Oh my golly gosh.. I have never shouted at the TV as much as I did tonight.
If you have not seen yesterday evenings showdown episode- let me bring you up to date:

I have to apologise to the mods and the users of the forum at this point for the length of my post- but it really touched a nerve tonight and I think it needs to be said on a modern forum such as this one.

In the red corner - we have the 'conservative' Richardson family who enjoy traditional ranching holidays in Texas- the family enjoy shooting, hunting and this is the killer point- hate HOMOSEXUALS - remember this for later if you please.

And in the blue corner - we have the BI-SEXUAL Blackwoods who just love to visit San Francisco- which if you dont know- might just be the gay capital of the world.

Now before I start the rant which I has been brewing all evening about this- I would like to make myself perfectly clear.

There Is NOTHING On Gods Earth wrong with gay people

Here comes the rant and it may be a long one - I hope people will read this and hopefully make something out of it.

Right then.. we live in a modern society do we not in england?
I think we do- so, in our 'modern' society why then do we still have homophobic bigots like the father of the Richardson family AKA John the gay hater.

The cavemen died out long ago and it seems evolved into modern man- or most of us did anyway.

Why is it then again - that homophobia still exists in our country?

Shall I tell you what I think it stems from- US.
Or in particular- the way we are brought up.

'Conservative' John the gay hater likes nothing better to calling gay people 'filth' - a strong term coming from someone who likes to kill defenceless animals along with the rest of his family.

I'd like to quote some catchphrases quoted by john and his gay-hating family if I may.

NARRATOR: The Richardsons pride themselves on having a traditional english way of life

Crap- I was brought up by my parents somewhat differently and I have come into this world to get along with EVERYONE - no matter what their sexuality, race, colour, religion- I really have a strong hatred for anyone who is not tolerant of people on this planet of ours. 'The Traditional' - by this I take this means hating people who are different to themselves?
Looks that way to me.

JOHN: I dont agree with homosexuals or anything like that, Its well out of order- and god forbid that any of my children turn homosexual

So let me get this straight- the man would turn against his own children if they turned out to like members of their own sex?
I think this is a particularly worrying state of mind to have- especially coming from someone from a military background- its very sad and out of date.

NARRATOR: The men and women have clear roles in the richardson house, mum lorraine and eleanor cook the dinner while john as 'chief hunter gatherer' sits at the head of the table

Another thing I am against, is people who treat women like their inferiors.
Women are NOT there to cook, clean and do everything for us men.
I find it absolutely disgusting that any man in this day and age lets his wife or partner do everything for him while he slobs about the house doing nothing.

JOHN: Texas- its like a 'mans county' - Men are men, you know out on the prairie, riding horses and shooting guns- its not eeegh is it.

SO- being a 'man' is all about being a butch cowboy is it- riding about and shooting guns at targets and animals??

See, I have a different opinion on how a man should be in this day and age.

A 'MAN' should be respectful/loving always to his partner, be loving and supportive to his children whatever happens in their lives, and should NOT be affraid to show emotion- for me, that makes a man.

NOT some stupid pastime from childhood going around shooting targets/animals trying to make themselves look like a 'real' man - they are trying to impress people and make themselves 'butch'

I find it very sad- that these 'cavemen' are still behaving like this and I fully support any woman who leaves said 'caveman' for not changing his ways.

John- wanted the Blackwood children at this point to learn how to fire guns.
This extremely upset me to the point at where I nearly had to leave the room. Kids should NOT be taught how to do anything with a gun.
Guns are for killing people/animals full stop - what other purpose are they there for? It made me sick to my stomach to see a child being 'taught' how to weild a high powered rifle - only for the child to back out and become upset- this speaks volumes of the kid for me and also the upbringing that they have had- well dont the Blackwood parents :thumbsup:

The bigotry continued throughout the trip around Texas... so we get to San Francisco, where the program really came into its own and revealed Johns darker side fully.

WILL - The Richardsons eldest son: I'm about as comfortable as I would be watching an orphanage burn

Now, watching kids dying in a blazing orphanage compares nothing like watching a few gay men in san francisco??? The horror of watching children dying or encountering a few gay men on a street. Which would you pick to see?

WILL: Queers dont suffer lightly! I try and keep myself to myself and most importantly - my back to the wall

And why is that Mr Homophobe? Is it because you bully anyone that is different to you- is that what the military boarding school teaches you?
God forbid you ever have to go to war.

The idea of a male only boarding school- strikes me as dare I say it - a little gay to me.

There is more I want to say but I think I have now said enough.

From what I have seen and heard, I did think its the more upperclass/middle class range of people that seem to have a severe hatred of the homosexual members of our society- and in johns case- he has a strong military background as do all of the family- so I would like to ask- what is the military doing to kill off homophobia as well?

