Poll: The use of '******' in Yahtzee videos

[Thespian]

Personally, I hate the word ******, as I know how so many adolescents have been frightened to the core of their very being by it's usage. But that means nothing, if it wasn't "******" it would something else. Besides, that's all besides the point.
I'm gay, and I'm not the least bit offended if someone uses the word ******. But I am incredibly offended if someone uses it derisively towards a group of people with the intent to lessen their worth as people.

Personally, I take some amusement when it's used as a humourous way to point an immasculating trait of another ("What's all this faggotry?") but I think it sucks when it's used just to imply that something is gay, thus not as good as things that aren't gay.

Yahzee's usage of it has never really bothered me, especially since in his "Army of two" review he pointed out the fact that he uses too many gay jokes, and does so because it can make a cheap shot a bit funnier if you stick on the ol' gay label. I don't think Yahzee ever actually uses it implying that the fact that the person is a ****** is important, is because gay individuals are of less worth than others. Rather, it's used as a meaningless derogatory word.

 

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

I only find the term offensive if it is used to insult a gay person. However i think it's ok to use it as a regular insult.

 

[Terminal Blue]

It tells you I'm not retarded enough to totally miss the huge difference between the enslavement of an entire race throughout the western world and people being the victims of a bunch of ignorant red necks. Which BTW still applies to race as-well as homosexuality.

You know, many years after abolition, you could still be imprisoned or thrown into an asylum if you were outed as gay. There are libraries of medical books detailing homosexuality and how to treat it. Modern gender roles were created partly as a reaction to the association of certain types of behaviour with homosexuality in the 19th century.

Slavery was unforgivable, but don't play this shit down. The entire apparatus of the modern state has been mobilized to control, imprison and ultimately attempt to remove homosexuality. It's had a massive influence on our culture which still carries over today into almost every aspect of public life.

The stereotypes you are referring to aren't acts you dolt. They are usually gay men/women who have become famous because of their outlandish behaviour. No one does a stand up and acts like a gay man. Why would they when there are plenty of ridiculous people who are actually gay and willing to debase themselves for amusement.

So that's okay is it?

I mean.. gay people choose to play the role of little performing monkeys for a straight audience, so there's no need to ask why they feel the need to do that, or why straight people still find these ridiculous stereotypes so compelling that they'll still laugh at someone playing up to them?

Sorry, I think you're letting yourself off the hook a little prematurely there.

There are plenty of well respected gay icons in the UK and there are very few people left who are genuinely put off by homosexuality any-more.

You know, back when black people were first emerging onto the social stage, you'd often get white people talking enthusiastically about 'oh, there's this black doctor I've met and he's actually very intelligent and gentle', then congratulating themselves as their open mindedness.

Like blackness, gayness is something you succeed in spite of and fail because of, unless you're willing to go the aforementioned performing monkey route and conform to straight people's expectations of you. Ever notice that there are no openly gay people in sport (David Beckham doesn't count), or that most openly gay male singers have to be completely inoffensive, except of course the ones who are outed during their career, who then tend to completely ignore it and carry on pretending like they're straight.

You clearly don't understand the difference. Name the last time someone used the word '******' to insult someone who wasn't black? Now think back to the last time someone used the word 'fag' to insult someone who clearly isn't gay.

What.. so non-exclusivity makes it okay?

When someone uses fag to insult someone who isn't gay, nine times out of ten it's an insult to their masculinity or carries the underlying implication that they might be gay.

This is the actual difference between race and sexual orientation, you can't always tell a gay person by sight, hence the enduring and insidious cultural paranoia which you don't get with racism.

As far as I'm aware. Homosexuality is condemned only by yokels who are probably just wrestling with their own suppressed homosexuality. It's still prevalent in some areas. But I can tell you with all sincerity that it's something I rarely come across over here. And that's something my gay friends would agree with.

Do you never leave Soho or something?

