Poll: Do You Use the Word "Gay" as an Insult?

[Zero_ctrl]

Man, this thread is so gay.
Just kidding, I rarely use it.

 

[Dorian6]

An insult? Hell no. look at all the things the gays gave us

1. V-necks
2. Smart Cars
3. Secrets
4. Tanning Beds
5. The 1970's
6. Smoothies
7. Safe Words
8. Roller Blades
9. Weird Moments at Camp
10. Faux Hawks
11. Steam Rooms
12. Scarves
13. Sun-dried tomatoes (the gayest form of tomato ever)
14. Musical Theater
15. "Straight" Theater
16. The Song "We Are the Champions"
17. Doctor Horrible

You should all go out and thank the Gay community for all the awesome things it's contributed to society.

 

[Signa]

I'm seeing two schools of thought in this thread:

1) Saying something reinforces it as negative, and therefore should not be said at all

2) Saying something repeatedly dulls, mutes or subverts its meaning, therefore it should be said more so that no one will complain about it being non-PC.

I don't know if this insight will reach many people on the 9th page, but consider which group you are in when you start discussing, because it's the belief in one of those two "facts" that is driving the arguments.

 

[mjc0961]

I try not to, but I must confess that very rarely something so bizarre and shitty will happen that I find that my only words to describe the situation are "...That was totally gay."

But then I immediately feel bad about it.

 

[Madara XIII]

When I was younger I did use it as I didn't know any better. Stopped using it halfway through high school.

This still makes me chuckle occasionally though:

Hehehehe I still laughed.. Mainly because it can be inferred as

"Look those vampires are sparkling"

"wow that's stupid"

See? That's kinda how I see it at times.

So to you 'gay' is an insult synonymous with 'stupid'?

Not all the time, but to be used in certain contexts yes. Like saying an awful movie was gay and before you go off on some crazed tangent inferring that I have a problem with gay people then stop yourself there.

I grew up in a complete diverse part of my city where we had no trouble using certain words seeing as how people weren't so knee-jerkingly obnoxious about race, sexuality or gender.

I could see that you weren't particularly homophobic, but still applying negative connotations to the word 'gay' perpetuates intolerance, even indirectly. I know what you're doing, saying something is 'gay' is like saying it's 'weak' or it's 'poor', doesn't mean you dislike the physically or economically challenged but it still sends a message of belittlement.

It may to an extent, but that solely depends on your audience to which you're delivering it to. Say for instance you have gay friends who laugh at the idea that a failed stunt is considered gay.
But let's say you don't know the person, then you're treading some bad water. Some may argue that it's still wrong to do so and some will criticize and persecute you for it without stopping to assess the situation.
If it's your preference to not use that then that's you and if you're offended by it, then let people know without coming off too strong.
Honestly though, the way I see it is the more we analyze things the more asinine political correctness becomes.

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

yes. I commonly refer to my roommate as "queermosexual" and a "a whole damn box of gay".

Actually viewing someone's sexual orientation as something to insult them is idiotic and is behavior to be discouraged.

Then again, even being bi myself, sometimes things can be way too gay to be comfortable.

Like FFVII's Group Room.

*shudder*

 

[Amethyst Wind]

When I was younger I did use it as I didn't know any better. Stopped using it halfway through high school.

This still makes me chuckle occasionally though:

Hehehehe I still laughed.. Mainly because it can be inferred as

"Look those vampires are sparkling"

"wow that's stupid"

See? That's kinda how I see it at times.

So to you 'gay' is an insult synonymous with 'stupid'?

Not all the time, but to be used in certain contexts yes. Like saying an awful movie was gay and before you go off on some crazed tangent inferring that I have a problem with gay people then stop yourself there.

I grew up in a complete diverse part of my city where we had no trouble using certain words seeing as how people weren't so knee-jerkingly obnoxious about race, sexuality or gender.

I could see that you weren't particularly homophobic, but still applying negative connotations to the word 'gay' perpetuates intolerance, even indirectly. I know what you're doing, saying something is 'gay' is like saying it's 'weak' or it's 'poor', doesn't mean you dislike the physically or economically challenged but it still sends a message of belittlement.

