Poll: Homophobic Epidemic?

[Kikosemmek]

Yep, there is a homophobia outbreak going on. Anything remotely happy is considered gay. The sad thing is, there's no way of turning back.

Of course there is. You can take back everything. We can all take back everything. Society, as it moves with its own trends along various strata, will fluctuate back and forth.

I used to hate the rainbow because I thought it just stood for flamboyance and showmanship. I was then told it represented gay rights because it portrays its colors equally brilliantly, as an activist thinks society should portray all of its members equally brilliantly. From that moment on, I was trying to take back the rainbow, because it holds a symbol that is important to me.

Why not try to take back 'gay?' We can start by not giggling in class every time we see it in readings.

 

[dragonburner]

Even 30 year old rapper Eminem is known for homophobic comments in his lyrics.

Why would you bring up Eminem? He's hardly relevant to anything anymore. Yeah, he has a new single out, but if you look at the environment of rap/hip-hip, not just one rapper; homosexuality among men is mostly treated as a weakness or a target to take aim at.

I was trying to show how it started to filter into all age groups. Honestly I think the main problem media source is South Park. That show has so many racist/prejudice comments. Example: The recent Gayfish joke. You know how many times I have been asked if I like fish sticks?

 

[dragonburner]

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.

Personally in high school anything or anyone is "gay" or "a jew"
I think it is a problem because most of the world is looking to move forward minus the President of Iran.

A-HA! So you were just as I expected, a self-righteous High Schooler.

Guess what? Homophobia is less prevalent now that it has been since Roman times. Gays used to be murdered by the Chruch, for god's sake.

(sorry for the three separate posts, need to get my post count up somehow, eh? lol)

Exactly my point. If we are to move forwards in society (see Vermont, New Jersey, pre-Prop 8 California) homophobia can't be an issue. See these kids in high school and middle school are the future Americans. And the whole world hates us already!

 

[dragonburner]

I have also seen this on a small scale with antisemitism.

Don't you mean semiphobia? How come homosexuals are the only minority that gets to claim that their detractors are motivated only by fear? Cheap iyam.

You know I have no idea if their is a phobia about races.
Back on topic
The reason I mentioned Homophobia as a larger point was because it was a larger scale. However, antisemitism or semiphobia as you say is a large problem.

 

[Sovvolf]

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, quote]

Well I use the word Fag quite alot but not refering to homosexuals, its British slang for a cigartete.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I wouldn't say it's an epidemic, but homophobia is pretty widespread.

Also, I am guilty of using the words fag and gay as prejorative terms, I'm not a homophobe though.

 

[dragonburner]

Dude, tolerance is not saying politically correct things, it is allowing people to say and do whatever the fuck they want, so long as what they want doesn't stop anyone else from doing what they want. Live and let live, so long as your living does not prevent another from living. 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.

And the people who misunderstand this are the cause of much suffering and IL-logical ( reference to OP) behaviour that could be covered with the misnomer "positive discrimination".

When a black man says to his black friend "what's up my ******" he is not being racist, and when a guy says "you're a fag" to his friend who just beat him at street fighter he's not being racist either, words are just words, and it is only the intent behind their use that should be taken into consideration.

Not only does it never cease to amaze me how far people will take a cause that does not concern them, but that noone who IS affected by it ever asked for their support in the first place.
None of the gay people i have met have ever shown signs of mental distress because of modern slang use of the word fag, so would the OP and those in agreement please educate me as to why this is so detrimental to society as it semms to me like this is just a pet peeve of yours, and no more of a real problem than people who constantly misuse words like "ultimate" and "literally".

Just saying you said calling someone a fag is not racist which is true... it is prejudice.
And yes they don't mean anything behind it all the time but then... Why say it?

 

[IxionIndustries]

Yep, there is a homophobia outbreak going on. Anything remotely happy is considered gay. The sad thing is, there's no way of turning back.

Of course there is. You can take back everything. We can all take back everything. Society, as it moves with its own trends along various strata, will fluctuate back and forth.

I used to hate the rainbow because I thought it just stood for flamboyance and showmanship. I was then told it represented gay rights because it portrays its colors equally brilliantly, as an activist thinks society should portray all of its members equally brilliantly. From that moment on, I was trying to take back the rainbow, because it holds a symbol that is important to me.

Why not try to take back 'gay?' We can start by not giggling in class every time we see it in readings.

It's imposssible. There is no way we can snuff out such uses and terms on such a large scale. Even if we do attempt that stuff, there is no way it can be fully eliminated, as there will still be immature people who think it humorous to use "gay", "queer", and "retarded" as deragatory words, and it will make a comeback, even though most of the population has been culled of such acts.

 

[FredFredburgur]

I'm a sixteen year old and I do say something is "gay" or someone is being "gay", but I wouldn't consider my self homphobic. When I'm refering to someone who is homosexual I usually say homosexual, or lesbian if they are female. I use "gay" along with the slang it has become part of. People may be offended but at my work there are plenty of lesbians and I have heard them say gay like that too.

Retard is similar in this way, I use "retard/retarded" in that kind of context but when I'm refering to someone who has a mental handicap I am more specific and will say mentally retarded/challenged or use a specific disability when referencing someone or having an intelligent conversation.

Just for the sake of it: Homosexual applies to same-sex attractions, regardless of the sex of the person. Thus, lesbianism is also under homosexuality and does not need to be mentioned separately.

Just something that annoys me, for reasons unknown.

I know, it's just how I say it, and I definitely hear you when you say it annoys you there's plenty of things like that for me. It's just more specific, and since I know more lesbian homosexuals it's easier for me to dfferentiate what or who I'm talking about.

 

[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.

So, you've never yelled "son of ****** fucking clit chewing thunder-****" just because you were frustrated by a game or something? You would only yell that at someone who fit that description, and then, only because you genuinely hated that person with enough venom that you wanted other people to hate him, and perhaps end him? I think that makes you a worse person than me.

At least I had the decency to not hate, and only say such things as indignant interjections.

Lol, I appear to misread a key set of words in your post. Ignore it. no need to be a *****.