Some random called me a fag about a week ago, and yes it was a reference to my perceived sexuality. We're talking London here, not Norwich where I've been beaten into a bloody pulp for the same reasons, or Liverpool, where a friend of mine had a brick thrown at their head.

I don't know what world you're living in, but hate-crime hasn't gone away. It might be getting better, but so is racism and that doesn't change the fact it's still not right.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

I only find the term offensive if it is used to insult a gay person. However i think it's ok to use it as a regular insult.

Either way, you're still insulting someone when you could be being nice to them.

I try to treat everyone with kindness and respect, even if they dislike me. Karma has been treating me pretty fine since I started taking that approach.

 

[101flyboy]

You're beginning to annoy me. You are either not reading what I'm saying properly or you're simply ignoring it's intent in a bid to seem intelligent.

Saying "gays weren't subjugated on quite as large a scale" says it all.

yes. It tells you I'm not retarded enough to totally miss the huge difference between the enslavement of an entire race throughout the western world and people being the victims of a bunch of ignorant red necks. Which BTW still applies to race as-well as homosexuality.

There is a massive difference between what gay people have been through and what black people went through. To say otherwise is moronic, to say the least.

What's interesting about that is, gay/lesbian folk have been discriminated against throughout modern history, and are still discriminated against. So, to me, that statement trivializes what the gay community has went and continues to go through. Secondly, your attitude is basically exactly my entire point, you don't put gay people on the same plane as other groups. So, you aren't going to have the same reaction when it comes to anti-gay slurs as you would with other groups.

Yes they have. I won't argue that. In-fact that is one of the point I bring up when arguing against organised religion. But it's still not equal to racial discrimination in slavery.

You don't hear many comedians literally saying "women are cunts". They'll work it into their script, of course. However, gay jokes are literally like, the top of the charts in terms of what/who to joke about. Movies, TV, comedy, everything. Gay men are reduce to basic stereotypes, they are all flamers, who act like and want to be women. Because people are INSECURE about homosexuality, they make jokes about it to lighten the situation, not realizing that instead, you are making a joke of the lives of individuals.

Are you joking? Do you actually watch stand up comedy? Or are you just creating a strawman from 50's sketches?

?However, gay jokes are literally like, the top of the charts in terms of what/who to joke about.?

Bullshit. Politics is where comedy has been heading. Gay jokes went out in the 80's. Very few people make jokes about being gay, gays or whatever else. That is a total strawman.

The stereotypes you are referring to aren't acts you dolt. They are usually gay men/women who have become famous because of their outlandish behaviour. No one does a stand up and acts like a gay man. Why would they when there are plenty of ridiculous people who are actually gay and willing to debase themselves for amusement.

I won't argue that 'some' people are insecure about homosexuality. But that is something I can hand on heart swear is generally contained within certain parts of America. There are plenty of well respected gay icons in the UK and there are very few people left who are genuinely put off by homosexuality any-more. At-least over hear.

Please refrain from pushing your baggage onto us. We really don't deserve it.

I'm not over-simplifying the issue, I don't think. ****** is an clear oppressive insult. ****** is also. ****** IS a clear oppressive insult. Oppressive=unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint. That's what ****** does, you are going out of your way to tell someone "hey, don't do that, you are being a ******." You don't call someone a ****** for the jokes, it's an OFFENSIVE term, meant to be OFFENSIVE, not all the time, but a good 80-90% of the time. ****** IS a loaded term, and what do most people think when using it? Unfit, weak, unmanly, bitchy etc. All stereotypes against gay men.

You clearly don't understand the difference. Name the last time someone used the word '******' to insult someone who wasn't black? Now think back to the last time someone used the word 'fag' to insult someone who clearly isn't gay.

'******' may originally have been used as an oppressive term, it's now not. '******' still is. There is a massive difference.

