Prometheus 6

Tiny Tim said: "You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States." 

Here's a little experiment in word substitution:

"You know, I hate niggers, so I let it be known. I don't like niggers and I don't like to be around niggers. I am niggerphobic. I don't like them. They shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Tiny Tim is such an ignorant asshole he won't understand or appreciate the irony.

"...he later told a TV station that he wouldn't talk to a family member who turned out to be gay."

This comment reveals that Br. Hardaway has an extremely serious problem that is even more disturbing than what was revealed by his public comments. Cutting off contact with family members because of their sexual preferences is flat out cruel and, at some level, bullying and sadistic because he is forcing other family members to choose sides and to exclude this gay relative from family gatherings if Hardway is planning to attend.   

That intense a response usually indicates a serious case of repression.

"That intense a response usually indicates a serious case of repression."

You suppose Tiny Tim is a Republican? Lately they seemed to have cornered the market on closeted, repressed homosexuals.

That intense a response usually indicates a serious case of repression.

I don't quite follow that logic.  Intense responses from racists can hardly be confused as some type of repression from the racist that they are black or secretly like blacks (some extreme and statistically irrelevant amount of cases notwithstanding).  Hardaway said he was homophobic.  That sounds like explanation enough.

At least we are all sparred any hopes of Hardaway having a long broadcast career.  I'm Tim-a-phobic.  I hate him on TV...  except for when he played in the NBA. 

Seems like the media finally got the story they wanted.  Ever since Amaechi came forward they've been trolling for a Hardaway.  Tim accomodated them with his crude and particularly unsophisticated response. 

Hardaway said he was homophobic.  That sounds like explanation enough.

Actually, yeah it is. Which doesn't mean there's no repression going on, just that we know how he's going to react whatever the reason.

Ever since Amaechi came forward they've been trolling for a Hardaway.

Sure. That's why they went out and asked every player they could think of for an opinion.

"Hardaway said he was homophobic.  That sounds like explanation enough."

For some. But for those of us who like to play armchair psychiatrist, it's possible evidence of the "methinks-thou-protest-too-much" variety.

And it's not like there's no precedent for such speculation. How many so-called "homophobes" have been publicly outted. More important, I like to smear the bigoted bitch wit him own shit. 

How many so-called "homophobes" have been publicly outted.

I don't know.  I don't even try to keep count.

I like to smear the bigoted bitch wit him own shit. 

Smear on.  He asked for it (well, was too stupid not to).  Armchair shrinks UNITE!!!

Intense responses from racists can hardly be confused as some type of repression from the racist that they are black or secretly like blacks (some extreme and statistically irrelevant amount of cases notwithstanding).

Au contrare mon frere...

Seems to me as though the SINGLE greatest public rationale for white terrorism in the American south was the protection of white women from the sexual predations of Black men. Now, when that "justification" is combined with this long-standing perception of significant genetic endowment, a culture of promiscuity and lasciviousness, etc...it seems to me that there could more than a bit of shriveled penis/tight-ass repression going on. but that's just me.

See, I was having this discussion recently with my mother and another gentlemen, and the giggles and accusations that Hardaway's gay flew around.  But armchair psychologist that I am, I'm thinking he has a lot of buried anger from something more traumatic.  It doesn't justify his remarks, but it could be another reason why his remarks were so virulent. 

Or he could just be bigoted.  Life is often simplistic that way.

I'm thinking he has a lot of buried anger from something more traumatic

Like someone he picked up turned out to be a cross-dresser? That will imprint on most guys...

"I'm thinking he has a lot of buried anger from something more traumatic. It doesn't justify his remarks, but it could be another reason why his remarks were so virulent."

The findings from my amateur psychological autopsy concur with your thinking. Given the price he will pay in lost revenue from endorsements and media opportunities, it makes me wonder what compelled him to declare his fear and hatred in public. It was a stark confessional, when all he had to do was tactfully state his opinion.

Of course he could just be a blithering idiot. It really doesn't have to be any more complicated than that, as previously noted.

If that's the case there's always gay rehab. He can room with Isaiah.

• I'm thinking he has a lot of buried anger from something more traumatic...
• Like someone he picked up turned out to be a cross-dresser?

Now that's much more plausible, IMO.  And Hardaway is an "idiot" when it comes to talking about anything outside of basketball.  But wait... he was a buster at doing that, too (sports commentating).  So, IMO, no matter what you make of his views, what he said was more the product of not knowing how flip the mental code switch.

The point is:  he doesn't know how to tactfully or skillfully state anything, his opinion or anyone else's.  He simply does not possess those skills.  That's why he was doing work for the NBA completely out of the limelight.  He had his chance and got the dancin' hook like he was at the Apollo.

And I don't have a clue as to what Temple3 was trying to say.  But maybe Isaiah Washington is a secret gay and Tyler Perry is really Randy Mancho Man Savage.  I'm convinced.

  

So, IMO, no matter what you make of his views, what he said was more the product of not knowing how flip the mental code switch.

True, independent of any other truth.

I think the repression theory is bogus in several dimensions. It's just spiteful, if not wishful thinking. I agree that Hardaway is just a hater like he says he is. No more, no less. And actually I'm not going to use the term 'homophobic' so long as it is assocated with any theory of repressed homosexuality. 

 Can women be 'homophobic' for the same reasons as men? Of course they are. No repression implied.

"If that's the case there's always gay rehab. He can room with Isaiah."

No I think that would be Magic....

Speaking of, I've got a memory of Magic and Hardaway playing against each other...either during the All-Star game fifteen years ago or perhaps during Magic's come back.  The game was over and Magic was shaking hands with everyone, and Hardaway walked up to him as if to shake his hand...and then pulled back.  From the perspective of the viewer it looked as if Hardaway had faked acknowledging someone in the crowd that he hadn't seen before he went to Magic. I'd never forgotten this...and it was the first thing I thought of when I heard Hardaway speak.  He had one of the best crossovers in the history of the game, but basketball wisdom rarely crosses over into wisdom off the court. 

I think the repression theory is bogus in several dimensions. It's just spiteful, if not wishful thinking.

So what are the dimensions you disagree with that led you to make such a judgment? 

Me, I note the concern for people "bringing their gayness" on others. That should be no problem to a guy that's actually sure he's straight. To the degree that they share the tastes of straight women it's a compliment.

And if a gay guy hits on you...yes it has happened...you can just say "no, thanks." They are VERY reasonable about acknowledging the occasional error like that. A lot more reasonable than straight guys are about similar errors with straight women. I've noticed straight men are far more dangerous to gay men than vice versa.

DO you have personal experiences that lead you to doubt the repression theory or doyou just want in on the conversation?

And actually I'm not going to use the term 'homophobic' so long as it is assocated with any theory of repressed homosexuality.

That's fine. 

"If that's the case there's always gay rehab. He can room with Isaiah."

No I think that would be Magic....

I think he's taking about Washington, not Thomas. 

I should've known by the spelling (Isiah Thomas vs. Isaiah Washington).  

I apologize for the mistake.

I do think there is a difference between Washington and Hardaway that may be important.