Apple Celebrates Pride Festival With Rainbow Apple Watch Bands for Staff

[nt5672]

Revenge? Where do you get this crap from? Do you even know any gay people?

See that is exactly what I am talking about. Yes, I do, even close family. And yes like you, they are filled with hate and revenge. And yes, in spite of that they are welcome to stay at our house anytime, but they hate simply because they think that is what they as members of LGBT community are supposed to do when people don't agree with them.

We aren't a fictional character to be believed or not believed in. It's like saying you don't believe in tall people or left handed people. Which is dumb. Why can't you just accept gay people exist same as you? It's not something to agree or disagree with...it just is. You might as well disagree with the color of the sky.

Well I can tell you that if, for example, tall people, fat people, or left handed people were always throwing it in my face and accusing me of being tall-a-phobic, fat-a-phobic or left-a-phobic, then I would not believe in them either. Now maybe "believe" was not the correct term in my original post, but lets change that to "want to see them exhibit their special characteristic and force their will on me to make everything gay, taller, fatter or left handed only". Then the same applies.

And further more I do not like it when the sky is gray. I can say that with no retribution from anyone. I can also say I don't like left handed people. And again no consternation, no rallying in the streets. But I would be chastised for ever if I ever said anything about my like or dislike for anyone in the LGBT community. See they are not the same in spite of your desire. And the reason they are not the same is your treating your sexual preference like a religion and wanting to force it upon everyone and have everyone pray to your religion. Well I don't plan to pray to your sexual religion and you will have to get used to that. But, and this is a big but, if you want to pray to a specific sexual religion, or a bunch of demigods, or to the east to Mecca, that is your choice and I respect that, I tolerate that, even if I don't agree. And I don't hate you for your belief, I just believe differently.

 

[doelcm82]

The ignorance...it burns.

Heterosexuals announce their heterosexuality every day of the year. Many movies are made about the pursuit of this heterosexuality. Books are written on it. They show they are proud of it every time they show a pic of their kids and grandkids or push a stroller down the street in their own little heterosexual parade.

But as long as we are talking about parades, do you realize that many of the people in a gay pride parade are actually heterosexuals themselves? Perhaps you should ask a fellow heterosexual why they see the need.

You certainly can't assume that someone with pictures of children or grandchildren, or someone pushing a stroller is heterosexual.

You are right that heterosexuals announce themselves in many situations publicly. They may have a picture of a spouse or significant other on their desk at work. They may invite their friends and family to their wedding, and put an announcement in the newspaper (blatant!) that they are planning to make a heterosexual commitment to another person. They hold hands or kiss in public.

 

[JustThinkin']

It is not a choice but there is no evidence that sexual orientation is purely determined at birth (i.e., purely genetic). We certainly have not found all the genetic markers associated with same sex attraction so there is more to learn but currently [as of two years ago when I did a complete literature review for a postdoctoral project] the best research shows that homosexuality is 30-40% inherited (meaning genes explain up to 40% of variance in expression of homosexuality). This is only true for males. For females, there is weaker evidence homosexuality is genetic - up to about 20% of orientation can be explained by genes [range from studies is 0-40% genetic; most group in the 10-20% range]. There's still a lot of research to do but no research will ever show sexual orientation is fully genetic; in fact, environmental factors play a larger role (again, based on the best research to date - this might change in the future with more studies).

Here's a quote from a pretty good twin study in Sweden published in 2010: "Although wide confidence intervals suggest cautious interpretation, the results are consistent with moderate, primarily genetic, familial effects, and moderate to large effects of the nonshared environment (social and biological) on same-sex sexual behavior." (Långström, Niklas, et al. "Genetic and environmental effects on same-sex sexual behavior: A population study of twins in Sweden." Archives of sexual behavior 39.1 (2010): 75-80.)

