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

[flc]

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?

Look, kiddo.

No, I'm not saying they're invalid. I shouldn't have put it in those words. What I am saying, though, is that, when EVERYONE around you is fine with it, and ignoring it, and you're making a huge fuss, don't you think that kind of makes you seem a little mad?

Example: I could, personally, find your username offensive. I could say you're treating Kennedy's assasination as a joke. Just because I alone could find it offensive, are you going to change your username to please one person? Probably not. But I wouldn't keep bugging the hell out of you to change it. I would accept it and move on with my life, like that person should who got offended. They need to realize that a lot of things in life are offensive and they can't get their way with everything everytime. {Even though when I say that something is gay I'm not meaning to calling gay people stupid, like I've said 33586974 times.}

I'm not going to keep talking about this with you. I posted that I use the word innapropriately, as well as many others. Why the hell are you getting on my back? I gave my reasons for why I use the word. No matter how much you disagree, they're my reasons.

As far as I know, I haven't offended anyone who's heard me use it, which isn't often. When someone comes up to me and tells me it really bothers them, I will gladly stop. What I think is that you guys are blowing this out of proportion. I don't think that this is even an issue, but maybe it's because of the area I live in.

I haven't lost any friends because of using this word once in a great while, because they know I'm not actually insulting homosexuals, like how people aren't actually swearing at God when they yell, "God damnit!"

It doesn't really matter if the meaning of gay now is homosexual. People are still going to use it as stupid when they think something is dumb. I don't know who came up with this idea that we should use gay as stupid, but it's there. And there isn't really much you can do about it.

[*I Shot JFK*]

Look, kiddo.

No, I'm not saying they're invalid. I shouldn't have put it in those words. What I am saying, though, is that, when EVERYONE around you is fine with it, and ignoring it, and you're making a huge fuss, don't you think that kind of makes you seem a little mad?

I'm not going to keep talking about this with you. I posted that I use the word innapropriately, as well as many others. Why the hell are you getting on my back? I gave my reasons for why I use the word. No matter how much you disagree, they're my reasons.

As far as I know, I haven't offended anyone who's heard me use it, which isn't often. When someone comes up to me and tells me it really bothers them, I will gladly stop. What I think is that you guys are blowing this out of proportion. I don't think that this is even an issue, but maybe it's because of the area I live in.

I haven't lost any friends because of using this word once in a great while, because they know I'm not actually insulting homosexuals, like how people aren't actually swearing at God when they yell, "God damnit!"

It doesn't really matter if the meaning of gay now is homosexual. People are still going to use it as stupid when they think something is dumb. I don't know who came up with this idea that we should use gay as stupid, but it's there. And there isn't really much you can do about it.

dont patronize. its a waste of energy, and reflects badly on you

im getting on your back because i find it distasteful. i am well aware that this is your view, and you are entitled to express your view. i am equally entitled to tell you that i think that it is a load of sh*t. in the nicest possible way, of course. oh honestly, as if its personal.

and do i appear to be the only one in this thread who finds it objectionable? and if i appear mad, i consider i have good reason for my madness.

and i still dont understand is this: if you are willing to stop if someone tells you it bothers them, then why wait? why not just find somethign which doesnt make you sound ignorant and misguided?

people will use it. and i, personally am incapable of stopping it in the broad scale. but if, by harassing people who use it around me, i can stop them using it, i will continue to do so. i've stopped at least two of my friends saying it, and that is reason enogu for me to keep harassing you, or anyone else who cares to have this conversation with me, or who i hear or see use it inappropriately.