Eric Bristow

diamount · 30 Nov 2016 at 17:26

Thompson_NCL said:
Is it clear, or are you projecting? You're displaying meme levels of hyper sensitivity here.

Not everyone who uses what you'd term as homophobic language (lol) is homophobic. People are complicated and it's entirely possible to use a word without thought as to how others may misunderstand your intentions.

You can call me hypersensitive, a special *********, a sjw, whatever you like. But no, I can safely tell you now that Eric Bristlow is not a complicated man. What you see is what you get, and what you get is a man of his time, who hasn't updated his vocabulary since the 70s and 80s. You can say his intentions weren't homophobic when he used that term, but Sky and a lot of people obviously did. But come now - use either have to use that term extremely liberally for that to immediately pop-into your mind instead of an extremely commonly used term used when an adult sexually abuses a child.

Maybe you can start a petition to get him reinstated?

Mr Jack · 30 Nov 2016 at 17:43

These were stupid, and unacceptable comments, but I'm not sure they needed to go straight to firing him. To my mind, a properly worded apology that made clear that he understood why his comments were harmful would have been sufficient. And his management should have had the sense to keep him out of the limelight for a few days, it's clear he doesn't have the diplomatic touch for this kind of situation.

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 21:45

diamount said:
Yes of course context matters, but in this case it is quite clear his comments were homophobic in nature. Especially when you take in his a 59 year old man, quite conservative and probably makes those sorts of comments all the time in private.

His attitude reeks of conservative 'ard man.

What has his age got to do with it?
I'm the same age as him, come from the same area, I've been in his company several times (he had a Club I gigged at) and I can assure you I'm gay friendly and so are my mates. Just because he's a Neanderthal don't judge all of us with that brush.

aardvark · 30 Nov 2016 at 21:49

SexyGreyFox said:
What has his age got to do with it?
I'm the same age as him, come from the same area, I've been in his company several times (he had a Club I gigged at) and I can assure you I'm gay friendly and so are my mates. Just because he's a Neanderthal don't judge all of us with that brush.

exactly, don't judge an entire demographic because of individual moronic opinions - all that makes you is a bigot, and as bad as the people you criticise.

itchy · 30 Nov 2016 at 21:53

Funny thing is I have never ever in my life liked this guy.

He is a ****ing ***** and always has been. :mad:

diamount · 30 Nov 2016 at 21:58

SexyGreyFox said:
What has his age got to do with it?
I'm the same age as him, come from the same area, I've been in his company several times (he had a Club I gigged at) and I can assure you I'm gay friendly and so are my mates. Just because he's a Neanderthal don't judge all of us with that brush.

His age is relevant because he grew when gay people were commonly repressed, ridiculed and the target of hate crimes.

rubberduck · 30 Nov 2016 at 21:59

It's a shame that 'celebrities' saying stupid stuff in relation to such events manages to defelect the focus of attention from where it should be. Call Bristow what you want, but surely he really isn't the villain here?

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:02

diamount said:
His age is relevant because he grew when gay people were commonly repressed, ridiculed and the target of hate crimes.

No he didn't, he would be the same age as me when a young teenager and I don't ever remember anybody picking on gays. At 16 I went to College and there were a couple of gay lads in the class - no problem.
It sounds like you are the bigot.

Pudney · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:12

SexyGreyFox said:
No he didn't, he would be the same age as me when a young teenager and I don't ever remember anybody picking on gays. At 16 I went to College and there were a couple of gay lads in the class - no problem.
It sounds like you are the bigot.

In fairness, your lone experience doesn't mean society as a whole didn't have a problem :confused:

For example, in 1965 (when Bristow would have been circa 9 years old) the House of Lords were debating whether to decriminalise male homosexual acts. A public poll found 93% of people thought homosexuality was an illness requiring treatment (see page 17 of this link http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/media/1768/lgbt-timeline-brochure-2nd-edition-2012.pdf ).

In 1969 the first group was formed to promote equal rights for homosexuals and so on. So suggesting because you were sensible (and the people you associated with) it doesn't automatically mean everyone else was!

