It’s entirely likely Perez Hilton attacked Carrie Prejean because he knew his tirade would increase his media profile. And he probably realized he could get away with it. In our contemporary media culture, there’s no cost to insulting someone who holds socially conservative views.
It’s not just that there’s no cost. It’s that it’s practically become standard practice.
Even when gay marriage advocates do not use the harsh language that he did, when many appear on TV or on the radio, or are otherwise quoted in the MSM, they will invariably attack their adversaries, oftentimes in personal terms.
And that’s why Carrie Prejean triumphed last week. She didn’t respond to Perez Hilton in kind, merely stated her views. She thus offers a lesson for those who disagree with her. Do, as she does, say what you believe, clearly, concisely and with conviction.
And don’t attack your adversaries. Just make a better case than they do. Respect them as individuals. Don’t mock (or otherwise belittle) their motives. Appreciate that they express their convictions with sincerity. Take the time to understand their arguments and then carefully, rationally refute them.
Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. — Robert Frost
But did she WIN THE CONTEST?????
NO!
LOSER!!!!!!!!!
(just kidding) 🙂
#1 – “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.” — Robert Frost
Nice sentiment, but I prefer:
“Kiss my f—ing ass!” – General George Patton
Words to live by. 😉
Regards,
Peter H.
I prefer using both methods simultaneously. Well reasoned and saliently logical arguments peppered with an occassional “you douche bag” or “pestilential f*ck weasel” adds a little pananche. It’s like wasabi and sushi. Slice the argument finely, don’t over do the garnish. While “…education…”, as referred in comment #1 by Ignatius is preferred, some folks just beg for stylish beating with a pillow case full of brass doorknobs.
Perez Hilton immediately comes to mind.
Carrie Prejean is the big winner here. How many people can name even a single Miss USA from the last 20 years? Yet everyone knows who the runner up is this year. And it is all due to her character.
I can!
Susie Castillo — but that’s just because she’s from Massachusetts.
Vanessa Williams?
In any case, I forget–what are gays fighting for again? Marriage or civil unions are available in many states and all the fun ones. Even I, in Nebraska, can waddle across the border to Iowa. Haven’t we won? Why are we still mad? The only thing that needs to happen is for Obama (blessed be the Name) to repeal the DOMA, then we have everything we could possible want. Or am I wrong? Am I missing out on some oppression here that I’m not aware of?
#6 – Ash, Vanessa Williams was Miss America 1984, not Miss USA. There is a difference between the pageants.
Or, as one local wag put it: “Miss America is the girl next door. Miss USA is the girl you WISHED lived next door.” 😉
Regards,
Peter H.
What an embarrassment for our country. A national debate is now in the hands of an idiot beauty queen and an idiot internet gossip columnist. If this is the direction this country is going we are screwed.
Again, what’s the debate? We have marriage and civil unions. We have job protection. I keep forgetting–what are we angry about? That some people don’t like us? You know, hunters don’t get upset by people who think hunting is disgusting. They just go ahead and hunt.
Dulcamara, my coworkers are all wondering what on Earth I’m laughing so hard about. My God, I nearly fell out of my chair!
Let’s face it, there are no losers here. Perez Hilton ups his media profile, Carrie Prejean becomes the darling of the religious right and Donald Trump, the master of self promotion, gets a nice juicy controversy to promote his beauty pageant. Everybody wins.
Now can we please drop the subject?
#10 – “What an embarrassment for our country. A national debate is now in the hands of an idiot beauty queen and an idiot internet gossip columnist. If this is the direction this country is going we are screwed.”
Actually, we got screwed last November when we elected an affirmative-action president who used to be a “community organizer.” I daresay Miss California has more real-world experience than that man-child.
Regards,
Peter H.