Random Fail: First World Problems

[Jefe]

Nah, you're perma butthurt.

[Cream Soda]

I understand completely what you're saying, and I don't begrudge people the right to talk how they wish. But man, I've been called a faggot for holding my boyfriend's hand before - that was ten years ago, and it still smarts. I can still remember the feeling.

It's definitely a context thing.

A lot of people are hung up on the words themselves rather than the application of them. Me getting mad at someone in an online game and calling them faggot isn't even close to being the same as someone seeing you being affectionate w/ your bf and then calling you the same thing. I'd personally never use it in that context (outside of being provoked, but again that's not gay specific. If someone has me to the point where I'm throwing insults, I'm going to say w/e I feel is going to hurt you the worst, lol)

I'm not judging Xno or anyone. Please let me be clear on that. Just makes me sad that the word is so commonplace, even when it doesn't have anything to do with homosexuality.

This is it exactly. When I use the word, I'm not associating it with homosexuals or directing it towards them. When I see a gay person, it's not like "oh look at that faggot" When I see someone being an asshole, it's like "hey, fuck that faggot" lol

[dasva]

It's definitely a context thing.

This is why I didn't get hung up when he said like it's nothing. Because imo that's basically the time to use it. If you actually did mean something by is when it becomes a problem. Or at least mean it in the derogatory sense

It's like I'd never go up to someone I think was legit mentally handicapped and call them a retard except maybe if we were friends and messing around or some shit AND they knew it but call non mentally handicapped people tarded all the time.

[NynJa]

You're using "faggot" as if its a negative term meant to insult people implying that being gay is bad, which is where Yuri finds the problem.

[Byrthnoth]

I just found something terrible about my current fancy living location.

There are no good shitty American Chinese places in walking distance and I just got my once-a-decade General Tso's Chicken hankering.

[Yuri-G]

The fact that people say it like it's nothing is actually what interests me the most. Do you think when people say they feel gypped, they're secretly harboring racist tendencies toward the Romani people? Obviously not. And yet, that's where the word originally came from - it's a form of latent racism that survives through language. Same with calling some asshole a "faggot," or calling a man who doesn't live up to certain standards of masculinity a "bitch."


Language is fascinating. I'm over my initial moment of butthurt now, but I am definitely interested in the opinions people have been posting.

You're using "faggot" as if its a negative term meant to insult people implying that being gay is bad, which is where Yuri finds the problem.

YES. So much this! Thank you for getting it. I understand that no harm was meant though, and I don't mean to be the language police over here. Swear to god.

This is how I feel.

Haaaaaaaaaa I can't argue with that. Great episode.

Nah, you're perma butthurt.

Luv u 2 bby

It's definitely a context thing.

A lot of people are hung up on the words themselves rather than the application of them. Me getting mad at someone in an online game and calling them faggot isn't even close to being the same as someone seeing you being affectionate w/ your bf and then calling you the same thing. I'd personally never use it in that context (outside of being provoked, but again that's not gay specific. If someone has me to the point where I'm throwing insults, I'm going to say w/e I feel is going to hurt you the worst, lol)


This is it exactly. When I use the word, I'm not associating it with homosexuals or directing it towards them. When I see a gay person, it's not like "oh look at that faggot" When I see someone being an asshole, it's like "hey, fuck that faggot" lol

Yeah I totally get you. And I truly believe that if anyone on this board called someone a faggot as an intentional homosexual slur, they'd probably get the banhammer pretty quickly. This is a cool place; a good mix of respect for others and a relaxed attitude toward PC bullshit. And yeah, I did get hung up on the word rather than the meaning for a second - what can I say, I'm on my man period today.


Sorry if I triggered anyone who feels triggered by people being triggered. I mean that's just triggerception right there and it can't be good.

[Roranora]

I'm only triggered by triggered people triggering people.

[dasva]

You're using "faggot" as if its a negative term meant to insult people implying that being gay is bad, which is where Yuri finds the problem.

