How will you vote in the Marriage Equality referendum? Mod Note Post 1

gravehold wrote: »

The right thing is vote yes the Christian thing is vote no.

You want us to vote NO?

I reckon Christ would vote yes tbh.

Woodville56 wrote: »

So far in this debate, on this thread and others related, I've seen the words "idiotic" "stupid" "homophobe" "asinine" "hypocrite" and other expletives used against the views of anyone who offers any view or opinion other than an unequivocal Yes to the SSM referendum proposal. Now there's a reason to vote no !
The arrogance and intolerance of the yes proponents here won't convert the undecided and may have the opposite effect. I'm at this point still "sympathetic" to the YES cause, but I'm fast losing faith in its keyboard supporters at the vitriol and abuse being slung at those whose opinions differ. The "our way or no way" argument is simply being intolerant and disrespectful, it cuts both ways. To portray those who oppose SSM for whatever reason as sheep being led blindly by religious or moral convictions or as of a lesser intellect is grossly unfair and insulting and is in itself dismissive of the right to free though and the expression of same - the very thing the SSM advocates accuse their opponents of doing !

I would sincerely question how sympathetic you in fact are to the yes side.

Without even getting into the baseless and insulting arguments put forward by the no side, if you really were sympathetic to the argument that people like myself deserve equal recognition of our relationships, why would you punish us with a no vote just because you disliked how some people argued on an Internet form?

Isn't that petty and vindictive? How can you say the poor behaviour of SOME yes voters appalled you if you are willing to drop below their level?

And why haven't you been equally appalled by the no side? We have had no voters personally insult peoples families and children on here - not to mention the comparisons to bestiality, pedophilia and other disgusting comments.

If you were genuinely appalled by the poor standard of debate, wouldn't you just tune it all out and abstain?

Why take the side of the group who has said the most outrageous and offensive comments to date in the debate?

SpaceTime wrote: »

Honestly, I'd probably be rethinking my citizenship options ... I'm not kidding either, it's very much a line in the sand kind of thing and I think Ireland's progressing and moving away from the dark-ages.

If this proves my theory wrong, I think I'll be seriously rethinking whether or not I actually want to live here anymore.

I know that may sound daft, but I have career opportunities elsewhere and I don't really know if I'd want to live here / maybe bring up kids here in that kind of atmosphere.

I wouldn't live in Northern Ireland, for similar reasons. I think the atmosphere up there is totally toxic due to the politics both on things like endlessly banning gay marriage and the sectarian issues. Doesn't really make it somewhere I'd be rushing to move to.

If this is defeated, I'm afraid it'll just reconfirm views that Ireland's really just stuck somewhere about 1955.

This is similar to how I feel only I can't leave. I will be gutted if this doesn't pass, my daughter will probably leave the country and who could blame her. Who would live in a country that has publicly stated that your relationship isn't equal or as important as those of straight people.

Bridge93 wrote: »

I'm done with this thread, I can't deal with some of the stuff being spouted here. I thought the Irish nation was moving forward but it appears outside of the bubble I live in it really hasn't. The lies, ignorance and dodging of giving answers when asked or repeating old crap is beyond belief. I can't imagine how awful this all must be for those who are actually gay.

If this doesn't pass it will be the first time I would actually be ashamed to be Irish and be branded with the same brush as those who vote it down.
The lack of empathy for other humans' feeling and rights is incredible in some parts and the sheer stupidity of those protest voting actually pisses me off more than those who have actual reasons.

Enjoy your debate and I hope the majority of you do not just do the right and human thing, but the 'Christian' thing.

I honestly have never felt so deflated, dehumanised, insulted, angered, less valued as i have been in the last few weeks.

As if that wasn't bad enough, now I'm told i'm not allowed to feel like that because the no side are feeling oppressed. It's unbelievable.

MajorMax wrote: »

Personally I've been ambivilant about this topic as I'm neither religious or political, but I have been completely sickened by the shrill vitriolic abuse that has been heaped on anyone with an opposing opinion.

As opposed to all of the gay people who've been called "perverts", "unnatural", "evil", "sickening", "paedophiles" by the No campaign, and let's of course not forget the fact that they're continually told that their sexuality makes then unfit parents incapable of providing a home for children.

Did you fail to notice this abuse and vitriol doled out by the No campaign?

AtomicHorror wrote: »

And yet the poster stands, unopposed by the couple who sold the rights to the photo. They don't agree, but they also did not refuse service or seek to reverse it.

So you might even say, it's completely different from the gay cake thing.

But there's a bit of a groundswell of sympathy for them. And, if you believe in banging up the baker who declined to promote a pro gay-marriage slogan, then they are not entitled to any.

It's their job. Suck it up.

Woodville56 wrote: »

So far in this debate, on this thread and others related, I've seen the words "idiotic" "stupid" "homophobe" "asinine" "hypocrite" and other expletives used against the views of anyone who offers any view or opinion other than an unequivocal Yes to the SSM referendum proposal. Now there's a reason to vote no ! !

I think it's a real shame your letting a few on-line posts from posters that are not to your likening influence you vote that will effect so many. At the end of the day however it's your vote and up to you to weigh up the choice in front of you.

My own standpoint would be to vote yes, because my own rights are not affected nor does it take away from me but voting yes would give so mean so much for our fellow countrymen and women who can't have a civil marriage under the current legislation.

I personally do not don't think there is anything wrong with debate, and we seen a few posters who have said to vote no for a number of reasons and that's fine. Then again if anyone does not want to debate it they are free to change the channel so to speak and read a different thread.

If I changed my vote to punish the few making noise (Yes or No sides), as you have indicated you are going to, that is your choice, however I myself would not be able to look myself in the mirror knowing I had used my freedom to vote in order to punish debate style from a few instead of what I believe is good or bad for the nation.