I think there's a marked distinction. People fear what they don't understand (simple ignorance)...but when the explanation comes and they reject it so they can stay in their comfort zone, I'd say that's phobia. That's just my opinion, though.
In a theoretical sense, or a practical one? I think there is a distinction in a theoretical sense. It's entirely possible that someone simply wouldn't know much about things queer, but not have a negative preconception. In practice, however, I think it's probably rare.
I think so. Stephen King said that nothing you see can eb as scary as what you imagination, and for some people, a simple explanation of they do this, rather than that, is better than Nameless Horror.
Vastly. First, "queer phobia," implies fear, whereas, "simple ignorance," does not. For example, if I make grilled cheese and burn it because I didn't know that you should put margarine on the outside, that can be simple ignorance, and is obviously not a phobia of any kind, much less queer phobia.
The confluence of simple ignorance and xenophobia can cause prejudicial hatred of differing groups, of course, but being a factor in something isn't the same as being the same as something. I think that at least those two things need to be present to generate the sentiment in question.
i think the suffix "phobia" is given too much credence in discussions of this issue. i see very little of what i would normally consider a "phobic" response - similar to the affect observable in acrophobia, for instance - in the behaviors of the queerphobic.
i also think that buying into the term lends weight to the "gay panic" defense which is still used to excuse hatred and murder of queers.
it's horseshit. and it's not ignorance, either. it's bigotry and oppression - the exercise of prejudice through power.
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-20 08:09 am (UTC)People fear what they don't understand (simple ignorance)...but when the explanation comes and they reject it so they can stay in their comfort zone, I'd say that's phobia.
That's just my opinion, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-20 08:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-20 09:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-20 09:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-20 02:11 pm (UTC)The confluence of simple ignorance and xenophobia can cause prejudicial hatred of differing groups, of course, but being a factor in something isn't the same as being the same as something. I think that at least those two things need to be present to generate the sentiment in question.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-21 07:56 am (UTC)i also think that buying into the term lends weight to the "gay panic" defense which is still used to excuse hatred and murder of queers.
it's horseshit. and it's not ignorance, either. it's bigotry and oppression - the exercise of prejudice through power.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-25 07:08 am (UTC)