What Comic Books Taught Me About Hatred
Comics taught me a lot about how to deal with life. In some respects more than classical authors such as: Ovid, Boethius, Plato, Homer and Danielle Steel. I learned how to use misdirection and a spiffy pair of glasses to hide my True Identity™. I learned how to fall properly into radioactive goo so as to not get cancer and only get spiffy powers. I learned that from tragedy, with dedication, perseverance and tight spandex that I can teach my enemies to fear me.
Many of you know that our site has been down because of an attack. Which sucks, because I had a lot to write about Quakecon. But it gave me time to reflect on why these things happen and how I am supposed to react to it.
The most important lesson I learned from comics though relates to hatred. I learned that any group that is sufficiently different is a target for ignorance. Skin color, sexuality, mutant abilities, whatever the cause, if you are different, you will be hated. You see, gay people tend to love superheroes because we get it. We know what is like to hide your True Identity™. The need to blend in, the protection of banality. But it is a lie. We are different, and we're hated because of it.
I also learned, largely due to Stan Lee, that the responsibility for dealing with hatred directed at me is in my hands. I could rant and rage and take matters into my own hands, like Magneto. In truth that probably could accomplish some good. Or, I could choose to be like Charles Xavier and the X-Men. I could choose to love and defend those people that hate me. This really isn't altruism, in my opinion, it is about what I allow to consume me. I choose love over hatred.
I have no idea if they will catch whomever did this. In many respects I don't care. But I can promise you this, if anyone anywhere hates me for what I am, my response is simple. Let's go have coffee and talk. Explain to me where you're coming from, and I will attempt to do the same. Its okay to disagree, and we'll probably not change each others minds. But I will not react to hatred with more hatred, only love and coffee.
You can probably tell I'm the comics nerd here at GayGamer.net. Check out the comics section for my normal snarky fare.
The Boy Blunder
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany, Video Games on 6 August 2007
· Comments (16)
Other stuff like this: comics, gay, Hatred, Love, ravings of a mad comic book nerd
Glad you are back up!
Oh Boy Blunder, thank you for making me laugh. I really needed it after this weekend of dealing with server issues.
Thanks for the smile, been a crummy weekend on the personal front, and a slow day at work...
Love and Coffee indeed, I may have to borrow that phrase :).
Wonderfully said!!! It takes a strong person to look hate in the eye and say " Would you like to join me for a cup of joe?" Thanks for your words never stop being proud :)
Welcome back guys! The Internet desperately missed you.
I'm just glad that you guys are back up and the database is safe.
I'm glad to see you guys back up.
Let's hope this is one of those "United we face adversity" bonding experiences and you're stronger for it. Anyone that hates a social group after making generalizations isn't thinking clearly and really doesn't deserve our attention.
We love you! And I'm glad to see you guys back up quickly. You're one of my top sources for gaming news! Keep up the good work.
Right on. Easily the most sensible view on the topic of hate that I've head any gamer speak.
Welcome back!
If anything this incident has made me more aware of your gaming site and I will frequent it more often to read the gaming views addressed here.
You have been bookmarked!
Compassion is always the harder choice.
The high road is always the harder to take.
It's worth it.
Well-said, well-done, and well-endowed, young man. Here's to comics, caffeine, games and love!
All this talk about wanton, non-decaffeinated beverage consumption is disgraceful! I for one am not ashamed to declare that I find this open discussion of your lifestyle, which involves flagrantly gulping down drug-enhanced java, to be utterly disgusting. Repent!
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go learn how to perform a DOS attack. Can someone put me in touch with a moronic script kiddie? You know, one of those web-addicted asshole nitwits who's insecure in his masculinity and unsure of his orientation?
That's us Gays. Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears us.
:-D
Hater:
Classic DOS attack:
format c:\ [enter]
(It used to always work for me at Radio Shack when I was a kid.)
Prejudice has become an unfortunate and rather unsettling characteristic of the white christian American male. It seems that now that it has become 'unpopular' to publicly hate and victimize black people these types of people seek out new minorities to target.
The reasons for this type of behavior is varied but by and large it has to do with education levels and income. Countries which harbor a positive attitude (towards gays) like France, Spain (home to my jesus, Pedro Almodovar), England, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland and so on are also first world countries which have low rates of illiteracy among its adult population, these countries also display low levels of poverty among its general populace. Health care is high and crime levels are low. These countries like the gays.
On the other hand countries which have high illiteracy rates, high poverty and crime levels and generally low health care standards like Russia, Africa and America (yes, check the statistics in relation to it's standing as a "first-world nation") have generally prejudice views in regards to a series of minorities, chief among these homosexuals, women and non-indigenous minorities.
Anyways welcome back and PS if I were an 'evil mutant', I'd make them eat their babies. Speaking of which, ironically enough Sir Ian McKellan is my real-life Magneto.
ur words echo my own feelings on this! great article mister, i was furious when i heard what happened to ur site