Original protagonist: [Something mildly controversial/potentially offensive]
Antagonist: That is [sexist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, cissexist, heteronormative, homonormative, encouraging of stereotypes, exclusive of religious/black/disabled/woman-identified/queer people]! You can’t say that!
Original protagonist: Why not? I have freedom of speech!
2nd Antagonist: Safespace!
Original protagonist: Stop being so sensitive! You just need to get over your feeling of being persecuted all the time!
2nd protagonist: It’s political correctness gone mad, mate, can’t even say anything without a degree in gender studies here.
Friend of the Antagonist: This isn’t political correctness, it’s about creating an inclusive environment!
[Massive argument ensues]
Interested gay: [Insightful comment about striking a balance between freedom of speech and protecting minority groups that is largely ignored]
Uninterested gay: Wtf are you all arguing about? Stop it, you’re acting like children.
Disinterested gay: Lol, this is funny.
[Unplanned kneejerk response by committee member that deletes/bans/destroys the forum in which the OP committed the original action]
Original Protagonist: I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT.
Antagonist: It was totally appropriate!
3rd protagonist: That was not on, no-one has the right to censorship! We live in a free country! {Optional: comparison to Hitler}
2nd Antagonist: Free speech doesn’t include the right to offend!
Libertarian gay: I don’t give a toss about this argument, but no-one has the right to censor another person!
Random gay who has just read through the entire argument and come out sympathetic to the Antagonist: I think its acceptable for the committee to act on issues that are offensive to other members though.
{Optional: Argument about whether rightwing/leftwing viewpoints have equal status and whether the society should be political or not}
Original Protagonist: Who makes that decision? The committee, who the hell are the committee?
Committee member: Hey, we’re all volunteers, we’re all doing the best we can, people make mistakes…
Disgruntled former (sort of) member: [Snarky comment about committee]
[Argument about the committee, its actions that year, the people on it, elections and the sort of events being run]
Member hoping to derail the controversy: Hey, check out this [inspiring video/article about a new step forward for gay rights/suggestion for a new event]
2nd member hoping to derail the controversy: Wow, yeah, that’s really cool. Why don’t we [upbeat and constructive suggestion that no-one replies to]
Original protagonist/Antagonist: Look, I’m not trying to make a big deal about this, I just feel that my identity as a [minority/majority gay man/gay woman/bisexual/trans person/queer person/black person/middle class/working class person/right wing/left wing/religious/atheist] is being compromised and I feel hurt. Something Must Be Done.
Antagonist/Original Protagonist: What do you mean, your identity?! What about MY identity as a [majority/minority gay man/gay woman/bisexual/trans person/queer person/black person/middle class/working class person/right wing/left wing/religious believer/atheist]? We’re oppressed too!
Academic gay: Well, actually, [comment about structural inequality/queer theory/”racism cuts both ways”]
Non-academic gay who shouldn’t be at university: Look, none of this matters, alright? It’s just academic theories, can’t we all just get along?
Original Protagonist/Antagonist: This isn’t about getting along, it’s about a serious point that strikes at the very fabric of what it means to be [LGBT/non-heterosexual/a member of this society/a student/democratic/free/part of a union]!
[Argument continues but now involving reference to liberation theory and class analysis]
Former committee member: Nothing changes.
2nd former committee member: Yeah, do you remember when…
[Short conversation between old LGBT hacks ensues about former controversies]
Ordinary member no-one has ever heard of before: Look, I signed up to this society for updates about events and to meet people, not to read this kind of petty infighting. We need to be united, get a grip!
Original protagonist: I wasn’t trying to be divisive, I only [original action] and it seems some people just can’t cope with that…
Ordinary member no-one has ever heard of or will again: Just stop it! Just stop it, alright! I am sick of this happening all the time!
Antagonist: My point was totally valid and you needed to be challenged! You said…
[Argument continues until everyone gets physically tired and/or has to leave the keyboard]
[A committee meeting is held where the same arguments are rehashed for two hours but no conclusions are reached]