God save the queers
Jon Tveite (jontv@ksu.edu)
Thu, 04 Mar 1999 08:46:59 -0600
Scottie B.:
> On the basis of this experience, I can assure you, Will,
> that it's precisely this kind of prissy, self-righteous scolding
> that makes them groan & that contributes as much as anything
> to the perpetuation of the ghetto. In demanding velvet gloves
> & tippytoes it locks them firmly into the stereotypes
> which joking - the campier the better - will demolish &
> laugh out of court.
I can certainly see your point, Scottie. Humor is an integral part of
queer culture -- especially self-deprecating humor and ironic plays on
stereotypes -- a point that has escaped a lot of straight folks.
Unfortunately, the kind of deadpan stereotyping you engaged in doesn't
come across very well on the Internet. Personal relationships have a
lot to do with how humor is perceived, and people need to have a sense
of where you're coming from to know how to process it. If I call my
best friend "a big fag," he will laugh, but if a stranger does it, he is
more likely to be offended. Not crushed, but offended. With me, he'd
probably say something like, "Who are you calling 'big'?"
What we need is some kind of licensing system so that queer-friendly
status can be verified quickly and easily -- maybe some kind of badge or
photo-ID we can flash, FBI-style.
Jon