What this does not mean is that sexual orientation is necessarily a "choice"; it does mean, however, that for practically all people who are homosexual it is not correct to say "I was born this way". "I developed this way" is more accurate. Genes and environment (nature and nurture) both play a role. Choice even plays a role. I'm not calling sexual orientation a lifestyle choice, I'm pointing out that choice always plays a role in the interactions between genes and environment. That choice is (or those choices are) not always being made consciously and is not always being made by the individual; it can be made by others.

This is a very complicated topic with many unknowns. The research, frankly, is too subtle for most people to appreciate. That's generally true for all research - how do you boil down concepts that took the scientist years to understand and/or develop into a blurb that the general population will understand? This means for homosexuality, saying "I was born this way" is easier and helps lead towards better treatment of homosexual individuals.

/I did not use the term LGBT because bisexuality and transgender are not the same when talking about genes and environment. Even less is known about genetic links of bisexuality and transgenderism.

How the best post here got no likes I do not understand!

However saying "I was born this way," while it may be easy, is not helpful. Doing so closes one's eyes to the choices he has and the degree of control and power he retains over his life.

If one doesn't believe he has power over his own life he will often seek to control others instead. And this belief will be easy to adopt if he has been abused (or witnessed abuse) as a child, at a time when he didn't have control. Yet as adults we have control, whether we realize it or not.

Thank you for providing facts from pertinent studies in an area where feelings and desires can be so strong.

 

[melendezest]

So you now get to choose who is a Christian and who is not?

Being a Christain myself I don't need to be advised on anything. There are branches of Christianity that would argue what you have said, and they are no less Christian than you are. The bible is fairly open to interpretation on homosexuality. Jesus never specifically dammed it and there are arguments for and against the other mentions.

Personally, I simply can not believe that God would have allowed humans to be homosexual, the making their lives into a misery by saying that they are not allowed to have relationships. The extremely brief mentions of homosexuality in the bible (that we don't even know who wrote them, or whether translations/transcriptions changed them) are overpowered by messages of Jesus in equality/love for all which is fairly hard to argue against.

I did not choose anything. Don't put words in my mouth.

BTW, everyone could use a little advice. To think you don't smacks of arrogance.

Now, the Bible is not even close to open to interpretation on homosexuality. It is pretty clear:

Now, the below is merely informational on what the Book says...don't shoot the messenger

Leviticus 18:22: "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable."
Leviticus 20:13: "If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."
Romans 1:27: "In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."
1 Timothy 1:9-11: "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."

There's more.

All that said, Christ is willing to forgive it ALL. The "fruit" (or rather, evidence of the presence of His Spirit in real Christians

 

[TheHateMachine]

May Gods love be with you, Always.

One day, those following false deities will heed Ahura Mazda's infinite wisdom and follow the righteous path of Zoroaster to enlightenment. Only then shall they be spared of the anguish wrought forth by the evil scheming of Angra Mainyu and its daevas.

 

[melendezest]

Why would your god make me have exclusively same sex attractions, only to force me to be celibate and not enjoy love and intimacy (a basic human right) in the same way that heterosexuals do? That's sick and cruel and I don't buy it for a second.

You attribute your "attractions" to God doing it. The same could be said regarding those who are born deformed, or blind...why does God allow such things to occur?

I honestly do not know. But perhaps it is to test our love and commitment to Him, and what He deems to be right. Not everyone is tested the same. But again, this is just speculation, as I have my own burdens to carry regarding this.

All that said, you ARE free to either accept His Word, or reject it, which seems to be the case.

However, I do not HATE you because you choose to do so. We can work together, sit and have a pleasant conversation about the things we may have in common (I like "geeky" things like comics and Star Wars, and hey, Apple products).

My religious, political, or ideological views need not be the cause for WAR, unless you attempt to use FORCE to stop ME (or me stop you) from excercising them.

 

[deany]

You attribute your "attractions" to God doing it. The same could be said regarding those who are born deformed, or blind...why does God allow such things to occur?

I honestly do not know. But perhaps it is to test our love and commitment to Him, and what He deems to be right.

YES

 

[melendezest]

No you don't, you essentially tell the LGBT community that they are different and they're not allowed to love because for some reason they are born with same sex attraction. Its this message that hurts people and its this message that condemn people to mental illness.

