MovieChat Forums > The Family Stone (2005) Discussion > Do you think they overreacted about the ...

Do you think they overreacted about the gay comment from Meredith?


I don't understand why they got so upset. I mean, she obviously was only trying to say that gay people have it harder in society than straight people, which is true. Obviously she was saying it in the wrong way because she was nervous but they should of known that she wasn't trying to hate on gays.

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Absolutely. Chills went down my spine, their reaction was so creepy. There was nothing wrong with her comment. Why would one wish for their child to be gay, especially for such stereotypical reasons? That's something different than not minding if you're child's gay. I would not have apologized, I would've pointed out how bigoted and hypocritical they were and gotten the hell out of there.

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I definitely will be getting the DVD for commentary like the poster above suggested.

As to their reaction to her comment, I think the only one who overreacted was Sybil when she yelled "Oh go***mn you!" That kind of caught me off guard. I understand she's very protective of Thad but I didn't expect her to reach her boiling point so quickly. I understand what Meredith was trying to say, but she really was only trying to compete with her sister. And she made it worse with her "wouldn't you want your kid to be normal" comment, implying that Thad was abnormal. That would piss me off too. Kelly told her 3 to 4 times, very quietly and very politely, enough was enough. That it was starting to make people feel uncomfortable and it was best to leave it alone. But she kept on pressing, refusing to drop it, then the "normal" comment came and he put his foot down. She should have just said sorry, she meant no offense the first time around and moved on.

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Meredith put her foot in her mouth and was trying to extract it. She knew the family would hold it against her and was trying to do damage control and failing. The family DID NOT WANT to accept her.

I have an SIL that my in-laws just adore and I'm kind of the Meredith. I just don't say anything any more because forget it, that's why.


"We want the finest wines available to humanity. We want them here and we want them now."

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Her comment bordered on saying there is something wrong with being gay, when suggesting parents like the Stones are disappointed on learning they have a gay child.

The Stones asked her to let it be, and stop talking about it yet she wouldn't. How can you side with Meredith in these circumstances. She just kept going, long after realizing how uncomfortable she made Thad and his parents.

The Stones treasure Thad and love him just the way he is. There is no changing the way he is and The Stones don't need a stranger lecturing them on being gay could be caused by environment, especially in front of their gay son. Was ridiculous.

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No, they didn't overreact. She just kept making it worse and digging herself deeper. You can only push people so far before they must put a stop to the misery and ignorance. imo


**~Not my circus, not my monkeys...~**

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To me, it was a bit of both. They did overreact because they already held a bias towards her; yet, she stepped further into quicksand without reading the room. She was utterly clueless.

While I love the movie, that scene is uncomfortable as hell.

I must warn you. I'm very susceptible to flattery.

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Agreed with this.

**cArNiVaLs oF fAyGo**

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[deleted]

Merediths questions about the gay gene and the nature vs nurture thing was pretty rude and weird...the family let that go pretty well and then she kept rambling on about how could Sybil mean she wanted gay kids..it was really weird and awkward and a conversation she had no business talking about at dinner or at all with these people whom she barely knew, and who clearly did not like her. She insinuated that Thad was not normal whether she meant to or not..

Yes, the family did overreact...I could understand how they'd be insulted and angry over her comments but they took it to the extreme...Actually, from the beginning they had it out for her because of awful Amy. They were all terrible to her except for Ben..and possibly the dad and Patrick.

For a family that seemed to pride itself on being outcasts and liberal and accepting of differences, they sure didn't accept her at all for being a little different

Amy was just terrible..she met her in NY first and said Amy didn't say one word to her the whole nice..for no reason. Meredith was probably a bit more stiff and uptight than Amy but Meredith was never rude. Amy was just a spoiled brat who had no manners.

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Yeah, they could have given her the benefit of the doubt, but then she proved herself on the wrong side of the line by referring to a nongay child as a "normal child." Whoops.

The earlier mistake she made was assuming she would have as much leeway to be herself and say what she thinks as they do. It should be like that, but it never is. It's their house and their dynamic, and it's best to be cautious and keep your mouth shut.

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I get why they got upset. Gay people aren't treated very well in society and I think that part of it was they were protective of their son and his feelings. But ultimately, they hated Meredith (unjustly) from the beginning and didn't give her a chance to explain. I totally got what she was trying to say, which was what you explained, OP.

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Yes, she was missunterstood!

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