When did we become so offended by absolutely everything.

If you are Gay, why is it so offensive to you that someone (in a free country I might add) does not like your sexual choices, you are as free to make those choices as people are to raise their objections to them.

Now that doesn't mean I condone detrimental use of words like poof, Sausage Jocky, pillow biter, etc etc, to me it's playground name calling. With similar dynamics in as much as the person dishing out the name calling is looking for a reaction, take away the reaction and the abuser will soon get bored and find something else to get his rocks off.

I do find myself often asking if the reaction to the N word being used in a derogatory way (or a gay man being called a bender), was less of a stereotypical response enforcing the abusers viewpoint, then the impact of the insults would be largely non existent, leading to eventual boredom by the abusers.

It's like when someone takes the piss out of me for supporting Palace " yeah mate Palace are s*** why do you bother to watch them waste of money" my usual and trusty retort is along the lines of " your Mums s*** at Blozzers but it doesn't stop me paying to see her either."

"It's not the bullet that's got my name on it that concerns me; it's all them other ones flyin' around marked 'To Whom It May Concern.'"

I think mocking the torture, suffering and death of a specific religion is hugely different (as well as vastly more unacceptable) to mocking a group of fans who come from (fact) the gay capital of the UK.

You're miles out off kilter with reality. Whilst people are free to make their sexual choices as you correctly say others are not always free to raise their objections otherwise we wouldn't read about prosecutions for refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding or refusing to rent hotel rooms to same sex couples.

It's a sad indictment of football supporters that so many can't enjoy a match without coming out with racist or homophobic chants

It's getting your rocks off using cooking gear, innit.

============
The Ferret
============

To be fair it is more difficult for fat people to hide.
If it was against the law to be fat, the beaches would be a lot more pleasant to visit.
Fat people are regularly prevented from marrying the person they want, as they'd normally like to marry people that don't want to marry them.

No mate it's not. Supporting Palace is a pure choice while being gay isn't. Well I assume that coz I don't recall "choosing" fanny rather than cock. Nor is being black a life-choice apart unless you're Ali G...

Surely you can see how being called a ****** or shirt lifter, or hearing some abused in this way, is deeply unpleasant: you're black or gay - or have any empathy with your fellow man.

Now I will admit to having used homophobic language in the past and I'm not proud of it but I was young, foolish and not that thoughtful about these things. It comes down to the fact that I didn't give a toss about some people's feelings.

Going to university in Brighton in the early 90s was an eye opener, and resulted in my pals giving me no end of stick. i laughed along with it but it's easy when you ain't gay.

We have fans that are gay - think about how they will feel before you join in the so-called banter eh?