What about the individual who is born with a sexual attraction to children, or animals? Is he/she not allowed to love? Or the individual who is born with a psycopathy and feels the need to kill other people, for whatever reason?

I realize these are extreme examples, but the issue is that the Bible specifies that being born with an inclination does not justify its presence.

It also specifies that the existence of an inclination is to be treated with empathy and compassion by those who profess to be in concert with God's concepts, in as much as the Law and sound judgement allows.

 

[Harrycooke]

What about the individual who is born with a sexual attraction to children, or animals? Is he/she not allowed to love? Or the individual who is born with a psycopathy and feels the need to kill other people, for whatever reason?

I realize these are extreme examples, but the issue is that the Bible specifies that being born with an inclination does not justify its presence.

It also specifies that the existence of an inclination is to be treated with empathy and compassion by those who profess to be in concert with God's concepts, in as much as the Law and sound judgement allows.

CONSENT. A child, nor an animal can consent and therefore it is wrong.

Two or three or more consenting adults can however consent regardless of their gender. There's your big difference.

 

[MaulRx]

Very nice. Wouldn't mind one myself

 

[melendezest]

This place never fails to amaze me. An article about a watch band has people spouting homosexual garbage. Why do you care if a free watch band is given to Apple staff? As far as I can work out it doesn't actually impact your lives in any way, shape or form. If you think Apple stopped developing products to make this then you are the biggest idiot on the forum. And let's be clear, there are a serious no,her of idiots here, so to be king of the idiots is really quite an achievement.

It's also amazing that people wonder why these topics end up in the section where you have to have posted over 100 times. I think the rules should be tweaked further, most of the garbage comes from people who have registered in the past 12 months or so - go take a look at joining dates if you don't believe me.

And for what it's worth I'm straight, but I have a lot of lesbian and gay friends and my best friend announce to the world that she was transgender a few years ago. Sadly pretty much everyone she knew and every member of her family turned their backs on her. I was surprised, shocked I guess, but I didn't actually care, I wasn't bothered, I didn't immediately worry she might fancy me, anymore than I worry that my gay friends may want to have sex with me or that my lesbian friends don't find me attractive. To be honest I'm surprised anyone finds me attractive, I guess I got the brains over the looks! I really don't think LGBT people have a hard time from a large chunk of society, I KNOW they do, I've seen it when I've been out with my friends, I've heard the abuse, I've seen a friend after he was attacked in the street and left for dead, he was in hospital for 5 weeks. Do you know what he did? It's disgusting, so be prepared for this shocker........

.....he walked through town by himself! I know! The disgusting evil man, what a gay thing to do! To be fair, the thugs who attacked him had seen him holding his boyfriends hand a few times, so they knew he had for for this disgusting behaviour. His boyfriend is something like 6'7 and would make the average WWE wrestler look like Golem, he's a nightclub doorman. I have no idea why they waited for my friend to be out without his boyfriend. So yeah, it happens, I've also been told many tales about places that don't want to serve them or give them poor service, anyone who thinks that stuff is OK is simply insane.

I'm also an atheist, this is by choice, I was a Christian, my fiancé was Muslim but renounced her faith. I don't believe in any god, too much rubbish, too many inconsistencies, no facts, nothing anyone can prove to me scientifically. I really don't like that people can hide behind a view by saying its part of their religion. Grow a spine, you can choose, you don't have to believe everything you read. Amazingly people don't believe the newspapers printed this morning, but they believe a book written centuries ago...

Let's be honest, we are all actually atheists whether you like it or not. It's just that I believe in one less god than most of you.

While I understand that you cannot "prove" an onus (there is no God), to dismiss one outright is premature.

Thus, while you are an atheist, you still have faith. You merely place that faith in someone other than a known religious figure (yourself, Darwin, the science researcher for a particular field, etc).

Not everyone tests every bit of information first-hand. We ALL work off of someones word. Granted, some things are easy to reproduce results for. Others not so much. In religious circles this is called witnessing for a reason: "I saw this happen". Perhaps the reason why you couldn't believe is because you need proof first. You have to take someone's word before you can commit to a path.

