Actually it's been done before though. Anita Bryant, the awful conservative woman who was featured in Milk was also hit by a pie at one point:
This is dumb. When you attack someone, whether it be with a pie or some more violent means, you immediately give them the moral high-ground. If you're trying to argue a point, that's the last thing you want to give your opponent.
Psh, please, nobody's going to go, "OMG HE WAS HIT BY A PIE OH WOE IS HE!" It's just a pie. It's a joke item, hence they're going to think him as a joke person.
This. I think this is actually considered assault. He should sue. Use words not violence. This occured in Canada in 2001. The Pie-thrower was rightly-so sent to prison for 30-days and fined.
Wait, WHAT?! It's a fucking PIE! That's ridiculous! That's like when Tom Cruise got all pissed because a reporter squirted him with a microphone that shoots water
This act was done by a prankster, I don't think it was very much in his interest to have a debate or anything potentially 'academic'. He, as a practical joker, more likely than not did it for jokes and fun!
There is a fine line between 'prankster' and committing a crime. And while I can't speak about other countries, this is illegal in Canada. Whether or not the Bishop pressing charges is another thing.
Oh, I am not contending on whether or not it's a crime (though I don't know enough law to figure out if he'll get away with a civil tort or actually a battery crime charge). I was just making a statement to suggest that telling the prankster to have a civil debate as opposed to throwing a pie would not work.
When you throw a pie in somebody's face and shout "For the gays!" you're engaging in a debate of sorts. Albeit, you're debating very poorly, but it doesn't change that he was trying to make a point. My point is that if we want to make a point about something, which I think this guy did, we're actually hurting ourselves by attacking our "opponents" in this manner. Many of us on EC, mostly non-catholic and socially liberal, may find this funny. But catholics, and people more socially conservative or middle-of-the-road, are more likely to see this as offensive and childish. When we make the opposing view look like a victim, and make ourselves look offensive and childish, we lose.
I agree perfectly with your logic. But again, the ENTIRE point of my post is to point out to you that this guy is a prankster, and so would probably turn a deaf ear to all your suggestions of him engaging in a civil debate. It is even possible that he doesn't even care about the cause that you hold dear but just wants some attention and fun out of this. So as far as his original intention (my guess) is concern, he has succeeded. Whether or not it was benefiting the LGBT cause, he might not even care.