whats wrong with calling something "gay"?

[(^_^)]

Hillary didn't do a very good job during the interview. She gave answers which weren't fitting for the questions she was asked. It sounded like she was reading off a script or reciting something she'd remembered.

[DerDrache]

When you call something "gay", you are using it in conjuction with the meaning of homosexuality. It having meant "happy" in the past has nothing to do with its current meaning.

[My Name is The Lord]

Originally Posted by DerDrache

When you call something "gay", you are using it in conjuction with the meaning of homosexuality. It having meant "happy" in the past has nothing to do with its current meaning.

Yes it does, because of the merry nature of homosexuals. Have you ever seen a gay person with a care in the world?

[cannibal hooker]

Well shit, I guess it's the same reason why we don't really call african americans "niggers"
The whole fact that you're using a term in a derogatory context makes it an insult to anything that applies to that term. If you use a word to degrade someone, you're pretty much degrading that word and the meaning behind it. Plus, it's a really, really stupid insult. People tend to use it when they feel cornered and can't think of a real rebuttal.

And I definitely see a lot of people against using "bitches" and "hoes" to describe women. They don't really show it much in the media, I do admit. That's because they perpetuate it.

[JesuitArtiste]

Originally Posted by DerDrache

When you call something "gay", you are using it in conjuction with the meaning of homosexuality. It having meant "happy" in the past has nothing to do with its current meaning.

Uh, no, not really. When I use the word Gay, unless I am using it to mean homosexual, I am using the word to mean something stupid, or irrational. The OP has said much the same thing, and so have several people in the thread. The majority of people understand that Gay really is context dependant on what you mean.

Just as Gay having popularly meant homosexuality, has nothing to do with it's current popular meaning; in this case ,'Stupid'. Words change.

The whole fact that you're using a term in a derogatory context makes it an insult to anything that applies to that term.

No, no it doesn't. When I use the word Gay to mean the word stupid, then I am doing just that, and the word stupid has no connection to homosexuality. Thinking like that reveals more about the person who feels it than the person who uses the word.

For example, I use the word bastard on people who are legitimate children. In these cases the word bastard does not mean an illegitimate child, but a person who I dislike, or in some cases a person who I admire. Words are not an equation, Gay is not Gay=Homosexual=stupid, the meanings are seperate from each other. By using the word bastard I am not saying that all illegitimate children and unpleasant.

Another example, I use the word Jammy to describe someone who is lucky, or skilled etc, I don't use the word to mean that that person has a jam centre, or is in anyway related to Jam.

I guess I'm just trying to say that words have differant meanings, meanings often based on context and shared social ...uh... stuff.

[DerDrache]

Originally Posted by JesuitArtiste

Uh, no, not really. When I use the word Gay, unless I am using it to mean homosexual, I am using the word to mean something stupid, or irrational. The OP has said much the same thing, and so have several people in the thread. The majority of people understand that Gay really is context dependant on what you mean.

Just as Gay having popularly meant homosexuality, has nothing to do with it's current popular meaning; in this case ,'Stupid'. Words change.

While I'd agree that "gay" could theoretically have picked up a new meaning that has no connection with homosexuality, it's still inappropriate. If you went around calling everything you didn't like "Mexican", then eventually you'd piss someone off.

I sometimes use "gay" to mean "stupid", but I don't have any delusions about it's level of inappropriateness.

[cannibal hooker]

Originally Posted by JesuitArtiste

Uh, no, not really. When I use the word Gay, unless I am using it to mean homosexual, I am using the word to mean something stupid, or irrational. The OP has said much the same thing, and so have several people in the thread. The majority of people understand that Gay really is context dependant on what you mean.

Just as Gay having popularly meant homosexuality, has nothing to do with it's current popular meaning; in this case ,'Stupid'. Words change.




No, no it doesn't. When I use the word Gay to mean the word stupid, then I am doing just that, and the word stupid has no connection to homosexuality. Thinking like that reveals more about the person who feels it than the person who uses the word.

For example, I use the word bastard on people who are legitimate children. In these cases the word bastard does not mean an illegitimate child, but a person who I dislike, or in some cases a person who I admire. Words are not an equation, Gay is not Gay=Homosexual=stupid, the meanings are seperate from each other. By using the word bastard I am not saying that all illegitimate children and unpleasant.

Another example, I use the word Jammy to describe someone who is lucky, or skilled etc, I don't use the word to mean that that person has a jam centre, or is in anyway related to Jam.

I guess I'm just trying to say that words have differant meanings, meanings often based on context and shared social ...uh... stuff.

I understand what you mean, and I'm guilty of calling things gay myself. I find it difficult to break the habit. I just think that society as a whole makes the connection to homosexuality as we still use the term to define homosexual people. If I decided I was going to start calling things retarded all the time, despite that I don't really mean that something is mentally handicapped, people are still ocassionally going to be offended because of where the nature of that word stands in our society.
Maybe it is sad that someone would make that connection, but they do because we still are in a society where plenty of intolerant people deliberately use it to insult people in the context of homosexuality.

[The Divinity of Racism]

Homosexuality is a mental disorder it isn't like race, something that someone has no hand in choosing/becoming. While homosexuals are victims of their own upbringings (the majority of the time) they are still open for derogatory critique as they are a moral threat to the nation, and can change their ways. Homosexuals are vain, narcissistic, they are not healthy and they are bad for society and one of the reasons why man today is so feminized, superficial, and weak. So there is nothing wrong with using that word in any kind of context and as one member made note of, the only people that care about it are closet homosexuals who are ashamed of what they are.

[The Divinity of Racism]

Originally Posted by cannibal hooker

I understand what you mean, and I'm guilty of calling things gay myself. I find it difficult to break the habit. I just think that society as a whole makes the connection to homosexuality as we still use the term to define homosexual people. If I decided I was going to start calling things retarded all the time, despite that I don't really mean that something is mentally handicapped, people are still ocassionally going to be offended because of where the nature of that word stands in our society.
Maybe it is sad that someone would make that connection, but they do because we still are in a society where plenty of intolerant people deliberately use it to insult people in the context of homosexuality.

She

Originally Posted by DerDrache

While I'd agree that "gay" could theoretically have picked up a new meaning that has no connection with homosexuality, it's still inappropriate. If you went around calling everything you didn't like "Mexican", then eventually you'd piss someone off.

I sometimes use "gay" to mean "stupid", but I don't have any delusions about it's level of inappropriateness.

and it are closet homosexuals.

[n3rdy_g3rty]

Originally Posted by JesuitArtiste

When I use the word Gay to mean the word stupid, then I am doing just that, and the word stupid has no connection to homosexuality. Thinking like that reveals more about the person who feels it than the person who uses the word.

I accidentially said something was gay in front of my gay friend and they didn't take offense to it. I'm sure they hear it all the time and don't think twice about it. I felt bad at first and thought I might have offended them, but again, they said since it wasn't directed at them or their sexuality, that it was fine.