Merrett Frey

I think that's understood. However, it seems that no one has told you that using the word "retarded" facetiously is hurtful. Your language seemed especially careless when it came on the heels of your pedantic denunciation of the use of "Viking" as a noun. While controversial, it is in common use in that fashion, even among prominent scholars of Norse history. David Wilson provides an excellent examination of the problems with narrowly defining the term here: http://www.archeurope.com/index.php?page=the-term-viking. I congratulate you on your precision; please just try to be compassionate when you're throwing around terms that label human beings. Thank you.

If classlessness and lack of subtlety really is your complaint, I feel compelled to point out that a few loving kisses between Renly and Loras was far less graphic and gratuitous than a lot of the actual sex scenes in the show. As far as Martin's subtlety in the books, well, perhaps you and I aren't reading the same series? Fat pink mast? Myrish swamp? How about Jaime and Cersei going at it next to Tywin's stinky corpse? Or maybe it's only when it's two men kissing that you would prefer more "subtlety?"

Your privilege is showing. Speaking for myself, rehearsing prostitutes got old real fast.