Calling out people who use "gay" as a pejorative term on Xbox Live
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Really when will we get past this offense of the use of the word gay. It's like "retarded" or similar words. Just a pointless throwaway insult, gay=lame,noob,sucky,whatever. Language moves on for better or for worse, don't get hung up on some meaningless insult like it's the worst thing people can do.
Well you might as well since your making a big deal out of it. It's obvious their not being homophobes and if you want to stop people from saying it you need to aim at the higher source.keptsimple said:
Great! now I have a smart ass free teacher.
I agree that it's just a throwaway insult nowadays, and as such, it doesn't bother me if people say stuff like "This homework assignment is fucking gay." It's not like they're saying "This homework assignment should be tortured and killed like the queer it is."
However, I, being gay myself, would also rather it were a different word; I applaud the OP for calling people out on it. I do the same, but only politely, as most people don't realise that they could be offending people.
Homophobes however, who see the term "gay" as being synonymous with "will burn in hell", can go take a running jump as far as I'm concerned.
However, I, being gay myself, would also rather it were a different word; I applaud the OP for calling people out on it. I do the same, but only politely, as most people don't realise that they could be offending people.
Homophobes however, who see the term "gay" as being synonymous with "will burn in hell", can go take a running jump as far as I'm concerned.
Just an FYI, words only have the power that you give them. "Gay" is only an insult because you are perceiving it as such, and- more importantly- acknowledging it as such. Try this tack instead: next time someone says something is 'Gay', respond with "Really? What was so great about it? I thought it was kind of lame myself." You will force them to think about what they said, what it means, and what it could mean, rather than just putting them in a reflexively defensive position, from which they can muster the usual trite counter-arguments to defend themselves.
And don't assume that just because people use a word that they particularly associate it with the same specific pejorative definition that YOU do. I use 'gay' occassionally, and trust me, my boss and one of my coworkers are homosexual, and- even though I'm married- I goof around and even flirt with them occassionally, so when I say something is 'gay' in front of them, I really don't believe that they think I equate 'gay' with 'homosexual' and with 'wrong'.
And don't assume that just because people use a word that they particularly associate it with the same specific pejorative definition that YOU do. I use 'gay' occassionally, and trust me, my boss and one of my coworkers are homosexual, and- even though I'm married- I goof around and even flirt with them occassionally, so when I say something is 'gay' in front of them, I really don't believe that they think I equate 'gay' with 'homosexual' and with 'wrong'.
I've stopped using the Game Channel chat altogether, I just create a party and play with my friends online. We're pretty foul-mouthed, but the word "gay" never really comes up. It's mostly "What the fuck?", "FUCK.", and "FUCKING JUGGERNAUT." Good times are had by all.
Exactly. My friends use it in harmless ways around me all the time and it doesn't bother me. Sometimes it does, but I remind myself that they obviously don't mean it, and I think a lot of gay people who hear it used colloquially feel the same.solidstatemind said:
"Gay" used to mean "happy".
Then the meaning slowly transformed and "gay" meant "homosexual". During this time, older generations still referred to "gay" as "happy" but younger people used it to mean a homosexual person.
Now we're in another transition phase where "gay" still means "homosexual" to the older generations but means "lame" or "stupid" to younger folks. It doesn't really have much to do with homosexuality anymore.
Whenever someone on a game starts calling me a "gay noob" I like to remind then that statistically, most noobs are actually heterosexual.
Then the meaning slowly transformed and "gay" meant "homosexual". During this time, older generations still referred to "gay" as "happy" but younger people used it to mean a homosexual person.
Now we're in another transition phase where "gay" still means "homosexual" to the older generations but means "lame" or "stupid" to younger folks. It doesn't really have much to do with homosexuality anymore.
Whenever someone on a game starts calling me a "gay noob" I like to remind then that statistically, most noobs are actually heterosexual.
I'm ACTUALLY gay and it doesn't even really bother me. I don't know why, I just think I'm the kind of person who doesn't get up in arms about little things like that. But honestly, their inability to think of more clever insults really just attests to their own simpleness in the long run.
Anyway, on topic, I don't think calling people out on it will work, in my experience, there are two kind of people who use words such as this to insult others (mind you this applies to racial slurs as well.):
There are people who are really just un-inventive and unable to think of anything better to say, they probably grew up saying it and it just comes as a second nature at this point, these people will normally shut up about it if I manage to muster enough interest in the situation to say something.
The other kind is a person who is actually a bigot, and genuinely holds baseless hate for homosexuals, and these people- when confronted- usually just get even more belligerent and offensive, because they genuinely hate you (or me) for defending that which they dislike so heavily.
In the end I usually find it's best just to leave it alone, if it REALLY bothered me I'd say something and deal with the fallout, but as is, I just mind my own.
Anyway, on topic, I don't think calling people out on it will work, in my experience, there are two kind of people who use words such as this to insult others (mind you this applies to racial slurs as well.):
There are people who are really just un-inventive and unable to think of anything better to say, they probably grew up saying it and it just comes as a second nature at this point, these people will normally shut up about it if I manage to muster enough interest in the situation to say something.
The other kind is a person who is actually a bigot, and genuinely holds baseless hate for homosexuals, and these people- when confronted- usually just get even more belligerent and offensive, because they genuinely hate you (or me) for defending that which they dislike so heavily.
In the end I usually find it's best just to leave it alone, if it REALLY bothered me I'd say something and deal with the fallout, but as is, I just mind my own.
Yah just did... can't yah be happee... for giving me a fagottree!NaumWolf said:hehe and why is that?Amund said:NaumWolf said:I have had enough of this faggottreeAmund said:
http://img.moonbuggy.org/ive-had-enough-of-this-******-tree/
me to if you're dim enough to not have noticed
You've just made my year.
oh i suppose i canAmund said:Yah just did... can't yah be happee... for giving me a fagottree!NaumWolf said:hehe and why is that?Amund said:NaumWolf said:I have had enough of this faggottreeAmund said:
http://img.moonbuggy.org/ive-had-enough-of-this-******-tree/
me to if you're dim enough to not have noticed
You've just made my year.
good because I think I'm in love! FORUM LOVE!NaumWolf said:oh i suppose i canAmund said:Yah just did... can't yah be happee... for giving me a fagottree!NaumWolf said:hehe and why is that?Amund said:NaumWolf said:I have had enough of this faggottreeAmund said:
http://img.moonbuggy.org/ive-had-enough-of-this-******-tree/
me to if you're dim enough to not have noticed
You've just made my year.
haha forum love XDAmund said:good because I think I'm in love! FORUM LOVE!NaumWolf said:oh i suppose i canAmund said:Yah just did... can't yah be happee... for giving me a fagottree!NaumWolf said:hehe and why is that?Amund said:NaumWolf said:I have had enough of this faggottreeAmund said:
http://img.moonbuggy.org/ive-had-enough-of-this-******-tree/
me to if you're dim enough to not have noticed
You've just made my year.