Just because ****** isn't just used against gay men, doesn't make it not an offensive word. All this means is that faggotry is universally condemned. And, in turn, homosexuality is condemned by a large portion of society. Gay is how people identify, how can anyone believe using how someone IDENTIFIES is a generic insult, will not be offensive to said person?

As far as I'm aware. Homosexuality is condemned only by yokels who are probably just wrestling with their own suppressed homosexuality. It's still prevalent in some areas. But I can tell you with all sincerity that it's something I rarely come across over here. And that's something my gay friends would agree with.

Well, you are likewise pissing me off. Because of your density.

1)For you to say "there is a massive difference between what gay people have been through and what black people went through" is actually moronic. And offensive. And completely disrespectful.

Discrimination is discrimination. It doesn't have degrees of severity. There isn't any "equal" or "less valid" discrimination. It's all WRONG.

And really, is there a major difference between being enslaved as a group, and then just outright being sought for and KILLED? Throughout history, and up through today's times? I don't really think so. But, that's beside the point. Because, there aren't any comparisons here being made. There isn't any competition being made. Wrong is wrong. I can't believe you would even go as far as to essentially say "their issue is less important because they haven't really been through it tough." That's just really fucking wrong.


2)There are no gay jokes anymore, huh? They may have declined in stature, but they still exist. Yeah...................heard of the movie The Dilemma? That movie went as far as saying (paraphrasing) "That's a gay car, no real men would ever drive such an unmanly, girly car." Did you not know of that entire firestorm? Ron Howard directed the movie, and kept the line in the script, and most people approved of this. It is STILL OK to use gay people as a punching bag, the only difference is that there are consequences for it, the way things should be.

To say comedians "don't act like gay men", I never said that. I said many use gay men in their acts as punchlines. And you say that's because some gay men debase themselves to be famous, and act outlandish and ridiculous. Yeah...............right. Who are those gay men, again? Neil Patrick Harris? Stephen Fry? Or is it just a stereotype and assumption that all gay men are flamboyant queens. Just yesterday I heard jokes made about Rosie O'Donnell. Why are gay/lesbian people still defined by their sexuality? That's the reality of the situation. Gay is still GAY!!!!11!!! to a lot of people. And that gay people are USED for the enjoyment of heterosexuals.

There is still homophobia in the UK. Insecurity of homosexuality is a personal thing, that is exacerbated by society, but not the sole cause of it. Gay/lesbian relationships are still classified as civil partnerships, and not marriage.

3)Are you serious in thinking ****** is not used against white people? Don't act like a ******. Don't hang with niggers. Don't be a ******. It's even implied with WIGGER, meaning, a white ******, which is a pretty popular term. I see this on YOUTUBE all the time. Wigger/****** are used by kids a lot. I live in southern USA, Richmond Virginia, capital of the confederacy. ****** isn't even necessary used against black individuals anymore in the way you think it is. It's basically used as an act. Don't ACT like a ******. That is the same thing with ******. Don't BE a ******, don't act like a ******. It's the same shit. But, you do live in the UK, so these terms and the way they are used may be foreign to you. It's a reality, it isn't a myth being blown out of proportion.

4)The UK is one of the best and really only places in the world where LGBT citizens have equality and are generally free from discrimination and hatred. But even there, there is still discrimination. It still exists. Homophobia is extremely prevalent worldwide. Most countries do not grant full equality to LGBT citizens. Most people are homophobic due to sexuality issues, or because of brainwashing, usually from those with sexuality issues. Something like 72 countries have policies against homosexuality.

Homophobia is real. And you don't do any favors in preventing it, and making the world a better place for your gay friends and LGBT citizens worldwide, by trivializing the depths of it.

 

[mr_rubino]

In my experience the word "******" can equally be referring to a homosexual or to a person who lacks manliness.

*facepalm* Because those two meanings are joined at the hip or anything.
Honestly, this is what I'm talking about. If someone can say this with a straight face, that's probably a good indication of why people are constantly asking "Can I say the word yet? Can I? Can I? Can I? Pleeeeease?"

