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-   -   Just sayin. (http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20072)

Krystal Locke 07-22-2011 02:51 AM

Just sayin.
 
I was doing an actual, legit search for lesbian friendly schools. I found aikido porn. Not like food porn porn, but like porn porn porn. Dunno whether I should piss, run, or go blind.

That whole zenra thing is interesting, but, really, aikido? Wow, just wow. My eyeballs might want some misogi. Or, maybe not.

Josh Reyer 07-22-2011 04:18 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Rule 34.

genin 07-26-2011 10:48 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
On a side note, did you ever find a school that had and official "lebian friendly" policy? That I thought was even more humourous than the porn discovery.

lbb 07-26-2011 11:26 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
What's a lebian?

Marc Abrams 07-26-2011 12:08 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288683)
What's a lebian?

A female who prefers to be in a loving, mutually consensual relationship with another female and prefers to leave the "S" off :D !

Marc Abrams

Mark Freeman 07-26-2011 01:43 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288683)
What's a lebian?

Someone from Lebia of course;)

Krystal Locke 07-27-2011 01:37 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Roger Flatley wrote: (Post 288679)
On a side note, did you ever find a school that had and official "lebian friendly" policy? That I thought was even more humourous than the porn discovery.

I did, actually. What do you find funny about it? Curious, I just dont see a humor hit....

Mark Freeman 07-27-2011 02:17 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Hi Krystal,

Were you searching for lesbian friendly aikido schools or schools in general?

Are there schools out there unfriendly to lesbians? I don't know why sexuality has to be a factor in aikido (or any other form of learning for that matter). One puts on a kit and practices. I wouldn't know or care whether the person I practice with is gay or not.

Why would a lesbian/gay person even announce their 'status' when looking to train in anything? I'm curious.

regards,

Mark

genin 07-27-2011 07:25 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Krystal Locke wrote: (Post 288738)
I did, actually. What do you find funny about it? Curious, I just dont see a humor hit....

I guess the first thing would be that the school had an official policy toward gays, even if it was an accepting, positive one. Nowadays, it's assumed that most organizations or businesses are tolerant and accepting of gays (due to anti-discrimination laws). And secondly, why would it be specifically directed towards lesbians as opposed to the gay community in general? My third question, along the same lines as what Mark was getting at, is are there actually schools who are officially unfriendly towards lesbians? Like you call them, ask if lesbians can attend, and some guy in a gruff voice yells out over the phone: "We don't take yur' kind here!"

I realize that when it comes to things like sexuality, our identities are tied so closely to it, that sometimes we may be compelled to draw attention to that fact in situations which do not require us to do so.

lbb 07-27-2011 08:18 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Roger Flatley wrote: (Post 288748)
Nowadays, it's assumed that most organizations or businesses are tolerant and accepting of gays (due to anti-discrimination laws).

That assumption would be incorrect. In the United States (since that is where you're posting from), there is no federal legislation establishing civil rights for gays and lesbians. Where legal civil rights do exist, they are on the state and local levels, and those mostly confine themselves to limited protections against employment discrimination. Smaller numbers of states extend gay civil rights in matters of housing and public accommodation. To the extent that a dojo can be considered a "public accommodation" (bigots have very easy ways to get around this), gays and lesbians are for the most part not protected against discrimination there.

Narda 07-27-2011 08:25 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
If the Aikifolks don't mind a question from a sincerely interested fellow MAist, just exactly how does one go about ascertaining whether or not a dojo is 'bigoted'? Announcement, as previously indicated? Subvertly looking for 'signs'? What would those be?

Whatever happened to the idea of blending, harmonizing, fitting-in? Is that not a two-way process?

Thank you.

Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288751)
That assumption would be incorrect. In the United States (since that is where you're posting from), there is no federal legislation establishing civil rights for gays and lesbians. Where legal civil rights do exist, they are on the state and local levels, and those mostly confine themselves to limited protections against employment discrimination. Smaller numbers of states extend gay civil rights in matters of housing and public accommodation. To the extent that a dojo can be considered a "public accommodation" (bigots have very easy ways to get around this), gays and lesbians are for the most part not protected against discrimination there.


lbb 07-27-2011 08:41 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Narda Wakoluk wrote: (Post 288752)
Whatever happened to the idea of blending, harmonizing, fitting-in? Is that not a two-way process?

