Can someone explain to me why a bigoted person will hang...

[foreigncorrespondent]

...in a thread that is about a group of people they are intolerant of?

This isn't in relation to any particular person, or any particular thread at all. I have just been sitting here thinking about the few years I have been on DU, and how in a lot of threads to do with minority groups usually end up being a rather heated discussion.

I just don't understand why people would want to subject themselves to a flame fest knowing that if they say something which will appear to be bigoted they will get slammed down.

[Wonk]

1. Target is a favorite disguise of Troller and Evil Clown.

http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame68.html

:shrug:

[frogbison]

2. They are just like us

They believe strongly enough in their point of view that the negative replies are worth it.

Or, again like us, they appreciate the response and the noteriety.

Humans haven't really changed much over the millenia.

There is nothing new under the sun.

(Edit for spelling.)

[KG]

3. um, they just don't get it?

:shrug:

[Dookus]

4. It's a good question...

and I've been pondering it, too.

I think it's a combination of all the things posted above. They like the attention. They like arguing. They don't really think they're bigoted, etc. etc.

Personally, I don't object to their presence because people like that invariably expose their own ignorance and give us a chance to show lurkers what the real issues are affecting us.

yes, they can be annoying and tiresome. But the trick is remembering that we're never gonna change THEIR minds - but we might have an impact on somebody else reading the thread.

[Sapphocrat]

6. Bingo, Dook...

That's often the only reason I hang in there and call them on the carpet -- they won't get it, but it's important to refute b.s. when you see it, lest any observers buy into their garbage.

[WealthAndDemocracy]

5. I suspect

because they're bigots.

There's a certain mindset that seems hell bent on showing "you folk", whomever you folk may be at the time, the error of your ways. It's an arrogant and very controlling mindset at that.

It saw some of the same reading here over the weekend, and I've seen it for years in message boards. Same people show up on the same topics to antagonize time and time again, knowing they and their point of view are not appreciated.

[Sapphocrat]

7. Because it's 'fun'...

I guess it's fun for some people to get their shots in at a group they really hate, and see how far they can go without getting banned.

What I can't stand is any instance of "Don't get me wrong -- some of my best friends are..." followed by a diatribe on how we need to stop acting so gay, stop asking for so damned much, stop complaining so much, be grateful we aren't locked up / tortured / executed like we would be in Saudi Arabia, etc., etc.

And that usually comes from people who say they're straight, but have this curiously obsessive propensity for zeroing in on gay threads. And it ain't to lend support.

[WealthAndDemocracy]

8. Are you looking for a fight??

I am straight, and don't get me wrong because some of my favorite people are gay.

Never mind.

I was pulling your leg. My brother is gay and I love him and his SO and friends to death.

Now that I have your attention.

Would you like to hear me say it? Would you like to hear something different for a change? Let's try it.

You can "act" gay, whatever end of the spectrum that is. I personally don't know what acting gay means.

Ask for whatever you want, I know you are just asking for equal rights, and I mean to see you get it.

I complain when I am not being treated with the respect I deserve, why shouldn't you?

Locked up? Tortured? Executed? Christ, I don't read those websites. God forbid, is that really being promoted? Who believes that shit?

Oh, and I can't tolerate bigots.

But then, some of my best friends are straight ....