[Discussion] "That's gay"

[Ldude]

How can it be a homophobic slur when the meaning of it used doesn't allude to homosexual people, nor does the word "gay" exclusively and solely mean "homosexual." It's just a connection that isn't really there, but people attempt to force their through misinterpretation and misunderstanding.

Because the use of "gay" to mean stupid originated from homophobia. Really this is more of a recent thing. It only started meaning stupid because of the association with homosexuality being considered wrong. But if you want more opinions on why this is harmful:

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And of course the connection is there! I've heard from some queer friends that they find this especially harmful because it suggests something inherently wrong with being gay.

 

[Punk Hazard]

Because the use of "gay" to mean stupid originated from homophobia. Really this is more of a recent thing. It only started meaning stupid because of the association with homosexuality being considered wrong. But if you want more opinions on why this is harmful:

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Words have the meaning we give it. Even if it has originated with homophobia, it no longer is used for homophobia. It's meaning has changed to not always include homosexuals.

Not all uses of the word "gay" is connected to homosexuals because we have decided so. We can decide to stop victimizing them and stop trying to establish a connection with "That's gay(lame)" and homosexuality.

 

[Ldude]

Words have the meaning we give it. Even if it has originated with homophobia, it no longer is used for homophobia. It's meaning has changed to not always include homosexuals.

But homophobia still is a problem and it is still used in that way. The meaning has not changed. It's only become broader, but no less hurtful.

 

[Crossroads]

Yeah, the word "gay" can also mean "joyous," but when used as an insult it's just a homophobic slur. I really don't understand why people need to make the association from "gay" to "stupid" and sincerely hope the word stops being used in this way.

Lets create a hypothetical situation:

It's sunday night and I'm playing Call of Duty with my brother. We make a bet, whoever gets the most kills doesn't have to do the dishes afterwards. So, game starts and there's this little 360 no scoping punk who won't get off my ass all game and my brother ends up getting more kills than I do. While I'm grumbling in the kitchen, holding up my end of the deal, I say:
"Ugh, this is so gay".

Do you think I'm trying to offend anyone's homosexual status? If you do, then this conversation is pointless. Riker, along with a few others have made some valid points on the topic. Lets take Douryoku's advice and:

Lighten up.​

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[Joker]

Wow, this is still going on? Just agree to disagree

 

[Ldude]

Lets create a hypothetical situation:

It's sunday night and I'm playing Call of Duty with my brother. We make a bet, whoever gets the most kills doen't have to do the dishes afterwards. So, game starts and there's this little 360 no scoping punk who won't get off my ass all game and my brother ends up getting more kills than I do. While I'm grumbling in the kitchen, holding up my end of the deal, I say:
"Ugh, this is so gay".

Do you think I'm trying to offend anyone's homosexual status? If you do, then this conversation is pointless. Riker, along with a few others have made some valid point on the topic. Lets take Douryoku's advice and:

​

If this scenario is true then I'd consider you unreasonably whiny. However, I don't have a problem with words really when they're not directed at someone to make them feel shittier. Nonetheless, you're defending the use of such words to complain about pointless things while there are other contexts where saying "GAY!" is not acceptable.

 

[Punk Hazard]

But homophobia still is a problem and it is still used in that way. The meaning has not changed. It's only become broader, but no less hurtful.

But my point is using the phrase "That's gay" isn't always homophobic. Eliminate the homophobic uses, but not all uses since not all uses is offensive.

 

[Crossroads]

If this scenario is true then I'd consider you unreasonably whiny. However, I don't have a problem with words really when they're not directed at someone to make them feel shittier. Nonetheless, you're defending the use of such words to complain about pointless things while there are other contexts where saying "GAY!" is not acceptable.

It's not true, but me being unreasonably whiny for saying something is "gay" doesn't make much sense at all.

@Bold, that's not the point of the thread. There are countless words that hold the different meanings in different situations, but saying gay in a situation where it replaces the word "stupid" isn't acceptable? Why is that exactly? Seems to me like people just want something else to complain about.​

 

[Ldude]

But my point is using the phrase "That's gay" isn't always homophobic. Eliminate the homophobic uses, but not all uses since not all uses is offensive.

"That's gay" is rooted in homophobia, even if the user does not mean it in the same context. Let me give you another example. We'll see if anyone has a different opinion:
One kid referring to his black friend as the n word. While he doesn't discriminate against his friend for his skin color and means it in a different context, would you still consider that harmful? Because it's the same situation of taking a word and claiming that it suddenly has a different meaning even though that's just an excuse to get away with using slurs because it's become a trendy part of your own modern vocabulary slang.

It's not true, but me being unreasonably whiny for saying something is "gay" doesn't make much sense at all.

@Bold, that's not the point of the thread. There are countless words that hold the different meanings in different situations, but saying gay in a situation where it replaces the word "stupid" isn't acceptable? Why is that exactly? Seems to me like people just want something else to complain about.​

It seems to me that people just want to be cool by using offensive words and claiming they're not offensive anymore. I could literally do the same thing with any offensive word and tell you I'm changing the definition of the word.

 

[Crossroads]

The "n" word ending in "r" and the "n" word ending in "a" have two different meanings according to the general community, it's not the same.​

It seems to me that people just want to be cool by using offensive words and claiming they're not offensive anymore. I could literally do the same thing with any offensive word and tell you I'm changing the definition of the word.

People trying to be "cool" or not still has nothing with the fact that people say the word gay on a daily basis with zero intention of offending anyone in the homosexual community. I actually have a homosexual family member who says the word gay in the "stupid" manner more than anyone else I know.​

 

[Ldude]

The "n" word ending in "r" and the "n" word ending in "a" have two different meanings according to the general community, it's not the same.​

We're talking about the second one then, which is literally just the same word spelled differently. A white kid refers to his black friend using this word. Do you consider that okay?

 

[The Work]

Is this a Gay Pride thread?

 

[Crossroads]

We're talking about the second one then, which is literally just the same word spelled differently. A white kid refers to his black friend using this word. Do you consider that okay?

That's the thing you're not understanding, they're not the same thing. I've witnessed people of pretty much every ethnicity say the "n" word (ending in a) to or around black people. I can tell you, at least where I'm from, they've never been upset.

I can tell you that they'll get upset when it ends with an "r", why? Who knows.. still doesn't change a thing.

Anyway, I'm done speaking about this topic. ​

 

[Punk Hazard]

That's the thing you're not understanding, they're not the same thing. I've witnessed people of pretty much every ethnicity say the "n" word (ending in a) to or around black people. I can tell you, at least where I'm from, they've never been upset.

I can tell you that they'll get upset when it ends with an "r", why? Who knows.. still doesn't change a thing.​

The "a" ending and "r" ending are the same thing. You know how many times me and my friends, us black folk, have said n***er?
N***er
******
******
******
******
******
Ain't no real difference, both mean the same shit, and both have lost their derogatory meanings but people just need to be victims.

Anyways, this thread is going south(HAHAHAHA GET IT?) fast, so I'm closing it.

 

[Ldude]

That's the thing you're not understanding, they're not the same thing. I've witnessed people of pretty much every ethnicity say the "n" word (ending in a) to or around black people. I can tell you, at least where I'm from, they've never been upset.

I can tell you that they'll get upset when it ends with an "r", why? Who knows.. still doesn't change a thing.​

And I've witnessed a lot of close queer friends get upset when they hear people use the word "gay" in negative contexts.
Defending the use of the word doesn't change a thing for them either.