Your view on the term "gay"

[iKriiTiKaL]

I personally use it sometimes, not too much, just out of everyone around me using it and it kind of gets to be a habit.

However, I don't really think theres anything wrong with it personally, because people misconstrue it to be like walking up to a gay person and calling them gay, when really, it's nothing like that at all. I believe if your talking about something totally unrelated to a nearby homosexual person, and you use the term gay, and that person gets upset, there is not reason for them to be so mad. Its stupid. Its just them being oversensitive.

Anyways, thats my opinion. What do you guys think?

[Mask]

A close friend of mine who's a lesbian hates it when I say the word, but softened when I pointed it out that a song we both love has the word in it, but refers to its original meaning, which is "happily excited : merry <in a gay mood> b: keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits <a bird's gay spring song>."

Although I don't use the word much, myself anymore.

[iKriiTiKaL]

Yeah I've started using it less and less, mostly because stupid people around me gay or straight would get upset, although I don't find it very derogatory myself.

[Sweet_Surrender]

im lesbian and i have noooooo problem with the word, call me a dirty lesbo etc etc i dont really care doesnt bother me, but i do have some friends and even family members who get bothered by it even tho they are straight..
my dad who is gay also gets bothered by it

when i use it, for me its a replacement of , stupid dumb retarded lame etc..
but i dont really use it alot anymore compared to when i was younger...

[PMS Wrath]

i agree with sweet, same things apply.

[iKriiTiKaL]

when i use it, for me its a replacement of , stupid dumb retarded lame etc..
but i dont really use it alot anymore compared to when i was younger...

Exactly.. Makes no sense when people get upset about it.

And of course no offense to anybody on this site who is gay/bi/lesbian. But just think about it, there really is no reason to get upset over it right? Or if there is, please share your views, I for one would like to see it from a gay person's standpoint.

[SHADOWoFPURITY]

just like i have mentioned about the term "girl gamer", i cant stand discrimination. just cuz u live your life a certain way doesnt make u a bad person, guy/gurl, straight/gay/bi/lez who cares we al play games we all enjoy laughing and kicking butt and being happy so why let others aka haterz ruin that for us?

[H2O Triceology]

to me it mean u either like same sex nothin else i dont usally like gays but as i got other i grew up and said it dosent bother me anymore i know im straight and as long as dude not hitting on me we be cool that it

it took time know that it dosent bother me now

[H2O Triceology]

anyway i had friend that didnt know was gay and took me awhile to figure out and now my bro is too so yea i see nothing wrong wit it just dont try bring on me

[ckygirlie898]

i dont think theres anything wrong with the word haha lol i member chris croaker posted a youtube video and he said "thats so gay" should be changed to " that is soo straight" lol so now thats what i say hahahahah ;)

[fraylimon]

Gay!

[H2O Snap]

I personally use it sometimes, not too much, just out of everyone around me using it and it kind of gets to be a habit.

However, I don't really think theres anything wrong with it personally, because people misconstrue it to be like walking up to a gay person and calling them gay, when really, it's nothing like that at all. I believe if your talking about something totally unrelated to a nearby homosexual person, and you use the term gay, and that person gets upset, there is not reason for them to be so mad. Its stupid. Its just them being oversensitive.

Anyways, thats my opinion. What do you guys think?

No offense, but this mindset really gets under my skin. It reminds of an idiotic phase my nephew went through when he thought it was fine to use the n-word just because "black people use it."

At it's most basic level, speech is simply noise generated from exhalations of air, formed into specific sounds by formation of tongues, lips and teeth. In a completely logical world, nobody would be offended by such noise at it's most basic level, since it's just noise.

But in the real world, words have power. They can make us laugh or cry, they can inspire generations or tear nations apart. Language is the most significant, driving element of society. It is the conveyance for how humans express their humanity.

When you use the word "gay" as a negative expression, even if it doesn't have any relation (in your mind) to homosexuality, you're taking the word as your own and either ignoring it's historical and cultural significance, or implicitly saying that it's irrelevant. "Gay" is a term that many homosexual people use to define themselves. The word has power; it is significant. It effectively binds a subset of the population that has and still does suffer abuse and ostracization from mainstream society.

