Poll: Homophobic Epidemic?

[iJosh]

It can be 'a problem'. People killing themselves and shit.

 

[PirateKing]

I've noticed a sharp decline in this language since I entered college. This reinforces my belief that all of Americas high schools are built over tunnels to the demon realm.
(Too much Yu Yu Hakusho lately)

 

[high_castle]

In many, many ways the world has actually taken big steps forward in recent years to accept homosexuality. We still have a lot of work to go, but I have relatives who grew up gay in the 50s, 60s, and 70s and had to keep their sexuality a secret for a significant period of their lives. Coming out while still in high school was just not an option. Homosexuality isn't the stigma it used to be (except in some communities, but they are thankfully edging towards the minority these days).

That being said, I do take offense to the words "gay" or "fag" being tossed out as slang for anything negative. Regardless of whether or not you mean them to be sexually derogatory, the meaning's still in place. Your ignorance is no excuse for perpetuating the stigma associated with homosexuality. I'm guessing most people here who think anyone who is ultra-sensitive to words is a middle to upper class white, straight male. Guess what, we don't have a lot of insensitive words associated with your socio-ethnic status. So you've never had to deal with that type of derogatory slander/defamation. It can be very damaging. So wise up. Enrich your vocabulary. How hard is it to learn a new word for "bad"?

 

[Sanaj]

People have the freedom to express whatever they want to...
Question is why do these individuals deem it necessary when it's very crude?

When they throw around words like "gay" or "fag" they will mostly likely be...

A) judged as being an idiot that doesn't even know the correct context in which to use the word(s).
B) judged as being intolerant towards minorities.

Do I think people using crude slang words is more of a problem now, then say a few years ago?
I haven't noticed an increase or a decrease...still usually stays in a similar age grouping.

Maybe it's just reaching people more easily and often when they use Xbox Live, PSN or something similar.

 

[traceur_]

I'm guilty of using "gay" in place of "stupid", I'm not homophobic at all, I think gay people are awesome and I'm tying to break the habit of saying "gay" in place of "stupid". I used to say it a lot a few years ago and old habits die hard.

 

[Not Good]

To most who will know me should consider me a lover not a fighter. That being said I'm a fan of the "tolerance through annoyance" Technique. Pretty much you go on saying whatever you want to say so that others have to tolerate you instead of the other way around. It's just werdz don't let them get to ye.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Get used to it. It just means our world is getting more cynical. And for that, I'm rather happy.

 

[SeleneRose]

I have a plan
I will create a website that will spew out so many racial slurs, sexuality slurs, and every other slur that you can think of so that they will literally lose thier power and importance from becoming so everyday
...
wait..
Crap, 4chan is that site
...
its certainly not productive
...
I need a new plan.

Back to ontopicness
Political correctness bawbawbaw
Cry me a river, then drown yourself in it and do the world a favor.
Worrying about racial slurs is the stupidest thing you can do
I mean, seriously its a freaking word
it only has power over you if you let it have power over you
..I mean, seriously
Nowdays its just another insult
I have no problem with gays, I just don't give a crap about the issue
However, am I looking forward to the day when everyone is called a 'differiently sexually oriented person?'
I dread that day

 

[Izakflashman]

Ideally, according to the concept of tolerance, I can utter whatever slur I want, and so long as I say it without hate and say it without the goal of inciting violence, there's nothing wrong with it.

Lol. You probably wouldn't be swearing if that wasn't your goal.

 

[Firia]

In the centers of civilisation in most modern nations, homophobia is a non-issue. In other regions, it's still a topic of much discomfort. My ex girlfriend living in Small Town Tennessee (may as well be its name) goes for girls, and she's had to withdraw into a closet durring her stay there for personal safty.

Respect concerning homosexuality has a long way to go. I don't know how many times gay jabs fly at people online. It's kinda frustrating in that reguard, but at least it's not life threatening.

 

[EzraPound]

There's a problem, but it's hardly suggestive of an especial "epidemic"

I don't think there is anything wrong with people being off-put by something that - and you can't deny this - is against human nature.

I don't "hate gays" and am not "homophobic" but i a) don't take most gays seriously and b) only think homophobes are assholes after they start being cruel/immature about it

Oh no, one of the naturetards. Why do you think God made male anuses receptive to sexual stimulus via proximity to the prostate if people weren't intended to use it?

 

[Zac_Dai]

People using the word "Gay" in place of stupid or annoying was around 10 years ago when I was at school and growing up, nearly everyone I knew used it but no one meant it in a homophobic way (There were other words for that).

So really I think its getting blown out of proportion. Yeah it might be slightly ignorant but if you hear someone saying "Damn I left my phone at home, thats gay!" and get offended you're being way over sensitive and need to suck it up.

