At least one NFL team accused of illegally asking sexual orientation questions

PatsWickedPissah said:

If BB takes him or any other TE with his 1st 3 picks, I'm switching over to the Jets

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and change your forum name to JetsWickedLosah

ivanvamp said:

Hmm, interesting. I knew, obviously, that it was against the law for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, but I didn't realize it was against the law to ask the question.

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Even if the question itself is legal (I don't know if it is or is not), why would an employer open themselves up to the consequences of asking it? Say you ask this question, get an affirmative answer, then draft the guy. He ends up not successfully making the transition from NCAA football to NFL football so you bench him. All of a sudden, you didn't bench him because he's not a good football player. You benched him because he's gay.

Or you don't draft him, nobody else does either, and he sues you because Mel Kiper or some other idiot "expert" had said he was a 2nd round prospect or whatever. But now by you asking this you have destroyed his wage earning potential.

A question like that has a very high risk associated with it and very little reward. So if any team did really ask it they should pay some sort of a penalty for being idiots. I don't know if they will, but they should.

BradyFTW! said:

If a couple of dysfunctional, crap organizations value catering to their dumbest players over putting the best team that they can on the field, then that's their problem. Better organizations will reap the benefits.

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This.

The NFL has become obsessed with the whole notion of trying learn about the person -- the Wunderlich nonsense and the interview process is pretty stupid to begin with. It's hilarious that some mentally challenged GM or something took this as license to try to figure out whether a player was gay or not, as though it makes a difference.

Fortunately, we're at a place finally where the entire episode of asking a guy "do you like girls" in an interview to play a game for money is so absurd that it's barely even pernicious any more, it's just hilarious. I mean, asking a guy that question is just humiliating for the guy who asked. Oh, you're so clever Mr. Rocket Scientist. Just ask the question you want to ask and expose yourself: "Umm, say, just wondering -- you gonna try to hump one of our other players"?

I really hope we find out what organization this is. And I really hope it's a loser franchise. If I were to find out it was the Patriots, I'd be pretty sad.

Ive_Killed_People said:

I never mentioned rape. Dont marginalize my truthful statement with such an off the wall suggestion. Homosexuality makes a lot of people really uncomfortable because it is a deviation from the norm.

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Homosexuality doesn't make people uncomfortable, people choose to make themselves uncomfortable with it. And homosexuality isn't a deviation from the norm, it is very much the norm. It is found in stable percentages in every culture. It is a minority, but it is also very normal, like blond hair.

upstater1 said:

I hang out with about 100 18-22 years olds 3 times a week for 15 weeks in the fall, and then another set of 100 18-22 year olds for that amount of time in the spring. You'd be amazed what they don't know. They don't know who Scorsese is, never heard of the Clash. Leslie Nielsen to them holds nor interest (nor frankly, to me).

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I'm 26, not that far outside of the age range you describe. But, at that time, I knew of or had seen all three movies and knew who Leslie Nielsen was due to the fact that he made some funny slapstick movies like Naked Gun that I thought was hilarious as a teenager. I also knew who Scorsese was because, like many of my other friends into gangster rap at 50 Cent's peak, I liked (and still do like) gangster movies. And I knew who the Clash was but can only name you a few of their songs because I think they suck (just my opinion).

The legal issue isn't even the silly or sad part. This is just bad selection technique. The question doesn't evoke conversation, it simply creates unease. It doesn't unveil behavioral patterns that relate to football success, it just asks about attitude. Employers who hire based on their guesses about someone's attitude rather than their demonstrated behaviors get what they deserve, which is a cat-and-mouse interviewing process and ultimately poor selection.

Frezo said:

I've attempted an Inspector Clouseau imitation in front of those age groups and got nothing but blank stares.

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Heh, I used to just use Simpsons anecdotes, but that went out the window about 5 years ago. They did take great interest in my telling them that Grand Theft Auto was the only video game I've played in the last 10 years.