A gay (or even straight) person that takes offense at such callous use of it may not be doing so because they think you're homophobic; they're doing it because using the word in that manner shows ignorance or disrespect for it's historical significance and for the people who identify themselves by it, and to say that taking offense is "stupid," is essentially saying that the insulted person should ignore what the word means to them, all their history and experience with it, because you want to use it differently, when you could just substitute one of a hundred other words in it's place to say the same thing. Sorry, that rationale doesn't hold water.

A homosexual friend of mine has lived through a lot of history. He worked with Franklin Kameny and Barbara Gittings to root out homosexual discrimination in the U.S. government in the '60s, fought hard against Anita Bryant and Moral Majority in their crusade to repeal gay rights, and took part in the Harvey Milk rallies in San Francisco. He's been physically beaten and abused by police officers for no other reason than his cause and his sexuality. He sustained permanent nerve damage to his left eye following a beating that took place while he was in police custody, and now is 90% blind in it. Whenever he hears the term "gay" used as a negative expression, his usual response is a flippant "you mean fabulous?" but I've known the man long enough to realize that it still stings, and for a damned good reason. Don't suggest that it isn't a damned good reason, because he's been fighting for it longer than both of us have been alive.

[fraylimon]

I guess its all a matter of sensitivity. Im gay but i dont give two craps if someone uses that word in a negative way around me, as long as its not pointed at me. I guess ur friend had it pretty bad but thats the only reason he hates the word gay being used negatively. Dont get me wrong im all for defending freedom and rights, and i respect the people who fight to keep me safe, but i think it all comes down to sensitivity. We all say some things which would offend others. I really dont think we can be too careful how we use words...or well end up not talking at all.

[EWW]

i think it all depends on how you use the word

[fraylimon]

i think it all depends on how you use the word

Amen

[H2O Mexican]

I Sometimes Use The Word Like As In Like Dumb Or Sucks But I Don't Use It In A Offensive Matter.

[H2O Snap]

I guess its all a matter of sensitivity. Im gay but i dont give two craps if someone uses that word in a negative way around me, as long as its not pointed at me. I guess ur friend had it pretty bad but thats the only reason he hates the word gay being used negatively.

1. He's hardly alone.

2. You don't have to have his personal experience to find the word offensive. It's perfectly reasonable to be angry at injustice that happens to people that aren't you, even if you don't know them personally.

You don't feel anything direct about it, and that's great. It's actually progress, in a way. But a lot of people are sensitive to it for a good reason.

Dont get me wrong im all for defending freedom and rights, and i respect the people who fight to keep me safe, but i think it all comes down to sensitivity. We all say some things which would offend others. I really dont think we can be too careful how we use words...or well end up not talking at all.

I think people should be careful about how they use words and how they express themselves, and not just because of the possibility it might offend someone. What you say and how you say it defines to other people who you are. Why wouldn't you exercise some care with it?

In any case, it isn't about sensitivity, and it isn't about "political correctness," a term I hate because there's nothing "political" about consideration for others. It's about respect for other people's own feelings and experiences, which are much stronger than someone's need to use a particular word in a negative manner when any number of other words will suffice. Rearrange your vocabulary a little and your freedom of expression will continue unabated.

Thirty years ago it wasn't just okay to ridicule gay people, it was actually fashionable. Tack on a decade or two and you could say the same for minorities. A lot has changed (and a lot hasn't) but it didn't happen because people stood by and acted indifferent to callous behavior, even if the person doing it "didn't mean anything by it."

[SHADOWoFPURITY]

my view on gay ppl are the same for ppl in general, no matter how u feel about them, their out there so learn to live with em or ignore them cuz regardless of how u feel bout them and regardless of how much u *****/praise about em, their still gonna be there.

Why cant ppl stop being so damn retarded and just accept other ppl for who they are and move on with their lives?

[Seatownstriker]

Well I don't use gay, that often in my speech. I learned at a young age just to accept everyone for who they are. We are all humans, we all have feelings. The sooner we learn to get along, the better.

