What is with you people who associate everything you dislike or disagree with as somehow being related to sexual orientation?.Over the past X number of years I have regularly heard people at work and in public express their displeasure by stating that “this is, that is, he is, she is so gay, blah, blah, blah, etc., etc. The implications of this is that simply because someone may or may not be homosexual it means that they are automatically less of person and less of a human. We live in a day and age when it is no longer socially acceptable for this kind of bigotted rubbish thank you. I have often mused about how it would be received if every time I disliked something or someone I was to say “how very hetero” or “how typically chain smoking coffee sucking sexist racist bigotted pig”?. I am so very thankfull that I had good parents who taught me the importance of treating my fellow human beings as I would have them treat me…
—HalifaxGuy
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.
I’m getting pretty good at not saying that, but every once in a while it slips out…it’s been harder to stop saying “retarded,” in my experience.
Can we assume this is the same guy who just posted over on SGR? I defended you there and will here as well.
Slang words for something bad come from people thinking those things are actually bad. And in the same circular motion, encourage unknowing people/kids to then think those things are in fact bad.
It’s not just slang, it’s derogatory.
Lame. Or should I say….. GAY!
The word had several meanings long before it meant homosexual, so toddle along now little one. If you don’t like the usage of the word, then don’t use it. And you’d better hope you’ve NEVER used words like retarded, special or anything like them, because if so, you’re the biggest hypocrite out there.
Heh. When I say something is gay, I know exactly what it means to me and to others, and it’s not “happy” or “carefree.”
Unless you’re my 84-year-old grandmother, who only ever watches the golf channel. Although I think by now even she’s cottoned on to what it means nowadays.
The problem with derogatory terms is that their meaning evolves with each generation, so there is always a generational gap between what people are trying to communicate when they use them.
Regardless of its previous meanings, its current usage as a negative slang term stems directly from repugnant attitudes toward homosexuality, so to use it in that context is offensive and demeaning. As PAS said, it continues to perpetuate the idea that there is something wrong with being gay. I find it troubling that anyone would try to defend their use of this word in that sense.
Why is it still considered somewhat socially acceptable to be callous towards gays? If this was a word that had a negative connotation to any other minority group, my guess is that you wouldn’t be likely to put it forth so casually in a public forum.
I think it all totally depends on intent. When I say “gay” or “retarded” I’m in no way thinking of either of those groups. I feel totally comfortable using those words around my friends who also understand that I have no malicious intent behind my words. I avoid using the term around strangers because I can see how it can be offensive to someone, especially if they are unaware of my intent.
And last I checked “gay” was not a derogatory term. It’s the currently accepted term for homosexuals isn’t it?
The current usage of the word “gay” still implies “lame” no matter what the hot topic of the day is, no matter your sexual orientation. Why is it that the gay/trans community is so dam sensitive? Just because their world revolves around their sexuality doesn’t mean mine does… stop being so gay, OP.
The reason I would prefer not to use this word, is that for a great many people, the word means homosexual. I don’t see this changing anytime soon, as in gay as homosexual falling out of usage and gay as just bad (as divorced from the homosexual meaning) becoming the currently accepted meaning.
Another thing with intent is that words mean certain things to people regardless of your intent. I just had an argument with some idiot on Youtube abut his use of the N-word, he said it was fine because he was using it in the sense of the archaic meaning “an ignorant person.” I said no one is going to hear it that way and the damage is done whether you explain yourself afterwards or not. (Why I was wasting my time arguing with someone on the Bumfuck Tsunami that is Youtube comments, I have no friggin clue.)
I’m not trying to say everyone has to kowtow to everyone’s else’s interpretation of a word…there are a number of minority groups who have attempted to reclaim various epithets in a desire to water down their sting. I’m just saying, when you’re not a member of that group, I’m not sure that you have or can earn the right to use it, without sounding kinda privileged. Miles I think we pretty much agree anyway.
For a word like retarded, however, I have been using that word since I was little, and the origin of it is basically that we had retarded kids in our school and they were the subjects of mockery. Not sure why that would have changed in the ensuing decades….for me anyway.
PS – Kay: Fuck. Off.
