Does gay as a derogatory term offend you?

[Legion]

Offend? No.
Annoy? Yes.

Although the meaning isn't used in the same way now, I just associate it with the childish crap people used to do when kids, back when it was actually used to imply that you are gay, as if there is something wrong with it.

When I see/hear my friends use it, it just makes me feel that they haven't grown up.

 

[TheDarkestDerp]

Yes. And as it seems to be the tariff for posting, "Pansexual here".

I find it more of a display of a person's intelligence and lack of proper vocabulary for using it, "gay", as a slur in place of other more accurate terms, frankly. Much as this generation seems to use "hate" or (ugh) "hater" for anything from "minor annoyance" or "detractor" to "irritant", using "gay" when you mean "moronic" or "in poor taste" is symptomatic of a lack of social empathy to me, and very unworthy of the potential of our culture as a whole.

 

[Charli]

I yell 'that's so hetrosexual' all the time, most people laugh.

So no, laugh at everything, or laugh at nothing, If a person is using it aggressively, I usually take issue with their intent, not the words they're using. In text it's more difficult to pin point so should be used very very sparingly and in company you know face to face usually.

Words are a tool to convey emotion remember, so try to pin point that emotion first before you go all 'GRRR censorship'.


Words are words are words. They're powerful, but only if you let them have that kind of power.



I'd be glad to share my negative experiences with insecure homophobic cretins to validate my point and 'street cred' but I don't think it serves much purpose, this is my own take on how I see the world, you don't have to agree with it, but I would hope it does invoke a little thought about how reacting to words negatively can increase the power they wield over you.

 

[maninahat]

It doesn't offend me, but then I don't have to be offended to know not to use it.

Part of me still thinks it's a shame that I can't use it anymore though. Terms like "gay" and "******" are incredibly useful words for describing stuff you find crappy, feckless, mawdlin and excessively pathetic. It was a very versatile insult. Here's hoping one day, ****** ceases to lose all connection to actual, real gay people, much like how bastard lost all connection with the illigitimate, and sod with the act of gay sex. When that happens, it'll probably be fine to use it again.

 

[Killertje]

People who get offended by words are gay.
This does not mean that all gay people are offended by words.

In the first sentence, gay means stupid/lame/idiots. In the second sentence, gay means homosexual.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Nope, don't give a damn. In that context it's not a derogatory slur discriminating against someone for their sexuality. It has a totally different meaning.

 

[dumbseizure]

No, doesn't offend me.

The term "******" doesn't offend me either. Although I have noticed a change in how it is used (for me anyway). I think the word "******" and calling something "gay" stopped meaning homosexual a while ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcja4WFFzDw

Pretty much that.

 

[rob_simple]

I think it depends on the context. If someone called me a 'dirty little ******' then I'd assume there was malice behind it and consider that hate speech. On the other hand, whenever I get overly dramatic about something, my flatmate always says 'mate, you're being a bit of a faggy dick' and I think it's hilarious, because I know we're friends there's no aggression behind it.

 

[Benni88]

Your example, "The new -insert game here- screens are pretty gay" is not a derogatory statement. Gay is being used as a negative adjective. I don't personally get offended by this but my brother works with a gay guy and says that although he's used gay as a negative adjective around his colleague, he always feels bad for doing so.

I guess that if someone hears an expression used to describe themselves also used to describe something bad they might find it insulting if it goes on for a while. I can sympathise that.

 

[Sandjube]

I can see how it could be offensive, but I've never taken it as such.

 

[octafish]

No I'm not offended. In fact it gives me a sense of social superiority because it reminds me that the user is an insensitive arsehole and I am a good guy. If someone uses it on my server they get one warning and if they re-offend a ban. You can trash talk all you want but you use the magic race and sexuality words and boom, you're gone.

 

[DEAD34345]

Nah, and frankly if anyone is offended by it, I'd consider them to be a little bit pathetic. If there's no derogatory intention behind it, people can use whatever words they want to describe anything. If you have a problem with that, well... too bad, basically.

 

[Calibanbutcher]

No I'm not offended. In fact it gives me a sense of social superiority because it reminds me that the user is an insensitive arsehole and I am a good guy. If someone uses it on my server they get one warning and if they re-offend a ban. You can trash talk all you want but you use the magic race and sexuality words and boom, you're gone.

What if someone was to say, say:
This sh*t is so bad, it's really straight / hetero?

 

[Kroxile]

No, why would it? Why would it offend anybody? And if, for some reason, it does get your knickers in a twist; too bad deal with it. If some mere words that aren't even used in a context that pertains to you or anybody in particular offend your delicate sensibilities I think you need to grow up. Don't be so gay about it.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Nope. I'm not ever really offended by things at all.

 

[Yal]

I'm too old to have every really dealt with this usage. Outside of the internet, I can only clearly recall encountering it once, from a coworker. Mostly it just struck me as unprofessional.

When I was a kid we used "lame" or "retarded" instead. Co-opted slurs about physical or mental ability, rather than sexual prowess.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Not really. It sort of sucks that it's used as a pejorative, but, at least to me, it's gone beyond being a slight at homosexuals and moved into a term of it's own. See the South Park episode on the word "fag".

I agree with Zach Weiner of SMBC that we need a new, more accurate, definition of "Gay"
<spoiler=spoilt for size>http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20110409.gif

 

[octafish]

No I'm not offended. In fact it gives me a sense of social superiority because it reminds me that the user is an insensitive arsehole and I am a good guy. If someone uses it on my server they get one warning and if they re-offend a ban. You can trash talk all you want but you use the magic race and sexuality words and boom, you're gone.

What if someone was to say, say:
This sh*t is so bad, it's really straight / hetero?

Funnily enough it has NEVER come up. I wonder why?

 

[Mr Binary]

I'm not offended but I also don't penalize said user in my mind. As sad as it may be, its become a sort of social slang which most seem content with using and accepting. I also have to say that sometimes people take this subject a little too seriously.

I remember in Highschool I was talking with my friend about one of our other friends who had just recently come out of the closet about his sexuality. I said something along the lines of "No, mate. He's gay." when out of no where some girl starts freaking out about how I'm being homophobic and should shut up.

It's those type of people that annoy me with this whole 'is saying gay offensive' argument. The people who think they SHOULD be offended when they hear it, not that they really even are.

 

[Azkar Almsivi]

It doesn't offend me at all. I would call myself heterosexual, but I would also do pretty much anything with an effeminate trap I found attractive. Hell, I'd probably have sex with a guy if he was cute. I'm not terribly desperate, I just got out of a relationship with a mentally ill girl (she was really attractive though...)

Alright, in short, it doesn't offend me personally as it has literally lost all meaning, I don't say it however due to my vocabulary. Also this thread just made me realize I may be bisexual. Good job OP.