Originally Posted by Dreamy (Post 12355446)

How is it anything other than bigoted to vote No? Bigoted means 'obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction, and intolerant towards other people's beliefs and practices'. Synonyms for bigoted include 'prejudiced, biased, partial, one-sided, sectarian, discriminatory'. (Yes, we can all google :D )
How does any of that NOT describe someone who votes no simply because they don't want others to have the same marriage rights as they do?

Looks like you triggered me

Originally Posted by Dreamy (Post 12355446)

I voted yes because i) I believe it is the right thing to do; ii) what people do within the context of a loving, legal relationship is absolutely nothing to do with me; iii) I believe that all should be treated equally in the eyes of the law; iv) even if i-iii didn't exist, then the No campaign, which has striven to make it about anything except marriage equality, would have infuriated me to vote yes instead of just raging about it on FB.

Please remember, those campaigners for marriage equality did not want a plebiscite or a survey or any of this. They wanted a parliamentary free vote on the issue. So of course, those who this affects, either directly or indirectly, are having to be passionate about this cause. They (or their loved ones) will finally be able to marry if they choose, with all the legal and social benefits that will bring. Do you really think they wouldn't campaign for something that will affect them?

Yes, the No campaign have done themselves no favours, but the Yes campaign have to be prominent otherwise fence sitters and the No campaign will declare that it obviously means nothing to them, so why bother giving it to them?

I know you're a Yes voter, as you've said most eloquently on this thread but that you'd have been fine if your children had voted No - I wouldn't. I would have respected their right to their own opinion, of course, and I probably wouldn't have said anything to them; but I would have been so disappointed that they'd been unable to see that this vote is nothing to do with heterosexual people, because it won't affect heterosexual people in any way.

How is it anything other than bigoted to vote No? Bigoted means 'obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction, and intolerant towards other people's beliefs and practices'. Synonyms for bigoted include 'prejudiced, biased, partial, one-sided, sectarian, discriminatory'. (Yes, we can all google :D )
How does any of that NOT describe someone who votes no simply because they don't want others to have the same marriage rights as they do?

If the question had been 'Do you think that all legal relationships should be treated equally in the eyes of the law?', do you think that would have made any difference to the fence sitters? Because of course it would have made no difference to the fervent No campaigners.

Looks like you triggered me :p

Originally Posted by Beoz (Post 12342853)

That doesn't change the fact that he is a long time supporter of gay marriage.

You see he is a member of a political party which more often than not does the best for all in Australia economically. For these reasons, the majority of people remain happy under a Liberal government. They have jobs and money.

But the Liberals are a coalition of different beliefs. This is a good thing. It means we are not plagued by unionism, beat up the wealthy mentality, and bad economic management that we see from the consistent narrow views in the Labor party.

In this case, the views of gay marriage is far from consistent across the party. Mal's choice is to put that to the people. After all we live in a democracy. If you want communist leanings, Labor is there for you. If you want freedom and choices, the Liberals are there for you.

The vote is all yours.

Originally Posted by Amazulu (Post 12356217)

This kind of intolerance is one of the reasons I've voted no

The whole yes/no campaign is pointless anyway - if people want it to be yes or no, I doubt that very few are going to be swayed by any argument

Originally Posted by Beoz (Post 12356069)

So I will admit, I must be a bigot because I dislike religion, and its hypocritical values. I have tried to understand some of the values, especially topics like marriage between a man and a woman, but to me, it doesn't make sense.

Therefore I am unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction, and intolerant towards other people's beliefs and practices

Maybe I am not the only bigot out there.

Originally Posted by the troubadour (Post 12356232)

You mean there was a chance you may have voted YES?

Originally Posted by Dreamy (Post 12355446)

I voted yes because i) I believe it is the right thing to do; ii) what people do within the context of a loving, legal relationship is absolutely nothing to do with me; iii) I believe that all should be treated equally in the eyes of the law; iv) even if i-iii didn't exist, then the No campaign, which has striven to make it about anything except marriage equality, would have infuriated me to vote yes instead of just raging about it on FB.

Please remember, those campaigners for marriage equality did not want a plebiscite or a survey or any of this. They wanted a parliamentary free vote on the issue. So of course, those who this affects, either directly or indirectly, are having to be passionate about this cause. They (or their loved ones) will finally be able to marry if they choose, with all the legal and social benefits that will bring. Do you really think they wouldn't campaign for something that will affect them?

Yes, the No campaign have done themselves no favours, but the Yes campaign have to be prominent otherwise fence sitters and the No campaign will declare that it obviously means nothing to them, so why bother giving it to them?

I know you're a Yes voter, as you've said most eloquently on this thread but that you'd have been fine if your children had voted No - I wouldn't. I would have respected their right to their own opinion, of course, and I probably wouldn't have said anything to them; but I would have been so disappointed that they'd been unable to see that this vote is nothing to do with heterosexual people, because it won't affect heterosexual people in any way.

How is it anything other than bigoted to vote No? Bigoted means 'obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction, and intolerant towards other people's beliefs and practices'. Synonyms for bigoted include 'prejudiced, biased, partial, one-sided, sectarian, discriminatory'. (Yes, we can all google :D )
How does any of that NOT describe someone who votes no simply because they don't want others to have the same marriage rights as they do?

If the question had been 'Do you think that all legal relationships should be treated equally in the eyes of the law?', do you think that would have made any difference to the fence sitters? Because of course it would have made no difference to the fervent No campaigners.

Looks like you triggered me :p

Originally Posted by Amazulu (Post 12356217)

This kind of intolerance is one of the reasons I've voted no

Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 12356320)

Bullshit.

Originally Posted by Amazulu (Post 12356336)

CF=0

My opinion

Get over yourself

Originally Posted by the troubadour (Post 12356231)

Here's me thinking good government was in power to respond to all interests not just the interests of a few.

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 12356330)

I went to a same-sex wedding back in the UK, one of the first after it became legal. The couple had already been together for around 6 years and are still good friends of mine.
Their marriage is probably stronger today than ever, they have had ups and downs as every couple does,but have overcome them. Their marriage has outlasted many 'straight' marriages that our friends had, including two of my own. They are simply two people, in love, in a committed long-term relationship.

They are one of the reasons that I didn't even have to think before voting Yes.

What right do any of us have to judge that two people, in love, in a committed long-term relationship, have any less right to be legally recognised as a couple, through marriage, just because they are both of the same sex.

Originally Posted by Beoz (Post 12356538)

Yep. The better governments do that. That's why we are having a vote. That way you can find out who the "all" are, and who the "few" are.