Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down

Scars512 said:

I don't know if I get any messages from it -- but I know it makes me angry.

For a formerly "country" artist, she is putting out a very hateful stereotype with her hick/hillbilly portrayal of anti-LGBQT protesters. As someone who grew up in Appalachia, I can't tell you the number of times I've been subjected to ridicule because people outside the area think we are all like this. The incest jokes, banjo music references, dumb redneck comments, missing teeth comments, one leg shorter than the other jokes. It gets old pretty quickly. When I went to a summer program for gifted kids in high school, my roommate from the suburbs of DC actually asked me if I had indoor plumbing in my house. Good grief! I had cable and MTV for heaven's sake. We weren't that backwards. But, she thought we all had outhouses. And my first day of college, I was told by someone that they had never met a smart person with a southern accent before. So, yeah, this video ticks me off.

You would think she would know better. She likes to pass herself off as a regular country girl who was rejected by a major label and chose to go with a small label who would give her more control and let her write her own music. Turns out, her dad is actually a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch and that small little record company that gave her a chance? Her dad BOUGHT that company so he could use it as a vehicle to launch her career. She is literally the walking definition of white privilege. So, her choosing to malign people who used to be her fans (those white country people that are being stereotyped) is completely tone deaf. I don't care what her intentions are. She used a hurtful stereotype to do it. Are there some people in Appalachia like this? Sure. But there are some black people that actually fit black stereotypes, too. Same for Asians or any other group. But those stereotypes are hurtful because -- with enough repetition -- people start to accept them as being true of EVERY member of that group. Stereotypes don't magically become acceptable because they target a majority group (whites, in this case) instead of a minority one. They are just wrong. Period.

Her stereotypes of the gay community aren't any better. To be honest, a big part of the problem with getting middle America to accept homosexuality is because of the gay people who act like this. Normal, regular gay folks (like Pete Buttigieg who is running for President) aren't threatening. Those who want to let their freak flags fly ALL the time and are the ones who show up at the pride parade in BDSM attire and assless chaps are the real problem. If they would just tone that crap down and save that for the gay bars instead of in your face 24/7, more people would live and let live. You know, the whole world does not need to know about your sex life. They don't have to stay in the closet -- but do you really need to drape yourself in a rainbow just so everyone knows instantly which team you play for? I think if you are holding hands with someone of the same sex, we can put 2 and 2 together and figure out you are gay without a rainbow certification seal.

Can't wait for July.

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Scars512 said:

I don't know if I get any messages from it -- but I know it makes me angry.

For a formerly "country" artist, she is putting out a very hateful stereotype with her hick/hillbilly portrayal of anti-LGBQT protesters. As someone who grew up in Appalachia, I can't tell you the number of times I've been subjected to ridicule because people outside the area think we are all like this. The incest jokes, banjo music references, dumb redneck comments, missing teeth comments, one leg shorter than the other jokes. It gets old pretty quickly. When I went to a summer program for gifted kids in high school, my roommate from the suburbs of DC actually asked me if I had indoor plumbing in my house. Good grief! I had cable and MTV for heaven's sake. We weren't that backwards. But, she thought we all had outhouses. And my first day of college, I was told by someone that they had never met a smart person with a southern accent before. So, yeah, this video ticks me off.

You would think she would know better. She likes to pass herself off as a regular country girl who was rejected by a major label and chose to go with a small label who would give her more control and let her write her own music. Turns out, her dad is actually a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch and that small little record company that gave her a chance? Her dad BOUGHT that company so he could use it as a vehicle to launch her career. She is literally the walking definition of white privilege. So, her choosing to malign people who used to be her fans (those white country people that are being stereotyped) is completely tone deaf. I don't care what her intentions are. She used a hurtful stereotype to do it. Are there some people in Appalachia like this? Sure. But there are some black people that actually fit black stereotypes, too. Same for Asians or any other group. But those stereotypes are hurtful because -- with enough repetition -- people start to accept them as being true of EVERY member of that group. Stereotypes don't magically become acceptable because they target a majority group (whites, in this case) instead of a minority one. They are just wrong. Period.

Her stereotypes of the gay community aren't any better. To be honest, a big part of the problem with getting middle America to accept homosexuality is because of the gay people who act like this. Normal, regular gay folks (like Pete Buttigieg who is running for President) aren't threatening. Those who want to let their freak flags fly ALL the time and are the ones who show up at the pride parade in BDSM attire and assless chaps are the real problem. If they would just tone that crap down and save that for the gay bars instead of in your face 24/7, more people would live and let live. You know, the whole world does not need to know about your sex life. They don't have to stay in the closet -- but do you really need to drape yourself in a rainbow just so everyone knows instantly which team you play for? I think if you are holding hands with someone of the same sex, we can put 2 and 2 together and figure out you are gay without a rainbow certification seal.

Can't wait for July.

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TheTruthIsOutThere said:

What messages do you get from this video?

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TheTruthIsOutThere said:

What messages do you get from this video?

