George Takei sees a large penis on TV

Really, we just can't stand the leather chaps.

I'm not disagreeing with him about the over-the-top stuff at all. But you'd have to go out of your way to be offended by that photo.

The world is full of busy-bodies. They do a lot more harm.

Oh. I see. It just seemed you were going further than that. Carry on...

Unless it was Gloria Estefan, on stage...

I know one gay couple who makes a point of taking vacation time during Gay Pride week in New York so they can be somewhere else when "the flamers" take to the streets. Of course, they've been together for nearly 40 years, and one of them's a Republican, so they can be a bit stuffy. But yeah, I sort of know where they're coming from.

Gays, like any minority, are overly-scrutinized by the majority population, who have a tendency to judge "all of those people" by a handful.

All women are not Anna-Nicole Smith. All black people shouldn't have to answer for Louis Farrakhan. But the majority population sometimes seems to judge them that way.

The guy in the leather chaps is not representative of the gay community, just of himself. But society doesn't judge him that way.

I've probably put a lot more thought into this than it's worth, but it's Monday and I'm into work avoidance...

Work avoidance? Sure! Just pm'ed you, btw.

Actually, nowhere in that commercial did I see anything REMOTELY sexual. Somebody said he says WOW with regard to something he sees that we don't when the screen is turned, but as the screen turns and is just out of my eyeshot it's still on that damned fish, so I think SHARP is advertising their superior color contrast and wanted a Star Trek icon to showcase it.

And if I worked for Sharp, I'd probably have picked Takei too. He's a funny guy, probably the funniest one left of the original cast now that Scotty's gone. (May he rest in peace)

*As for the Lohan reference. That was a lowblow. You know exactly what I meant. And I'm not playing dumbshit with you today.

I'm not talking about the commercial. I'm talking specifically about *your reaction* to the photo.

I mean, most people would really have to squint at it to see what he's holding in his hand, and I'm reasonably certain that as the car passed by, most people wouldn't have noticed.

Again, the fact that you zeroed in on "OMFG!!!! HE'S HOLDING A PLASTIC PENIS!!!!" is very telling.

However, I do agree about the commercial. I laugh every time I see it. Not going to run out and buy the TV, but at least I'm not searching for the remote every time it comes on.

We discussed all this this last night. I'm not running in circles with you this afternoon.

Yes, we did.

Then if you're finished being outraged by the plastic penis, move on.

I agree with Beck to a point...I don't see waving a plastic penis in public as dignified and classy in any context.

I can't say I am particularly offended by the photograph, but it probably would have befit their age and maturity more to have simply waved a normal rainbow flag instead of that one.

Oo, I like how you did that…avoid accusations of homophobia by playing the age card instead.

At what age is one supposed to stop having a little harmless fun, anyway?

It’s not if he was holding it between his legs and brandishing it at the crowd.

You’re right, though. Holding a cartoon penis half-hidden by balloons is just as sinful as unzipping himself in public. Or flashing his tits on a message board.

Well said!

It's a standard that I apply equally to straights and gays. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I think there's something to be said for discretion and privacy no matter what your sexual orientation.

I expect there'll be an equal outcry from Prudeforge next Mardi Gras. Meanwhile, you all have plenty of work to do shutting down strip clubs and online porn. Chop-chop!

Certain aspects of Mardi Gras disgust me and, while I don't support them, strip clubs and online porn are, at least, not public displays.

You need to grow up.

First, I am no homophobic in the least. Feel free to prove it or fuck off with the smarmy insinuation.

"Age card" in this instance meaning anyone old enough to know better. Only your own sensitivity to any reference of people being old causes this to be any sort of issue. I feel I am of an age and maturity where I would not choose to wave that around either. A classic rainbow flag tells the same message without the undignified context that thing adds to what is really a serious message.

If you can't see the difference of sharing an adult photograph, among adults, in a hidden forum on a message board where people choose to partake of it or not and waving childish penis jokes around by people who should know better in a public street under the guise of the supposedly serious subject of fighting for rights...well, what can I possibly say??

But your tossing it in my face like it was a bad thing is interesting...did you make similar insinuations to Cass or Mrs Albert or is it only my picture that offended you so? And you call anyone else a "prude"?

Fascinating.

Bullshit.

The single most-used argument to challenge any pinhead whom moralizes about an alternate lifestyle is, "Stay out of our bedrooms". The answer should always be, "No problem, but please, don't leave your bedroom and give the general public blow-by-blow accounts of what goes on in there, and everyone will be much happier". It doesn't take a prude to be reluctant to know even the most general details about someone else's sex life, hetero, homo, or otherwise. For instance, I'm willing to bet that most people would be sickened at even the thought of whatever sort of necrophilia takes place between you and the George-Romero-variety Romulan behind closed doors, and are thankful that you don't share those details (particularly around meal time). Even you, apparently, have some modicum of restraint - and for that I'm sure you've earned the gratitude of many.

Your argument about porn and strip clubs is a sad, but not unexpected red herring. Spam laws are such that the "surprise pr0n popup" is almost entirely a thing of the past, so one has to choose to view online pornography. As for strip clubs, well, until you can cite accounts of busty, g-stringed strippers spilling out onto the streets and forcing passersby to motorboat them, the entertainment provided by exotic dance establishments, while pandering in nature, is available by choice (along with an exorbitant cover-charge and watered down drinks). As a fairly dependable rule, the individual has to make at least some effort to view strippers and porn.

The fact is that, yes, it's well-within the right of Takei and company to have a parade. It's even in their right to push the limits of what some may consider "good taste" and tote as many phalli around during the course of that parade as possible. It also makes sense that those who find themselves so offended should avoid the the streets upon which a gay-pride parade is held (it's not like they're unadvertised). That said, there's nothing prudish about finding anyone else's public sexual candor disagreeable. I don't care if it's a heterosexual couple, two men, or Sasha Grey and Bree Olson recounting a lurid lesbian romp that would have teh Baba clutching his chest and gasping for breath....if they're in line ahead of me at the grocery store, I want to hear the details of their indoor sports about as much as I want to hear about apostle's religious beliefs. (That'd be, "not at all")

Then again, Margaret, if you weren't projecting, playing moral arbiter and enabling and protecting Liet, it wouldn't be Wordforge.

Welcome to the 21st fucking century.

You can't criticize blacks, Obama, the Democrats, or love the Confederate flag without being a racist and you can't criticize the gay rights movement without being a homophobe.

Good God, where's that asteroid when you need it.

There was a close call just last week.


NSFW!

Not if it means I have to be like you.

Elaborate.

What's wrong with penises?

I mean, I don't like to look at them that much, but it's just a body part.

SERIOUSLY????

YOU ARE ASKING GARAMET????



/Now sit back, relax, and watch her dance in circles!