Yesterday when I opened my Blogger Dashboard I found some comments awaiting moderation which I read and then deleted. I now wish I hadn’t.
One of them was a comment on my post about Magda Szubanski’s support for gay marriage legislation.
Firstly, the author referred to Magda’s comment that some gays are reluctant to come out while there is a risk young family members might be subject to abuse.
My reference to the abuse of youngsters because they are somehow associated with gays was not the tactical error the author implied it was. The reference to abuse was in no way a concession that gays are selfish for exposing those around them to potential harm.
The bullying of young people by their peers is not okay.
Not ever.
Bullying is usually “justified” on one flimsy excuse or another. If a bully’s target were not somehow associated with gays, the bully would fabricate some other “reason” for his or her aggression. This aggression is not the responsibility of a victim’s gay relatives, it is behaviour for which the bully him/her self must take full responsibility.
The bullying of young people is a pastime of those who have not been shown, by the good example of the adults in their life, that all life deserves respect. For this reason I believe the author’s reference to the abuse of youngsters was not a tactical error on my part, but rather a tactical error on his/her part. Presumably the author identifies as heterosexual and has portrayed him/her self as someone who thinks bullying is normal, or okay, or inevitable in some circumstances.
This lack of a good example is something for which adults must take responsibility.
This lack of a good example is something for which adults must take responsibility.
Secondly, what I hope is that scuze i is a forum for the considered exchange of ideas. I am not always right, but I am prepared to learn from others, and I believe adults should be able to agree to disagree.
The comment I deleted had a tone which put me in mind of question time in parliament, where the behaviour is appalling, and the points scored are points scored for their own sake, and totally lacking merit.
I do not plan to approve or publish comments which are rude, or seek to denigrate my blog-world friends.