Not very much it seems to me.

Thanks for reading my rant and I hope the points I tried to make strikes a chord within people- gay people are not the enemy.. homophobia is, and it should not be tolerated by anyone.

I shall finish by saying that I applaud the Blackwood family- they may have strange views on how to lead their lives- but by god- do they know how to bring up their kids in a loving and understanding way about the people on this planet- the family for me should be put up on a pedestal for this.

Thanks for reading.

Ahh the power of tv! i agree with your feeling here about homophobia and respecting others life choices.
However i'm a bit bemused that it took a tv programe (which deliberately puts two families with extreme opposite lifestyles together purely for entertainment) for you to realise and get worked up about it.
In the real world it's going on all around us, have you never heard it in the school yard as a kid, or in the work place, or down the pub?
It's nothing new, and there are plenty like the Blackwood family with a tolerant outlook on life.
Do you not understand how that programe works? the redneck uk Richardsons are as un typical as the Bisexual Blackwoods,
researchers have a profile of two extreme opposite families to make a good story and go out to find them to make entertainment.
It's only tv, get out more mate and fight bigotry when you encounter it in the real world where it matters.
if a workmate comes out with the usuall "backs to the wall" comment when a gay collegue enters the workplace don't laugh along with the crowd.
speak out then, where it can make people think about themselves.
Tv land is nothing like the real world.

Ahh the power of tv! i agree with your feeling here about homophobia and respecting others life choices.
However i'm a bit bemused that it took a tv programe (which deliberately puts two families with extreme opposite lifestyles together purely for entertainment) for you to realise and get worked up about it.
In the real world it's going on all around us, have you never heard it in the school yard as a kid, or in the work place, or down the pub?
It's nothing new, and there are plenty like the Blackwood family with a tolerant outlook on life.
Do you not understand how that programe works? the redneck uk Richardsons are as un typical as the Bisexual Blackwoods,
researchers have a profile of two extreme opposite families to make a good story and go out to find them to make entertainment.
It's only tv, get out more mate and fight bigotry when you encounter it in the real world where it matters.
if a workmate comes out with the usuall "backs to the wall" comment when a gay collegue enters the workplace don't laugh along with the crowd.
speak out then, where it can make people think about themselves.
Tv land is nothing like the real world.

Cheers for the reply.

It did not take a TV program though, my views come from my parents teaching me from an early age to get on with any people in this country and the world.. the program simply stirred up the nasty streak in me a whole lot maybe because I was a bit tired as well :)

I have never heard any gay comments in the school yard when I was a kid- nor have I heard any at work however I have heard a few comments banded about by a few friends who I told to stop being such arseholes.

I agree with what you said that the producers deliberately 'send up' two families they know will clash - it makes great car crash TV.

I already do get out more- and I definitely stand up already for people who are different to myself, I dont see why more people shouldnt do the same- do you not agree?

Thanks for the support!!!

We need it. It was difficult doing the show but it was also a lorra lorra fun :) xxx

Thanks for the support!!!

We need it. It was difficult doing the show but it was also a lorra lorra fun :) xxx

Loving it! :hihi:
Keep up the good work :thumbsup:

sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but just 'cos u have a liberal & tolerant attitude doesn't mean everyone else has to have one.
i can guarantee something will pxxx u off, & someone else will think "what the hells up with him" it's only a boy racer or an old codger driving @ 20mph.

if youre so tolerant of others ,you should be able to understand the "traditional" attitudes of a bygone age without having to castigate the guy.
personally each to thier own & whilst i don't condone the homophobes behaviour neither do i fully support all the actions of the BI family, whilst bringing up young,impressionable children.

Hmmm,

as far as the 'young,impressionable children'. On what grounds? Our art work? About 40% is to do with sexuality. This is used admittedly, slightly as a shock tactic to get people's attention. Bringing to them underlying and 'masked' issues e.g. intolerence, jingoism, sexism etc.

Please don't think I'm a 'flag waver'.

The kids don't really have anything to do with that side of our art work, although we do not hide it from them. We are extremely proud of our work, sexuality and most importantly our family.

As for 'traditional values'. If you look into human history and culture, you will find there isn't such a thing.

The traditional values your talking about comes from Christianity and patriarchy. Two concepts of which I am tolerant about, but which I have incredibly strong views against. The so-called teachings of Jesus ('so-called' for I think many have used his words for their own personal gain) bascially preach 'love and tolerence'. Don't get me wrong, I think he was probably a wonderful bloke!

That particular religion is also your foundation of traditional values in this country.

Except...

Humanity has existed far longer than the Christ Cult, using such concepts and feelings as co-operation, alturism, empathy and exisited in a more egalitarian state.