Yes, maybe 10 of 100 of them last night knew who Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson were. I mentioned William Kennedy's book Ironweed (these are all upstate NY kids) and when I realized that it didn't ring a bell (the biggest author of upstate NY) I then mentioned the movie. Nothing. I then mentioned Streep and Nicholson. Nothing. One Flew Over the ****oo's Nest? Nothing. Easy Rider? Nothing. a couple students piped up. "Meryl Streep. you know. The old lady."

Sometimes these kids hand in writing with immortal passages like, "She was very old, approaching 29..."

This is another thread that, outside of the discussion of movies and Upstater's remarkably and abnormally ignorant youths, belongs in the political forum. So, rather than getting dragged into it further, I'll bow out now and put this thread on ignore. In honor of those comatose young'uns, I leave you all with this:

PatsWickedPissah said:

If BB takes him or any other TE with his 1st 3 picks, I'm switching over to the Jets

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nfldraftscout has him as a 4th-5th rounder, so if the Pats could get him in the 5th round, I wouldn't mind that. At that point, especially, you should just be going BPA anyway, and hoping that you come away with a serviceable player or two.

upstater1 said:

Yes, maybe 10 of 100 of them last night knew who Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson were. I mentioned William Kennedy's book Ironweed (these are all upstate NY kids) and when I realized that it didn't ring a bell (the biggest author of upstate NY) I then mentioned the movie. Nothing. I then mentioned Streep and Nicholson. Nothing. One Flew Over the ****oo's Nest? Nothing. Easy Rider? Nothing. a couple students piped up. "Meryl Streep. you know. The old lady."

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Yet, 25 years from now, every single one of them will find him- or herself saying something like, "the music these kids listen to now just sucks, and I remember when a movie was only $15."

betterthanthealternative said:

Homosexuality doesn't make people uncomfortable, people choose to make themselves uncomfortable with it. And homosexuality isn't a deviation from the norm, it is very much the norm. It is found in stable percentages in every culture. It is a minority, but it is also very normal, like blond hair.

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What bizarro world do you live on? Homosexuality DOES make others uncomfortable dont be silly. You think people choose to be made uncomfortable by something? Do people fear snakes or clowns out of their own choice or some biological function? If I see something gross my body has an automatic aversion to it. I dont hate gay people but f I see two guys kissing it makes me wanna vomit same as if I got a good whiff of road kill. I do not choose this reaction it is very normal. Homosexuality is a deviation from the norm it occurs in small percentages and does not lead to procreation. All life has ONE goal and one goal only to procreate and keep the species alive. You can spout new wave clap trap junk PC science and it makes you feel all warm and loving but you are childlike in your naivete. Blonde hair doesnt stop procreation some might say it helps it. Two guys or even two girls dont make babies in nature. "Very much the norm"????? You need to look up the definition of the word normal. Talking to a PC drone is worse than talking to a brick wall.....go live in your fantasy land. So go on and accuse me of being a homophobe it's all you have to go on seeing the facts and logic have abandoned you.

Ive_Killed_People said:

What bizarro world do you live on? Homosexuality DOES make others uncomfortable dont be silly. You think people choose to be made uncomfortable by something? Do people fear snakes or clowns out of their own choice or some biological function? If I see something gross my body has an automatic aversion to it. I dont hate gay people but f I see two guys kissing it makes me wanna vomit same as if I got a good whiff of road kill. I do not choose this reaction it is very normal. Homosexuality is a deviation from the norm it occurs in small percentages and does not lead to procreation. All life has ONE goal and one goal only to procreate and keep the species alive. You can spout new wave clap trap junk PC science and it makes you feel all warm and loving but you are childlike in your naivete. Blonde hair doesnt stop procreation some might say it helps it. Two guys or even two girls dont make babies in nature. "Very much the norm"????? You need to look up the definition of the word normal. Talking to a PC drone is worse than talking to a brick wall.....go live in your fantasy land. So go on and accuse me of being a homophobe it's all you have to go on seeing the facts and logic have abandoned you.

