Does gay as a derogatory term offend you?

[Ryan Minns]

My mate and I actually have an hilarious thing going, he's a hairy butt fucking ****** and I'm a pansy ass pussy fucker. It's hilarious when we're at LAN parties and people don't know us

We made it after that comedy thing about what's more manly, a straight guy that wants a nice, soft flower smelling girl or a gay man who wants to fuck a larger muscular bloke!

 

[AngloDoom]

No. I'm just as offended if someone calls me a 'big stinky poo-poo head' - it has literally no meaning half the time people use it. If someone is trying to say I'm acting in a way stereotypical to gay males, then I just go along with it and say "Yurp, what's your point?" and watch as they stop using words and start making noises.

 

[Dexter S. Bateman]

I think I'm normally a bit ahead of the curve on these things...but to me it's the same as 'lame'. No one thinks that anyone who says the word lame is trying to offend the injured/crippled, and likewise I don't think very many people at all who use the word 'gay' in its (now) most common sense is really trying to relate anything to homosexuality. The closest to offense I could take when I hear someone say it is that I wonder why they can't think of a more inventive/witty way to say whatever they were saying.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

I don't so much find it offensive as I find it annoying- Use the word the way it's meant to be used, for crying out loud.
Maybe that's just my inner grammar nazi unleashing itself or something...

 

[Lord Garnaat]

I can't say it offends me, as I'm not gay. But it does annoy me to no end, as I believe that using slurs of any kind in any context is a sign of being common, vulgar, immature, and all-around lacking in refinement and intelligence.

 

[FamoFunk]

I sometime say things like, "That film was really gay"

Technically I'm saying the film was very happy, although it was shit.

I don't use the term ****** though.

 

[Fappy]

No, not really. I use all kinds of offensive words to describe things though. My friends are an understanding bunch

Understanding? I reckon it just comes down to a "snowball fight" mentality with my friends.
If you insult the bastards expect to get just as good back, and hopefully vice versa.

Spoiler: Internets

YOUR FRIENDS MUST ALL BE IDIOTS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH ME, BLAH BLAH BLAH MY SHIFT KEY IS GOING TO BREAK

Still, that's an advantage if your friends (apparently) don't insult you back.

Oh yes, oh yes, that's right. OT: Nope.

I never meant to imply that they don't fight back. It's mutual animosity and abuse

 

[GraveeKing]

Gay? I'd thank them for noticing!
Hell even ****** seems non-insulting to me!
I don't understand how either term could be insulting!
Seriously though, there's so few homosexuals/bisexuals who just actually care these days, honest truth there's probably much fewer who do care than don't - do a poll and I'm sure it'd turn out that way.

 

[manic_depressive13]

No, because I'm not gay. I still try not to say it. I'm sure plenty of gay people wouldn't find it offensive, but that doesn't somehow delegitimise the feelings of the ones who do. When homophobia/racism/sexism disappear I'm sure it'll be fine to fling slurs around, but until then I think it's better to show some sensitivity.

 

[TKIR]

The etymology of gay as a negative adjective:

Homosexuals are called gay
Homosexuals are considered by immature teens as bad/lame
Therefore they labeled anything bad/lame as gay

That's it. If you want to use the word gay casually for bad/lame than that's your prerogative, you are buying your way into a system that is disparaging a sexuality/minority. A system that causes many homosexuals great pain. Sure your contribution to the system is kinda small but personally I don't like helping the anti-gay side in anyway. I used to say gay that and gay this and a whole heap of bad things about homosexuals(about 12 years ago I claimed if one of my friends came out as gay I would no longer be their friend), but I realized my impact(no matter how small or big) and changed. Simply not saying it took away nothing from me, I'm still the most immature person I know.

What really offends me is when people say it's meaning has changed or there was no intent. No. The etymology is there and clear and unchanged. Don't be a coward and accept your actions.

 

[Zealous]

I don't use it personally, but that's just the way stuff happens when language evolves over time. For example the word "lame" used to be used to describe someone who had a missing or non functioning limb. Nowadays it's more often used to describe something that's uninteresting or boring. It's essentially the same thing. I don't see mobs of angry protesters with missing limbs petitioning the misuse of a word which they think is derogatory towards their lack of appendages.

So no, I have no problems with people using a new definition for a word even if it may insult some people. It's happened before and it going to happen again. If you're pissed off because someone used a adjective that you don't like, I think you need to re-evaluate your priorities in life.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

No, not at all. It doesn't offend any of my gay friends as well. Hell, they even use it and "******" to insult each other.

 

[Nazulu]

I first thought it meant lame, that's what I learnt originally. Now it means every frigging curse, and homosexuality to some people. I found that out when my friend kept using it in class and the teacher told him off because he believed it's insult towards homosexuals, only to find out my friend was homosexual.

Frankly, I reckon no one should take it seriously, and making assumptions about the people who use it is a whole lot worse. Intelligence or beliefs.

 

[The White Hunter]

Bi-sexual. Use it a fair bit, I do try avoid ****** though seeing as that tends to be pretty hateful most of the time. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, a word is a word and I don't care until you're directing hate at me for my orientation, which is not what passive use of the word "gay" as a slur is.

EDIT: When directed at me in an unpleasant way I find the best reaction is to blow them a kiss and ask if they're looking for a good time.

 

[crazyarms33]

No, it doesn't offend me it a ll. It does annoy me though. However I think Louis CK sums it up best....

 

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

I think it can be used as a derogatory term both with and without homophobic intent.

I'm bisexual and I use "******" like most people use a comma.

Really, I think the terms have lost all meaning as far as insulting goes at this point.

 

[Thespian]

Well I'm gay, but I use it with some frequency so I can't really find it offensive.

I do wish it wasn't used in such a way though? I mean sure the term has lost most of it's meaning but regardless of the intent of those who use, it IS linking "gay" with "bad" as long as it is in use. So it'd be handy to change one of it's meanings, at least.

Also, context is important. It's not really a bad thing to say it but it depends on who is saying it and when. Sometimes it's just a meaningless expletive. Other times, you are being a dick about it, and likely a homophobic one.

 

[Amazon warrior]

The etymology of gay as a negative adjective:

Homosexuals are called gay
Homosexuals are considered by immature teens as bad/lame
Therefore they labeled anything bad/lame as gay

That's it. If you want to use the word gay casually for bad/lame than that's your prerogative, you are buying your way into a system that is disparaging a sexuality/minority. A system that causes many homosexuals great pain. Sure your contribution to the system is kinda small but personally I don't like helping the anti-gay side in anyway.

What really offends me is when people say it's meaning has changed or there was no intent. No. The etymology is there and clear and unchanged. Don't be a coward and accept your actions.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel about it. It doesn't personally offend me (being straight and all, not that it should matter), but I don't see why it's a good thing to potentially contribute to the idea that "homosexuality = bad/wrong". (Not to mention, can you *really* not find an alternative word to describe something? Bah.)

Spoiler: Also, on the subject of meaning/intent...

I see a lot of people saying they use offensive language around their friends with no problem - well, of course and that's entirely up to you and your friends. They wouldn't be your friends if you didn't share things like a certain sense of humour or private jokes. That doesn't mean the same language is acceptable to everyone else.

 

[ICantBelieveItGoesBoom]

As a member of the LGBT community, I don't give a flying fuck and call people faggots on a regular basis, if it's not directly insulted someone personally, it's fine with me.

 

[lacktheknack]

I'm not offended. I am greatly irritated by it, though. Is your vocabulary that small that you have to rely on the most general negative term available?