It may to an extent, but that solely depends on your audience to which you're delivering it to. Say for instance you have gay friends who laugh at the idea that a failed stunt is considered gay.
But let's say you don't know the person, then you're treading some bad water. Some may argue that it's still wrong to do so and some will criticize and persecute you for it without stopping to assess the situation.
If it's your preference to not use that then that's you and if you're offended by it, then let people know without coming off too strong.
Honestly though, the way I see it is the more we analyze things the more asinine political correctness becomes.

To be honest, I caught a bit of that last sentence in my own post, I started thinking "ffs, where does it end?" I have as much problem with political correctness gone mad as I do with dumbass-based intolerance. A balance must be struck!

My personal preference is to stick to words that are by-definition bad. Nobody reacts well to being told that they are 'inadequate', or saying to a would-be comedian that 'you're trying hard but you're just not that funny'.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

I prefer to think of it this way:

You're acting like a moron. "Dude, quit being gay."
Your sexual orientation is homosexual. "Oh, so you're Gay? Huh, cool. Anyway-"

Honestly, this is the same discussion as the retarded one. Both are sad. Both lack the capacity to understand that words change and can, very easily (depending on society's usage), shift their meaning or even have dual meanings depending on the context in which they're used.

I'm not black. I don't care if you're black. I'm going to use the N-word here. Twice, no less. So, prepare yourselves.

This is the same thing as "******". "What's up, my ******?" Perfectly acceptable to a significant segment of the society that employs its usage in the context that it's being used in. "Get out of my store, ******," However, is someone being a racist fuck off.

Context, folks.

Personally, I believe that the only ones who are perpetuating the negative context of the words in question, as they relate to the sexual orientation and mental state of an individual, are the people who constantly draw attention to it.

Were it a direct and personal attack on a homosexual or mentally retarded person, then you'd have a case for ceasing the usage of the words. However! If I were using the terms in question in the presence of people who found it offensive (If they were Gay or Mentally Retarded) then I'd probably cease and desist just as a courtesy.

*Breath*

So yes. It's usage in the harmless contexts are fine with me. The discussion has little to do with someone's intellectual capacity, background, or raising. The fact that so many people in here default to that is a little telling and disappointing.

 

[thom_cat_]

Never.
I use the word "Ghey", there is a difference

(are you trying to be funny or sardonic or something?)


That's like you labelling someone you think ripped you off, as a: "Jeuw"

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ghey

You don't get it. I'm not using it as an insult or in any condition that is insulting homosexuals.
Your example actually relates to a stereotype, whereas mine isn't connected to the original term.

 

[Madara XIII]

When I was younger I did use it as I didn't know any better. Stopped using it halfway through high school.

This still makes me chuckle occasionally though:

Hehehehe I still laughed.. Mainly because it can be inferred as

"Look those vampires are sparkling"

"wow that's stupid"

See? That's kinda how I see it at times.

So to you 'gay' is an insult synonymous with 'stupid'?

Not all the time, but to be used in certain contexts yes. Like saying an awful movie was gay and before you go off on some crazed tangent inferring that I have a problem with gay people then stop yourself there.

I grew up in a complete diverse part of my city where we had no trouble using certain words seeing as how people weren't so knee-jerkingly obnoxious about race, sexuality or gender.

I could see that you weren't particularly homophobic, but still applying negative connotations to the word 'gay' perpetuates intolerance, even indirectly. I know what you're doing, saying something is 'gay' is like saying it's 'weak' or it's 'poor', doesn't mean you dislike the physically or economically challenged but it still sends a message of belittlement.

It may to an extent, but that solely depends on your audience to which you're delivering it to. Say for instance you have gay friends who laugh at the idea that a failed stunt is considered gay.
But let's say you don't know the person, then you're treading some bad water. Some may argue that it's still wrong to do so and some will criticize and persecute you for it without stopping to assess the situation.
If it's your preference to not use that then that's you and if you're offended by it, then let people know without coming off too strong.
Honestly though, the way I see it is the more we analyze things the more asinine political correctness becomes.

To be honest, I caught a bit of that last sentence in my own post, I started thinking "ffs, where does it end?" I have as much problem with political correctness gone mad as I do with dumbass-based intolerance. A balance must be struck!