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Scars512 said:

I don't know if I get any messages from it -- but I know it makes me angry.

For a formerly "country" artist, she is putting out a very hateful stereotype with her hick/hillbilly portrayal of anti-LGBQT protesters. As someone who grew up in Appalachia, I can't tell you the number of times I've been subjected to ridicule because people outside the area think we are all like this. The incest jokes, banjo music references, dumb redneck comments, missing teeth comments, one leg shorter than the other jokes. It gets old pretty quickly. When I went to a summer program for gifted kids in high school, my roommate from the suburbs of DC actually asked me if I had indoor plumbing in my house. Good grief! I had cable and MTV for heaven's sake. We weren't that backwards. But, she thought we all had outhouses. And my first day of college, I was told by someone that they had never met a smart person with a southern accent before. So, yeah, this video ticks me off.

You would think she would know better. She likes to pass herself off as a regular country girl who was rejected by a major label and chose to go with a small label who would give her more control and let her write her own music. Turns out, her dad is actually a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch and that small little record company that gave her a chance? Her dad BOUGHT that company so he could use it as a vehicle to launch her career. She is literally the walking definition of white privilege. So, her choosing to malign people who used to be her fans (those white country people that are being stereotyped) is completely tone deaf. I don't care what her intentions are. She used a hurtful stereotype to do it. Are there some people in Appalachia like this? Sure. But there are some black people that actually fit black stereotypes, too. Same for Asians or any other group. But those stereotypes are hurtful because -- with enough repetition -- people start to accept them as being true of EVERY member of that group. Stereotypes don't magically become acceptable because they target a majority group (whites, in this case) instead of a minority one. They are just wrong. Period.

Her stereotypes of the gay community aren't any better. To be honest, a big part of the problem with getting middle America to accept homosexuality is because of the gay people who act like this. Normal, regular gay folks (like Pete Buttigieg who is running for President) aren't threatening. Those who want to let their freak flags fly ALL the time and are the ones who show up at the pride parade in BDSM attire and assless chaps are the real problem. If they would just tone that crap down and save that for the gay bars instead of in your face 24/7, more people would live and let live. You know, the whole world does not need to know about your sex life. They don't have to stay in the closet -- but do you really need to drape yourself in a rainbow just so everyone knows instantly which team you play for? I think if you are holding hands with someone of the same sex, we can put 2 and 2 together and figure out you are gay without a rainbow certification seal.

Can't wait for July.

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TheTruthIsOutThere said:

What messages do you get from this video?

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sailormoon said:

Why does every celebrity feel the need to input their opinion on everything political?? It’s almost like they have to push the media’s agendas to stay relevant..... oh wait...

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sailormoon said:

Why does every celebrity feel the need to input their opinion on everything political??

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sailormoon said:

Why does every celebrity feel the need to input their opinion on everything political?? It’s almost like they have to push the media’s agendas to stay relevant..... oh wait...

I also am from Appalachia and can relate to the above post. I actually took speech classes and used Rosetta Stone because nobody took me seriously with my accent. I still get made fun of for it when it slips out. Of course the city I’m from is very “gay”, I mean we have rainbow crosswalks lol for goodness sakes.
Her music sucks. Couldn’t even finish the song.

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mecca said:

Why should LGBT people's existence be a political topic? LGBT people should just be treated like everyone else and afforded equal rights, their lives have nothing to do with the government or politics. It only becomes political when the government doesn't afford them basic civil rights or they try to take away their civil rights... then they have to fight for those rights to be legally recognized. If people would just leave them alone, then it wouldn't have to matter.

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Scars512 said:

I don't know if I get any messages from it -- but I know it makes me angry.

For a formerly "country" artist, she is putting out a very hateful stereotype with her hick/hillbilly portrayal of anti-LGBQT protesters. As someone who grew up in Appalachia, I can't tell you the number of times I've been subjected to ridicule because people outside the area think we are all like this. The incest jokes, banjo music references, dumb redneck comments, missing teeth comments, one leg shorter than the other jokes. It gets old pretty quickly. When I went to a summer program for gifted kids in high school, my roommate from the suburbs of DC actually asked me if I had indoor plumbing in my house. Good grief! I had cable and MTV for heaven's sake. We weren't that backwards. But, she thought we all had outhouses. And my first day of college, I was told by someone that they had never met a smart person with a southern accent before. So, yeah, this video ticks me off.

You would think she would know better. She likes to pass herself off as a regular country girl who was rejected by a major label and chose to go with a small label who would give her more control and let her write her own music. Turns out, her dad is actually a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch and that small little record company that gave her a chance? Her dad BOUGHT that company so he could use it as a vehicle to launch her career. She is literally the walking definition of white privilege. So, her choosing to malign people who used to be her fans (those white country people that are being stereotyped) is completely tone deaf. I don't care what her intentions are. She used a hurtful stereotype to do it. Are there some people in Appalachia like this? Sure. But there are some black people that actually fit black stereotypes, too. Same for Asians or any other group. But those stereotypes are hurtful because -- with enough repetition -- people start to accept them as being true of EVERY member of that group. Stereotypes don't magically become acceptable because they target a majority group (whites, in this case) instead of a minority one. They are just wrong. Period.

