Do you misuse the word 'gay'?, What do you think about people that do? Options

[*Teenage Mutant Ninja Meg*]

I messed up the poll again... so, if you want to vote for the first one, just post it in a reply. Or one of the mods can fix it.

Personally, I find people who use the word "gay" to mean stupid is incredibly offensive. When a person says something like "THAT'S SO GAY!", I swear a blood vessel pops in my head. And when I bring it up with my friends, they say things like, "I have gay friends and they say it too!" Well, your gay friends are the only homosexuals in the whole world.

Anyway, what do you think of it? You obviously know my answer.

[I hope this is in the proper forum, if not feel free to move it!]

[hi-C]

^ Well, yeah, I know that, but you're equating gay with stupid. You don't think that's offensive?

[flc]

^ Well, yeah, I know that, but you're equating gay with stupid. You don't think that's offensive?

I'm not calling gay people stupid. What I meant that, seperate from homosexual, in today's society gay has taken on a different meaning, like how it meant happy back then. I am in no way linking homosexuality with stupidity, and people shouldn't see it that way either.

People are getting WAY too sensitive these days..

[*I Shot JFK*]

I'm not calling gay people stupid. What I meant that, seperate from homosexual, in today's society gay has taken on a different meaning, like how it meant happy back then. I am in no way linking homosexuality with stupidity, and people shouldn't see it that way either.

People are getting WAY too sensitive these days..

so, if someone is offended by what you say, it is entirely teir fault for being to sensitive, and you have no responsiblity to adapt to their offense?

[flc]

so, if someone is offended by what you say, it is entirely teir fault for being to sensitive, and you have no responsiblity to adapt to their offense?

Yeah. That's pretty much it. I might sound like an a-hole, but they have to get over it. It's not like I use the word gay after every word I say. THAT would get annoying. I only use it when something really bothers me, which isn't that often.

But most likely, this person who is getting offended isn't my friend and someone I would never have to see or talk to again. Because if I know my friends well, they wouldn't get so angry over a stupid word. If it was someone I truly cared about, and they gave me a REALLY good explanation for why it bothered them, then I would of course stop using it around them.

Because like mo rox said, most gays don't care. Then it IS that person's fault for being too sensitive. Because other gays could just say, "Hey, it isn't that big of a deal."

[*I Shot JFK*]

Yeah. That's pretty much it. I might sound like an a-hole, but they have to get over it. It's not like I use the word gay after every word I say. THAT would get annoying. I only use it when something really bothers me, which isn't that often.

But most likely, this person who is getting offended isn't my friend and someone I would never have to see or talk to again. Because if I know my friends well, they wouldn't get so angry over a stupid word. If it was someone I truly cared about, and they gave me a REALLY good explanation for why it bothered them, then I would of course stop using it around them.

Because like mo rox said, most gays don't care. Then it IS that person's fault for being too sensitive. Because other gays could just say, "Hey, it isn't that big of a deal."

you're a charmer, arent you?

so, one person's opinion is invalid because it is more sensitive than the majority? why wait to find someone it truly offends? why not use a term which doesnt make you sound ignorant?

Then why do people use words like f*ck and and b*tch. Why don't you guys feel offended for female dogs because we call other people b*tches? By being so sensitive for gay people, you are seperating them from us even more. They're the same people, but it seems like gay people have to be more offended by such things, when they're not even talking about them.

the point about bitch was just stupid. as if you cant tell the distinction. as far as f**k goes, i take your point, but my feelings regarding 'gay' isn't so much because the word is offensive in itself, but because it is specifically derogatory towards one group of people. surely, it is better to seperate a group by being sensitive towards them than by using their label in a derogatory way?

As someone said and I have said, there are multiple meanings. Society now gave it perhaps its third meaning, stupidity. Would you think someone back in the day that said, "I am gay," misused the word and offended gay people?

no, because the use of gay to mean happy predates the use of it to mean homosexual. to expect a cease in the use of it to mean happy would be unreasonable. but it is not unreasonable to expect people to be more sensitive now that it DOES have conotations with a sector of society, i do no find it acceptable for the 'third meaning' to evolve.

Um...but it's different. "Hey, nigger," is a greeting. "That's so GAY" is describing something. If you're going to compare, it's like, "Hey gay girl/guy!" And seriously how many people actually greet you like that?

could you REALLY not see the paralell that she was trying to draw? you've missed her point utterly by that response.

...And somehow, calling them stupid is not worse than calling them gay? Have you ever thought of when "stupid" actually offended people? Until people understood that it is not actually a big deal, and that people don't actually MEAN that you are stupid?

well obviously the word stupid will cause offense to th eperson it is directed towards. but there is not a clear third party who could ALSO take offense, and that makes the difference.

*******

a question for those who find the term to be acceptable: what are your feelings towards people who use 'fag' as an insult? they may or may not mean it to mean 'homosexual', but it still cast a negative light upon people who are actually gay, by implying that their lifestyle is something to be ashamed of, and to direct at people you wish to offend