When people are being discriminated against, the fact of discrimination removes any option or ability for them to "blend" or "harmonize". The closest they can come is to knuckle under, and if they won't do that, they are accused of refusing to fit in.

Keith Larman 07-27-2011 08:46 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
To the original post...

As others have stated, if there is a subject, there is the porn version as well. What can I say? Human beings are sexual creatures and besides, sex is fun... Shouldn't be a surprise...

On the topic of Lesbian friendly dojo, don't know of any that are overtly billed in that fashion. I do, however, know of many dojo who couldn't possibly care less about each member's sexual orientation. When I first started at Seidokan the guy I worked out with on a regular basis was openly gay. Great guy to train with because he was strong and had a background in collegiate wrestling as well, so he pushed my limits each and every time we trained. I was quite sorry when he moved out of state -- I learned a lot training with him when he didn't just fall down... But.. I digress. The point is that I'm sure there are bigots out there here and there. I'm sure there are places where whispers might be heard. But I also know of quite a few places where all people with a sincere intent to learn are welcomed with open arms. If you're old enough and can get get your butt on the mat safely you're welcome to train. At most of those places sexual orientation is totally irrelevant. Excluding someone because they are a lesbian would be like excluding blondes or left-handed Eskimos. Totally irrelevant and nonsensical.

But I suppose it might depend on where you are, etc. Don't know. Just haven't seen anything negative in the dojo I attend. Shrug.

Just fwiw.

Keith Larman 07-27-2011 08:50 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288756)
When people are being discriminated against, the fact of discrimination removes any option or ability for them to "blend" or "harmonize". The closest they can come is to knuckle under, and if they won't do that, they are accused of refusing to fit in.

And that's the other side of the coin. I do know that it happens. And it shouldn't. And expecting the person being discriminated against to just blend in and harmonize is absolutely ridiculous. Run away. I don't want to train with anyone who would treat a fellow human in such a shallow fashion. As a matter of fact there is someone I know personally (not aikido but another MA) who has rather archaic views on this topic who I have had ample chances to train with but with whom I refuse to get on the mat with. Because of it.

Anyway, to the OP, hopefully you'll find a place where it is at least a non-issue. Most in my experience are quite open and don't give a rat's behind about your orientation. So best of luck in your search.

Narda 07-27-2011 08:54 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Thank you, and of course.

But...how does one go about ascertaining if a dojo is 'XXX friendly'. As a female, having worked in some hot, cramped male dominated kitchens, I understand the different strategies women may use to survive, or even thrive in that environment. The enlightened, and the bigoted, it seems to work as long as everyone there is committed to an overarching common goal. Putting out food in that instance, but in a dojo, learning MA.

There is a reason why we bow in to the dojo, and ritually don kikogi. And there is the sensei, who should be watching everything.

Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288756)
When people are being discriminated against, the fact of discrimination removes any option or ability for them to "blend" or "harmonize". The closest they can come is to knuckle under, and if they won't do that, they are accused of refusing to fit in.


Keith Larman 07-27-2011 09:26 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Narda Wakoluk wrote: (Post 288760)
Thank you, and of course.

But...how does one go about ascertaining if a dojo is 'XXX friendly'.

The same way you go about finding out if they're good teachers, or if they're martially capable, or if they're religiously tolerant, or if they're racially tolerant, or if they're decent people in general, etc. You ask around, you train, you get to know them. The problem in my eyes is that you're asking about one particular type of intolerance in a world where there are all sorts of types. If one is to post a sign saying "lesbian friendly" shouldn't one also post a sign that says "women friendly". And "Men friendly". And "Gay Friendly". And "Hispanic Friendly". And "Islam friendly". And it goes on virtually ad infinitum.

Mark Freeman 07-27-2011 09:34 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Keith Larman wrote: (Post 288763)
The same way you go about finding out if they're good teachers, or if they're martially capable, or if they're religiously tolerant, or if they're racially tolerant, or if they're decent people in general, etc. You ask around, you train, you get to know them. The problem in my eyes is that you're asking about one particular type of intolerance in a world where there are all sorts of types. If one is to post a sign saying "lesbian friendly" shouldn't one also post a sign that says "women friendly". And "Men friendly". And "Gay Friendly". And "Hispanic Friendly". And "Islam friendly". And it goes on virtually ad infinitum.

Hi Keith,

I agree, it does lend itself to the absurd doesn't it.