 

[101flyboy]

I'm bisexual and I don't give a fuck.
IT'S JUST A WORD, GET OVER YOURSELVES.

It's more than just a word. Words have meaning. People are judged, most of the time, by their words. Words many times are the one thing we have to explain ourselves or describe particular situations. Without words, what exactly do we have? Fists, but just aimlessly punching someone doesn't have nearly the same power as calling them a ****** while you do it. Facial expressions, but even then, that becomes much more powerful with words attached to them. So no, it's not just a word. It's a reflection of the world.

 

[101flyboy]

In my experience the word "******" can equally be referring to a homosexual or to a person who lacks manliness.

*facepalm* Because those two meanings are joined at the hip or anything.
Honestly, this is what I'm talking about. If someone can say this with a straight face, that's probably a good indication of why people are constantly asking "Can I say the word yet? Can I? Can I? Can I? Pleeeeease?"

I know, it's just shocking to me how little some people...............just get it.

Anyway, to explain to those that don't, and have said "****** is generally used to denote a lack of manliness", that is the ENTIRE point. That faggots lack manliness. Faggots aren't real men. They're bitches. They're poofs. This is ALL connected to gay men. When that's so gay is used to mean lame, stupid, and weak. That is ALL connected to gay men, and that being gay is stupid or lame (ie. mentally disordered/challenged).

It's like many people here don't even recognize just how much homophobia exists. Many of you may have your hearts in the right place, but have become numb to homophobia and therefore are ignorant in understanding the depths of it.

 

[Nemesis729]

Its just a word

 

[101flyboy]

make people aware that fag is not a gay-bashing slur anymore.

But is is a gay-bashing slur, and it will be for a very, very long time.

Certainly with that attitude it will be. If you and everyone else keep telling people that it is then it will continue to be that way for a long time.

I guess for the simplicity of my argument imagine the following situation. A boy plays an online game and hears the word fag, and asks his father what the word means. If the father tells him that it is a word that people use to make fun of homosexuals, the slur is perpetuated due to its use being preserved in the next generation. However, if the father tells the boy that the word is used to describe someone who is acting mean, then the word evolves into its new use, and the boy can be part of the next generation, the one I have been trying to describe, that will remove the anti-gay context of the word fag all together.

I wish to be part of that generation, the one that removes the anti-gay context from the slur. I know that this is a very complicated issue to wrap your heads around, and I don't mean that in a negative way, but we are the next generation people! We decide how the world works! Just as some generation before us decided to use the word to negatively describe gays we can choose to end that. We have a lot more power than we think we do, use it, don't deny it.

A cat isn't a dog, even if you decide to call the dog a cat. It's still a dog.

 

[Naheal]

A word or phrase is insulting because you believe it's insulting.

 

[geldonyetich]

There's not much that comes out of Yahtzee's mouth that isn't relatively lowbrow, to the point where the insensitivity of the term, "******" is just a lesser offense in the greater scheme.

For example, he seems to lean on fellatio like it's his favorite thing in the world, or perhaps a subtle confession to his fans about where the majority of his earnings go.

But I have to forgive him on the grounds that he does deliver a few solid laughs every episode, that's essentially what he's paid to do, and if musing what people will stick their dicks into (for example, him and his fans' collective eyesockets [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1569-Final-Fantasy-XIII]) is a tried-and-true tool in his bag of gags, who am I to criticize?

If he saw this thread, there's a chance he'd go out of his way to call people faggots even more, perhaps create a whole episode that will later be remembered as the ****** episode, because being deliberately offensive in the face of his critics is one of his prime characteristics.

 

[Lilani]

Yahtzee is like Family Guy. He'll take shots at everybody if he gets the chance. In the grand scheme of things, I highly doubt a game critic known for his swearing and usage of hyperbole will be considered highly detrimental to the progression of gay rights.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

I'm bisexual and I don't give a fuck.
IT'S JUST A WORD, GET OVER YOURSELVES.