 

[Dangerious P. Cats]

I tend to have a problem with homophobia mainly because I think that anyone so judgmental of other people to feel uncomfortable with who someone is attracted to has something wrong with them. In general terms I think that the use of the word "gay" or "fag" as an insult is wrong. Insults are based on exposing that the person does something wrong or is something wrong. Most insults are sexual in nature because we are all supposed to be embarrassed about sex or sexual activity. It's not a far step from teenagers asking the kid they want to embarrass if they masturbate, if they've had sex, etc, to call someone a "dickhead", "nob", "ass" or "vagina face". The goal of both is to expose that the person has sexual characteristics, which is meant to be embarrassing to them (these insults all had their genesis in a time when sex was heavily taboo). The same can be said for calling something or some one stupid or weak since lacking in strength or intelligence makes you less capable. To use "gay" or "fag" as an insult therefore implies that there is something wrong with being homosexual, which to my mind, is the very definition of homophobia.

 

[EzraPound]

There's a problem, but it's hardly suggestive of an especial "epidemic"

I don't think there is anything wrong with people being off-put by something that - and you can't deny this - is against human nature.

I don't "hate gays" and am not "homophobic" but i a) don't take most gays seriously and b) only think homophobes are assholes after they start being cruel/immature about it

Oh no, one of the naturetards. Why do you think God made male anuses receptive to sexual stimulus via proximity to the prostate if people weren't intended to use it?

Actually anal sex is "against the nature", because when had without protection can easily lead to urethritis caused by E. coli ("the shit bacteries"), which can develop into fatal inflamation of peritoneum.
Yeah, AIDS is not the only thing to fear.

That's stupid: your argument - things that pose health risks are "unnatural" (god, what does that word even mean? - things occur, so they're natural) - could be just as easily applied to having vaginal sex, drinking beer, hanging out with soccer hooligans (it's the UK, right?), smoking marijuana or eating at McDonald's.

 

[bjj hero]

People who use gay to mean stupid really need to think about the offence they can cause. Its a minority group that faces daily discrimination.

Example:

Your friend is using tap and throw all the time on street fighter playing Vs, your parents are in the room behind you.

You turn to him and say "stop being gay".

Now imagine the same situation but instead you say

"Stop being a ******"


Someones getting grounded...

All youve done is replace one minority with another. Its just one is better protected than the other because of our society, whos collective morals are based on Christian bias.

 

[bjj hero]

There's a problem, but it's hardly suggestive of an especial "epidemic"

I don't think there is anything wrong with people being off-put by something that - and you can't deny this - is against human nature.

I don't "hate gays" and am not "homophobic" but i a) don't take most gays seriously and b) only think homophobes are assholes after they start being cruel/immature about it

Oh no, one of the naturetards. Why do you think God made male anuses receptive to sexual stimulus via proximity to the prostate if people weren't intended to use it?

Actually anal sex is "against the nature", because when had without protection can easily lead to urethritis caused by E. coli ("the shit bacteries"), which can develop into fatal inflamation of peritoneum.
Yeah, AIDS is not the only thing to fear.

Anal sex is no more a homosexual or unnatural sex act than oral sex. Im not giving that up for love nor money.

 

[Labyrinth]

If memory serves the rate of suicide is 5-9% higher among those with alternate sexualities or genders. Persecution plays a major part.

It's better than it has, historically, been. Of course you're going to have some people who still act like douches because it's so incredibly ingrained in their culture. A better way to go is to ensure that you yourself are open to accepting anyone, and encourage those around you to do the same.

 

[AlphaOmega]

Im straight, and Id love to have gay friends. gay men seem the coolest guys Ive met yet, might be luck but still.

TBH all judgement of others should be banned, so yes there is a problem

 

[bjj hero]

Spoiler: lots of text

There's a problem, but it's hardly suggestive of an especial "epidemic"

I don't think there is anything wrong with people being off-put by something that - and you can't deny this - is against human nature.

I don't "hate gays" and am not "homophobic" but i a) don't take most gays seriously and b) only think homophobes are assholes after they start being cruel/immature about it

Oh no, one of the naturetards. Why do you think God made male anuses receptive to sexual stimulus via proximity to the prostate if people weren't intended to use it?

Actually anal sex is "against the nature", because when had without protection can easily lead to urethritis caused by E. coli ("the shit bacteries"), which can develop into fatal inflamation of peritoneum.
Yeah, AIDS is not the only thing to fear.

Anal sex is no more a homosexual or unnatural sex act than oral sex. Im not giving that up for love nor money.

Cool, just like I said, use protection.

I was talking about oral btw, and im in a long term relationship so ill skip the protection.

 

[Ameatypie]

I think epidemic is not the correct word. I wouldn't say it is a problem either. I feel that there a lot more acceptance of all sexualities in todays word within the past century. On that note, I feel even the smallest amount of taunting like this or homophobia is a big problem.

I find generally, people that use these terms don't exactly know what they entitle and the background they have. Like kids that carve the swastika on things. They do it because it's common and easy to do. They don't understand the hate it brings. So when people cast these words, I don't feel like they directly mean any of it, they're just... idiots?

Yes, they are idiots - but just because there idiots, it does not give them an excuse to be dickheads. if that makes sense.