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:14

Pudney said:
In fairness, your lone experience doesn't mean society as a whole didn't have a problem

I think you'll find we still have a problem with all ages not just 59+ old men.

Pudney · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:19

SexyGreyFox said:
I think you'll find we still have a problem with all ages not just 59+ old men.

I think you'll find I never said we didn't.

You get very defensive sometimes. A comment about society's problems in the 60s doesn't mean it's a personal dig at you.

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:21

Pudney said:
I think you'll find I never said we didn't.

You get very defensive sometimes. A comment about society's problems in the 60s doesn't mean it's a personal dig at you.

You get very defensive sometimes.
I can do that.

diamount · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:21

SexyGreyFox said:
No he didn't, he would be the same age as me when a young teenager and I don't ever remember anybody picking on gays. At 16 I went to College and there were a couple of gay lads in the class - no problem.
It sounds like you are the bigot.

Dimple, you're acting like I'm personally calling you a homophobe. Not in the slightest. Simply saying Eric is a product of his time, the law which imprisoned people for being gay was decriminalised in 1967, but public attitudes towards homosexuals stayed negative for a while, we're talking at least 20-30 more years before people routinely came out, including celebrities.

Now, you say they never encountered any problems, but there are thousand of stories documenting negative experiences coming out during that time, despite it being decriminalised.

Pudney · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:23

SexyGreyFox said:
You get very defensive sometimes.
I can do that.

Perhaps when multiple posters interpret your posts in the same way there is something behind it.

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:24

Pudney said:
Perhaps when multiple posters interpret your posts in the same way there is something behind it.

Sauces?
Usually I'm taking the pee but not in this case.

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:26

diamount said:
Now, you say they never encountered any problems, but there are thousand of stories documenting negative experiences coming out during that time, despite it being decriminalised.

And there are still thousands of stories in this time and not just 59+ old men.

If you'd said 69+ old men then I would agree but the likes of me & Bristow came through 'Gay' icons like Marc Bolan, David Bowie and a host of other girly men artists. people weren't coming out not because of us but of those who were 10 years or more older than us.

diamount · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:30

SexyGreyFox said:
And there are still thousands of stories in this time and not just 59+ old men.

Sure, but unlike back then you can actually face repercussions for your actions.

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:43

diamount said:
Sure, but unlike back then you can actually face repercussions for your actions.

Well we agree that apart from that point, which is a good move, not much has changed.
Like I said, the problems in the late 60s/early 70s towards homophobia wasn't with people my age but of those who were much older than us.
Me and Bristow came through an effeminate time as young teeenagers with long hair, flared trousers and flowery shirts so you can't blame our age group.
HOWEVER, there's always somebody who has got to be different and Bristow was probably one but he definitely wasn't a product of the age.
If he had been in a pub with me in 1976 and came out with homophobia we would all leave.

Pudney · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:43

SexyGreyFox said:
And there are still thousands of stories in this time and not just 59+ old men.

If you'd said 69+ old men then I would agree but the likes of me & Bristow came through 'Gay' icons like Marc Bolan, David Bowie and a host of other girly men artists. people weren't coming out not because of us but of those who were 10 years or more older than us.

I've already provided one link giving a brief timeline of the LGBT movement (where I mentioned 93% of Britons thought homosexuality was an illness in 1965).

The LGBT rights movement was born in the 70s, and you're correct that Bolan, Bowie et al were icons for progress. But none of this would have been important if society had already accepted homosexuality. The Gay Liberation Front, Stonewall etc. were formed in the 70s to gain equality for homosexuals, I'm not really sure how you can argue society didn't have a problem at that time.

Society still has a long way to go, especially for the "T" element.

SexyGreyFox · 30 Nov 2016 at 22:51

Pudney said:
I'm not really sure how you can argue society didn't have a problem at that time.

I haven't argued that, I'm arguing the age me and Bristow were through that period.
In 1965 we would be 7/8 and wouldn't even know what a gay man was.
By the time we were young teenagers we were being 'brainwashed' into thinking that type of thing was OK.
Like I said, the problem in the 70s was still with the older generation and not ours but of course you'll always get the exception and Bristow was probably one.