It's more than just a word. Words have meaning. People are judged, most of the time, by their words. Words many times are the one thing we have to explain ourselves or describe particular situations. Without words, what exactly do we have? Fists, but just aimlessly punching someone doesn't have nearly the same power as calling them a ****** while you do it. Facial expressions, but even then, that becomes much more powerful with words attached to them. So no, it's not just a word. It's a reflection of the world.

Hey, I had my nasty coming out experience too man.
Then I got a bit older and realized people are going to be cunts to each other whether you like it or not. I decided to stop indulging these people and their pettiness.
No, I do not personally use the word ****** (however, I am quite fond of calling people niggers, my girlfriend is quite often the target of this one, she is whiter than I am, and I'm pretty damn white,) but it doesn't stop me from believing that I should be able to use it when and where I goddamn like.

Intention is everything. If I were to call you a "dumb ******" (which I wouldn't, I have no beef with you at all man, just to make that clear, I am all about the peace and love and harmony ultimately,) it would not be with some connotation of your sexuality, it's just a word that sounds cool. I use the word "fuck" liberally for the same reasons. You can say "BUT IT'S OFFENSIVE," but percieving it as such would simply be your choice. I care not for the words history or its commonly accepted meaning, whether it has been used to level entire civilizations or used to help paint the mona lisa. I use the word because I like how it sounds.
This is simply down to the individual. If you want ****** to stop being used offensively, then stop believing it's offensive, and it shall no longer be.

Or I could be totally wrong. But eh, don't make me get onto subjective reality, that's dangerous territory man. >;D

 

[DSK-]

Nope. I don't find it offensive if I use it or get called it.

 

[VashtaNerada]

I have a friend thats gay, and sometimes he cant help himself and he'll say "thats fucking gay" or call someone a ******...I find it funny...I could be wrong here..but I think its been used so much that its lost its value as an insult or being offensive...just another word

 

[Bloodstain]

No, not really. I only don't like the word if it's used in a hateful sense towards someone who's homosexual.

The word "******" or "fag" doesn't really come off as an insult towards gays anymore, rather just an insult towards someone in general like calling them a "dick" or something like that.

This.
By the way, people who are offended by that shouldn't ever, ever visit 4chan's /b/.

 

[101flyboy]

Well, you are likewise pissing me off. Because of your density.

1)For you to say "there is a massive difference between what gay people have been through and what black people went through" is actually moronic. And offensive. And completely disrespectful.

Discrimination is discrimination. It doesn't have degrees of severity. There isn't any "equal" or "less valid" discrimination. It's all WRONG.

And really, is there a major difference between being enslaved as a group, and then just outright being sought for and KILLED? Throughout history, and up through today's times? I don't really think so. But, that's beside the point. Because, there aren't any comparisons here being made. There isn't any competition being made. Wrong is wrong. I can't believe you would even go as far as to essentially say "their issue is less important because they haven't really been through it tough." That's just really fucking wrong.


2)There are no gay jokes anymore, huh? They may have declined in stature, but they still exist. Yeah...................heard of the movie The Dilemma? That movie went as far as saying (paraphrasing) "That's a gay car, no real men would ever drive such an unmanly, girly car." Did you not know of that entire firestorm? Ron Howard directed the movie, and kept the line in the script, and most people approved of this. It is STILL OK to use gay people as a punching bag, the only difference is that there are consequences for it, the way things should be.

To say comedians "don't act like gay men", I never said that. I said many use gay men in their acts as punchlines. And you say that's because some gay men debase themselves to be famous, and act outlandish and ridiculous. Yeah...............right. Who are those gay men, again? Neil Patrick Harris? Stephen Fry? Or is it just a stereotype and assumption that all gay men are flamboyant queens. Just yesterday I heard jokes made about Rosie O'Donnell. Why are gay/lesbian people still defined by their sexuality? That's the reality of the situation. Gay is still GAY!!!!11!!! to a lot of people.

