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Are You Outspoken In Real-Life Debates? [Poll]

Discussion in 'Current Events, World News, & LGBT News' started by tazz, Mar 4, 2009.

?

I feel I'm more...

  1. Outspoken

    29 vote(s)
    45.3%
  2. Reserved

    11 vote(s)
    17.2%
  3. Depends/Little inbetween

    24 vote(s)
    37.5%
  1. tazz

    tazz Guest

    What's up everyone? I'm a new member and this is my first thread (excluding my amazing introduction thread) :wink:

    First a tad bit of history about me, I'm 19 years old, really into public speaking and a member of Toastmasters...I also really enjoy debating, especially in terms of debating for gay rights. I use to be very shy but I feel the more I exposed myself to the debates the better equipped I became when debating in front of an audience.

    I'm not exactly out to everyone, I'm in the "only if asked" category...but I believe most people know my stance. I am not out to my parents, I really don't want to be in a situation where I get kicked out and perhaps the best time to tell them is when I have control of my life and surroundings and not someone else.

    Anyways, the question that I wanted to know is how many people here are outspoken enough to defend who they are, even if in a hostile situation. I feel this is a very important thing to do considering the best way (in my opinion) to advance our rights and acceptance is by defeating the stereotypes; people will often consider gay people, especially gay men as effeminate and not alpha.

    If you are outspoken, what advice would you give to others in terms of having more confidence in themselves? If you're not, perhaps you could explain what's holding you back and maybe some other members could give you some advice. Maybe you just hate confrontation, maybe you've run into an argument that was difficult to reply to?

    Let us know...
     
    #1 tazz, Mar 4, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 4, 2009
  2. Wander

    Wander Guest

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    We almost never have full debates in this crappy, be-nice-and-polite school I go to, but when we do...if I know about the subject, I'm going to give my opinion on it. I've never shouted, I don't get all angry and offended, but I'm not bothered to tell how I feel about something. If the subject is something I'm not informed about, I don't say anything. I would much rather be quiet than make myself look stupid.
     
  3. I'm more reserved usually until I get angry enough.
     
  4. Mysterons

    Mysterons Guest

    I'm not out, therefore I'm not as outspoken as I would like to be at times. Still, I have lately managed to pull myself together when debates regarding gay rights arise and I try to make people -usually parents or friends- correct themselves when they're saying something way too prejudice or downright stupid. So, I don't 'defend myself' in those situations (or at least not openly) but rather try to argue as I'd do with any other subject.

    Anyway, I'm not what you'd call 'confident' and I don't fancy speaking in large groups, so I don't think I'd pluck up the courage to stand up for my rights if I had whole group adverse to me. Pathetic, I know :icon_redf.
     
  5. gaius

    gaius Guest

    im somewhat outspoken because im quite right wing and im at university where most people are socialist...i still find myself winning arguments though
     
  6. Ryn48

    Regular Member

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    I'm pretty outspoken, but only from an ally's perspective. not actually from a gay chick's. I guess it's less "out on a limb" that way.
     
  7. Janvier

    Full Member

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    Usually, if I have something to say, I'll say it.
     
  8. Ciel

    Ciel Guest

    I'm incredibly reserved, unless I'm talking to certain friends about random things that don't make any sense I'm pretty quiet.
     
  9. olides84

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    Like some others, I'm outspoken if I know the subject that is being discussed. If I don't, I may ask a question or two but mostly I just listen. I don't like to express opinions if I don't know what I'm talking about.
     
  10. Lychee

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    I'm extremely outspoken on anything. I debate and absolutely love it, also love public speaking :slight_smile::slight_smile: I'll debate anything and everything with anyone :slight_smile::slight_smile::slight_smile:

    And I rarely back down.
     
  11. Stuie

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    I'm the type of yell-it-down-their-throat-until-they-believe-it person, which means I really can't debate in a structured format. I turn into a blubbering self-contradicting mess when I'm third speaker in a debate like that.
     
  12. TheRoof

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    im on a reserved side, but really it depends on the situation.
    im not a good orator, but i talk when i feel like i need my voice heard.
    my morality class has a lot of debates, and soon we're going to get to
    this chapter about abortion, homosexuality...etc.
    i cant wait how many people feel about these issues. maybe i'll be outspoken
    when some idiot says it's wrong to be gay :slight_smile:
     
  13. Mr Bojangles

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    If it's something I'm passionate about, I'll debate very hard, but if it's something I don't care about as much, then I'm not very good.

    We've debated about Prop 8 in my MS class, and I was one of the only people who was for gay rights, but I still whooped their asses, saying that it's not biologically wrong to be gay, as it does occur from time to time in other animals, and sometimes it happens in humans. Gay people aren't weird, and the people who conform to the whole 'omghai' stereotype should be punched because they have created an environment that has made it a pain in the ass at times, to be gay.
     
  14. kettleoffish

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    If I have an opinion on something I feel strongly about (like human rights, not just for gay people), then chances are you'll know all about it if you disagree.
     
  15. AzThRg0

    Full Member

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    all my teachers have said I am a great speaker. In English we have debates a few times a month and I speak quite often in all of them. I love it
     
  16. ccdd

    ccdd Guest

    I'm really quite outspoken in real-life debates, including about homosexuality. As I participate in debate about a lot of things, I don't think that openly arguing for gay rights would necessarily make people think that I'm gay. I used to be really quiet, but as I've got older I've become more confident. I now speak out wherever I can.
     
  17. Alannah26

    Regular Member

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    I love debates! Since I used to be a member of the debating society over here. There's nothing better than to give a real good argument so the other person just has nothing to say anymore. =)
    So I'm pretty outspoken. And I've also been in some situations where people just start questioning about your culture and background and saying stuff that arent true.
     
  18. Martin

    Board Member Admin Team Full Member

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    Sociology regularly has debates and I think I can, at times, be a little too vocal in them. If I have a strong opinion on something then I don't really react well to somebody disagreeing with it, and I can actually be pretty insulting in the spare of the moment. >.<

    But hey, there are times they deserve it. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
     
  19. Greggers

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    I was the leader of my schools NDP (Socalist) Political party during our HUGE month of "mock parliament". So i had one of the MAJOR roles out of the entire class, if not the most major. I had to speak, and speak, and speak, and argue, and argue, and argue, and it was just an endless political bloodbath :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

    Thankfully, i am a very opinionated and vocal person, so it worked out and i got like 97% :slight_smile: I loved being the leader of the party too, i had all the power over the weaklings.

    As many people have experienced first hand when i get defensive, i go all out :slight_smile: More in real life however, because then it can be more back and forth
     
  20. sdc91

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    If I'm interested and knowledgeable on the issue, then yup.