io9: Strung out on “Gay”?
As long as I’ve got this eye-patch, I’m going on a little Colonel Tigh rant. I’m especially interested in your feedback on this one.
Reader Dan pointed me to article Is Speed Racer Just Too Gay over at io9, in which blogger Annalee Newitz throws around the word “gay” pretty loosely. I’ll be honest, I don’t usually mind when people use “gay” to mean “lame”, but there is something uncomfortable about the way she alternates using “gay” to mean “lame” in one sentence then back to “queer” in the next. I don’t get a homophobic vibe from it, though. It’s just irritating. What say you all? [Thanks, Dan!]
Of course, they probably just use “gay” in the headlines to increase hit counts. That’s the only way I can explain this article from last year, Heroes Has Become Gay Mutant Version of Mad about You, which, now that I read it more closely, has even less to do with Mad about You than with gay mutants. I confess that I’m also guilty of salacious headlines. For example, I’ve used Gay Zombie Porn for All, but in my defense, it was a post about gay zombie porn.
Finally, I’m sure you’re all aware by now that George Takei and his partner Brad Altman have planned to wed now that it’s [probably] legal in California. If you don’t already love George Takei, you should start now:
Now, that guy has class. [Be sure you wait for the :41 second mark.]
io9, while they “have nothing but respect and maybe a little adoration for television’s first Mr. Sulu”, wonders why all the media outlets are using dull headlines like Wired’s Star Trek’s Sulu Plans to Marry Partner instead of Igotarant’s George ‘Sulu, And I Take It In The Ass’ Takei Is Getting Married.
I don’t know, io9. Maybe because that’s a douchey thing to write?
Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?
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Posted in Sci Fi
May 28th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Hey Lee sorry about your eye, I hope you get better soon.
Yeah, I’ve been getting annoyed with IO9 and their seemingly homophobic rants of late. They must have a lot of gay readers and yet they continue with these annoying digs at gay people.
If you want pure, blatant anti-gay comments, the posts(by visitors to the site) at AINT IT COOL NEWS have pretty bad ones.
So, How did you like Hera setting up Rebel Six to be shot by “Athena”? If anyone sabotaged the cooperation between the Humans and the Rebel Cylons it was Hera. I’m liking “Sinister Hera”. Although it was kind of moot considering the Cylon Hybrid
going nuts with the very cool “JJUUMMMPP!!!”.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Did I say “Lee”, I meant to say Colonel Tigh, Sir!
May 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I think it’s more of a case of them trying too hard to be part of the the Gawker media empire and trying to shock and be funny. Considering that the writer of the article and the editor are both queer I don’t think they are being homophobic just trying to be funny and failing.
I think it’s also a case of being based in sex positive San Francisco and being all up front and in your face with sex regardling the takei as well as making fun of how everyone is making such a big deal of him coming out publicly after so many year of being on the down low at cons.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Episode 8 “Sine Qua Non”. For the most part there are some good revelations. HOWEVER, the “events” concerning the Hub - NOT COOL.
May 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
i dont get it either…
anyone else make the audiance target connection?
seriously, Iron Man=adult audiance
Speed Racer=youth
and i’m not saying youth isnt worthy of adult viewing, its just most adults avoid that kinda movie.
that and iron man has had a whole heck of a lot more advertising