Only God can show you He's real. And He'll show you in a way you will KNOW, but you can't prove to those who dismiss it outright.

All that said, it is sad that the mistreatment of homosexual individuals has led to such anger on both sides of the "fence".

I honestly don't have all the answers to all questions. But I am mandated by the Word itself to pass God's WORD along.

Whether you choose to believe them or not, is up to you, the individual.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I dislike 90% of the posts in this thread regardless of stance. I - and I expect the majority of posters in this thread - live in a country that places so much value on freedom of thought/speech/expression that it was enshrined in the first amendment to our constitution. With very few limitations people can think and say whatever the heck they believe whether it is true or not or offensive or not. Those of you fighting have all benefited from this right at various points in history as *your* viewpoint was the minority view.

Since this is already a circus I'll lob another grenade into the conversation (what a mixed metaphor, clown appendages everywhere). Classifying everyone into groups that need protections ultimately pits everyone against each other. How do you reconcile the religious protection of someone's whose god told them homosexuality is damnable with the gender protections of homosexual individuals? Frankly I'd rather know if someone hates me for my race or sexuality; I'll take being thrown out of your diner without my coffee over you spitting in it or me supporting you economically. That said I realize that sometimes it takes legislation to break an oppressive common practice or even to keep it from cropping back up in localized instances. It's a complex problem and can't just be reduced to a bumper sticker slogan or black and white statements on an internet forum.

I have been the target of some pretty terrible stuff in my lifetime. Those that physically assault should always be prosecuted for their criminal behavior but those that use words, not matter how ugly, don't achieve their goals with me. I don't get angry back, I do my best to educate or part ways knowing there will never be a common ground between us. In any case I know that no one can make me offended, only I can choose to be offended by what you say to me. When you realize the truth to that statement others have much less power to affect your life.

I hope you all find peace and happiness in your lives.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Well seeing how I'm at work as we speak...

and posting on the internet.

(sorry, too easy)

 

[WarHeadz]

and posting on the internet.

(sorry, too easy)

I'm lucky to have a very chill skilled job that's also very well paid. The owner is a millennial too.

 

[melendezest]

CONSENT. A child, nor an animal can consent and therefore it is wrong.

Two or three or more consenting adults can however consent regardless of their gender. There's your big difference.

I am aware of the difference. Consent is correct, and a valid point.

But the point I was attempting to make is the idea that being born with a certain inclination does not justify its existence, so that argument is invalid. Consent falls under that same "slippery slope":

For example, what if a psycopath, who is born with the inclination to kill, hooks up with someone who believes there is absolutely no point or value in life, and consents to the psycopath killing him/her? Does that make it okay?

Who makes that determination and sets those boundaries? Who has the right to?

We'd need to look at homosexuality and discuss it from a point of view outside of that to justify it's morality, and thus the necessity to have or not have controls based on the law. At least in the US, we should be able to vote on such things.

This is why I advocate the call to discuss, and not FIGHT. As a Christian, this is CENTRAL.

 

[steve knight]

You attribute your "attractions" to God doing it. The same could be said regarding those who are born deformed, or blind...why does God allow such things to occur?

the problem with gods word is that no one follows it all everyone picks and chooses and modifies to fit their needs. plus the parts of the bible were written by hundreds of people at different times and really are not a coherent book. There is no absolute interpretation of the bible an no one can agree on it's meaning. it is too vague to be exact and we don't know what was really meant most of the time as we have no understanding of how people lived exactly back then. we don't live in that culture and and trying to define relationships by it is not going to work. marriage back then was between two or more people who had no choice and may never even have met before. we now know animals posses homosexuality traits too so god must not mind too much or god was speaking of things that now have changed or was just he authors prejudice speaking.

 

[zioxide]

I am aware of the difference. Consent is correct, and a valid point.

