Majority against homosexual marriages

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ose-gay-marriage.html

It's official /// More than half believe homosexual marriages should not be allowed and two thirds think the adoption of children by same-sex couples should not have become legal nine years ago.///

/// the ONS findings show many Britons still cling to conservative values ///

Er, excuse me but "clinging to conservative values" ?????

Don't they term it as being 'Homophobic on Answerbank?

[pa___ul3]

it's not necessarily worng to be part of a majority, but it's wrong to be swayed by an opinion just because it's held by a majority, I'm free to do what I want, any old time!

[andy-hughes]

"In answer to all those that think it is wrong to belong to the majority, I say get used to it, it's called living in a democratic society."

I don't believe that anyone on this thread has queried belonging to 'the majority' - only that 'the majority' in the case of this survey is a misnomer.

In answer to all those who think that homosexuality is an abomination, get used to it - it's called living on Planet Earth.

Sweeping statements are easy - backing up dubiously sourced information presented in a slanted manner - less so.

[boxtops]

How many people did they survey to come to this conclusion? They never asked me.

[boxtops]

... or just ignore it - if it doesn't affect me, it is no concern of mine.

[anotheoldgit]

If anyone is honest they will have noticed that I myself have not given a personal opinion on whether or not I am in agreement with Gays being married or in fact adopting children, although in the later I do have an opinion.

I simply posted this report to collect the opinion of other ABers, and once again you did not disappoint.

Once again the usual comments about it being the 21st century, 'Old uns' think differently, Daily Wail readership and of course the usual insults if one dares to hold an opposite opinion to others.

I refer of course to Andy Hughes /// they still believe that bigoted and narrow-minded views are out of step in a caring democracy.///

How dare he use the word DEMOCRACY when he classes anyone with a different viewpoint as being a 'narrow minded bigot'. Surely belonging to a democracy entitles a person to have an individual view if they so wish?

It is some peoples demands that fosters other's views on certain issues, if a person holds certain views on these matters one should not be almost forced to accept various matters that go against their personal principals.

Would one wish to be forced to accept religion, monarchy,or certain political leanings etc, etc, and if they didn't be labelled narrow minded, bigot or any other derogative term others would wish to throw at them?

Incidentally this great 21st century we hear so much about, judging by the 'broken society' we all now live in, give me early to middle 20th century, but then most of you haven't experienced those times, and don't start quoting the history books to me, because I was there, and it was so much better.

[jackthehat]

I'm glad that the mid 20th Century was better for you, AOG.......the early 21st Century looks like it's going to be much better *for me*...

[anotheoldgit]

pa___ul3

/// I'm free to do what I want, any old time! ///

That's fine, (if not quite true, or rather you would not be free for very long.)

But also give others the luxury of being free to state their opinions.

[Zeuhl]

<<I was there, and it was so much better>>

With all due respect, I think it is a well documented fact that many people associate the best of times with their own youth or early adulthood.

That is perfectly natural and as we don't have a choice in which era we are born into - it is probably just as well!

[albaqwerty]

I've carried out a poll in this household, all being below 60. None of us give a flying fig.

If people want to marry, whether homosexual or heterosexual, let 'em.

[pa___ul3]

AOG, I would be free providing whatever I want to do is within the realms of the law, which most of the time it is.
You are as free to your opinion as anyone else is to marry whoever they wish. If your opinion is that they should have that right removed then that's clear hypocrasy.

[Kromovaracun]

AOG

"In answer to all those that think it is wrong to belong to the majority, I say get used to it, it's called living in a democratic society"

This is an extremely simplistic and, frankly, mistaken view of what democracy is. Democracy is not just 'majority rules'. That's mob rule. Of course, it's majorities who decide the government, and it's majorities who by and large swing public opinion and its influence on policy. But the majority can't be all-powerful. Mill's famous arguments against the 'tyranny of the majority' are well worth heeding - and the thinkers and statesmen who actually built democracies were keenly aware of this issue.

The rights of minorities are an extremely important part of any democratic society. No, I'm not arguing for superiority of minorities - so get that right out of your head (though ABers have probably by now noticed a slightly élitist trend in my thinking, which is another issue). Gay people are finally no longer persecuted, experimented on and diagnosed as inferior by the majority as they were in your good old days (and I'm afraid the fact that you may have been unaware of it, or had a different perception at the time, is wholly irrelevant). Nobody's trying to say they have it badly off - but their rights are slightly out of kilter. All the 'pro' group is asking for is that redress be altered in accordance with modern times.

[Kromovaracun]

"give me early to middle 20th century, but then most of you haven't experienced those times, and don't start quoting the history books to me, because I was there, and it was so much better. "

You were one person among tens of millions. I'm not saying that we shouldn't consult people who were there in order to understand the past - of course we should, and we do. Note the instructive use of the word 'people' - i.e. more than one, as many as we can. And not alone either, we do so in addition to any other evidence we have to hand as well.

The idea that your memories (and yours alone!) are a wholly representative and authoritative portrait of the era you lived through is staggeringly arrogant and extraordinarily ignorant.

[andy-hughes]

AOG -

"...and the majority of the AB posters who were interested in getting involved in the debate couldn't care less what the survey said - they still believe that bigoted and narrow-minded views are out of step in a caring democracy."

Just wanted to be sure that the quote you took from my post was seen in context.

You reply with -

"I refer of course to Andy Hughes /// they still believe that bigoted and narrow-minded views are out of step in a caring democracy.///

How dare he use the word DEMOCRACY when he classes anyone with a different viewpoint as being a 'narrow minded bigot'. Surely belonging to a democracy entitles a person to have an individual view if they so wish?"

Ok - first of all, i wonder why you are singling me out, and referring 'of course' to me, as though i am the only person who takes issues with your position? OK, I can take that, I am old enough to stand my ground.

Which brings me to your other rather confrontational section -

"How dare he use the word DEMOCRACY when he classes anyone with a different viewpoint as being a 'narrow minded bigot'. Surely belonging to a democracy entitles a person to have an individual view if they so wish?"

Well I 'dare' because I am old enough to express my opinions under our laws of free speech, and I dare because it's my right - and how 'dare' you take that high-handed tone with me?

I do not class anyone with a different view as a narrow-minded bigot, and you have no evidence to support that statement at all. My time of posting on here shows that i will debate vigourously, and i hope fairly with anyone, and to suggest that I insult people en masse who disagree with me is simply not true.

Belonging to a democracy does entitle everyone - including me - to an individual point of view, so don't take the pompous high ground with me when I do so. The rule applies to me, to you, and to everyone - except I never take issue with your right to express your thoughts and feeling, whereas you fight that argument on several fronts on virtually a daily basis.

We can agree to disagree - but i will not be singled out for your approbation because you feel your view is under attack.

the majority of people who have posted on this thread have argued with you - as they usually do when this issue is raised, which by you it frequently is. If you do not wish to defend your view in a reasnable and adult manner, then refrain from starting threads like this, if you are not going to accept the differeing opinions it will generate - and let's not forget, that is part of the raison d'etre of this site.

We all have our views - if we choose to debate them, then wonderful bring it on - but don't start getting snotty with one individual who opposes your viewpoint - and accuse me of an attitude I patently do not possess.

I trust you will reign in your personl vitriol, and return to the debate as an exchange of views, not personal attacks.

[Kromovaracun]

O_O