Homophobia, Defined - "You ride a Burton? Dude, that's so gay." This advertising pitch, recently employed by competing snowboard manufacturer K2/Ride, seems more childish than bigoted. I prefer to reserve the word "homophobia" for more serious matters, like the pathological disgust some people have for same-sex relations or the impulsive hatred and violence of a gay-bashing. School yard taunts seem to be in a different category altogether, since they usually demonstrate simple ignorance, a lack of social graces and general immaturity. And hey, that seems to fit snowboarders pretty well, if you ask me. Heh.