Dont ask don't tell: Putting yourself in both shoes.

[Cicero]

So Don't ask don't tell was brought up a lot during the DNC. And that got me thinking what it's like for the gay person wanting to serve, and the straight man. So when I put myself in the shoes of the gay person, I would think "Why in the world would my orientation get in the way of me serving my country?!". I then put myself in the shoes of the straight person, and I think "Great, you wanna serve. But me and my fellow army friends will feel uncomfortable being around a gay person showering, changing, etc.".

So what do you think, when you put yourself in both shoes? I honestly see exactly where both sides come from. For the gay person, why would it matter, I'm here to serve my country. For the straight person, it matters because many of us straight people will feel uncomfortable showering, changing, etc with a gay person because I'll feel like they're checking me out while I'm doing such acts.

[Gigablue]

I don't think people should feel uncomfortable. I know I would really care about the sexual orientation of someone I shared a shower with. It seems a bit arrogant to assume that someone would be attracted to you just because they're gay. It would be like a man assuming all women are attracted to them. Even if someone is uncomfortable with it, all people should be free to serve in the military.

[Mortal Coil]

I don't think people should feel uncomfortable. I know I would really care about the sexual orientation of someone I shared a shower with. It seems a bit arrogant to assume that someone would be attracted to you just because they're gay. It would be like a man assuming all women are attracted to them. Even if someone is uncomfortable with it, all people should be free to serve in the military.

This. Especially the arrogance bit.

[Sugaree]

For the straight person, it matters because many of us straight people will feel uncomfortable showering, changing, etc with a gay person because I'll feel like they're checking me out while I'm doing such acts.

That's the problem. Homophobes have convinced enough of the straight population to think that all gay men do is stare and check other men out. That's not the case at all and it's disgusting to think that all gay men are perverts. Of course it shouldn't get in the way of anything, be it serving in the military or being in an everyday workplace.

So why are you so concerned about a gay man glancing over for just a second at you while you're showering or changing? If you didn't want to be around other naked men in a public shower and change clothes in public quarters, you shouldn't have enlisted in the first damn place. There's no completely straight male out there, just like there's no completely straight female; making the assumption that it's different showering with a straight man than it is a gay man is totally asinine. Besides, it's the same body parts, why does it matter if one man is gay out of an entire platoon that's straight?

Really, DADT was beneficial in the way of keeping a soldier's private life to themselves. Because it should stay that way. But it also cut deeply into the personal lives of many because it's a doctrine which suppresses a minority. DADT shouldn't be around anymore, and anyone who wants to bring it back needs to be smacked up the head.

[Guillermo]

Those poor straight people. Maybe we should give them more rights and let them have their own shower curtains with super cute duckys on them so those nasty homosexuals don't peep on them.


Oh wait, what was the issue here? Oh yeah, there isn't one. If one is worrying their head off about other guys looking at them while changing and showering, then clearly they are the issue and not the gay person. Furthermore, they should just get the fuck up and leave if this is actually an "issue".

[Neptune]

Simply put, straight people should get used to it. Not all gays are perverts. Not to mention that gays will enter the military, one way or another - if that means they lie - and - that means they will still shower/change with them in the end.

Gays are humans and humans can fight. Why shouldn't they join the military?

[CourtingErmine]

I honestly don't care who I see, or who sees me. It hunk its unfair for this type of discrimination. By the way, I'm straight.

[Syvelocin]

But you know, with Don't Ask, Don't Tell, they could have still been peeping on you and you might not have noticed, you just didn't know they were gay because they were closeted.

I'd like to get over the hump of "straight is normal and gay is disgusting" cause many guys would probably be flattered for girls to check them out. They should be flattered when guys do to. Doesn't meant they're going to get raped in the middle of the night. I don't care who likes me, really, it's just nice that they do! Even though no guy has a chance :P

But it doesn't matter anymore. They're just going to have to suck it up now. I was actually on the side of not repealing it just yet but for once I was in the minority.

[horizonlooker]

Honestly, I feel that DADT is a good thing, in some sense. If you don't know, then things are likely to be less awkward, and whatnot. But at the same time, why does it matter what their sexual orientation is? Yeah, it'll most likely make a straight guy feel awkward, even if they're in the shower at the gym. Why does that matter if they're in the army?

[Korashk]

Honestly, I feel that DADT is a good thing, in some sense. If you don't know, then things are likely to be less awkward, and whatnot. But at the same time, why does it matter what their sexual orientation is? Yeah, it'll most likely make a straight guy feel awkward, even if they're in the shower at the gym. Why does that matter if they're in the army?
DADT isn't a good thing because it's only purpose was to appease people that thought that being gay shouldn't disqualify you from the military. It didn't actually make being gay and joining the military legal. It's the same rationale that would justify the old laws about being black and joining the military.

[Jupiter]

I don't like it at all. Just because someone is gay DOESN'T mean that the person likes you.

[ImCoolBeans]

OP request. :locked: