Quote:
Originally Posted by molson
If you're intending to intimidate/harass someone specifically because of their sexual orientation, I'd say that's worse than throwing around random gay slurs just because you're insensitive and immature generally.
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Exactly. I remember getting in an argument here along these lines a few years ago because I didn't think personally using the word fag was a big deal as long as it wasn't intended as a gay slur. I realize now as I'm more mature that I was wrong (and shoutout to others like Quiksand and I forget who else, who were willing to have that argument because that discussion and reflection on it did at least accelerate a change in my behavior), but I still believe in this part of it.
Plenty of people who aren't homophobic throw the term faggot around, but specifically targeting it towards a person you know is gay is an entirely different level. Just like 2 black friends calling each my nigga is different than a white person in a confederate flag shirt. Context and intent matters.
In this specific case I actually partly agree with wustin in that, like the Ray Rice case, Rondo should have been punished more initially but shouldn't get more now. I definitely disagree with the other part of his post, but it is why I mentioned twice how Bill Kennedy's sexual orientation was well known. It wasn't "public knowledge", but it would be hard for me to believe that Rondo did not know he was gay.