But the point I was attempting to make is the idea that being born with a certain inclination does not justify its existence, so that argument is invalid. Consent falls under that same "slippery slope":

For example, what if a psycopath, who is born with the inclination to kill, hooks up with someone who believes there is absolutely no point or value in life, and consents to the psycopath killing him/her? Does that make it okay?

Who makes that determination and sets those boundaries? Who has the right to?

We'd need to look at homosexuality and discuss it from a point of view outside of that to justify it's morality, and thus the necessity to have or not have controls based on the law. At least in the US, we should be able to vote on such things.

This is why I advocate the call to discuss, and not FIGHT. As a Christian, this is CENTRAL.

What a bunch of nonsense to try to justify discrimination. This is why people hate Christians. Just mind your own damn business and stop trying to tell other people what to do in their own personal relationships. Nobody needs to justify "morality" to you or anyone else.

This is why the pope is telling Christians to cut their ****, stop acting like *****, and apologize.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

God has a capital "G" and yes, God exists.

Since the Christian god is named only as "God" then yes, references specifically to the Christian god - when used as a proper noun (e.g. name) - are capitalized. References to any other god, or to the concept of a god in the Christian sense, are common nouns and not capitalized.

I'll also accept capitalizing the "H" in "He" when referencing the Christian god as I'm not offended by beings (even the supernatural and omnipotent) picking their own pronouns.

 

[zioxide]

God has a capital "G" and yes, God exists.

Prove it!

You attribute your "attractions" to God doing it. The same could be said regarding those who are born deformed, or blind...why does God allow such things to occur?

The concept of god is nothing but a figment of your imaginations. So what your imaginary "god" "thinks" is entirely irrelevant to the lives of others who do not belong to your cult.

 

[Kaibelf]

You attribute your "attractions" to God doing it. The same could be said regarding those who are born deformed, or blind...why does God allow such things to occur?

I honestly do not know. But perhaps it is to test our love and commitment to Him, and what He deems to be right. Not everyone is tested the same. But again, this is just speculation, as I have my own burdens to carry regarding this.

All that said, you ARE free to either accept His Word, or reject it, which seems to be the case.

However, I do not HATE you because you choose to do so. We can work together, sit and have a pleasant conversation about the things we may have in common (I like "geeky" things like comics and Star Wars, and hey, Apple products).

My religious, political, or ideological views need not be the cause for WAR, unless you attempt to use FORCE to stop ME (or me stop you) from excercising them.

Yeah, I would never EVER want to hang out with you. You don't deserve my time.

 

[macduke]

Your beliefs are just as responsible as his.

You are driving hundreds of LGBT+ people to suicide every year. Of course, you have no idea what it feels like to be told that your innate attractions are wrong. To be who you were born means you'll go to hell.

That is homophobic and it is that homophobia and hatred that motivated the murder of my community.

According to the Oxford dictionary:

Homophobia
Noun
Dislike of or prejudice against homosexual people.​

I have no dislike or prejudice against homosexual people. So I must agree to disagree. The homosexuals in my church are loved, respected, and from what I can tell of sound mind. As I already said, it's not being born a homosexual that is the sin, it's the act of fornicating with the same sex. Same applies to unmarried fornication. All are sinners and condemned to hell, as all are born into sin from the start. It's being human. Many Christians like to gloss over that and take a "holier than thou" attitude. All "hell" means is being apart from God. Satan has dominion outside of God's kingdom, therefore if you aren't for and with God you're with Satan, which is in hell. The only exception are those who are not able to understand and are innocent (children, people with mental retardation).

But you're missing the most amazing part. Don't let being a sinner drag you down because everyone is in the same boat and I'm right there beside you. The beauty of true Christianity is that all you have to do is accept the love of God and you're good. I still sin, but I am not condemned. I try not to sin, because of the love I have for God and He for I, and I'm often successful in not falling into temptation. But sometimes I do sin. And God forgives me every time. Don't be confused, this can include the smallest things, such as a little white lie. All sins are equal. Don't feel condemned by God because of what you are. People commit suicide for lots of reasons. If someone feels so guilty that they decide to take their own life, then that is unfortunate. Both my parents recently attempted suicide, so believe me it's fresh in my mind. They are the type of Christians you speak of, who are full of hate and malice. In my opinion, not actually Christians, but that is neither here nor there and not up to me to judge. But their behavior doesn't square with the Bible I read. They are not happy people and constantly feel condemned as well to the point where my dad nearly bled out and I literally had to talk my mom off a ledge over the phone.