Think is one of those cases of offense is taken not given

[Yuri-G]

Think is one of those cases of offense is taken not given

Offense wasn't exactly taken. What NynJa means, and where I agree with him, is that the original use of the word "faggot" as a derogatory term for people - whether homosexual or not - came from the idea that being gay was bad. I think we can all agree on that. Now, the term has evolved, I absolutely agree. But it still has roots in that original connotation, and people still use it that way as well. Does that mean it's still offensive? Depends on your point of view, and on context. But no, I never thought for a minute that Xno meant to offend, or that he dislikes gay people, and yet I still was bothered by his use of the word. If that makes sense. If not, that's ok too, because I'm so over it lol

[Brill Weave]

Here's the thing. Regardless of context using faggot gets a time out. That's what was agreed upon and that's what is enforced. Until something different is agreed upon, expect time outs.

[Cream Soda]

stuff

Was that the legit original meaning? or was it like Nig where it was a word before it became a derogatory one?

[Yuri-G]

Here's the thing. Regardless of context using faggot gets a time out. That's what was agreed upon and that's what is enforced. Until something different is agreed upon, expect time outs.

Hopefully that wasn't because of me, because definitely not my intention.

Was that the legit original meaning? or was it like Nig where it was a word before it became a derogatory one?

I was not aware of that history behind the N-word, actually. What did it mean before? I know originally the f-word was a bundle of sticks, and I'm not sure quite where along the line it became a derogatory term for gays. I would have to get back to you on that, but it's probably worth looking into. Like I said - language is fascinating.

[Ksandra]

Was that the legit original meaning? or was it like Nig where it was a word before it became a derogatory one?

It meant a bundle of sticks used for a fire.

[Cream Soda]

Hopefully that wasn't because of me, because definitely not my intention.



I was not aware of that history behind the N-word, actually. What did it mean before? I know originally the f-word was a bundle of sticks, and I'm not sure quite where along the line it became a derogatory term for gays. I would have to get back to you on that, but it's probably worth looking into. Like I said - language is fascinating.

From Webster's website

The word was first included in a Merriam-Webster dictionary in 1864, at which time it was defined as a synonym of Negro, with a note indicating that it was used "in derision or depreciation."

[NynJa]

Is cuck an infractable word, or is that still open?

[Thunder]

that definition misses the point kind of

it became the abuse word we know today because some combination of these factors,

women would usually make meager livings selling firewood and people needed an abusive word for those faggots
bundles of sticks used for a fire are cumbersome, usually, so anything awkward, annoying, "cringy", etc is being a faggot

and eventually it became a term for non-masculine men because all derogatory stuff towards men 'not being men' is rooted in womenly things, queen, nancy, sissy, etc

I think that's the best origin for the word. Was absolutely not used to call gays burned at the stake faggots because they were "so low" on the totem poll that they were the kindling for actual social offenders like witches, or whatever. That's an urban myth that got a lot of steam thanks to that CK louis guy putting it in his TV show and having it in a commercial for it

[zoobernut]

The f-word is also used to refer to a cigarette I think currently in certain parts of the world. It also was used to reference a small burning piece of wood.

[Marootsoobutsu]

Hopefully that wasn't because of me, because definitely not my intention.



I was not aware of that history behind the N-word, actually. What did it mean before? I know originally the f-word was a bundle of sticks, and I'm not sure quite where along the line it became a derogatory term for gays. I would have to get back to you on that, but it's probably worth looking into. Like I said - language is fascinating.

I know that the Brits also used f- as a term for prep-school bullying... well, "f-ed". Was also a term for a cigarette.

My personal hypothesis for the transition is someone(s) making the "joke" that gays should just be burned.

Negro = Spanish and Portuguese for black. Its etymology isn't that hard to parse out

[Xantavia]

The fact that people say it like it's nothing is actually what interests me the most. Do you think when people say they feel gypped, they're secretly harboring racist tendencies toward the Romani people? Obviously not. And yet, that's where the word originally came from - it's a form of latent racism that survives through language. Same with calling some asshole a "faggot," or calling a man who doesn't live up to certain standards of masculinity a "bitch."

Isn't that a good thing though? The more it gets used to describe behavior instead of referring to a gay man helps it lose the hateful force. But if people are constantly told not to use it, it will retain its negative connotations.

[thetruepandagod]

#keepwordsoffensive