teefal

No go back and read the same topic, this time assuming the couple are both men. They could have been. There's nothing in the first post to indicate gender, other than tone. That's the difference. That's the homophobia. If someone could write a post like this about a couple of men caught in the act, with the same tone, and all of us read it like it was no big thing, just as normal as an adventurous hetero couple, then we'd be getting somewhere. Yes, this nicer post seems to be about a one-time thing and the "disgusting, ghastly, frightening" incident seems more frequent, which makes it more disturbing. I'm not disputing that an anonymous sex meeting place in a park is troubling. I'm just answering those that are saying "this isn't about homophobia", when it couldn't be clearer to me that homophobia is playing a large role throughout this topic. [This message was edited by teefal on June 05, 2003 at 08:05 AM.]

Here's another example of better tone when it's a heterosexual couple: http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=6216058331&m=5536032151&inc=1

Many have said the talk about homophobia is off-topic in this thread. In my opinion, it's not off-topic. The topic title and first post are clearly homophobic. What specifically is disgusting, ghastly, and frightening? If Jomarac came across a female prostitute and a john, would he/she have used the same language, the same tone? If homophobia weren't at play, I doubt he/she would have written that finding a dead body would be preferably to seeing two men having sex. Compare the tone of the following topic, which is considerably more light-hearted. As far as I can see, the only differences are 1) no one was caught in the act, 2) women were involved: http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=6216058331&m=7496089691

Sorry for the long post, I've got a few short points, with many quotes from this topic: My points: 1. yes, witnessing any crime in action (public nudity) is legitimate cause for concern 2. yes, nobody came right out and said "gays are sickos" 3. yes, the homophobia's pretty disturbing in this topic. -- homophobia: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals -- "YUCK -- Disgusting, Ghastly and Frightening" "Recently in our area, we had a cache that was placed in an area that is frequented by, um, well, let's say, er, it wasn't Adam and Eve sharing a private personal moment, if you know what I mean." "I had the foul experience of personally interupting and witnessing one of these encounters" "an area where it is obviously a sicko hangout" "Well they weren't dead bodies but they were of the same gender -- and in the throws of passion (if that's what you'd call it). I think I would have rather found a dead body." "This has nothing to do with gay bashing." "In my opinion this sort of disgusting activity should be left for the bedroom" "State police were taken to task for arresting people for lewd and lacivous conduct in rest areas" "These things are contrary to the laws of even this very liberal and degenerating land." "That it was two men, does make it a more repulsive display in my books." "There is a difference between a couple diving into the bushes for a quickly and strangers gathering for bush buggering. And this is generally gay male behavior and it ruins parks." "It's like two dogs going at it, they don't care who stumbles across them. That's what makes it ghastly and frightening, it's a sub level of human activity that deserves to be shuned." "Add the worry about people who do that also being possible child molesters and you really have a problem. Of course both groups of sickos get political cover from the gay rights establishment." "If we could develop some means of alerting our fellow local cachers to an infested cache" "As long as these sick individuals can hide behind the banner of gay rights.." "You need to drop this homosexual/hetrosexual thing. It's not the issue here." "I think we should take the parks back from these cretins." "At what point will all these havens belong to low lifes." "I think you are definitely wrong about these people not being sicko's." "Sorry, but there's just nothing correct about this sort of behaviour and there is nothing that you can say to convince me otherwise. It's sick." "If their behavior is so un-sicko (to coin a new term) why are they so ashamed?" "we have become a society that is far too tolerant of behaviour that weakens the fabric of civilized society." "I can't beleive that people here are going to honestly try to say theres no difference between a straight couple getting it on in the bushes and two men having an*l sex in the bushes. You've got to be joking." "Well, it isn't a normal activity because if it was the norm, the entire human race would go extinct in one generation. There are plenty of different sexual "preferences". Almost all are illegal, and for good reasons." "Nowhere in my posts do I say that I have a problem or prejudice about gays." -- homophobia: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals -- It's what you write between the lines that does the damage. It's the real reason these men meet in parks. Whether realized or not, these words are harmful, even when your intentions are good. Want the 'sickos' out of the parks? Being more careful with your words is a good first step.

here's a few ideas... 1. set up a few wireless webcams that are aimed at license plates & "active" areas 2. put the license plates on a "wall of inappropriate public pickle parking" web page 3. add a members-only area of the website with access to photos, and take paypal donations 4. take the considerable income from #4 and create a "get-a-room" fund for nearby hotel room rental Yes, I'm joking. Yes, the homophobia's pretty disturbing in this topic. Yes, pickle parking's a problem that puts people in unpleasant positions.