That's my team. Way to take the lead Giants!!! *promote

Promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 9:01am PDT - promote requested by eric3579.

*sports

Adding video to channels (Sports) - requested by eric3579.

...and it only took the bullying of GLAAD and the LGBT community (more GLAAD) to do it.

Are those guys gay? I'm not a big sports fan, so this video didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Seems to me the only people who can really say it gets better with any kind of authority are LGBTs who endured the teen years. Can guys who were very likely the stars of their high school baseball teams really be of any use here? Might be better if they were talking to the other high school sports players to tell them to cut that bullying shit out. Then again, they're playing for San Fransisco, so that might not help either.

I'm also not sure about the whole "we promise you" aspect. There are some pretty shitty places to be a gay adult. But maybe the ability to move somewhere else is part of the promise.

Like I said...the Giants were bullied into that stupid video. If not bullied, they did it for PR. There's no way the word "fag" hasn't come out of each one of those baseball players' mouths at some point in their lives. I'd bet most have them have said it since this video was made.

>> ^MaxWilder:

Are those guys gay? I'm not a big sports fan, so this video didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Seems to me the only people who can really say it gets better with any kind of authority are LGBTs who endured the teen years. Can guys who were very likely the stars of their high school baseball teams really be of any use here? Might be better if they were talking to the other high school sports players to tell them to cut that bullying shit out. Then again, they're playing for San Fransisco, so that might not help either.
I'm also not sure about the whole "we promise you" aspect. There are some pretty shitty places to be a gay adult. But maybe the ability to move somewhere else is part of the promise.

I don't care what their motivation is. As long as the message gets out there.

Ok. I know I'm a cynical fucker, but.. I'm getting sick of hearing this message, because frankly, it just isn't always true. But I guess it's not quite as powerful to say "for some people it gets better but for other people things will still be shit!"

Plus what rottenseed and MaxWilder said.

Having said that, I still think it's a good message. I don't know if it will actually have any measurable positive impact (e.g. reduction in suicides) but I hope so.

mmm i don't know, i'm not usually a fan of PSA's or PR campaigns in general, but i do really like this one. maybe it's just because i love everything dan savage does.

but i also think the point is not only to let lgbt kids know that high school sucks and then you move on and A LOT of people in the big big world actually do support you, but also to let other kids know that homophobia isn't cool and in that context i think this campaign has the potential to be effective.

i saw dan savage speak live recently and he talked a bit about the 'it gets better' project and the letters he gets from gay kids all over the place. one story made me cry, this 15 year old girl watches 'it gets better' videos on youtube under her covers, on her phone, after everyone in the house is asleep so she doesn't have to feel alone. she can watch literally thousands of videos from people telling her there is nothing wrong with her, the world outside of her tiny little high school kid box supports her and after she turns 18 she can leave and be whoever she wants, i think that is a measure of success. >> ^berticus:

Ok. I know I'm a cynical fucker, but.. I'm getting sick of hearing this message, because frankly, it just isn't always true. But I guess it's not quite as powerful to say "for some people it gets better but for other people things will still be shit!"
Plus what rottenseed and MaxWilder said.
Having said that, I still think it's a good message. I don't know if it will actually have any measurable positive impact (e.g. reduction in suicides) but I hope so.

yes, you are right. i just think "it gets better" itself isn't necessarily accurate -- but everything else is great.
>> ^peggedbea:

mmm i don't know, i'm not usually a fan of PSA's or PR campaigns in general, but i do really like this one. maybe it's just because i love everything dan savage does.
but i also think the point is not only to let lgbt kids know that high school sucks and then you move on and A LOT of people in the big big world actually do support you, but also to let other kids know that homophobia isn't cool and in that context i think this campaign has the potential to be effective.
i saw dan savage speak live recently and he talked a bit about the 'it gets better' project and the letters he gets from gay kids all over the place. one story made me cry, this 15 year old girl watches 'it gets better' videos on youtube under her covers, on her phone, after everyone in the house is asleep so she doesn't have to feel alone. she can watch literally thousands of videos from people telling her there is nothing wrong with her, the world outside of her tiny little high school kid box supports her and after she turns 18 she can leave and be whoever she wants, i think that is a measure of success. >> ^berticus:
Ok. I know I'm a cynical fucker, but.. I'm getting sick of hearing this message, because frankly, it just isn't always true. But I guess it's not quite as powerful to say "for some people it gets better but for other people things will still be shit!"
Plus what rottenseed and MaxWilder said.
Having said that, I still think it's a good message. I don't know if it will actually have any measurable positive impact (e.g. reduction in suicides) but I hope so.

@berticus I think the point is it does get better --- than high school. If you are about to pull the trigger because you can't imagine life being any different than being bullied and shamed every single day, then yes, it does get better.

And yes, lives have been saved. Teens have contacted Dan and told him so.

@bareboards2 I agree that life gets better --- just not for everyone. And I encourage the message if it's helping people. I just also think there are some for who it's demonstrably untrue. That doesn't mean I don't support what they're doing. In short, bravo, but let's not forget about the adults who still suffer.

Just to be clear, I love the project, love Dan Savage, and I've even seen a reply that a young gay fan of the Giants wrote thanking them for doing this video. So I guess that trumps my opinion since I'm not LGBT. I just don't get how a few straight jocks can be making any assurances (true or naively optimistic) since they haven't had the experience.

I'm saying there should be a parallel project, "Stop the Fucking Bullying You Shameful Assholes" where straight celebrities can bring their fame and influence to bear on the real problem. "It Gets Better" is a fantastic short term aid, but shouldn't we be focusing on cutting down on bullies? And wouldn't sports stars be perfect for that?

The NBA has already gotten a bit of a start on it: Think B4 You Speak