Something that occurred to me earlier
I was thinking about some of the societies at my uni, and I remembered a comment someone I know made once: "If they've got a LGBT society, why don't we have a 'Straight' society"?

At first, I dismissed it as drunken gibberish, but then it started me wondering. There are groups and societies in the world for just about every possible race/belief/sexual orientation. One the surface of it, their purpose is to advocate for rights, provide a place to meet other like-minded individuals and so on. However, I can't help thinking that in an attempt to bring people together, these kind of societies can engender an even greater sense of separation.

Take, for example, an Afro-Carribean society, dedicated to upholding rights and combating segregation. They hold their own parties, they choose their membership purely by skin colour or racial background... So are they actually going in the wrong direction? Do these societies serve any useful purpose in the long term?



tl;dr version:

Minority groups creating their own societies - does it hurt their chances of integrating with others?



Edit: I should add that I have nothing against any of these groups - I just wonder if they really serve their intended purpose.


.
( Hdjejjwsjdjjf LOOK, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:34, 52 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

This is how I see it.
If there is a minority group, it's normally to fight opresion or to install a sense of identity. Through these actions, they sometimes discriminate, and that is wrong and defeat's their own object; to be accepted as a valid social group in society.

If there is a majorty group, unfortuantly, they're mostly designed to exclude minorties.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:43, Reply)

to be absolutely honest
LGBT socs are excuses for people to meet up and shag. I believe section 28 was discussed for five minutes a year or three ago an everyone agreed it was jolly awful, then went back to drinking
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:45, Reply)

I briefly joined a feminist group.
Good God it was boring.
( girlinthehole, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:47, Reply)

I don't really get people
who join groups like that. I went to LGBT soc to see what the fuss was about, it was boring and I didn't look right or fit in, so I just went to the clubbing bit

Edit: I also learned they get really annoyed when you ask why they don't have Q and I as part of their acronym title
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:50, Reply)

What does the "I" stand for?
I assume "Q" is queer...
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:12, Reply)

Intersex.

(Poppet some assembly required., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:40, Reply)

All that talk of knitting, waxing and cooking would be pretty dull, I grant you.
Best off drinking lots and talking about shagging and stuff.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:51, Reply)

I've seen what I thought was a feminist meeting, it was on a website, with video.
They were all at a house party, in a bedroom, and they wanted to see if their breasts were weird, so they they all compared them, but one thought her fanny lips didn't taste right, so she let the others taste them, but they had no basis of comparison, so they all tried each others. Then the camera panned down, it was a home video, and the man .... blah blah blah, it's a porn film.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:53, Reply)

That second bit just describes your average B3ta bash.
The one's I've been at least.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:55, Reply)

That's a reply to DG by the way
I am in no way suggesting your average B3ta bash is like a lesbian porno.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:56, Reply)

Well, they are though...
All that female snogging and gropage.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:56, Reply)

this is what I am expecting
I'm giving you fair warning ahead of time
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:58, Reply)

You shan't be disappointed.
Usual format is all the laydees grope and motorboat each other's norks, whilst the blokes find continuous excuses to nip off to a quiet corner somewhere.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 20:59, Reply)

This is sounding vaguely familiar
from the only bash I've been to. Though the male b3tans had their own little party I think
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:01, Reply)

Anyone who motorboats me these days
is liable to get splashed.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:23, Reply)

There's probably a website for that kind of thing.
You could make a fortune.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:28, Reply)

You will not be disappointed : )
Watch out for Grammar Badger as she's the best motorboater.
( girlinthehole, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:02, Reply)

excellent news
I shall be on full alert
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:02, Reply)

To be honest the male B3tans are only there to stand about and look pretty.
The women have all the fun.
( girlinthehole, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:03, Reply)

This is what feminism
has brought us :)
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:04, Reply)

is looking pretty compulsory?
I was kind of hoping to look awkward and confused.
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:08, Reply)

You can start off looking awkward and confused.
After I've had a few vodka and tonics you'll end up looking pretty.

So don't worry.
( girlinthehole, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:11, Reply)

Sounds like a plan.

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:13, Reply)

This is all very true.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:10, Reply)

This is true,
and to occasionally get drawn on :)
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:26, Reply)

Ah, the monocled mutineer himself!

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:27, Reply)

That was so funny
On hindsight. But that pic of Tourette's cackling in the foreground with me looking passed out and dapper in the back was awesome!
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:30, Reply)

Promise it won't happen again mate.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:32, Reply)

I deserved it for passing out!
Not like I did it anyone; and then giggled about it for about three hours.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:41, Reply)

I have to get me to one of these

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:26, Reply)

motorboating? moi? no.......
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:39, Reply)

Mais oui.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:46, Reply)

It's pretty much mandatory surely?

( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:49, Reply)

yo pa how's you and ma?
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:50, Reply)

We're hanging net curtains.
Rock and fucking roll.

Are you behaving yourself?
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:53, Reply)

I'm pairing socks! bell yeah!!
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:58, Reply)

Oh, we did that an hour ago.
And I spent four bastard hours ironing earlier. I am a domestic GOD! Hear me mutter...
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:04, Reply)

You people are going to be terrifying in London :P

( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:04, Reply)

She's been stuffing them in her bra
to make her tits look even bigger. She's trying to eclipse Clendrix. But she will fail.
(Bazongaloid, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:06, Reply)

Eclipse being the operative word.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:09, Reply)

Does that mean we'll be careering round London
With Badger spilling socks everywhere?
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:09, Reply)

She'll hoover them up with her vagina

(Bazongaloid, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:20, Reply)

Haha!
Both the cause and the cure; like it!
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:22, Reply)

sadface
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:37, Reply)

Awww!
I'm sorry :)
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:39, Reply)

You so aren't.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:44, Reply)

Aw, I thought I sounded convincing!

( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:45, Reply)

Never.
Ever ever ever ever.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sun 5 Sep 2010, 22:49, Reply)

This has far too many breaks for me to bother reading it
Instead I'm going to answer the question "Are you tired?"

Why yes MatJ, I am tired, after getting home from a gig at about 3am. Thanks for asking.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:52, Reply)

That's quite alright.

( Hdjejjwsjdjjf LOOK, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 21:55, Reply)

In the long term I'd say they do have some useful purpose
in that they might educate or inform someone about their own heritage or background. A person of Afro-Caribbean descent might not necessarily have much of a clue about Afro-Caribbean culture.
(Zoz prayed for twink on, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 23:02, Reply)

girlz, gunz and booz society
ftw
(Mr Big Stuff, Mon 6 Sep 2010, 0:43, Reply)