So, I've made the mistake of looking at my past self in 2016 to see how bad I was. Let's just say I'm truly thankful the Forum and it's members were very patient with past me. http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/bigotry-nonsense.450614/
I never expected to see your come out but I remember what I was like before I did. Can't hold it against you. I don't do cancel culture.
How are you different than you were when you posted in that thread? Why do you think it was a mistake to look back at those posts? How have the forum and members been patient with you? What change(s) in you do you attribute to the forum and members?
Big reason is I'm in fact gay. It's just cringe to look at the hateful and ignorant posts I've made. By not banning or blocking me and instead, actually tried to engage with me. I wouldn't say that the forum members here changed a lot of my opinions. I took several breaks from here because IRL got in the way. However, during my breaks, I decided to actually challenge a lot of what I believed. Accepting the LGBT community and eventually realizing and accepting my own gayness is simply the lastest rendition of me growing as a person.
I didn't read many of your previous posts. Are you saying that you weren't gay back then and you are now or that you didn't acknowledge being gay back then and acknowledge now? Either way, I commend you for finding the courage of your voice. I don't agree with you on that because many people are not willing to self-reflect and examine who they really are. It takes courage for you to not only do that but acknowledge doing that. So, please look back with gratitude because it was **that** person that got you to who you are now. I would agree with that. One thing I found a bit strange is none of the moderators act like crazy control freaks. It's a nice jolt but unexpected. ;-0 It sounds like you're doing an excellent job at adulting. I'm very happy for you, Maccabee.
Good for you for manning up! I'm reading through that old thread of yours and I can certainly see how you can look back at it and not feel so good about yourself, but that was then, and this is now. One observation is that it's interesting how many former regulars have been banned since then. I'm curious to see how your views on religion have changed since then. An interesting thing that has happened to me since that thread was that I actually died, saw the other side, and returned. I only remember a few spotty things about that trip, but one thing I can tell you is whatever/wherever/whenever that "place" might be, it's a no judgement zone for sure.
I didn't realized/acknowledged that I was gay until fairly recent. I understand all that, but it's still cringe nonetheless. Thank you.
I'm not sure that your statement was wrong. You might have been wrong about things but judging just by the statement and that thread I'm not sure I would judge you that harshly. I don't necessarily think people who are against the rise of gay rights are bigoted. Quite frankly I cringe at the phrase gay rights. Gay people should have the same rights as everyone else not special rights just for them. And I think a lot of people call other people homophones for having this opinion I'm a gay man then I've been called the homophobe. Homophobia as a clinical term was never about fear of gay people it was a paranoia that exists in a lot of gay people that makes them think being around other gay people makes them gay when that isn't the case. I figure most people that have struggled as you did as I have with accepting our sexuality go through a phase of homophobia doesn't mean you're scared of gay people it means you're scared of your own homosexuality. When that term entered common parlance it was applied to some of the people who were so adamant against acceptance of gay people in the society but actually wound up being closeted homosexuals or bisexuals. It's essentially one word to describe the concept Shakespeare was talking about when he wrote The Lady doth protest too much. So I don't think people who are against the acceptance of homosexuality are homophobic and that I don't think they are themselves always homosexual.
You were wrong only for yourself (even then, that's not entirely true - because it was right for you at the time). You were not wrong in any broader sense.
