"That's so gay" - enough to get twelve-year-olds suspended

[Drake Tungsten]

Outside the Republican Party, probably.

What about the Log Cabin Republicans?

I think it's offensive, even though it's not intended to be with most uses of it these days.

Intent is a crucial factor.

Now, if you got punished in primary school for saying it, you'd probably be a lot less likely to call random things "gay" when you don't like them.

I doubt it. Punishing it will just make it forbidden fruit and encourage kids to use it more.

[C0ckney]

you reckon?

i mean yeah it might have made me not use it within earshot of teachers, but for us gay =ed bad outside of school just as much as in.

what i'm getting at is that suspending some poor sod to make an example of him won't stop him or any other kids using that terminology, it's not really something schools alone can address.

[Ben Kenobi]

Asher:

So the word is wrong when used when you don't like something?

How would you distinguish from someone who uses it offhand, with someone intending to offend?

Someone trying to offend would deserve a suspension, but not for just using the word.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Intent is a crucial factor.

Nonsense, intent doesn't matter if it's offensive and degrading to a whole array of people.

Would you let people go around saying the n-word casually if they didn't intend for it to be offensive?

I doubt it. Punishing it will just make it forbidden fruit and encourage kids to use it more.

That happens in some cases.

But the use of "that's so gay" is far more socially acceptable than the n-word, f-word, that kind of thing. Why is it more socially acceptable? Because nobody ever gets punished for it.

It's time we start.

Nothing major -- a suspension is a glorified vacation from school.

[Asher]

Originally posted by obiwan18
Asher:

So the word is wrong when used when you don't like something?

How would you distinguish from someone who uses it offhand, with someone intending to offend?

Someone trying to offend would deserve a suspension, but not for just using the word.

I don't think we should have to distinguish between who uses the word, it's patently offensive in either context.

If people are so dense as to not realize what they're saying, they shouldn't be exempt from it. Perhaps if they were punished they'd figure out what that actually means to some people when they say it.

[Drake Tungsten]

Would you let people go around saying the n-word casually if they didn't intend for it to be offensive?

It happens all the time. Haven't you ever heard a hip-hop record?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
It happens all the time. Haven't you ever heard a hip-hop record.

Of course, but people also say gay all the time.

Now if you used the n-word in class, you'd (probably) be promptly punished.

Kids saying everything they don't like is gay don't get punished.

See the difference?

[Asher]

Where I'm coming from is this:

When you're a gay kid growing up in school, and everyone always says stuff they don't like is "gay", it adds a very real sense of shame and embarassment to the kid. That's why most gay kids wouldn't ever think about coming out until after high school -- and that's certainly not a fun experience.

The excessive use of the word in today's school subtly fosters an environment of intolerance and even hate, even though it's got to the point where people say it without thinking about what it means. To the gay teen in the corner, it means a lot regardless of intent.

[Drake Tungsten]

Now if you used the n-word in class, you'd (probably) be promptly punished.

What makes you think that? They'd only get punished if they went up to a black kid and used it as an insult; I can't see them getting punished for repeating a rap song or calling their friends "my niggas". Can't you see the difference? Intent is everything...

[Asher]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
That makes you think that? They'd only get punished if they went up to a black kid and used it as an insult; I can't see them getting punished for repeating a rap song or calling their friends "my niggas". Can't you see the difference? Intent is everything...

Is that how it works in Nebraska?

Both in Alberta and California, the teacher would punish any student who used the N-word, regardless.

[Drake Tungsten]

Both in Alberta and California, the teacher would punish any student who used the N-word, regardless.

I guess we're still free out here in the sticks. Have fun with the thought police...

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Intent is a crucial factor.

Intent is not a factor at all. Language has nothing at all to do with intent, and everything to do with interpretation.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I guess we're still free out here in the sticks. Have fun with the thought police...

We're free out here too, free from hate and prejudice in supervised school environments.

Something Nebraska clearly isn't up to par with.

[MRT144]

what about niggardly

[C0ckney]