I agree more with Rousseau than with Thomas Hobbes. He was attempting to defend and was indeed a Royalist in the English Civil War, when he wrote 'Leviathan'.

I like the Richardsons and we all I had a great time on the gun range. I think some of their attitudes are wrong. Hey, my opinion. Who cares?

Although I do think guns are for losers.

Getting back to parenting. One thing they didn't say on the program...

Emma is actually a school teacher and between us we have 9, yes 9 children.

How impressionable are you, if you believe the entire Holiday Showdown take on our lives and our views?

Hmmm,

as far as the 'young,impressionable children'. On what grounds? Our art work? About 40% is to do with sexuality. This is used admittedly, slightly as a shock tactic to get people's attention. Bringing to them underlying and 'masked' issues e.g. intolerence, jingoism, sexism etc.

Please don't think I'm a 'flag waver'.

The kids don't really have anything to do with that side of our art work, although we do not hide it from them. We are extremely proud of our work, sexuality and most importantly our family.

As for 'traditional values'. If you look into human history and culture, you will find there isn't such a thing.

The traditional values your talking about comes from Christianity and patriarchy. Two concepts of which I am tolerant about, but which I have incredibly strong views against. The so-called teachings of Jesus ('so-called' for I think many have used his words for their own personal gain) bascially preach 'love and tolerence'. Don't get me wrong, I think he was probably a wonderful bloke!

That particular religion is also your foundation of traditional values in this country.

Except...

Humanity has existed far longer than the Christ Cult, using such concepts and feelings as co-operation, alturism, empathy and exisited in a more egalitarian state.

I agree more with Rousseau than with Thomas Hobbes. He was attempting to defend and was indeed a Royalist in the English Civil War, when he wrote 'Leviathan'.

I like the Richardsons and we all I had a great time on the gun range. I think some of their attitudes are wrong. Hey, my opinion. Who cares?

Although I do think guns are for losers.

Getting back to parenting. One thing they didn't say on the program...

Emma is actually a school teacher and between us we have 9, yes 9 children.

How impressionable are you, if you believe the entire Holiday Showdown take on our lives and our views?


Are you really the blackwood family or are you pulling my plonker? :hihi:

And if you are- please can we see some more of the video art as me and the missus thought it was fantastic!

I totally agree with you by the way- guns are for losers and they have no place in society for me- they should be kept where they belong, for use in the police force or other national services such as the army.

hell yeah!!!! as real as you are!

go to

www.punkvert.tv

email yr address from there to us and we'll put something in the post for you!

xx

ps. i hope my last message didn't offend willman too much. i gave up smoking yesterday

if youre so tolerant of others ,you should be able to understand the "traditional" attitudes of a bygone age without having to castigate the guy. personally each to thier own & whilst i don't condone the homophobes behaviour

'Traditional attitudes' meaning that if anyone goes against the grain- they must be warped in the head?

I totally disagree with that comment.

People who are 'traditional' I have found - are stuck in their ways and are bigoted small minded idiots (sorry for the mini rant) who dont care for any change in their lives.

They should die out - just like the dinosaurs did years and years ago :)
Its 2006 now- attitudes and life has moved up a notch.

People with 'traditional attitudes' are the people I feel most sorry for in life, like the Richardson family.. god knows what other people must have thought of them after the show was aired, I may have to do agoogle and find out the thoughts of others to be sure.

I love the Blackwood's and other people like them-
They live life like it was meant to be lived- actually having fun, not hurting anyone in the process and loving it!.. . not stuck behind a gun blasting away at poor defenceless creatures and hating the homosexual race.

Is this your idea of traditional willman?

Homophobes have no place on this earth anymore- the world has changed for the better, the homophobes have yet to evolve I'm sorry to say.
Like the cavepeople they really are.

ALSO

neither do i fully support all the actions of the BI family, whilst bringing up young,impressionable children.

Did you watch the holiday showdown episode?
I have it on DVD if you want it for reference- because I recall hearing and watching the blackwood kids being forced to handle guns which they were clearly not happy doing.

Thats- a gun happy family of adult members forcing young kids to handle guns... if thats not warped- I dont know what is.
And if thats 'traditional britain' - then I'm sorry but I'd rather live in San Fran.

Seems a more nicer place over there :)

hell yeah!!!! as real as you are!

go to

www.punkvert.tv

email yr address from there to us and we'll put something in the post for you!

xx

ps. i hope my last message didn't offend willman too much. i gave up smoking yesterday

I'm so loving that website!

I will email my addy to you- please can you send me anything new that you have done as me and the missus loved watching your pieces you did on the show.

ALSO:

Dont apologise to anyone for your comments.
I'm with you and your family all the way!