.

The only way to come to any real conclusion would be to further engage Crystal himself on the subject.

Fair points. I just wish he had clarified a bit more or worded things differently. Because I think criticisms of how gay characters are written is valid.

Edit: actually I re-read it. I think he could have elaborated more. But I think people are reading too much into what he said (I don't think what he said was bigotry). I do think when you are speaking on a very serious/sensitive subject, you have to be careful how you word things.

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

He's either a poor communicator on this issue or the prudish twat vibes I'm getting are legit.

 

[HappyBivouac]

I think he's trying to say that a character can be gay. It just shouldn't be the defining characteristic, that homosexuals are regular people.

That seemed like what he was saying, until he literally fucking said don't make gayness seem like an everyday thing. Sounds pretty damn homophobic if you ask me.

 

[pants]

i know a couple of friends who are only gay on weekends.

True Story.

Weekends aren't optimal gay days, I mean there's too much to do AND still suck a dick or two. That's why Tuesday, no-one does anything Tuesday, except Bison.

 

[nintendork666]

Why do people give a fuck about what Billy Crystal thinks?

 

[SapientWolf]

I just think the "lesbians are awesome, but guy-on-guy? not in my backyard!" mentality is really ridiculous.

You can be find with something and still not want to watch it. I am totally ok with old people sex. Don't wanna see anyone being bent over a walker.

 

[Mononoke]

That seemed like what he was saying, until he literally fucking said don't make gayness seem like an everyday thing. Sounds pretty damn homophobic if you ask me.

I think he meant the stereotypes and the poor writing makes it seem like an every day thing. Or maybe I read it wrong? Initially took it the way you did. But taking in the overall point of what he's saying, I think he meant that they are making the stereotypes and poor portrayals of gay people seem like that is how homosexuality is.

That said, the ways he's worded things is pretty bad. So maybe I'm wrong and he was inferring that gayness isn't a common every day thing.

If that is what he meant, then yeah he's being stupid as hell. While it's true heterosexuality is by and large the majority, that doesn't mean gay characters/romance are being forced just because it's more common in today's media. Like I said earlier, Hetero perspective and sexuality is pushed overtly all the time. So complaining that sexuality other than hetero is forced because there are more hetero people in the world, is fuckin stupid. The criticism would only make sense if he had examples of poorly written gay characters that he felt were only there for the sake of ticking off boxes. But what examples are these?

In that case, that is more to do with bad writing and not some agenda being pushed or whatever. Basically I get a vey vague sense he's pushing the gay agenda conspiracy I hear rigt wingers spew.

 

[DOWN]

I think people are over complicating this. It sounds like he is saying he has a mild aversion or prejudice, so while he supports it being part of TV, he feels it is too much exposure in how often it is included and he feels this especially when the sexual aspects of gay characters are shown.

So he seems mildly prejudiced and ignorant but trying not to be and overall he thinks inclusion is not an issue. Not that offended honestly.

 

[Nephtis]

I think people are over complicating this. It sounds like he is saying he has a mild aversion or prejudice, so while he supports it being part of TV, he feels it is too much exposure in how often it is included and he feels this especially when the sexual aspects of gay characters are shown.

So he seems mildly prejudiced and ignorant but trying not to be and overall he thinks inclusion is not an issue. Not that offended honestly.

I think it's simpler than that -- he clearly has no issues with gay characters in TV, in fact, he's more than likely all for it. So let's get this part out of the way.

The media oversexualizes the hell out of everything. I don't think there are many shows that don't use sex appeal, unless it's a kid's show. There *is* such a thing as too much sex, and too many sexual themes, and we don't need that shit. It cheapens a character. To make it worse, a lot of series/shows put it all up in your face "oh look at that gay/straight couple having sex/making out and what have you, and it serves no purpose in the story, other than, hey, it's sexual and people love that.