Maybe we should just have a sign saying either 'friendly' or 'un-friendly', that might do it.

My door is open to all (well maybe not all, Scientologists, now they are just weird :freaky: )

regards

Mark

genin 07-27-2011 09:51 AM

Re: Just sayin.
 
I think the point has been made clear now, which is that it's completely unnecessary and irrelevant to bring up your sexuality in a dojo setting. Granted, I wouldn't want to belong to a dojo which had racist members, but I doubt I'd ask the Sensei before joining: "What is your opinion of blacks?"

I think the policy SHOULD be: "Don't ask, don't dwell." There's no need to out people by asking if they are gay or not, but if someone wants to make it known they are gay, then that's fine. However, once people find out that you are gay, don't DWELL on it. Just accept it and move on. It has no relevance in the dojo setting, nor does it effect anyone else aside from the person in question.

lbb 07-27-2011 12:07 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Roger Flatley wrote: (Post 288767)
I think the point has been made clear now, which is that it's completely unnecessary and irrelevant to bring up your sexuality in a dojo setting.

Correction: it should be irrelevant in a dojo. Whether it is irrelevant is another matter.

Here's something to keep in mind: people who are not targeted by a particular type of bigotry are often unaware of its presence. Partly this is because hostile remarks and behaviors aren't directed at them, and so they may simply not see the bigotry expressed...but also, sad to say, even when it happens right in front of them. Unless the behavior is blatantly hostile, people tend to see many bigoted remarks, behaviors, caricatures etc. as "harmless fun" or "just kidding around" or as insignificant. There are an awful lot of straight people who start acting strange when they have to touch a gay person, or share a changing room with one...a lot of straight people who find an excuse to work with another partner, who make sure they carry hand sanitizer, who suddenly start changing in the bathroom. And as long as they don't say, "Oh, so-and-so is gay, EW," most other straight people are not going to get it. They're not even going to see what's happening. And then they turn around and look at the gay person and say, "Wow, why are you like that, why do you have to make such a big issue out of being gay, why do you have to have a place be 'gay-friendly', do you really want us to put that on our sign (ew), and what about all the other categories of people, do we need to say we're 'friendly' to them too, and another thing, why do you people always need some kind of special accommodation when we're totally accepting???" Et cetera, blah de blah, lather rinse repeat.

genin 07-27-2011 12:53 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288781)
Correction: it should be irrelevant in a dojo. Whether it is irrelevant is another matter.

Here's something to keep in mind: people who are not targeted by a particular type of bigotry are often unaware of its presence. Partly this is because hostile remarks and behaviors aren't directed at them, and so they may simply not see the bigotry expressed...but also, sad to say, even when it happens right in front of them. Unless the behavior is blatantly hostile, people tend to see many bigoted remarks, behaviors, caricatures etc. as "harmless fun" or "just kidding around" or as insignificant. There are an awful lot of straight people who start acting strange when they have to touch a gay person, or share a changing room with one...a lot of straight people who find an excuse to work with another partner, who make sure they carry hand sanitizer, who suddenly start changing in the bathroom. And as long as they don't say, "Oh, so-and-so is gay, EW," most other straight people are not going to get it. They're not even going to see what's happening. And then they turn around and look at the gay person and say, "Wow, why are you like that, why do you have to make such a big issue out of being gay, why do you have to have a place be 'gay-friendly', do you really want us to put that on our sign (ew), and what about all the other categories of people, do we need to say we're 'friendly' to them too, and another thing, why do you people always need some kind of special accommodation when we're totally accepting???" Et cetera, blah de blah, lather rinse repeat.

Yea, but discrimination can rear it's head in any form, inside AND outside the dojo. I've been discriminated against for being young, for dating interacially, and for being poor. People are judged and mistreated based on a wide variety of arbitrary things. My training partner is constantly pre-judged because he has a lot of tattoos and facial peircings. I agree that racial and homosexual bigotry is alive and well in the world, and America in particular. But so is discrimination and stereotyping and pre-judging of all kinds.

I suppose it's not fair for me to judge that person for trying to see if dojo's are lesbian friendly, because in their life that is very important to them, and they possibly may have had some serious problems with discrimination the past, and maybe they want to avoid problems in the future. I can't fault someone for that.