[Visor2040]

Oh Snap! You're sooooooo gay.:mvboogie: (click me and the red button) (http://www.instantrimshot.com/)

I don't care how offended anyone is about a word, as long as it is not pointed at them they have no right to b¡tch about it.

Another dumb politically correct term is "Person of size" and it's used by fat women (and some over-sensitive fat men but mainly women, like on a 90% ratio). Why I hate it? Because everyone has "size", some people have a small size and some a big size but all of us have it.

As a very fat man I have no problem being called that, Fat. And as a Mexican I have no problem being called a beaner, I do being called a wetback but that is because I am in Mexico and the only time I've been in the US I entered legally so the term doesn't apply :p.

And yes, the n-word is OK to use (to me it is) specifically because black people use it. If it is soooooooooo offensive why don't they set up an example? So, it reminds them of all the negative things that happened to them when someone of another color says it but not when someone of their own does? That is and it will always be... bulls*clap*hit.

[SHADOWoFPURITY]

Oh Snap! You're sooooooo gay.:mvboogie: (click me and the red button) (http://www.instantrimshot.com/)

I don't care how offended anyone is about a word, as long as it is not pointed at them they have no right to b¡tch about it.

Another dumb politically correct term is "Person of size" and it's used by fat women (and some over-sensitive fat men but mainly women, like on a 90% ratio). Why I hate it? Because everyone has "size", some people have a small size and some a big size but all of us have it.

As a very fat man I have no problem being called that, Fat. And as a Mexican I have no problem being called a beaner, I do being called a wetback but that is because I am in Mexico and the only time I've been in the US I entered legally so the term doesn't apply :p.

And yes, the n-word is OK to use (to me it is) specifically because black people use it. If it is soooooooooo offensive why don't they set up an example? So, it reminds them of all the negative things that happened to them when someone of another color says it but not when someone of their own does? That is and it will always be... bulls*clap*hit.

because when black ppl say it, it doesnt have the same meaning as another race. We have our own culture for the word and dont believe others should use it, u dont like it hey thats u i personally dont care i say wat words i want and dont say the words i dont want to say. Simply as that, if u really cant stand for it then go beg someone to block me and hopefully that will put a smile on your face

[H2O Snap]

I don't care how offended anyone is about a word, as long as it is not pointed at them they have no right to b¡tch about it.

Sorry, but that's crap. If someone denigrates a friend of yours or someone you love, you're not going to defend them? Are you really that selfish? You don't have to be personally involved to take a stand against idiotic behavior.

And thankfully, a lot of people disagree with this "if it's not about me it doesn't matter" mindset, because we'd still be stuck in the Jim Crow era.

[Visor2040]

My friends happen to be very intelligent people and they don't let words get to them. And if they do get to them they can defend themselves way better that I could.

That applies to Mrs. Visor too :D.

Remember children: You have a right to free speech. Not a right to not be offended. :)

[H2O Snap]

My friends happen to be very intelligent people and they don't let words get to them. And if they do get to them they can defend themselves way better that I could.

That applies to Mrs. Visor too :D.

Remember children: You have a right to free speech. Not a right to not be offended. :)

First of all, whether or not your friends can defend themselves is beside the point; second, intelligence and apathy aren't the same thing.

And yes, actually, you do have a "right" to be offended or not offended or to feel or not feel any way about anything that you like, and to express that feeling. Freedom of speech includes the freedom to criticize when other people abuse that right.

You can just ignore whatever prejudice goes on around you, but that doesn't mean you're "too intelligent" to do so, it just means you don't care. Which is fine, the world is littered with people who don't care about such things. But if there's one thing in life that's certain, it's that nobody ever did anything significant by not giving a damn.

[Visor2040]

The only way you can actually abuse your freedom of speech is called "Defamation".

And you're right, I don't give a rats-ass about prejudice. Not personal prejudice anyway. Gay person not hired for a job because of their sexual orientation = wrong. Gay person being called names by someone else = wrong too. Gay person being offended by someone else's conversation and the use of the word gay = dumb.

