BBC says "gay" is OK!

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Asher

It's only an insult if you perceive being gay to be a bad thing.

Huh...

If "gay" is synonymous with "bad", I think the perception of gay as a bad thing is pretty straight-forward...

But you still choose for it to be bad when you perceive it. And I think the point here is, why bother? Don't you have better things to do then be insulted? When you sit down and think about it, what effect does this really have on you as a person? You're still gay. You still think being gay isn't a bad thing. Why bother getting offended? What purpose is there in such a waste of energy and emotion?

[Provost Harrison]

Does this mean that 'u r a gay tw@t' is offensive then?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Lorizael
But you still choose for it to be bad when you perceive it. And I think the point here is, why bother? Don't you have better things to do then be insulted? When you sit down and think about it, what effect does this really have on you as a person? You're still gay. You still think being gay isn't a bad thing. Why bother getting offended? What purpose is there in such a waste of energy and emotion?

You're missing the whole point though -- the point is humans are not rational creatures. The type of environment that these types of insults are most common in are the ones where homophobia is most rampant. Sexually confused kids hear "this is gay, that is gay, blah is gay, blee is gay" all in a negative sense while at the same time wondering if they are gay.

There's a lot of sociological pressure against kids those age, and using "gay" as an insult creates a culture of homophobia and tells kids they're "rubbish" if they're gay.

[Wittlich]

The main point of this whole discussion is still being missed or over-looked.

When someone says "That movie was gay" - What are they really saying? Are they not saying "That movie was sub-standard"?

So, on that line of reasoning, gay people are sub-standard.

It is how heteronormativity is marketed and reproduced to create a sexual relationship hierarchy - with a certain form of heterosexuality elevated to the top as the most revered and cherished relational form, with homosexuality taking a substandard place is, in my view, predudice. This is what sickens me. Not the word "gay" but the meaning behind using the word in the context it was used in (e.g. inferior, bad, boring, wrong).

I don't really don't know how much clearer I can put it.

Oh, and Happy Gay Pride Month everyone!

[Lorizael]

I don't really care for people that aren't rational. I think strong parenting and good friends can prevent "sociological pressures" from having a negative effect on a kid. I don't think the use of the word gay in pejorative manner should really be able to have that much of an impact on an individual.

[Provost Harrison]

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=153356

Perhaps some of you should be more concerned about the real homophobia in our society...

[Jon Miller]

gay does have associations of effeminate (and I am not claiming that homosexuals are effeminate)

I am not saying that that is a good thing..

JM

[Sava]

Originally posted by Asher

It's only an insult if you perceive being gay to be a bad thing.

Huh...

If "gay" is synonymous with "bad", I think the perception of gay as a bad thing is pretty straight-forward...

You are equating homosexuality with bad in that context, not me. That is the mistake you and other people sensitive to the use of the word are making.

"Gay" is just a word. If I use "gay" in the context of lame or stupid or bad to describe something, I'm not refering to homosexuality in any way.

Perhaps you misunderstand how words can have dual meanings.

I'm hearing the arguments from the people who get offended by the use of "gay" in that context... it seems they are the ones with the problem. They are the ones associating gay with homosexuality in the negative context.

When I use "gay" to describe something, it might be for different reasons. Something might actually be genuinely effiminate. There's some overlap in some cases. But a lot of people get offended even if I use "gay" to describe something that is genuinely gay!

If I say "Brokeback Mountain is such a gay movie!" is that offensive?

Oh wait, but it's offensive if I am describing it as a movie that sucks... but not as a movie about homosexuality?

Come on... how ridiculous is that?


How about this... how about you guys come up with rules for the correct usage of the word "gay" okay?

I used the word "brokeback" in a descriptive manner on another forum... and some idiot said that was offensive.

Where does it end? How absurd is this nonsense?

[MRT144]

Originally posted by Asher
Now that some BBC Beurocrat says it, you think that means anything?

"gay" as an insult is offensive because of its very origin. It's no coincidence that the people who use it as an insult are usually homophobes.

stop being a ******

[Sava]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
(and I am not claiming that homosexuals are effeminate)

DEAR GOD, DON'T DO THAT

YOU ARE A GAY BASHER IF YOU MAKE SUCH A CLAIM!!!!


It's not as if you would have any reason to think that way.




When we get to the point where gay people put themselves out there and market their gayness, they cease to have a right to be offended... well, they can be offended... but I don't really give a **** anymore. Get over it you ****ing pussies. (and I'm not addressing anyone here personally)

It's not a legitimate thing to get offended about.

[Fake Boris]

I call my black friends '******' all the time. I call my gay friends 'gay' all the time (in the common pejorative sense, like 'your shirt is gay').
Somehow I doubt I'm either homophobe or racist, especially considering that they've remained friends with me for years.

[Lancer]

I was going to say 'there's something a little queer about this thread' but decided not to.

[Dauphin]

This thread is wicked, and I don't mean evil.

Gotta love slang that contradicts the standard usage.

[Lorizael]

Hey! My great great great great great grandmother happened to be a witch, and the Inquisition... ah... I'm too lazy to make this a funny joke.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Sava


DEAR GOD, DON'T DO THAT

YOU ARE A GAY BASHER IF YOU MAKE SUCH A CLAIM!!!!

With nearly all stereotypes, there is an ounce of truth behind them.

To say that because some gays really effeminate, that this means all gays are though, is absurd.