Is the MINI a Gay "Icon" ?

[Paul]

Has gone as I recieved a few complaints from members of the MINI2 community who found it insulting.

I also think some of the comments were thoughtless to say the least.

I still believe it's a valid question, but one that should be discussed sensibly, I mean, the MINI has been advertised and promotoed on the 'Gay scene' quite a lot, I know from my contacts in MINI marketing this was a concous decision, it does beg the question, 'what makes a car a 'gay' car, and on what basis to marketing men, or people in general, make these decisions?'

[Mon]

Does it really matter?
If a person likes the car, then surely that's all that matters, sexuality is (or should be!) irrelevant...

Mon

[smiffy]

If people are Gay who cares
I think most MINI owners are Gay (as in happy, if you ask me)

[Dogger]

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul_Mullett
...it does beg the question, 'what makes a car a 'gay' car, and on what basis to marketing men, or people in general, make these decisions?'

I think as with all corporate decisions, it boils down to money in the end. The final post on the deleted thread, mentioned that Gay men do not generally have the added expense/responsibility of children to consider and therefore makes them an ideal 'target' for products that you may be guided towards initially by your heart rather than your head.

The pink pound seems to have passed me by, but if the MINI hadn't had such good reviews for its mechanical aspects as well as it's 'look' then I'd be driving something altogether more practical as we speak..

[lightbody]

It wasn't the thread itself that was insulting, just a couple of posts within it from ignorant posters!

[BrianMini]

To be honest i think the MINI could turn into a hairdressers car, which could then be branded gay!

However i think this is unlikely, anyway, you'd have to change the colour scheme on this site, afterall there would be a split about this macho black and grey look, and before you know it the interface would be pink and fluffy!

[BrianMini]

Actually, have to say this...

Right the discussion on whether a car can be described as gay cannot and should not upset your average buftie! Why? I'll tell you why, if its ok for the gay community to have a gay only mini club then i'm damn sure straight folk can talk about gay issues!

Please let me know if there is any strickly non gay admitting mini clubs, that justify there being a gay only club! Now surely if anything else this is totally sexist!

[Dogger]

Brian, are you saying there is a Gay only MINI club or that you think there should be one?

Personally I can't think of a worse idea other than your comment about the inerface on MINI2 becoming 'pink and fluffy'?..

OK guys, let's not let this thread get out of hand again! 'Sensible' posts only please!!!

[coopercrazy]

Sorry if I insulted anyone w/ any of my posts, but the thread was becoming quite annoying. All here on MINI2 are auto enthusiasts are are buying the car because it is one unbelieveable driving car! Who cares what others will be thinking, when only YOU will be the BLUR tearing up the twisties w/ a huge grin across your face!!!

[lightbody]

I certainly bought the car because of the way it drives, but many, many people will buy the car simply because of its image and it is wrong to think lesser of them because of that!!

BMW will be counting on people buying it for that reason...

[molior]

Quote:

Originally posted by lightbody
It wasn't the thread itself that was insulting, just a couple of posts within it from ignorant posters!

So the whole thread gets nuked, instead of just the individual posts? nkay

[TonyC]

Wow. People really get offended too easily. I did not mean I would not buy a Mini simply because there's a 'gay' image attached to it. I'm picking up a second Miata this wknd. Now, no matter how we dress it up (the '99 has rollbar, full exhaust, ricer stickers, clear corners, etc), race it and beat on it it'll still be a 'gay' car. You can enjoy your Mini/Miata all you want, but, the question was: will the typical automotive enthusiast attach a homosexual imagery to every Mini they see on the road?

Did you folks NOT watch that movie: "Go"? or more recently, "Corky Romano"? Can YOUR Mini be THAT Miata?

I think the answer is a pretty clear-cut 'Yes'. =)

Tony
* not a homophobe, not a homosexual, just thinking out loud.

[Jakx]

Quote:

Originally posted by TonyC
Wow. People really get offended too easily. I did not mean I would not buy a Mini simply because there's a 'gay' image attached to it. I'm picking up a second Miata this wknd. Now, no matter how we dress it up (the '99 has rollbar, full exhaust, ricer stickers, clear corners, etc), race it and beat on it it'll still be a 'gay' car. You can enjoy your Mini/Miata all you want, but, the question was: will the typical automotive enthusiast attach a homosexual imagery to every Mini they see on the road?

Did you folks NOT watch that movie: "Go"? or more recently, "Corky Romano"? Can YOUR Mini be THAT Miata?

I think the answer is a pretty clear-cut 'Yes'. =)

Tony
* not a homophobe, not a homosexual, just thinking out loud.

Whatever, thanks to all this so-called `gay image` claptrap that certain sexually orientated minorities continue to apply to anything and everything that they consider to be "their bag" . . . . I now find myself feeling a little sick!

It`s bad enough that they`ve high-jacked a previously perfectly innocent word from the English language without them now attempting to make the MINI brand theirs too!!!!!

[Basil]

The other thread on this subject has been deleted. Call me a prude, but does this issue realy warrant debate here.

These subjects will just to continue to offend certain groups, much in the same way as MINI v mini threads do.

It serves little purpose here.

I don;t care whether people are gay, black, white, pink, or anything else. All these groups are going to drive MINI's so why not simply except it, chill out, and move on.

Thanks

PS. And no I wasn't someone who complained about the first one, in fact I asked for some of the more insensitive posts to be removed to keep it light hearted.

It is too sensitive and personal an issue to be discussed here in my opinion. So can we get back to poking fun at inanimate subects......ooh and talking about the MINI of course.

[Dogger]

Quote:

OK guys, let's not let this thread get out of hand again! 'Sensible' posts only please!!!

Jakx, I have to ask..which part of this statement didn't you understand?

So the Gays are taking over the world are they?..jeez, welcome to the new Millenium!

I think it's a crying shame that a thread like this CAN'T exist without it turning into a free for all..

Either keep responses relevant or don't bother!