Yay! I’m a homophobe!
*EDIT: I noticed the exact same article has been posted at a blog called “On the Fritz“. Hmm..
*EDIT EDIT: The article at Pam’s site was actually written by the humorless Fritz (see comment below). I missed the byline on the first go-around. I was probably partially blinded by the incredible lack of anything resembling a sense of humor. I have also replaced the offending picture of Pam with a more appropriate image. My apologies.
A delightful little blog called “Pam’s House Blend” linked my post called “Heres a song by a gay guy“. Unfourtunately, the article is titled “The Ugly Homophobic Truth About the Rickroll”.
Quote:
An Internet phenomenon Borne of Homophobia
As this Internet phenomenon gains public attention, the reason for its popularity will continue to be ignored by the media. To break it down to the most simple terms possible, the Rickroll is popular because immature young men like to laugh at males who they perceive to be gay.
For the record, Rick Astley is not gay. He was thin, pretty, and had an enormous voice. Unfortunately, he did not conform to the standard macho image that straight people demand of male performers (compare him to Clay Aiken today) and his brief success eventually faded.
She He then goes on to make a recommendation:
What Can We Do?
I would like to speed up the process of making the Rickroll a faded memory. The best way to do that is to create a new Internet fad that will supplant the Rickroll. This new Internet fad will not stem from homophobia. It will instead be a subtle protest against homophobia.
And what would this world altering solution be? (dear god…)
My goal is to have this clip of Bananarama’s I Heard a Rumour achieve over 25 million hits on YouTube. It will stand as a counterpoint to bigotry and homophobia.
Fail. First, lets settle one thing. I think Rick-rolling people is hilarious. There. I said it. Second, Until she he posted this article, I had no idea the Rick Astley video had anything to do with being gay, or making fun of gay people. I always assumed it was funny cause you get people to accidentally watch a really .. really.. bad 80’s video of a mediocre song. The backup singers don’t even know the dance steps for gods sake.
A short search on teh google finds a ton of information on Rick rolling, including an interview with Rick himself on the subject. Quote:
“Listen, I just think it’s bizarre and funny. My main consideration is that my daughter doesn’t get embarrassed about it.”
Yeah, he really seems torn up about the whole thing.
Rick Astley is not gay. I know this. I think most people know that. And to be honest, even if he was, Rick Rolling someone is not even remotely about being teh ghey. My personal impression from this one article is that Pam Fritz is a clueless busybody that jumps to conclusions. So to wrap this up, Fritz Pam, I leave you with a famous Billy Madison quote. :
Principal: Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
But thanks for the traffic. Now please leave the internets to those of us with a sense of humor.
*EDIT: In response to Fritzes continuing humorless attack on the internets and myself: Your intolerance of humor is just as rabid and misplaced as your imaginary connection between Rick Rolling and homophobia. Pam is culpable as well for supporting this bile, but the hate is all yours my friend.
Uh, first, Pam Spaulding didn’t write that article. If you read the byline, it clearly has the name “Fritz” posted at the top.
Accusing the person who wrote the article a of “ripping someone off” just make you look kinda dumb (sorry, I can’t think of a nicer way to say it). Haven’t you ever heard of called “crossposting”? It is fairly common on blogs these days.
Second, I’m saddened but not really surprised by your snarky and dismissive rebuke — this kind of inconsiderate treatment of others is fairly common online. But, you should never forget that even though you don’t see them face-to-face, those you encounter online are real people, with real feelings.
You’ve written some pretty nasty things about Pam. I think you owe her an apology. The photo with “Does not get it” and the little arrow was something a mean school child would do.
Unfortunately, Pam and other LGBT people do “get it” — we get this kind crap from immature, bigots all of the time.
Over the years, bigots have photoshopped some pretty nasty stuff using Pam’s photo. They’ve even created entire web sites attacking her. She’s been called the n-word, a “nutty lesbian” and much, much worse. So, she’s developed some thick skin and your childish insult won’t upset her. But, it still makes you look like a jerk.
Pam is far from clueless. She has one of the top LGBT blogs in the country. She is a frequent guest on radio and TV shows and a truly wonderful person. I’m proud to call her my friend.
Frankly, this kind of personal attack is what I’d expect from someone who would cavalierly post a bigoted blog post like “Here’s a song by a gay guy”.
You should be ashamed of yourself. But, I’m willing to bet that you’ll be unrepentant and continue the personal attacks on either Pam or me or the both of us. That’s typically what immature, thoughtless people do.
You don’t have a normal sense of humor. You’re not funny. You’re just mean.
Do you have any type of religion or other type of moral influences in your life that would prevent you from thinking twice about posting someone’s photo on your blog and ridiculing that person?
I’m normally not big on quoting the Bible, but Proverbs 6:16-19 states:
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
It is the “soweth discord amonh brethren” and “feet that be swift in running to mischief” parts that you may want to consider. But, one word of advice from the Bible is always worth following, Love thy neighbor as thyself.
There are positive ways to express your opinions. You could have provided a logical, well-reasoned rebuttal to my article. Instead, you chose to attack a very nice lady who works very hard to give abused minorities a voice.
Yes you are a homophobe and a not very bright one at that.
What you think is funny is hurtful to others. That’s not having a sense of humor, that’s making fun of people who are different from you. It’s childish and immature.
