Homophobia is not a problem in league

slippykitten·May 21, 2015·3 votes·339 views

In every community behavior discussion Riot likes to use the word homophobia as a reason to ban people, but apparently they aren't entirely aware of the meaning.

A phobia is a fear, and homophobia is a fear of homosexuals or homosexuality in general. Calling someone a "%%%" in chat is not an example of a fear of homosexuality. It may be insensitive, or not politically correct, but it certainly isn't a phobia.

Riot, call things what they are. Don't throw around buzz words that make things seem like something they are not. If you want to ban people for derogatory speech towards gays, go ahead, but be honest about it.

7 Comments

Drunk RummateMay 21, 20155 votes

Homophobia means fear of homosexuality in a literal sense, but definitions often transcend their literal meaning. A great example of this is the word "literally," which people commonly use as slang/emphasis when referring to something figurative. Ex: "That was literally retarded." If you google the word homophobia, the first definition brought up is "dislike of or prejudice against homosexual people." So Riot is not necessarily wrong in their use of it.

slippykittenMay 21, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Homophobia means fear of homosexuality in a literal sense, but definitions often transcend their literal meaning. A great example of this is the word "literally," which people commonly use as slang/emphasis when referring to something figurative. Ex: "That was literally retarded." If you google the word homophobia, the first definition brought up is "dislike of or prejudice against homosexual people." So Riot is not necessarily wrong in their use of it.

Words can be used outside their normal definitions all the time, but it needs context and understanding. If i just say a word, it is assumed that it is used in its actual definition. If i say "no homophobia" with no context or understanding, why would i assume anything other than the actual definition of the word?

Drunk RummateMay 21, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Words can be used outside their normal definitions all the time, but it needs context and understanding. If i just say a word, it is assumed that it is used in its actual definition. If i say "no homophobia" with no context or understanding, why would i assume anything other than the actual definition of the word?

Okay? And using homophobia as a reason to ban people in the same manner as racial slurs isn't enough context for you?

BeerOfRoot4843May 21, 20153 votes

Every definition I look up suggests that homophobia is either a fear or dislike. Not just fear. Where'd you get this notion that homophobia's strictly a phobia?

And if you're right, why is a poor choice of words such a big deal when you get what they're trying to say anyway? We're not banning people for being irrationally scared of stuff.

slippykittenMay 21, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Every definition I look up suggests that homophobia is either a fear or dislike. Not just fear. Where'd you get this notion that homophobia's strictly a phobia?

And if you're right, why is a poor choice of words such a big deal when you get what they're trying to say anyway? We're not banning people for being irrationally scared of stuff.

Where did i get the idea that homo-phobia is a phobia? The fact that the word is a joining of homo and phobia means that the literal definition is a phobia of homos. Words, they have meanings.
Why does it matter? Because there is a joining of two different ideas to blur the lines of an honest disagreement and unjust hate. If i paint the entire picture with a broad stroke brush i can call anything that differs from my opinion as wrong. I can disagree with homosexuality without being hateful, mean or discriminatory. When we call hate speech "homophobia" we reinforce the notion that i can call whatever you do against me by whatever label i want because its all the same. Calling someone a "fag" on league is not the same as me having an honest debate in the proper forum about same sex marriage. So we need to stop lumping behavior together into whatever term we want to use to further our own agendas.

BeerOfRoot4843May 21, 20151 votes

Words (The noun, not the exclamation of agreement.) _Can _(As in able to, not a physical can of something.) Have (As in possess, not to own.) _Many _(As in numerous, not a majority of people.) Different (As in various, not unusual.) _Meanings _(As in definition, not intentions.)

Homophobia means that you either have an abnormal fear of gay people, or you really don't like them. You can't rule out different meanings just because of the word's structure.

Riot's use of the word homophobia is in the correct context, which is somebody with discriminatory behavior calling people a fag. "Fag" may not suit your standards for what's offensive, but you don't speak for everyone.

You have a problem with people using the world correctly. And you don't like the risk of somebody who "rightfully" hates gays getting mixed with people who are only scared of gays. Like there has been some sort of injustice. I don't know what to say.

air tigerMay 21, 20152 votes

How about this.. if you call someone a fag in an attempt to insult them, you are inferring that being gay is less than you. It's elitist, prejudiced toxicity. Not that the lol kids doing this will understand what's wrong with that, because children.