Her stereotypes of the gay community aren't any better. To be honest, a big part of the problem with getting middle America to accept homosexuality is because of the gay people who act like this. Normal, regular gay folks (like Pete Buttigieg who is running for President) aren't threatening. Those who want to let their freak flags fly ALL the time and are the ones who show up at the pride parade in BDSM attire and assless chaps are the real problem. If they would just tone that crap down and save that for the gay bars instead of in your face 24/7, more people would live and let live. You know, the whole world does not need to know about your sex life. They don't have to stay in the closet -- but do you really need to drape yourself in a rainbow just so everyone knows instantly which team you play for? I think if you are holding hands with someone of the same sex, we can put 2 and 2 together and figure out you are gay without a rainbow certification seal.

Can't wait for July.

Click to expand...

mecca said:

Ever heard of Westboro Baptist Church? People like that exist. They show up to every LGBTQ+ event with their signs and their slurs. People actually expect them to show up now... it's like a pride tradition at this point.
Here's a picture:
View attachment 23226

As you can see, it's not much different from Taylor's video, which was depicting/making fun of people like them.
Screenshot:
View attachment 23228

And there are many other organizations just like westboro that preach against LGBT people and openly spread hate towards them. I don't see what it has to do with them being white... unfortunately, people of any race can have prejudices. Taylor Swift herself is a white person from the south and she is obviously being an ally to the LGBT community. There were a bunch of white LGBT people within this video. So I don't think this video was stereotyping white people, maybe you could say that it was stereotyping people who hate gay people. But it was more of an accurate depiction of the fanatical gay bashers who show up to pride events. It was pretty much a somewhat satirical version of people like westboro baptist church. It was satirizing people who protest pride events, not all southern people. I don't know why someone would look at this and think it represents all southerners... especially since it's such a specific characterization of a single, well known and infamous group. But I guess maybe that one guy with gap teeth was in poor taste since I don't think people should be made fun of for their appearance.

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Scars512 said:

Well, maybe you've never had to experience people making jokes about people from your area being like this, as I already explained in my post. Maybe you didn't bother to read it? Yes, I get that she is making fun of people like that -- but we all know she is saying that they are just a bunch of dumb rednecks which, again, is a stereotype that is used for people from a certain area of the country.

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As I said, yes, some people do fit this stereotype -- but do you really think that homophobic people ONLY look like this?

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Maybe you think I'm overly sensitive, but if you had to work to get rid of your Southern accent because people automatically assume you are stupid ... well, maybe you'd understand.

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mecca said:

Of course I did read your post. But as I said in my response, I don't know why someone would look at the protesters in Taylor's video and think it's representing all white people or southerners... especially since the protesters are a specific characterization of a well known and infamous group, which is the westboro baptist church and other anti-gay protesters who are seen at pride events. And as we know, most southerners and most white people are not a part of that group. And it makes no sense to say that Taylor was portraying white people as homophobic, there were a bunch of white people in the video who were LGBT themselves or allies of LGBT people. And Taylor is a southern white person who is also an ally. The entire music video is very exaggerated and campy and somewhat stereotypical on all fronts which is why I'm not taking it seriously as an accurate representation of anyone. And I also recognize that individual people are not representative of their entire group either.

No... as I said in my response, any person no matter their appearance, their race, or where they're from can have prejudices. But in Taylor's video she is creating a satirical depiction of a specific infamous group of homophobes... the anti-LGBT protesters who show up at every LGBT+ event with hateful signs. Obviously not all homophobes do this but Taylor's video was showing the ones that do. It's such a well known phenomenon that people actually expect and kind of want anti-LGBT protesters to show up at LGBT pride... it's become a tradition at this point to see them there. The video is obviously satirizing those kinds of homophobic protesters. And if you noticed, in Taylor's video, not all of the protesters looked the same. I will say that a few of the protesters appearances were over exaggerated and in poor taste because it was moreso making fun of them for the way they look rather than their actual harmful beliefs. Like I said in my previous reply, I don't think people should be made fun of for their appearance and doing so detracts from the main point.

I don't think you're being over sensitive about how you were treated and how it affected you, I think that it's wrong for people to mistreat others simply because they were born in a specific location... and I empathized with your story. But when watching Taylor's music video, I didn't think that the protesters were representing southerners, I just saw them as a satirical representation of the people who go out and protest pride parades with anti-gay signs. The video didn't make me stereotype southerners, I don't think that's what the video was about. And by the way I like southern accents, I've never thought that someone was stupid because of their southern accent or any other accent. I only think people are stupid if they actually say or do something stupid.

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Xoalienn said:

Taylor isn’t southern, she’s from right here in PA. Her country thing wasn’t exactly authentic.

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mecca said:

She moved to Nashville at a young age to be a country singer. Also I think PA is somewhat influenced by southern culture. Some people from PA actually have southern accents.

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