Responses to Homo PDA in a Sportsbar.

I must admit that I find this video very interesting. At the same time, it is not very insightful. The entire scenario is staged--smartly safe, in case things do go awry. Toward the end of the video, when the discussion admits that people want to appear tolerant or part of the group, I question the structure of the entire "experiment."

Why does the homophobic actor need to perform excessively? If, as I would assume, people voice their opinions in small groups and then potentially expand to engage in group-think...why not gently illustrate bigotry. Show how people respond, share opinions and converse casually about the PDA that occurs. This would seem to illicit much more insidious opinions; plus, who is to say that people will speak their minds and beliefs in public. The retaliation of the group against the publicly vocal homophobic remarks clearly illustrates this.

I am also curious about why the non-actor, who was sharing his homophobic thoughts with the actor-couple, was not questioned about the change in his opinion. If the point is to be educational, to reveal how people act, then why not *publicly* question his quick-flip opinion. The truly enlightening moment, at least for that man, would be for him to be confronted about his homophobic remarks. Why not make him reconcile the fact that he thought he could change his opinion when (once again) opinions are made "public?"

Overall, I think that there is something much more fundamental than homophobia occurring within this video. There is an obvious lack of discussion about the distinctions between public and private opinion. There is also a lack of discussion about the belief-structures that influence this entire program:

• Why are men used to signify homosexuality?
• Would the dynamic change if women were in the same situation, and how would this complicate gender (and gendered-space) dynamics?
• And, ultimately, why is this about "tolerance?" Why is it necessary for a discussion about heterosexism and/or homophobia to be grouped within a problematic discourse about "tolerance," as if acceptance or equality are granted through tolerance? Or, is there a fundamental "sameness" that homosexual folk even want to maintain with heterosexual counterparts?
  

For more (not necessarily insightful) readings, about how this kind of video draws attention in a broader context, be sure to look at the YouTube user-comments on the actual YouTube page.

Are you Straight?

Old argument, new YouTube context. This is certainly one way to reformulate the heterosexist questions that can come the way of a queer person. Actually...I think that I used this tactic when I came out as gay to my family...oh, 10 years ago.

Caution to All-Consider the Information That you Share.

I am never one to really care about people who post information in various surveys on these social networking sites. But, people do need to be cognizant of the *kinds* of information that you are asked to share and what kinds of security risks the information can pose.

Take as an example, from one current survey that is swarming Facebook, THE NAME GAME. In this survey you are asked to declare what your "names" would be according to various criteria.

Some of these options range from: first name of your mother's dad, father's dad; mother and fathers middle names; 1st pet's name, a street you grew up on; the name of one of your pets.

Now all of this information may seem to be casual, playful and insignificant. BUT, let us say that you also post your e-mail address in your profile. If that e-mail address belongs to any mass site, the answers to your password reset security questions are likely included within this list of information that you have *openly* disclosed.

Take down your surveys folks if you recognize that you are putting this information out there. Or, consider and deal with the risks. I would wager that these were created by people who know that this information is of value and take advantage of the possibility that millions of people will participate on a lark.

Beckoning a Pixelated Past

I must admit that I am always intrigued by the the visualization of "past" mediums in the "present." None the less, these lego-looking pixelated nudes for the French mag Amusement are certainly a site to see! It reminds of a time, long long ago, when all you could hope for was someone to chat online with who spent the time to scan her/his photo at a local Kinko's with a resolution that could possibly fill up half of a 3.5 floppy. Dare we say that pixelated bodies like these will never need become a visual standard in the era of the iPhone.

queers overhear via Gizmodo.

Virtual Sex 2.0

OMG. Teenagers all over the country will never need to leave their rooms again, especially when the need to find pleasure at make-out point or the local drive-in (do any still exist?...I kid) can be synthesized through the computer. The dildo/vibrator have been taken to an entirely new level with an upgrade to the (now so so old school) fleshlight style utility.

The "Virtual Hole" allows you to insert your junk, and connect to someone over the web who has a stimulate-able dildo. When the dildo is stroked, the VH responds in kind.

Want to know more? Queers overhear at Gizmodo.

Jon Stewart, Huckabee Gay Marriage

Interesting video. Jon slams Huckabee, though it seems that Huckabee doesn't understand what he is saying. Why don't people espousing these ideas understand parallel comparisons?

iNO...iKNOW? Prop 8 Parody of Apple Ads.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Prop 8, The Musical

Funny. Though, I am still not too hip on the institution of marriage.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die