I do give a damn about other issues they have. I actually supported the drive for civil unions here in Mexico City because that's something that should be, everyone should have the same rights as their neighbor. But I'm not going to stop saying "Argh! That was gay" because some person somewhere might be offended.

And people that verbally abuse someone should only be ignored, they don't deserve the attention they desire. If you want to get into a fight with an idiot you're free to do it tho. :mvcelebration:

[H2O Sonik]

It's all about context.

[H2O SaM]

I use the word all the time on a daily basis and always will.

To be honest, anyone who gets mad at me for using that word is not only dumb but is also a very insecure person who lacks the confidence to accept that the way I'm using the word is not related to them at all.

[PHiNiX]

How about we end this thread.......

[smerchant925]

yea i use it sometimes too but i do not discriminate....its a free country

[PMS Serenity]

Sonic is right when he says "it depends on the context" and although it is a free country, there are certain things you are not permitted to say. "Gay" is not one of them.
Basically it comes down to morals, such as if you mean it in a homosexual context; do you care if you hurt the person directed at? Was it meant in a derogatory manner? I personally, joke around but make sure it's not as a put down, I make sure they know I'm kidding around, whether it is true or not - then again, everyone is different. So in conclusion, it's up to the individual if they choose to use their manners, or disregard everything completely.

I agree with the ending of this thread haha it's just full of personal opinions, and like the saying goes...

opinions are like a-holes, everyone's got one!

<3

[x Panikku x]

I don't mind the word gay. It really depends on how the word is being used.
I can see why people get offended by it when people say it in a negative way but if its not used like that then i don't see a problem with it.

[Mindless]

Oh Snap! You're sooooooo gay.:mvboogie: (click me and the red button) (http://www.instantrimshot.com/)

I don't care how offended anyone is about a word, as long as it is not pointed at them they have no right to b¡tch about it.

Another dumb politically correct term is "Person of size" and it's used by fat women (and some over-sensitive fat men but mainly women, like on a 90% ratio). Why I hate it? Because everyone has "size", some people have a small size and some a big size but all of us have it.

As a very fat man I have no problem being called that, Fat. And as a Mexican I have no problem being called a beaner, I do being called a wetback but that is because I am in Mexico and the only time I've been in the US I entered legally so the term doesn't apply :p.

And yes, the n-word is OK to use (to me it is) specifically because black people use it. If it is soooooooooo offensive why don't they set up an example? So, it reminds them of all the negative things that happened to them when someone of another color says it but not when someone of their own does? That is and it will always be... bulls*clap*hit.

I am of Mexican descent. I don't get called beaner a lot but I got into boxing a while back ;). Anyway's to the topic I say that's gay sometimes I don't usually do it but the worst thing that someone could ever do to me was rickroll a dirty tape to me. NO JOKE that was gay.

We all have our differences that may make us stand out in society I know this one site if you were black they called you *Censored* Also on my own site for my own clan (Alive since 2006) if you're white you may be ridiculed etc but in the end we were bros it was like a family we got over it.

Religious people may call me the Antichrist because of my past. They may also say God made US ALL different a black president racial slurs may come and go but the world is changing people got to deal with it. I look forward to a female president when his second term comes up. Make history again. Why do people base people on Race/Color/Religion/Gender/Sexuality/Looks The list goes on.

Really what does it take for people to stop? I think you could say Respect. People may judge me because of my past. BUT since the free speech act/Whatever acts you guys got. People got a right to say what they feel. It doesn't make it right, but it also doesn't make it wrong.

PS: The actuality of it is you can sue for harassment if they do something like that repetitively.

PS: The N word was used in slavery. Blacks still have trouble getting over that but the Indian's I'm worried about almost nowhere in our history do we have them. They disappeared by an act of the US government. By some dude that was thought to have had his mother killed by Indians a boiling hatred a merged. No 20 dollar bills accepted at casinos because of him. Also whatever his name was (I truly forgot) He despised paper money and yet his face is on the 20 dollar bill. Indians are just now coming out of those reservations.

All the best,
Mocro