Originally posted by Agathon
Exactly. I am so sick and tired of people ignoring the fact that words can be used in new ways. I read somewhere that a college reprimanded someone for the use of the word "niggardly" even though they admitted that they knew what the word meant. I wish people could appreciate the fact that the meanings of terms are context dependent. Ditto for "man" - don't people know that this word has two meanings, one is species and the other is gender? Complaining doesn't change that fact. And frankly we've got more pressing concerns than worrying about the way people talk.
I've heard gay people use the term in the way this student used it. I think it is healthy that it is being used this way since it is a mild insult and mildly mocks the old fashioned "gay" stereotype, which in my opinion needs to be an object of fun because it is so silly and doesn't reflect reality (if it ever did).
Exactly. I am so sick and tired of people ignoring the fact that words can be used in new ways. I read somewhere that a college reprimanded someone for the use of the word "niggardly" even though they admitted that they knew what the word meant. I wish people could appreciate the fact that the meanings of terms are context dependent. Ditto for "man" - don't people know that this word has two meanings, one is species and the other is gender? Complaining doesn't change that fact. And frankly we've got more pressing concerns than worrying about the way people talk.
I've heard gay people use the term in the way this student used it. I think it is healthy that it is being used this way since it is a mild insult and mildly mocks the old fashioned "gay" stereotype, which in my opinion needs to be an object of fun because it is so silly and doesn't reflect reality (if it ever did).
It isn't comparable to the "niggas" reasoning either, as the context there is one of affection for friends. And try to be a white kid and get away with saying that. At any rate, it is using a formerly derogatory word in a positive manner to negate its hurtful impact.
"That's gay" is the opposite case. It came into being PRECISELY because it was a derogatory way of referring to homosexuals. To be simple about it, people are using the term "gay" as synonymous with "bad" or "stupid." How is this NOT supposed to offend homosexuals when they hear people casually tossing such a thing about?
Once again, if people used [insert group identifyer here] as synonymous with something bad, why should we expect members of that said group not to get upset over it? Duh.
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