"..."

[thistlechaser]

It's not often that a website leaves me at a total loss for words, but focusonyourchild.com has accomplished that. I'm just boggling at the amount of incorrect, illogical information presented as fact. (Credit for the link goes to juliansinger, I think? I saw it on my flist this morning, but can't find the post now.)

How would you like to have parents who made comments like this?

"My son couldn’t care less about sports and the great outdoors. He's painfully shy and easily gets hurt. Other kids call him a sissy. I’ve tried everything. My boy even wimped out of Cub Scouts. What am I supposed to do?"

"Our oldest daughter, Lisa, is starting junior high soon. She's a hopeless tomboy. If she had her way, she'd never wear skirts or dresses. She can't wait to sign up for the school wrestling team this fall. If I say no, she'll throw a fit. Where's the magic wand so I can turn her into a lovely princess?"

Oh nos! Your son "wimped out" of Cub Scouts! Oh no! Your daughter won't wear a dress! Gasp! They must be headed down the path towards homosexuality!

But hey, don't worry! If your child does turn out to be gay, they can be cured! Because homosexuality is a disease, after all...

As speechless and annoyed as this site leaves me, it also makes me so sad. Some people believe that stuff. They'll read the site and nod in agreement with it. Their poor, poor kids, and our poor, poor country.

---

On a related note, kirbyk made a good post this morning on the word 'homophobia':

"I don't like the word homophobia.

Because that's not what it is. I'm sure there are people with an actual irrational fear, a phobia, of gay people. This is a mental disorder, and I feel for them, like people afraid of spiders or the English or what have you. Get well soon.

What most people refer to is more like racism, but with sexual preference instead of skin color."

Find the whole post here.

Comments

[yshyn.livejournal.com]

The part that made me snort in amusement was:

3. Dr. James Dobson reports: “There is also the vigorous effort by gays to infiltrate the Boy Scouts in the same way lesbians have done so successfully in the Girl Scouts, where 33 percent of their staff is said to be lesbian.”

I have this mental image of the Homosexual HQ (where a copy of the Gay Agenda is kept) and girl guides come in with 'We have successfully reccied the Straight People's plans. We believe tents and campfire songs may be involved. Clearly, we must move soon, or else we will be at the cooking pots cooing about how Brad from the latest teen pop sensation is soooo dreamy.'

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered about the term homophobia myself, but ... afraid of the English? Did he mean fear of British people? Is that an actual phobia?
If it is I know it should be taken seriously but... I can't stop from snickering.

"It was horrible! I was surrounded and they kept using these strange words! What is brill? What is a roundabout?! I need a few moments to calm down... and the tea! Sweet lord, the tea was everywhere!"

[kriatyrr.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links, particularly the last one.

I hate what they are doing. I've always hated being forced into the gender role of "woman". I do identify myself (loosely) as female, but the gender role of woman - to get a husband and 3+ kids, has always seemed like a nightmare to me. I'm so glad I realized I didn't have to before it was too late.

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually link to it, and when I went to it, it inspired Great Fear in me.

But thank you for the link!

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Also, as I will tell Kirby, heterosexism.

[kawaru.livejournal.com]

Oh ye gods! My worst fear is coming true! I think my son is a homosexua1... I know this because he also wimped out of cub scouts. My son! ; ;

[wanderingscribe.livejournal.com]

Eeehh...I agree with you for the most part, but I can't help see that first comment in a different light. It sounds to me that the parent is less worried about their son being homosexual and more about him being bullied because he seems to have no hobbies and no interest in conformed gender roles. Kids can be cruel when someone clearly doesn't belong in their 'viewpoint' of how people should be and parents, while meaning well, can be more damaging to a kid because of their own limited preconceptions as to how society works.

However, because the comment is on a site like that, I can also see why someone might believe that it's contempt inspired. ;)

[linmayu.livejournal.com]

'Cause you know, every person who doesn't fit neatly into society's clearly defined gender roles is clearly a homosexual. X_x

The thing that bugs me the most about the whole thing is that all these parents are doing nothing but giving their kids the message that they aren't good enough. This leads to all kinds of bad things, but some people think it's not only OK but *necessary* in order to be a good parent.

[fyerio.livejournal.com]

*Waves at Thistle* Heya Thistle! *Devours*

And what a dumb website. o.o;