Keith Larman 07-27-2011 01:00 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Just an errant thought for what it's worth... I fully understand looking for a place that is (fill in the blank) friendly. Understandable especially if you've had some experience with various forms of discrimination. Had some odd experiences myself having been in interracial relationships and now being in an interracial marriage. That said I would think you'll find that most places that are (fill in the blank) friendly won't have any signs or flashing lights indicating they are friendly. So I wouldn't pass up places that don't have the "(fill in the blank) welcome here" signs. Many will find such things totally irrelevant. And hopefully those who are in charge will make sure that those who come will also abide by that point of view.

A few years ago I had some words with someone who had a habit of saying "that's so gay" about most anything he didn't like. He said it was just slang for "wimpy" but I told him it wasn't appropriate in a dojo setting regardless.

Best of luck to the OP. Hope you find a good place to train.

Narda 07-27-2011 01:02 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
On the other hand, my own teacher told me, 'There is a place for sensitivity in the dojo, but if it gets in the way of training, you have no business learning a martial art.'

Hypothetical bigoted 'what ifs' aren't going to be a productive base to understand exactly what someone means when they are looking for an environment that is 'XXX friendly'. I disagree, that unless something is blatant, that it won't be of a concern to others training. And if it's sly, and not picked up, work it out privately. If it can't be worked out privately, engage the sensei. Might be a valid complaint for an integrated dojo...might not.

Quote:

Mary Malmros wrote: (Post 288781)
Correction: it should be irrelevant in a dojo. Whether it is irrelevant is another matter.

Here's something to keep in mind: people who are not targeted by a particular type of bigotry are often unaware of its presence. Partly this is because hostile remarks and behaviors aren't directed at them, and so they may simply not see the bigotry expressed...but also, sad to say, even when it happens right in front of them. Unless the behavior is blatantly hostile, people tend to see many bigoted remarks, behaviors, caricatures etc. as "harmless fun" or "just kidding around" or as insignificant. There are an awful lot of straight people who start acting strange when they have to touch a gay person, or share a changing room with one...a lot of straight people who find an excuse to work with another partner, who make sure they carry hand sanitizer, who suddenly start changing in the bathroom. And as long as they don't say, "Oh, so-and-so is gay, EW," most other straight people are not going to get it. They're not even going to see what's happening. And then they turn around and look at the gay person and say, "Wow, why are you like that, why do you have to make such a big issue out of being gay, why do you have to have a place be 'gay-friendly', do you really want us to put that on our sign (ew), and what about all the other categories of people, do we need to say we're 'friendly' to them too, and another thing, why do you people always need some kind of special accommodation when we're totally accepting???" Et cetera, blah de blah, lather rinse repeat.


Marc Abrams 07-27-2011 01:24 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
My dojo's policy is that everybody is welcome. Does that make it a swinging kind of dojo? :eek:

Marc Abrams

ps- on the serious side. Last time I checked, a dojo was a place to study martial arts and any interpersonal stuff was secondary to the main focus of being at the dojo. If a dojo has some official policy regarding what type of consensual adult relationships people engage in, then my first question is: Are the studying the martial art of love?

genin 07-27-2011 01:31 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Let's say the Sensei tells you the dojo is lesbian friendly. Do you think that means that the Sensei has at any point spoken to the class about being tolerant towards gays? Maybe he has, but I doubt it. The reality is that if you ask the Sensei that question, he'll simply tell you that they are gay tolerant. But that doesn't mean there is any official policy on that inside the dojo. It may not have EVER have even come up before!

That being said, who's to say that there are closet bigots in the dojo? Even if the Sensei is accepting, you might encounter some rogue students who are a-holes about it. So eventhough you asked ahead of time, you still can't prevent people from discriminating against you.

Rabih Shanshiry 07-27-2011 01:41 PM

Re: Just sayin.
 
Quote:

Keith Larman wrote: (Post 288759)
As a matter of fact there is someone I know personally (not aikido but another MA) who has rather archaic views on this topic who I have had ample chances to train with but with whom I refuse to get on the mat with. Because of it.

I find this statement somewhat contradictory to everything else you are saying Keith. What matter should that person's views off the mat have to do with your willingness to train with them?

Isn't that precisely the attitude that would potentially make a dojo non-[fill in the blank] friendly towards others who are different or hold different viewpoints?

I don't have to agree, like, or even respect a person's political views, religious convictions, or lifestyle choices in order to train with them. All of that should be totally irrelevant on the mat.


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