There is still homophobia in the UK. Insecurity of homosexuality is a personal thing, that is exacerbated by society, but not the sole cause of it. Gay/lesbian relationships are still classified as civil partnerships, and not marriage.

3)Are you serious in thinking ****** is not used against white people? Don't act like a ******. Don't hang with niggers. Don't be a ******. It's even implied with WIGGER, meaning, a white ******, which is a pretty popular term. I see this on YOUTUBE all the time. Wigger/****** are used by kids a lot. I live in southern USA, Richmond Virginia, capital of the confederacy. ****** isn't even necessary used against black individuals anymore in the way you think it is. It's basically used as an act. Don't ACT like a ******. That is the same thing with ******. Don't BE a ******, don't act like a ******. It's the same shit. But, you do live in the UK, so these terms and the way they are used may be foreign to you. It's a reality, it isn't a myth being blown out of proportion.

4)The UK is one of the best and really only places in the world where LGBT citizens have equality and are generally free from discrimination and hatred. But even there, there is still discrimination. It still exists. Homophobia is extremely prevalent worldwide. Most countries do not grant full equality to LGBT citizens. Most people are homophobic due to sexuality issues, or because of brainwashing, usually from those with sexuality issues. Something like 72 countries have policies against homosexuality.

Homophobia is real. And you don't do any favors in preventing it, and making the world a better place for your gay friends and LGBT citizens worldwide, by trivializing the depths of it.

Eugh. Too much shit to sift through.

I'm going to simplify everything.

1)There is a massive difference. Argue all you want. Doesn't change anything, I'm not saying what happened to homosexuals is in anyway excusable. And I've already told you I have arguments with anyone who is in actual fact a homophobe. Saying ****** doesn't make you one I'm afraid.

2) I didn't say they don't exist. I said they aren't the 'go to' joke that you assume they are. Gay jokes are pretty much out of fashion now.

3) Fair enough. Not something I've ever come across. But it does sound like something that would be said. I still say there is the difference because they use it to imply black people are less than human. Most people who say fag don't imply anything to do with gayness. Just as a base insult.

4) The UK isn't the best. Yes intolerance still happens. But that's life. Humans are intolerant. Simple as. Doesn't excuse it. Although it does explain it. And there are plenty of countries far better than even the UK with acceptance of homosexuality. Scandinavian countries for example. It's pretty much a none issue in those.

1)I never said using the word ****** makes you a homophobe. It does make you insensitive if you use it, knowing the pain it causes gay men worldwide, and not caring. But, sorry, there isn't a "massive difference" other than a difference of EVENTS. In terms of discrimination, it's all wrong. There isn't any argument, and yes, you are implying that anti-gay discrimination is of less value because it's lesser discriminatory. Hate is hate, none of it is any worse or better than the rest.

2)Gay jokes are not out of fashion at all, not in my existence. There are fewer than before, but they still do continue. And gay/lesbian people are still mocked, with stereotypes of them used against them. The show "Modern Family" with the two extremely flamboyant gays are basically a running stereotype. Stereotypes against gay/lesbian people are used for heterosexual enjoyment. It's OK if it happens less; the fact it happens at all is the bigger issue.

3)Fag is used as a base insult because homosexuality is considered an insult to many.

4)The UK is really one of the best countries, not the best, but right up there. The Netherlands is generally considered the best, but that isn't true anymore, because of Muslims. Sweden, Finland, Denmark etc. are generally good, but not OVERLY gay accepting either. There isn't any country where homosexuality is really accepted. It's beyond tolerated, but it's not really accepted anywhere. Humans are intolerant, but that doesn't really explain. The problem is the threat/fear people feel of difference. That's learned. And we all need to do our part to change that.