My personal preference is to stick to words that are by-definition bad. Nobody reacts well to being told that they are 'inadequate', or saying to a would-be comedian that 'you're trying hard but you're just not that funny'.

Indeed, Well it's ok that you feel that way. No harm no foul. It just depends on how frequently society uses that word for that specific meaning.
Quoting an old politician, "I remember back when a Screw was a Screw and the only thing that blew was the wind"
Well I think we can come to a mutual agreement. Truce?

 

[PayneTrayne]

I picked up the habit before I picked up respect, trying to squash it out now.

 

[-Samurai-]

I don't use it as a serious insult. I use it the way most people who grew up in my time do; As either a joke between friends, or as a way to show distaste with something.

Random grenade? That was gay. Guy camping in the corner? Gay. Guy camping in the corner with an overpowered weapon? Fucking gay.

I probably won't stop. When used like that, it has nothing to do with homosexuality.

 

[Fronken]

Rarely, but only because it slips out. The problem with using it so much when I was a stupid kid is that the habit lingers.

Same problem here, i used to be quite homophobic in my youth, so i used terms having to do with sexual preferences as insults and bad words, though now when i'm a bit older, and alot more mature, i really dont see how ones sexual preference has anything to do with anything really, it just isnt relevant in most situations.

 

[mikespoff]

It's always struck me as a particularly inane insult. So no, I don't.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

When I was younger I did use it as I didn't know any better. Stopped using it halfway through high school.

This still makes me chuckle occasionally though:

Hehehehe I still laughed.. Mainly because it can be inferred as

"Look those vampires are sparkling"

"wow that's stupid"

See? That's kinda how I see it at times.

So to you 'gay' is an insult synonymous with 'stupid'?

Not all the time, but to be used in certain contexts yes. Like saying an awful movie was gay and before you go off on some crazed tangent inferring that I have a problem with gay people then stop yourself there.

I grew up in a complete diverse part of my city where we had no trouble using certain words seeing as how people weren't so knee-jerkingly obnoxious about race, sexuality or gender.

I could see that you weren't particularly homophobic, but still applying negative connotations to the word 'gay' perpetuates intolerance, even indirectly. I know what you're doing, saying something is 'gay' is like saying it's 'weak' or it's 'poor', doesn't mean you dislike the physically or economically challenged but it still sends a message of belittlement.

It may to an extent, but that solely depends on your audience to which you're delivering it to. Say for instance you have gay friends who laugh at the idea that a failed stunt is considered gay.
But let's say you don't know the person, then you're treading some bad water. Some may argue that it's still wrong to do so and some will criticize and persecute you for it without stopping to assess the situation.
If it's your preference to not use that then that's you and if you're offended by it, then let people know without coming off too strong.
Honestly though, the way I see it is the more we analyze things the more asinine political correctness becomes.

To be honest, I caught a bit of that last sentence in my own post, I started thinking "ffs, where does it end?" I have as much problem with political correctness gone mad as I do with dumbass-based intolerance. A balance must be struck!

My personal preference is to stick to words that are by-definition bad. Nobody reacts well to being told that they are 'inadequate', or saying to a would-be comedian that 'you're trying hard but you're just not that funny'.

Indeed, Well it's ok that you feel that way. No harm no foul. It just depends on how frequently society uses that word for that specific meaning.
Quoting an old politician, "I remember back when a Screw was a Screw and the only thing that blew was the wind"
Well I think we can come to a mutual agreement. Truce?

Truce? Were we fighting? I thought this was an amicable exchange of ideas. We've reached a satisfactory outcome to the discussion, didn't think there was any of 'teh angriez' with our exchange. But yeah, sure, truce.

 

[vento 231]

Yes, so does everyone else at my school.

 

[AgDr_ODST]

In the past I've laughed as I've said to my friends 'nigga you gay' but thats it.

 

[Wintermoot]

no, why should I use a sexual orientation as a curse word?

 

[WolfThomas]

Not often, in fact I usually call people homophobes when they use the word gay incorrectly, for example if they use gay as a synonym for crap, like that test was so gay. Not really because I believe that, just because it's fun to see people backtrack after being called that.

But for example two guys in my dorm building who constantly wrestle/dry hump each other, chant about their penises and do other homoerotic stuff, I think it's fair to jokingly say "you guys are so gay for each other".