Is 'fag' really the worst insult on the Internet?

[Phasmal]

I don't like it when people call me a cigarette.

Hah, this.
My mother is a smoker and primarily uses the word fag for cigarettes, so it doesnt bother me being called it.
Plus I dont really get called it, I'm a girl so I get called sexist stuff instead. Its the way the world works, apparently.

 

[CMDDarkblade]

More importantly "gay" as a word for homosexuals was chosen specifically by homosexuals in the 1960's. Back then homosexuality was still considered a mental illness and the gay community wanted a word to define themselves besides "homosexual" which many thought was too clinical of a term and "queer" which was just plain offensive. So then picked a word that already was slang for sexual liberation: "gay". Because gay back then meant a care-free type of happiness or being merry and also being uninhibited in one's merry-making.

We chose "gay" to reference ourselves but like many terms used by minority groups, the majority has begun to use it as an insult. Which is a little irritating to say the least. "Fag" doesn't bother me that much and most likely I'll just laugh it off, but if someone calls me a "queer" I'm gonna punch them in the face right then and there.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

I view it as this... it's only an insult in you make it one. Most times if someone uses it on me I'll say something like "yeah, so?" and just ignore it. They tend to stop as it doesn't do anything.

Or you can turn it back on them, "for a straight dude you sure are keen to know if I like guys... hiding something?"

They hate it when you do that,..

 

[KingofallCosmos]

I think words like "pathetic" or "sad" can be far more hurtful, when properly used of course. Fag is probably something people say to friends nowadays anyway..

Also, autist seems to be replacing retard lately. I'm not bothered either way.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

More importantly "gay" as a word for homosexuals was chosen specifically by homosexuals in the 1960's. Back then homosexuality was still considered a mental illness and the gay community wanted a word to define themselves besides "homosexual" which many thought was too clinical of a term and "queer" which was just plain offensive. So then picked a word that already was slang for sexual liberation: "gay". Because gay back then meant a care-free type of happiness or being merry and also being uninhibited in one's merry-making.

We chose "gay" to reference ourselves but like many terms used by minority groups, the majority has begun to use it as an insult. Which is a little irritating to say the least. "Fag" doesn't bother me that much and most likely I'll just laugh it off, but if someone calls me a "queer" I'm gonna punch them in the face right then and there.

Except that queer is now used by a lot of people to define themselves because they don't fit into one of the other categories of LGBT society. Saying that someone is 'genderqueer' means that they don't fit or identify with either of the modern understandings of gender, which is different from being Transgender, in which one identifies as the opposite gender ascribed to their biological sex.

But, if someone were to say to me, "Fuck off, you queer." Yeah, I would punch them too.

 

[retyopy]

No. The most effective insult in the internet is "Glocktardian."

 

[MasterSerin]

Worst insult on the internet is refusing to pay attention to someone.

 

[Techno Squidgy]

I've was on 4chan for far too long so there's a wide variety of insults that no longer mean anything to me or my friends. Sometimes we forget that they still have meaning to other people which can be... awkward.

When we choose to insult each other we go for effect. If you haven't used at least 5 words in a single coherent insult you are doing it wrong. Also, when we talk to Americans we tend to forget that '****' is not an acceptable way of describing a close friend.

Still, the more outrageous and flamboyant your insult the more effective it is. as such, fag is a truly terrible insult. It doesn't even have any decent vocal punch!

 

[Korbo]

Coming from a furry: Not at all.

 

[The Funslinger]

No its not. Its silly and overused.
Not really much to add, so uh, trombones are neat I guess.

I was going to post that family guy bit where Peter goes "aw, I love the trombone!" and starts playing it, then throws it at the guy. Unfortunately I can't find it.

OT: No, but (probably due to homophobia in general and the mindset of the people who use it) hearing someone use the word "fag" or "******" in an offensive context makes my blood boil, and my... shall we say, "trick fist" act up.

 

[Robert Ewing]

No, it's used in ironic or humorous terms mostly. It's rare that it's used as an actual insult.

+ It has lots of other meanings.

 

[Brownie101]

Same as everyone here as said. It's completely ineffective and unoriginal.
Which is why, when I play TF2 on a trade server, I play it with my sarcastic, witty British friend. It's always insanely funny listening to people trying to tell him to "Shut up" because they don't want to hear what he's trading...On a trade server. About 5-10 minutes in, they usually leave because their entire argument pretty much degenerates into "Shut up, fag".

 

[The Funslinger]

I think words like "pathetic" or "sad" can be far more hurtful, when properly used of course. Fag is probably something people say to friends nowadays anyway..

Also, autist seems to be replacing retard lately. I'm not bothered either way.

Aw, yeah. Something about "pathetic" really comes off harsh to me. That said, the amount of venom I can put into it assures I only use it when I really mean it. I do have my rants...

Also, my friend Michael has a sort of voice he uses for Gimli/Gandalf impressions, and it's the same voice he uses when he sort of spits/snarls "pathetic!!!" at someone, which never really comes off offensive, just hilarious.

 

[Crazy]

No, basement dweller is the worst insult on the internet.

That an internet tough guy.

 

[FilipJPhry]

I've been called ****, fag, hacker, and my favorite: "****** With a Shotgun"

 

[The Funslinger]

No, it's used in ironic or humorous terms mostly. It's rare that it's used as an actual insult.

+ It has lots of other meanings.

That's true. I was once having a conversation with an American tourist who couldn't accept that "Keighley" is pronounced "Keith-lee" instead of "key-lee". I spent about ten minutes stating that it was because it was from the old Celtic tongue. After a while of him going in circles, he said "shut up you British ******!" to which I replied, in my most indignant British accent, "I say! You foul tongued rogue; I challenge you to fisticuffs! I'll give you a jolly good rogering. That'll teach you to call me a bundle of sticks!"

 

[lemonadeader]

Everytime someone calls me fag I laugh because fag also is slang for ciggarete in Britain and bread in france. The word fag is the most unoriginal and overused insult I have ever heard

Only in Britain can you bum a fag in the street in broad daylight and no-one bats an eyelid.

 

[hashtag]

I've been called ****, fag, hacker, and my favorite: "****** With a Shotgun"

I've been called a hacker too. It's actually pretty funny. His whole basis for it was that my PSN had an 'X' in it.

 

[Mista Stevo]

being English that word has so many definitions its just a pointless word and means nothing as an insult