I think you guys are missing the point here. ‘Gay’ is NOT a derogatory term, UNLESS it’s used to imply ‘lame’, ‘stupid’, or any other negative connotation. Using ‘gay’ to equal ‘stupid’ is as offensive as using ‘Jew’ to equal ‘swindle’, as in “some guy just Jewed me out of five bucks”. Just because it gets thrown around casually, or you don’t intend offense, does not make it okay.
Excuse me, kay, but for your information, I don’t think the majority of the gay/trans community is that *damn* sensitive, as most are pretty used to putting up with ignorance and discrimination on a fairly regular basis. As well, I sincerely doubt that most people’s worlds are revolving around their sexuality anymore than they’re revolving around their race, gender, occupation or place of residence. After the incredibly unenlightened statement you just made, I think perhaps the general populace could adopt the word ‘kay’ as a synonym for ‘ignorant’ or ‘imbecilic’ and it would actually make a lot more sense than the use of the word ‘gay’ to imply that something isn’t cool.
personally, I go with ‘flaming’…
and I also find ‘retarded’ slipping out even more than when I wasn’t trying not to say it. weird….
Yeah, I didn’t mean that it was a derogatory term in itself – sorry if what I said came off that way.
me either…. it’s just so versatile.
S’okay Mole Rat, my commentary wasn’t directed at you. I was typing as you were posting. We appear to be on pretty much the same page.
What the hell is wrong with saying something is gay, I don’t look at the word GAY as being negative, so if I say it, it probably means that that something is gay..(lacking on any examples right now, I don’t actually say it that much). Gay is only negative if you make it to be negative, if someone saying it thinks it’s negative, well fuck them…let them live in their pathetic little box. If you’re gay, and someone says “you’re so gay” say thank- you, if you’re not gay and someone says that, who the fuck cares! It’s not an insult period. Some people look at the word Gay as an actual compliment. Same goes for queer, with a bit more negative connotation found in the words history, however the word’s power was stripped by the gay community, and now the negative connotation behind it is less in a sense that it stripped the power away from the people who used it as an insult, and gave power back to the gay community that started using the word and not viewing it as an insult. Fuck anything can be twisted around to being bigotry. Example, by saying something like “I see what you mean” that could be a term that discriminates someone who is blind…and so on and so forth. Seriously, I read an article on it. Either way, I’m rambling.
P.S man you guys are kay
Gay means happy and extends to homosexuals in the very same context. Flame away, asshats.
meOw… just go tell a cross dresser how “her” color coordination is all wrong for “her” complexion and see just how dam sensitive they can be… on a dramatic and daily basis! Some would call that a lifestyle. It’s in their nature, isn’t it? Confidence is always lacking, isn’t it? It’s no mystery I don’t support the weirdness but I also think people need to be respectful of one another. I’d never get in your gay face.
MoleRat.. please take the time to validate your opinions with some reasoning… after you get fucked and not before. It may improve your outlook. Creep.
Meow, you basically took the words right out ofmy mouth. Gay is a derogatory word when it’s used to make fun of or insult someone.
Why don’t you just use the word Kay when you are tempted to use the word Gay on this board from now on.
FA, the difference is that if someone is acting in a positively homosexual fashion, and you call them gay, it’s not the same as, like in the SGR bitch, the kids were acting like assholes so the OP called them gay. We all know the OP meant it in a negative way, which infers that the OP thinks there is something wrong with being gay. He certainly didn’t mean that the kids were so fabulously fashionable! How gay!
OP, Your complaint sounds gayer than Andy Dick’s underwear.
“Friendly Nova Scotia,” MY ASS! You bitches prove that on a daily basis. From slaggin niggers and street people to beating up little gay boys, this place has about as much charm as the bottom of my shoe… and not a fucking fiddle to be found anywhere.
Obviously you guys aren’t going to get over me so have fun falling all over yourselves and other bitches to figure what my new user name is. Fuck you all very very much.
Reasoning you say? Like the reasoning implicit in your remarkable understanding of the difference between a cross-dresser and a transperson?