RESPONSE: First, Yes, I am bright. booya. Second, I have not bashed gay people anywhere on this blog. I have been accused of it, but its just not here. I have an article or two where I take quite the opposite position actually. Please bother to read the post before responding. Thanks!
“Accusing the person who wrote the article a of “ripping someone off” just make you look kinda dumb (sorry, I can’t think of a nicer way to say it). Haven’t you ever heard of called “crossposting”? It is fairly common on blogs these days.”
“You don’t have a normal sense of humor. You’re not funny. You’re just mean.”
So what IS considered a normal sense of humor? Puppies and kittens and the Family Circus? Only in a world where calling someone “dumb” is the most insulting thing you can do. I would suggest firmly planting yourself in reality and growing some of this supposed “thick skin” that Pam has. I say “supposed” because she apparently feels the need to sick her minions on Some Guy on the Internet instead of ignoring him entirely, like a “mature person” would do.
“Second, I’m saddened but not really surprised by your snarky and dismissive rebuke — this kind of inconsiderate treatment of others is fairly common online. But, you should never forget that even though you don’t see them face-to-face, those you encounter online are real people, with real feelings.”
Yes, yes, let us all remember that people with different lifestyles who get bashed on the internets are the only people with feelings and faces. Brent here doesn’t have feelings to hurt, so being wrongly accused of homophobia does not hurt him. Selfish assholes.
“Unfortunately, Pam and other LGBT people do “get it”…”
No… you have made it utterly clear that you do NOT get it. Rickrolling people is a joke, you humorless twit. A. FUCKING. JOKE. Read it over a few times if you have to, but let’s make this all clear: Rickrolling people is a JOKE. No more, no less. If you get your precious little feelings hurt by a joke, then ignore it. The world is an unfair place, and so jokes will be made at the expense of others– we have all been at the business-end of a joke before, and we have all moved on. You should too.
“Do you have any type of religion or other type of moral influences in your life that would prevent you from thinking twice about posting someone’s photo on your blog and ridiculing that person?”
Does it matter whether or not Brent is religious? And on that topic, does this Pam person have any kind of moral influences to keep her from wrongly accusing him of homophobia for the simple reference to a PRIMETIME CARTOON?
And for the record, I do not want Pam Spaulding representing me or “giving me a voice” in the community as an “abused” bi-sexual minority. I’ve had pot-shots taken at me as a nigger, a dyke, a half-and-half and so on. I can defend myself just fine from these and other attacks without Pam’s help. I simply do not want to be represented by someone who blindly accuses people of homophobia before getting to know them as a person.
I disagreed rather vehemently with Fritz in comments (and earned my first troll rating in the process). Those of us who commented (both pro and con) knew we were debating with Fritz. Maybe had you read the byline or reviewed the debate in the comments you’d have gotten this without Fritz having to point out that you went on the offensive against the worng person.
BTW - I never heard of Rickrolling prior to Fritz’s post but have always gotten the giggles over the Astley video because I think it’s hysterical that such a deep booming voice is coming out of an anemic looking chap who looks about 12 years old. Am I immature? Yes. Am I a homophobe? No. Do I think Fritz is making a stretch at his assertion that homophobia is behind the laughs? Yes. Do I think Fritz has a right to his own opinion? you betcha.
You have a right to your opinion too but you should really pay closer attention so you can at least try to ensure your opinion is an educated one. Before you go on to lambaste Pam Spaulding as some meddlesome Yenta, maybe you should read some of her posts. You may not agree with her but you’ll find she is quite literate & exceptionally articulate. You’ll also find she is generous enough to give others a voice.
Rick Astley is not gay. I know this. I think most people know that.
What planent are you from? I don’t think most people even know who the heck Astley is let alone know he’s not gay. This being said, I did think it was nice he has a sense of humor about the whole thing.
RESPONSE: First, Yes, I am bright. booya. Second, I have not bashed gay people anywhere on this blog. I have been accused of it, but its just not here. I have an article or two where I take quite the opposite position actually. Please bother to read the post before responding. Thanks!
I read your piece. Your “Billy Madison” quote is an apt description for it, but alas you fail to make that connection.
Just because you say you’re bright doesn’t mean you are. After all your opinion on that subject is not exactly unbiased so most reasonable people would have reason to doubt it. The fact you originally thought Pam wrote or plagiarized the piece and had to be corrected by the actual author more or less proves the point that maybe you might lack a certain degree of cognitive ability. Quoting from an Adam Sandler movie shows a certain lack of sophistication, don’t you think?
Just because you’ve been called on it doesn’t mean you have to get defensive. The fact you are seems to indicate a possibility the criticism is true on at least one level.
RESPONSE: I respond not to be defensive, but to let the loyal readers know that I care. Second, I corrected my post as soon as I was made aware of the 5pt type by-line attached to the article. The practice of quoting from movies has very nearly become its own language. Entire conversations can and have been had with nothing but lines from movies. Your lack of awareness of this shines a light on your general lack of internet experience, as does your continuing misunderstanding of the Rick Roll. Feel free to crawl back to the Christian chat rooms, or whatever intolerant uptight and humorless community you came from.
… I love how these people are clinging to something as menial as your mis-reading a byline (never mind that you corrected it immediately).
Also, what’s all this criticism of Adam Sandler movies? Granted, I don’t like the guy either, but the fact that you DO like him does not make you an idiot. I for one am quite fond of the Three Stooges flicks, Steve Martin’s “The Jerk”, and the Naked Gun Movies. I guess that makes me an idiot.