To wrap things up, please don't accuse people in the MacRumors community of being terrorists. I will not stand for that and will talk to moderators and even take it up to arn if I have to (of which I've had occasional communications with in the past) and have your posting removed. Spewing that kind of hate and extremism on these forums is not permissible. You cannot go around calling people you disagree with terrorists and murderers. That is hate speech and a complete fabrication. And again, you're not helping your cause. And if you're still confused, I am for you and with you and your community. What happened sucks and was a horrific tragedy. I feel sorry for you and wish you the best. But you're so confused about the real issue here that you're willing to make yourself look like a fool in front of everyone which will not help you in the end. And the real issue is hate. Christians should not hate homosexuals. I'll let the Muslims speak for themselves, which is what this man claimed to be. But I will say that the vast majority of them appear to be a peaceful people. We must all stop hating each other, and that goes for both sides. Your comments are hateful. Other people here are also being hateful. I'm just responding to you because I happened to see your post and took issue with your accusations calling people out as terrorists.

 

[doelcm82]

What about the individual who is born with a sexual attraction to children, or animals? Is he/she not allowed to love? Or the individual who is born with a psycopathy and feels the need to kill other people, for whatever reason?

Good questions. How about the person who is attracted to people outside their own race or religious group? Or born with some other anomaly such as being a twin?

These are cases where at times and in certain places having these attributes was something that caused people to be considered outcasts. (I have a friend who adopted a set of twins from Africa because the religious belief of the tribe they were from was that one would be evil and one would be good. To be safe, the tribe's tradition was to kill both twins.)

When you argue a slippery slope, you have to remember that the slope goes both ways. Insisting that everyone has to follow a proscribed set of standards means you have to decide what those standards are, and they may just as easily be set up so that women must keep their heads covered and their mouths shut, or that slaves must obey their masters, or something else that comes from ancient religious texts but seems outdated today.

Back to your examples, we aren't moving in those directions. Quite the opposite. Our recent history has been more about protecting children and animals (those that do the most to protect them are accused of being part or the "nanny state"), and we don't see an increasing tolerance towards psychopathic murder. If we see a warlord today like the legendary Moses (golden calf massacre of his own people) or Joshua (slaughter of Jericho), our impulse is to try and take that individual out.

It's a straw man to imply that recognition of consensual gay relationships or same-sex marriages will lead to hamsters having the right to vote (or some other ridiculous notion). It's easier to see step-by-step how giving women the right to vote leads to same-sex marriage and transgender rights.

 

[bent christian]

I am aware of the difference. Consent is correct, and a valid point.

But the point I was attempting to make is the idea that being born with a certain inclination does not justify its existence, so that argument is invalid. Consent falls under that same "slippery slope":

For example, what if a psycopath, who is born with the inclination to kill, hooks up with someone who believes there is absolutely no point or value in life, and consents to the psycopath killing him/her? Does that make it okay?

Who makes that determination and sets those boundaries? Who has the right to?

We'd need to look at homosexuality and discuss it from a point of view outside of that to justify it's morality, and thus the necessity to have or not have controls based on the law. At least in the US, we should be able to vote on such things.

This is why I advocate the call to discuss, and not FIGHT. As a Christian, this is CENTRAL.

You have conflated homosexuality with pedophilia and serial murder. Zoophilia for the trifecta of discredited tropes!

 

[username:]

I have never seen such negativity on Apple's products as in the last few years, and therefore it is reasonable to deduce that they have taken the eye off the ball.

Apart from every single year people saying they are out of ideas, can't innovate and they are about to collapse?

 

[valleian]

I'll take one of those!