BTW I actually get fucked on a pretty regular basis, maybe you could reason out for me what that fact has to do with the conversation.
kay, you amusing little simpleton…a drag queen is a PERFORMER, a caricature or persona created for the stage – it’s not REAL. Basing an opinion of gay people on drag queens is like basing an opinion of doctors on episodes of House. You do realize that your experiences with that little glowing box in the corner of your living room don’t count as real-life experiences, don’t you?
Drag queen does not equal transgendered, and vice versa. But how would you know that? Judging from your ridiculous commentary, I doubt you know any gay folks, and have had very little interaction with gay/trans people from which to base your opinions.
As with most of your opinions, you pulled this one straight out of your ass, which btw, must be enormous, because you are full of baseless opinions.
As usual, kay, once you are called on your shit, you quickly adopt a ‘poor me, everyone is so rotten!’ stance and try to duck out of the conversation. You can change your username if you like, but I think your narrow minded opinions and obtuse debate style are so distinctly ‘you’ that it won’t take long for your identity to become apparent once again.
The power of a word lies in it’s offense, not in the word itself. Now please, before any of you flame me for my examples here, know that I am by no means a racist. If I call a Jewish person a Kike or Shylock and they get offended, then I win, because I offended them. If they just shrug it off and laugh, I lose, because they didn’t let it bother them. I’ve been on the recieving end of racist comments a couple of times and I just let it roll off my back. And that pissed them off more than anything.
Nicely put Never Wrong. I don’t see why people get so bent out of shape over refering to something “lame” as being “gay”. (do handicapped people get offended when we use “lame” like that?)
As far as racial/sexual slang goes, I’m pretty sure this offense is by far the mildest.
Yes PAS I agree, and I had forgotten about that bitch till right now. However, on another note, and actually kind of agreeing with Never Wrong, almost every word that has a negative connotation, socially accepted or not, discriminates against some group. The words that are more “socially acceptable” are the words labeling a minority group with a negative connotation for the mere reason of majority having bigger numbers in society. Just because the labels are “socially acceptable” doesn’t make it right. Let’s take “dumb” for an example. I can bet my bottom dollar that the OP has at some point in time used that word to describe something or someone as being stupid. The word has nothing to do with intelligence, and was used as a word to discriminate deaf people, because if they couldn’t hear, they couldn’t speak, and if they couldn’t hear or speak, well they must be idiots too. As the OP said referring to the word gay: “it means that they are automatically less of person and less of a human.” Just because “dumb” is now used on a regular basis by people and is socially acceptable, doesn’t mean that it stops being negative. However on the same note, I can bet my bottom dollar that the majority of time that people use the word “dumb” they aren’t attending to discriminate against deaf people. And on Never wrong’s point, if it is used for that purpose, than don’t let it offend you. If I am called a “hippy” for negative purposes, but I am a hippy, than why the hell should I get insulted just because the person attempting to insult me see’s it as negative. Same goes for using the example of the former bitch, SGR, if you kind of state, “hey they seem to follow more of a hetero stereotype than a gay one”, who is going to be more insulted the hetero who knows these kids don’t follow any gay stereotypes and more hetero stereotypes, or they gay person stating the obvious, because it is the obvious.
I agree that there are a lot of words people use as insults that have nothing to do with the person being insulted. And really that is the problem. If you can’t direct your anger at someone without using insults that are common, but inaccurate, you shouldn’t be in the fight to begin with.
However the issue with insults like “gay” are as I said earlier, using them teaches other people that gay people are bad, or that being gay is wrong. This can be quite harmful to kids growing up with this all around them. The last thing they are going to want to do is come out to parents/friends who commonly use “gay” as an insult forother people who are doing something stupid. There’s nothing the child can do about being gay, but they’re going to hate themselves for it, because they’ll assume their parents won’t like them if they’re gay.
Good points PAS, but there’s a difference between using slang around your children to perpetuate your biggotry to the next generation and using it among your peers, don’t ya think?
Not if one of your peers is gay and in the closet.
I have found that as much as you might not use wrong words around kids you still have to tell them what the words are and why they are considered bad. Otherwise as far as the child is concerned they are just calling someone a dummy or shithead when imitating other peoples words. I also don’t agree with some folks being allowed to use sexist or racist names to each other but other people not allowed to use the same word at all.
