When ABC's What Would You Do? decided to test people's reactions to intolerance toward gay couples at restaurants, the results weren't great…
The show set up actors playing gay families that were being harassed and eventually kicked out of a restaurant by an intolerant waiter (also an actor). In most cases people didn't do anything, but there were some exceptional people who did.
It's an interesting watch to say the least…
– Andy
The issue with this is rather clear… People are quick to say how much they believe in equality, but notice how fast they move when it really matters.
If you believe everyone is equal, you must stand up to inequality!
Interesting? Yes. Surprising? No. I still believe that a significant portion of the progressive people out there that claim they have no issues with gay people still internalize a certain amount of homophobia. I think the more shocking aspect of this experiment, however, was that most people just don’t want to step up and get involved, no matter how angry the waiter was making them.
Interesting video. I love the Ukrainian woman and the other couple. They told that waiter. But ya, most people don’t want to even bother with the food right in front of their noses. Definitely not surprising. This is how I’ve always seen Americans. Easy to get all riled up and patriotic about their country, about how good it is and the land of the free, but when real issues happen right in front of them, they ignore it. Because it’s “none of their business” and someone else will probably deal with it.
I think the older guy was taken out of context. I think he was referring to PDA.
Most of the reactions are still absolutely horrid though.
If you watched any of this stupid tv show, you’ll notice that people never do anything no matter what happens.
I can’t help but wonder…is this show set-up and edited to look this. I think it is, they think it will up the ratings.
I agree with Tony.
Well Duh!!! if the waiter is fake too then what the fuck do you expect!! i thought they ment that it was a real waiter doing this at some place in new york to gay families. If it had been a real waiter doing it then you would have had people storming all over the place and the family it happened to would have had the cafe bought, closed, and BURNED
LOL plus it would have been all over some new channel (prob not a FOX NEWS) screaming about the wrongness of it and how intolerable it was to do this to any kind of person.
I think Marcus Adams falls into the category of “people who don’t quite get the concept.”
I thought it was interesting that the people that were outspoken were an interracial couple and an immigrant…. people that, historically, like myself, have been discriminated against (not only in this country), and who believe in the true equality ideals of America, because they have to fight for it on a daily basis…
have any of you ever felt that hosts/hostesses hide you when seating?
of course there r other levels of discrimination, such as based on looks and BMI… strange land of the free….
There’s a part 2 of the video. The gay families biggest defender turns out to be a young 20yo boy wearing a knife around his neck. They had to cut short the experiment because they were afraid he was going to get violent toward the waiter.
two ways to see it. if you have to fight for something it means you appreciate it more.
Immigration, racial visual abuse, etc.
Thank gawd I’m a canadian. This is not to say this would never happen here – but it’s been gays in the military open for 20 years, it’s been gay marriage – NOT UNIONS! – since 2005 we were the first in all the americas to legalize it. I see it in the US as this = ignorance. I’d rather be in Bangkok or Greece then visit the USA because the fear at the border grows as you go south. You need to wake up and join the world,folks.
Well, obviously it’s set up. The actors and all. The waiter had to be homophobic so they’d see how most people react in such a situation, and a good majority of them just stood by, felt uncomfortable and silently ate their food, which is why they only showed two reactions. It would drive me crazy to see this happening here.