Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!gatech!rutgers!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: tp0x+@cs.cmu.edu (Thomas Price) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Re^4: Campus Crusade Message-ID: Date: 2 Jun 91 04:59:19 GMT Article-I.D.: athos.Jun.2.00.59.17.1991.15951 Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon Lines: 39 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Louie Crew) writes: > >Homophobes are in no position at all to discern these issues for lesgay >persons, because all phobia is by definition irrational. Homophobes cannot This is an unfortunate instance of being trapped by one's own terminology. I do not wish to comment on the larger issue but simply to note that Louie's reasoning is seriously flawed. All phobia is indeed by definition irrational, but not all opposition to homosexuality is properly termed 'homophobia.' The term 'homophobia' is one I strongly dislike, because it implies that all opposition to homosexuality is and can be based on irrational fear. This implication cannot be demonstrated. It is, in fact, only a convenient prejudice. Any discussion suffers if it must be carried on using terms which are skewed towards the values of one side or another. May I suggest the term 'anti-homosexuality' for general use. Homophobia is a good description of most opposition to homosexuality -- usually by people afraid of all sorts of things having to do with their own bodies, 'tis true -- but it is only useful as a descriptive term. Its use in abstract policy arguments is, for the reasons mentioned above, misleading. Tom Price tp0x@cs.cmu.edu Disclaimer: We are trapped by our notion of what is right. [Perhaps you should use different terms depending upon what you're talking about. I agree with you that you shouldn't use homophobia in policy discussions where you're referring to the view that homosexual activity is a sin. However I think it's useful when talking about hysterical reactions to homosexuals, including violence and other forms of personal attack directed at them. There are of course those treat all opposition to homosexual activity as hysterical, and thus apply the term homophobia to it all. But if you let extremist rhetoric control your language, you're going to be in big trouble. --clh]