Question for the BG Gay community

[Rhinox]

How do you feel about the words "Gay" and "faggot" in the context of how its used in today's lexicon?

Are you offended when someone uses it as an Adjective?

I gotta be honest and say it was annoying to be preached by Anderson Cooper all week with his righteous indignation. I personally use it often but then again I also swear a lot which is probably due to a limited vocabulary. I do use it as a pejorative but not in the Homosexual sense.

It goes without being said that Bullying should be stop in all aspects. But I swear I almost tossed my fucking remote at the TV whenever AC was on.

[archibaldcrane]

I think it's hilarious that inarticulate people get so frustrated with things that all they can do is call inanimate objects, abstract concepts, animals, etc. homosexual.

[Rhinox]

Hey Archi does faggot still mean a bundle of sticks first and foremost in todays Lexicon?

[Ksandra]

Hey Archi does faggot still mean a bundle of sticks first and foremost in todays Lexicon?

I don't get what on earth this has to do with what Archi posted.

[Rhinox]

I don't get what on earth this has to do with what Archi posted.

Lurk moar

[EternityEnd]

I don't get offended, that's the wrong word. It's just really frustrating that people feel the need to render "gay" synonymous with something like "stupid."

It's not personally offensive in that I think people are attacking me when they use the word as an adjective—because I know they aren't, usually—but it really is irritating. Can people not find a word more suited to the task, or are their vocabularies so laughably limited? In my eyes, it's almost more of an insult to their intelligence than it is mine, since they're ignorant enough to use the word so carelessly.

What does offend me is when people use the word "gay" in reference to the various stereotypes surrounding gay people, as the majority of gay people are not like that at all. (Stereotypes exist to represent the vocal minority, not the silent majority, etc.) Now, stereotypical gay people aren't in any way inferior; however, to generalize gay people—or any minority—in such a manner is just silly and offensive. It imposes a limit on individuality to some extent, because when a gay guy is more masculine, they're accused of being "straight-acting." Straight-acting. This occurs in the "gay community" as well! I can't properly convey how angry that particular phrase makes me. The only thing "straight-acting" would really entail would be pretending you're attracted to the opposite sex, yet people seem to think anyone with a deep voice or "masculine" interests is acting straight. It's just absurd, and it's seriously a major problem with both gay and straight people—a problem which stems from ignorance.

Oh, and the word phrase "gay lifestyle." Don't even get me started on that—I actually wrote an essay on it not long ago. People really don't understand how to use that damn word.

[Natallon]

Using the word "gay" as synonymous to stupid doesn't really phase me. I guess I hear it so much that I just don't care anymore. My friends still apologize when they use it accidentally as if I'm going to punch them in the face or something.

faggot is another story. To me, that word has always had a strong negative connotation and while I've never actually been called a faggot to my face, if it happened I would take offense.

[Kuya]

You can probably make an argument with the word faggot, but when the word gay is used as synonymous with bad, it gets harder to justify that.

I don't think people who use the words faggot and gay negatively must believe homosexuals are bad or something, but people who do care about homosexuals try not to use the words with negative connotation, especially in front of people they think they might upset. It's really about whether you care about insulting gays. If you don't give a fuck about gays, by all means, yell faggot from the top of your lungs.

The least i've seen people do is not say the word gay or faggot in a negative sense in front of people who aren't close friends.

[Rhinox]

Fair enough.

I guess my Issue with the whole thing is being talked down on by some asshole on TV for using a commonly used word(wrong or right). It's the same with the word retarded.

I make an effort not to say words that might offend my friends but occasionally it slips.

[EternityEnd]

It's really not the same as using the word "retarded." Mental retardation is a very real thing, with real symptoms which relates to how people use it, even in a derogatory sense.

Being gay is simply not synonymous with being stupid, bad or retarded, and shouldn't be used in such a context, because it's silly.

[Kuya]

Using the word faggot when someone takes dicks up the butt or acts effeminate is more contextual.

[Rhinox]

What I meant was there is the same level on consternation over the word retarded. Not that they're interchangeable.

[Kwijiboe]

When I use the phrase 'that's gay,' what I really mean is 'that's wrong.'

So you see, there's no reason for people to get offended at all.

[Kuya]

Wait for the cream.

[archibaldcrane]

Hey Archi does faggot still mean a bundle of sticks first and foremost in todays Lexicon?

Eh, it's general enough these days to describe whatever you want to light on fire.

[EternityEnd]

I suppose that depends on what the definition of "faggot" actually is when used in a derogatory way. Is it referring to effeminate, stereotypical gay people, as you suggest? Or is it referring to anyone who is gay? It could be contextual if it's simply a word used to defame stereotypical gay people, however wrong that is. If it's a word that applies to any gay person, then it is not contextual in referring to effeminate people.

It's rather similar to the word "nigger." Is it now used to describe all black people, or just stereotypical ones?

Personally, I don't think either word should be used at all, for they both betray the ignorance of the user.

[EternityEnd]

What I meant was there is the same level on consternation over the word retarded. Not that they're interchangeable.

That's not what I meant—I understand you didn't mean they're interchangeable. I meant people really shouldn't be offended by the word "retarded," because it holds relevance, even when used in a derogatory fashion. Mental retardation exists, and it is what it is, it's not a stereotype. When people use the word "retarded," they imply whatever they're referring to is mentally handicapped. It's not the same with "gay," because either (depending on the way the person uses it): 1) "Gay" being synonymous with stupidity simply isn't true, and is silly, or 2) The stereotype applied to gay people is not universally applicable—not even close—and to generalize people as effeminate based on their sexuality is moronic.

[Kuya]

Well, technically speaking, gays do have brain structures similar to women, some structures not even related to sexual attraction, so gays being associated to effemenacy is well justified. Gays are kind of like inverts; women in men's bodies.

edit: what i'm saying is that it's very likely that all real gays (biologically) are effeminate to some degree or another.

[Rhinox]

since we're sorta on topic of this I'll ask this.

Is there really an internal resentment between effeminate and Masculine gays? Or is that something that is overblown and theres really is nothing to it.

[Rhinox]

edit: what i'm saying is that it's very likely that all real gays (biologically) are effeminate to some degree or another.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this. What other gays are there?