As always, I notice that people kind of miss the point of this site. Just because something is "normal" it doesn't mean it has to be "right".
This situation for example, it doesn't really expose the nicest behavior... but it is completely normal. Many people go through this every single day all around the world. Being forced to share vital space with someone homosexual for the first time is usually something shocking, even for people who aren't homophobes. It isn't even about gay people, being close to someone "different" can be hard for many. Racial minorities, people from other cultures... there is always a little shock at first and people treat them, as someone just said, as if they were radioactive.
However, this isn't all bad. Being in this situation forces a person to become more tolerant and open minded. In my personal experience, I grew up in a very conservative enviroment, in which "gays" were inexistant and satanized constantly. When I first had to be around gay people, I was kind of scared... but after a while, I learned that they are just people, like everyone else.
And well, to the OP, I just have to tell you that I understand how you feel... but that I hope that you eventually learn that gay people can be just as nice as anyone else.
I respectfully disagree that it's normal. I don't believe the OP's reaction is common, at least not to the degree that he feels it. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't believe that the normal or common reaction to typical social and professional interactions with gay people is "OMG, get him away from meeeee!"
Most people, even if they do feel some unease because they're in a new or uncomfortable situation, don't feel such antipathy that they can't even stand to speak casually to a co-worker or be within a few feet of him in the workplace.
I think you're right that being around people who are different from an individual can be unnerving at first. It's also true that by being around others, you learn that they aren't really so "other" after all; they aren't a "they," we're all just one big "us."
I disagree that hostility and fleeing any interaction is normal, though. Even if someone feels acutely uncomfortable, it's usually possible to make small talk and work together without total avoidance.
Is it normal to hate working with a gay guy?
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As always, I notice that people kind of miss the point of this site. Just because something is "normal" it doesn't mean it has to be "right".
This situation for example, it doesn't really expose the nicest behavior... but it is completely normal. Many people go through this every single day all around the world. Being forced to share vital space with someone homosexual for the first time is usually something shocking, even for people who aren't homophobes. It isn't even about gay people, being close to someone "different" can be hard for many. Racial minorities, people from other cultures... there is always a little shock at first and people treat them, as someone just said, as if they were radioactive.
However, this isn't all bad. Being in this situation forces a person to become more tolerant and open minded. In my personal experience, I grew up in a very conservative enviroment, in which "gays" were inexistant and satanized constantly. When I first had to be around gay people, I was kind of scared... but after a while, I learned that they are just people, like everyone else.
And well, to the OP, I just have to tell you that I understand how you feel... but that I hope that you eventually learn that gay people can be just as nice as anyone else.
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ProseAthlete
10 years ago
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I respectfully disagree that it's normal. I don't believe the OP's reaction is common, at least not to the degree that he feels it. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't believe that the normal or common reaction to typical social and professional interactions with gay people is "OMG, get him away from meeeee!"
Most people, even if they do feel some unease because they're in a new or uncomfortable situation, don't feel such antipathy that they can't even stand to speak casually to a co-worker or be within a few feet of him in the workplace.
I think you're right that being around people who are different from an individual can be unnerving at first. It's also true that by being around others, you learn that they aren't really so "other" after all; they aren't a "they," we're all just one big "us."
I disagree that hostility and fleeing any interaction is normal, though. Even if someone feels acutely uncomfortable, it's usually possible to make small talk and work together without total avoidance.
The OP is both wrong and abnormal in this case.