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I think I'm developing a fear of clowns

PatsWickedPissah said:

If BB takes him or any other TE with his 1st 3 picks, I'm switching over to the Jets

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Problem is now that if BB DOESN'T take him or another tight end the Pats will be accused of homophobia/discrimination.

PatsWickedPissah said:

I think I'm developing a fear of clowns

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Coulrophobia- Fear of clowns.

now if you were Murk Sanface-to-ass-chez you'd have THIS phobia by now..

Coprophobia- Fear of feces.

and fail to pay the bill at the Chinese restaurant?

Consecotaleophobia- Fear of chopsticks.

Joker said:

Coulrophobia- Fear of clowns.

now if you were Murk Sanface-to-ass-chez you'd have THIS phobia by now..

Coprophobia- Fear of feces.

and fail to pay the bill at the Chinese restaurant?

Consecotaleophobia- Fear of chopsticks.

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So, by logical extension, coulrocoprophobia = fear of shytty clowns -- otherwise known as Jets Fan Syndrome.

Ive_Killed_People said:

What bizarro world do you live on? Homosexuality DOES make others uncomfortable dont be silly. You think people choose to be made uncomfortable by something? Do people fear snakes or clowns out of their own choice or some biological function? If I see something gross my body has an automatic aversion to it. I dont hate gay people but f I see two guys kissing it makes me wanna vomit same as if I got a good whiff of road kill. I do not choose this reaction it is very normal. Homosexuality is a deviation from the norm it occurs in small percentages and does not lead to procreation. All life has ONE goal and one goal only to procreate and keep the species alive. You can spout new wave clap trap junk PC science and it makes you feel all warm and loving but you are childlike in your naivete. Blonde hair doesnt stop procreation some might say it helps it. Two guys or even two girls dont make babies in nature. "Very much the norm"????? You need to look up the definition of the word normal. Talking to a PC drone is worse than talking to a brick wall.....go live in your fantasy land. So go on and accuse me of being a homophobe it's all you have to go on seeing the facts and logic have abandoned you.

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Soooooooooooooooo, you don't watch Modern Family.

basement zombie said:

My immediate thought to your post was, 'why wouldn't this be considered worthy of discussion?'

There is a great deal of media coverage about this, there are legal issues and great potential for discriminatory practices connected with questions and behavior like this, etc.

Or, are you trying to say something along the lines of, "I find this a non-issue, don't like this topic and/or I don't want to see it discussed?"

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Tunescribe said:

No, because only one player brought this up and the allegations/circumstances are vague. He was not asked directly whether he was homosexual or hetero.

(quoted stuff)

We'll see if anything comes of this, but I doubt it.

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No, you say?
Sounds a lot like you're essentially saying the first thing I mentioned above - "I find this a non-issue."

Anyhow...carry on.

Ive_Killed_People said:

You need to look up the definition of the word normal.

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Normal:

3: occurring naturally <normal immunity>

Weird.

basement zombie said:

No, you say?
Sounds a lot like you're essentially saying the first thing I mentioned above - "I find this a non-issue."

Anyhow...carry on.

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I didn't declare it a "non-issue." The fact is we don't know that yet, which was my point in offering you a contextual observation. You were eager to jump to a conclusion for some odd reason and still seem to be by quoting only parts of my post. Very strange. Anyhow ... carry on.

Tunescribe said:

I didn't declare it a "non-issue." The fact is we don't know that yet, which was my point in offering you a contextual observation. You were eager to jump to a conclusion for some odd reason and still seem to be by quoting only parts of my post. Very strange. Anyhow ... carry on.

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Did I make a mistake? If so - sorry. I thought the rest of that post was quotes/sources/articles around the net. About jumping to a conclusion, I was thinking out loud and trying to understand why you felt like the thread shouldn't have been made and therefore the discussion shouldn't take place here.