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

[Brandon237]

Nein, Nevar.
Or not yet anyway, but no.

I am civilised and it isn't a huge insult either, why would saying someone is happy be insulting?

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Although I don't associate gays with "bad", I'll occasionally use it if I'm upset by something, i.e. "That's so fucking gay!". I not that proud of it, but I generally don't use it at all. I know that I've used it but I rarely do. I usually go for the classics; "Fuck!", "Shit-fuck!", "God-Fucking-Damn-It!", "Fucking-Hell!", "That's so god-fucking annoying" and the like.

 

[Megamann]

Totally!
When I was five.

 

[Charli]

More usually as an exclamation.

The problem is while most people equate it to insult then instantly make that leap to translate it into "Homosexual". If someone catches me using it (someone I am not used to) makes the silly assumption that what is going through my head is something akin to this:


" MAN THAT IS SO HOMOSEXUAL. BLARRRGHHH "

When really what I mean when I say: "Man that is so gay. Blaaargghhh"

Is more "GAD THIS SUCKS AND SAYING GAY IS JUST SO MUCH MORE EASY. HURRAY FUN 3 LETTER WORDS"

...This holds true for a vast percentage of the population, those that insult using Gay a derogatory term usually make their stance very clear rather than just shooting their mouth off with the word at ordinary daily misfortunes.

 

[Megamann]

How did the word for creative or happy turn into homosexuality anyway?

 

[Zechnophobe]

You have just destroyed ANY joke that relies on a difference between parts of humanity.

Oh crap, you are correct, racist jokes would fall into that category! How ever shall we cope!

What you've also done is accentuate the differences in any minority, so that they receive favourable protection in regards to the majority.

Knock on effect? You've just delineated, and accelerated the degree to which they are prejudiced against.

For example, using your rubric.

"Don't be so special."


I can easily use that to imply that you are mentally retarded. (Oh, and if you think gay is offensive, take a look at how many times retard is used in this thread alone) But there's actually nothing wrong with that word, it's just been co-opted as an insult.


As has gay.

The huge different here, is that when you call someone retarded, you mean just that. They are acting slow or in a mentally deficient way. That's how the word is used. People with mental retardation also often have those problems.

When you call something gay, you are not referring to it being happy or garish, nor are you referring to it liking to have sex with something of the same sex. If you were, that would actually be a completely valid use of the word.

 

[Orsoeus]

Ill be the only man here and admit i do. But only because its a habit from when i was a kid, which isnt really my fault. It just slips out. I personally believe it shouldnt be an insult, and its not wrong to be gay at all. Its just a lingering habit in society.

 

[MassiveGeek]

I sometimes use the word, but it isn't intended to be an insult in the first place.

 

[Peteron]

Eh, I rarely do. I have a gay relative, so I understand what they have to go through. It doesn't matter to me whether people do or not. I call some people fags though, but normally by the South Park definition of course (Annoying Harley Davidson Riders)! And only with my friends, I really don't enjoy arguing seriously with others. Gay is really an 'insult' that is dying down luckily, because it has been overused to the point were people normally aren't insulted by it. People should be more mature when it comes to another's sexuality.

 

[Doitpow]

yes...I wish I didn't, I think it's quite disgusting really.
The short, curt sound of it makes it aurally appropriate, that and I had it ground into me in every school and university i've been to.

If it helps, I feel bad every time.

 

[Layzor]

I think it's funny to insinuate that somebody likes willies in thier bum.

 

[MoeTheMonk]

I actually use 'gay' as an insult quite alot. When I was growing up in school, that was the #1 insult, and thus it's been ingrained within me. I don't see anything wrong with it, it's just like any other insult. Homosexuals have and are still seen as weird by lots of people, so it makes sense that many people use it as an insult.

 

[The Man With the Soap]

It doesn't seem very insulting to call someone "happy."

 

[Cameron Sours]

It doesn't seem very insulting to call someone "happy."

No, but it does seem pretty gay. (This is irony. If you don't get it go ahead and ban me.)

 

[thom_cat_]

...to dodge the issue that you are a cowardly homophobic bigot. Dismiss me as a troll if you will, anything that keeps up your fantasy that you can continue with your bigotry and hypocrisy.

Yes, a homophobic bigot who created this:
http://flufflesthepancake.deviantart.com/art/LGBTEMAN-183400261
is a part of this:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gay-Marriage-Rights-in-Australia/91345705515
and this:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114009421964480
I follow:
http://i-am-the-lighthouse.tumblr.com/
Who isn't only fighting for feminism but also LGBT rights as well.
I've signed many petitions and have rallied in the city. Also as I've said I'm good friends with at least 5 gay people.
On a personal level I have nothing against homosexuality and I support equality highly, as long as I don't have to hear about their bedroom exploits it's perfectly fine by me.
Read the top of one of my blog posts:
http://fluffles.bigbighuge.com/?p=715
Yep, completely bigoted.
Seriously, if you don't know me you can't go around saying I'm a hypocritical homophobic bigot.

It isn't really fair to compare me to the same people who drove the teenagers to suicide. Those people are the real bullies, and your steaming hatred is better directed at them then at me. If I said something to a friend and it hurt them I would apologise and not say it again, I keep my 'bad taste' jokes to myself unless I've known someone for awhile and I don't say any harsh swear words in front of strangers.

I think his problem might be that he can't take a joke? D:

 

[SixWingedAsura]

If you call something "gay" around me and you aren't refering to a homosexual male, I will automatically place you under my "utter and complete f**king moron," list.

 

[zen5887]

I think his problem might be that he can't take a joke? D:

This a pretty big problem that a lot of people have

 

[DarkenedWolfEye]

See, to me 'gay' meant something along the lines of 'lame' or 'stupid' before it ever referred to homosexuals. It was an insult first; for some reason, it came to mean 'homosexual'. I'm not going to stop using it as an insult just because some idiot decided that now it means a type of sexuality for some pointless reason. I use it both ways; people are supposed to be able to infer from context how I'm using it. For example, I'm not homophobic if I say "What, fifteen year olds aren't allowed to play violent games? That's so fucking gay."
It's like saying 'retarded'. That means 'superlative form of the word stupid'. Just because there's a mental syndrome that some jerk decided was now called 'retard', I'm not going to stop using it.

 

[beema]

Yeah, I do. I try not to, but it was just something that was so pervasive growing up during middle school and such that it's sort of become ingrained in my vocabulary. I've got plenty of gay friends who don't seem to mind though, and who say it themselves. As long as it's appropriate and you don't use it in excess, and the people you use it around know you're not really a bigot or something, it's not a huge deal I feel like.