Arizona's new anti-gay law.

[Ben Kenobi]

You say there's a difference, now you're saying there's not a difference. Ok. Point to Felch then.

[Kidlicious]

Felch needs to check his priviledge.

[Aeson]

There is no problem there.

I didn't say anything about all small towns being the same in regards to how well people know each other, but it's a rather common thing that people know who each other are in small towns. Doubly so when someone "stands out" in any regard. BK seems oblivious to the fact that such a thing could even occur.

More to the point though, I was responding in regards to a specific set of features, and mocking the implication that all small towns would be the same in that regard. I didn't claim small towns cannot share any features. Small towns certainly can all have the same feature. Witness the definition of "small" and "town" in the name for instance. If they aren't small, or aren't towns, they certainly aren't "small towns".

Now are there any other questions you have about what I have said?

[Dinner]

Ben should be killed for the good of all.

[Ben Kenobi]

Doubly so when someone "stands out" in any regard. BK seems oblivious to the fact that such a thing could even occur.

A curious statement given the fact that I am deaf. My handicap was well known in my small town and not all the attention was positive.

That being said - I found it illuminating those who refused accommodation or went out of their way to make things more difficult. Did I sue them for discrimination? No. Did I retaliate against them - a few times when I was younger I got in scraps. When I got older, I simply endeavoured to have absolutely nothing to do with them, or with anything that involved them in any way shape or form.

I question why such a principle would not work for gay people. If a business doesn't want your patronage, simply do not patronize them.

[Ben Kenobi]

Ben should be killed for the good of all.

I'll send you my address, and you can carry this out yourself. Good luck.

[100% Wolf]

Ben should be killed for the good of all.

Why don't we just send him to our enemies? If Ben is sent to Russia they'll beg for mercy.

[Aeson]

A curious statement given the fact that I am deaf. My handicap was well known in my small town and not all the attention was positive.

Thanks for confirming I was right in my statements and you were wrong to deny such things would happen. They already do.

That being said - I found it illuminating those who refused accommodation or went out of their way to make things more difficult. Did I sue them for discrimination? No. Did I retaliate against them - a few times when I was younger I got in scraps. When I got older, I simply endeavoured to have absolutely nothing to do with them, or with anything that involved them in any way shape or form.

Your situation makes it all the more appalling that you denied that such thing would happen. It obviously does happen.

Also bear in mind that very few people harbor any real resentment for deaf people. Whereas large segments of the population harbor extreme resentment based on sexuality or ethnicity.

I would also assume that the law in Canada was protecting you, that businesses weren't legally allowed to refuse you service based on your handicap.

I question why such a principle would not work for gay people. If a business doesn't want your patronage, simply do not patronize them.

This becomes very difficult if there are only a few businesses in your town and they all fit the billing. You obviously weren't disallowed services you would require to continue living there. That won't always be the case if all businesses are allowed to choose who they will serve. I for one don't think allowing bigots to run minorities out of town is a cause to champion.

You wanted to leave. Not everyone wants to be forced from their home, to have to move away from their families and friends, just because a bigot runs the local hardware store, market, or gas station.

[Aeson]

I also want to take this opportunity to point out that death threats and murder meet-ups are against forum rules. Simmer down, simmer down

[Ben Kenobi]

I also want to take this opportunity to point out that death threats and murder meet-ups are against forum rules.

Fortunately this is Texas. Oerdin is very welcome to come visit here.

Thanks for confirming I was right in my statements and you were wrong to deny such things would happen. They already do.

Again, my worst difficulties were not from conservatives who owned businesses, but from liberals. From schoolteachers, actually, who abused their captive audiences within the classroom. Had I been permitted to simply leave the school and pursue my own education, my strategy would have been very successful there. Eventually, I was able to transfer to a better school with good teachers.

Your situation makes it all the more appalling that you denied that such thing would happen. It obviously does happen.

My disability is also quite visible. I did not have a choice when younger whether to wear a hearing aid or no, so it became public knowledge. The same is not true of sexuality.

Also bear in mind that very few people harbor any real resentment for deaf people.

This is quite false.

Whereas large segments of the population harbor extreme resentment based on sexuality or ethnicity.

Not in my experience. Disability is probably the most discriminated against simply because people find it repellent.

I would also assume that the law in Canada was protecting you

Not in schools. The law in Canada at the time offered no requirement for public school and integrated education. In short, the school was under not obligation to provide any sort of accommodation and could ask me to leave at any time. This did not exist for any other student.

The only places I really had any difficulties whatsoever were within the public sector. The private sector, the stores, I never had any discrimination whatsoever.

, that businesses weren't legally allowed to refuse you service based on your handicap.

The only institution that ever refused me service (churches, stores), were the various public sector institutions within the schools, and also I had some issues with the DMV as well in obtaining licensing. Contrary to what might be believed, businesses are generally extremely accommodating.

This becomes very difficult if there are only a few businesses in your town and they all fit the billing.

Again, even in my small town, I never had any issue with the private businesses.

You obviously weren't disallowed services you would require to continue living there.

Aside from being denied disability (to which I was otherwise entitled), denied access to speech therapy, etc. There is no service they provided that was not at one point in time denied to me within the public sector. Private sector is a whole different thing. Yes, I could buy things just fine. Never had any issues there. .

That won't always be the case if all businesses are allowed to choose who they will serve.

Every business in my small town were very sensitive to client pressures, simple because they needed business in order to survive. Business, even in best of times, was never very good. .

I for one don't think allowing bigots to run minorities out of town is a cause to champion.

As a minority, I see no evidence from the private sector of 'running folks out of town'. The usual petty bureaucracy is another matter.

You wanted to leave.

Why did I leave? I wanted more opportunities than could be provided there - I wanted to go to school and receive an education that was simply not offered in my small town.

Not everyone wants to be forced from their home, to have to move away from their families and friends, just because a bigot runs the local hardware store, market, or gas station.

I contend there is no evidence for this actually occurring.

[Aeson]

I contend there is no evidence for this actually occurring.

It (and much worse) certainly has happened in the past when there weren't protections for ethnic minorities. That it happens less now speaks volumes for the value of the protections we have in place.

[Sava]

I also want to take this opportunity to point out that death threats and murder meet-ups are against forum rules. Simmer down, simmer down

fun hater

[MrFun]

[MrFun]

In other news, Kentucky Attorney General takes a courageous stand for equality.

[Ben Kenobi]

It (and much worse) certainly has happened in the past when there weren't protections for ethnic minorities. That it happens less now speaks volumes for the value of the protections we have in place.

Then there's no need to change the laws at present, if as you say, they are working just fine.