Yep, actually some handicapped people do get offended when you say lame, but I’m assuming it was a rhetorical question.
People don’t only use the term “gay” to describe something that is “lame” in Halifax. I heard more people use that terminology when I was in Ontario than I have in Halifax.
Thing *is* (and I’m not defending this, I don’t use the term “gay” to describe something “lame” the same as I’ve never been comfortable using the word “retarded” in the same context) people don’t generally equate the term “gay” when used in the “lame” context with gay bashing or anything like that. It’s just evolved that way.
If you have a problem with it, OP, why don’t you speak up? Just be direct and respectful and say “I do not appreciate that term being used blahblahblah *insert why*”? It’s not really that hard, and I’m sure your co workers, especially, don’t think they’re personally offending you. When it comes down to it, most of the time when people are offended the “offender” didn’t intend to offend. Or maybe I just have more faith in humanity than I should 😛
“in the SGR bitch, the kids were acting like assholes so the OP called them gay. We all know the OP meant it in a negative way, which infers that the OP thinks there is something wrong with being gay.”
…which infers whaaa? …wrong…wrong…wrong!
It is GLARINGLY FUCKING OBVIOUS that this use of the word ‘gay’ has NOTHING TO DO WITH HOMOSEXUALITY.
It is just serving as one of the million ways we have to say ‘stupid’ in the English language.
In case you haven’t noticed, everyone loves to be cryptic, and codewords, vague references, and in-language is considered ‘cool’. That’s why there are so many ways to express any one idea.
That’s it. …end of story as far as the SGR bitch OP is concerned, I would bet.
…seems to me the situation in which someone DOES use the word in reference to homosexuality (and uses a negative tone) would be one to worry about. In that case the intent would be offense, and in that case and that case only should offense be registered.
People Are Stupid, you are entitled to your opinion, but my opinion is that you have this absolutely backwards.
Taking offense when it is plain that none was intended is gay, lame, AND retarded.
Oh…it also has a negative effect on free speech in general.
Oh…AND it also dilutes arguments against speech that is actually intended to be offensive. Maybe that reason alone will resonate with you.
Gah!
i use the slang term tard..short for retarded but direct it at my pets and they love it but then they are tards anyhoo
See, this is what I hate. People saying something they know is offensive and then when they’re called out on it, they’re like “oh, but I didn’t mean it that way.” Why does your intent automatically trump the other person’s experience of the word? You’re basically saying “only I have the right to decide how others will experience my words.”
Some people say “that’s so gay” and are really meaning “that’s so bad.” Others say “that’s so gay” and are really meaning “that’s so gay because gays are bad.” Why should it be up to the people around you to puzzle over whether you meant it in the good way or the bad way? Can’t you just find a new insult? Is it that hard?
By the way, as far as free speech goes, when I tell someone I find something they’ve said offensive, that’s hella different from actually silencing them. They still have the freedom to say whatever they want. I’m, in fact, exercising my own free speech. But I guess some people’s free speech is more important than others.
Mole Rat: I am challenging you to name some insults that aren’t discriminatory in some sense. I know they are out there, but I would say the majority of insults are a negative connotation of at least one group of people, no matter how small.
I’m sorry, but does «Others say “that’s so gay” and are really meaning “that’s so gay because gays are bad.”» make zero sense to anyone else?
…and again, how is it not blindingly obvious that the target of an insult is simply the person or people to whom the insult is EXPLICITLY DIRECTED? Why do you have to invent a second motive for an insult (to insult some group as well as the main insultee(s)) when it is also obvious that there is no connection between the insultee(s) and the language chosen for the insult?
Mole Rat, you can puzzle all day about whether everybody is laughing at you no matter what they say or how they say it. It is not anyone’s job to assuage anyone else’s paranoia.
On the issue of free speech: We have laws against speech that is over a certain line (“hate speech”). Without getting into whether those laws should exist… I am simply arguing that deeming too many things as over that line is destructive to free speech. …and nowhere did I say anything about silencing complainers. Did you read my last point? Baseless complaints take away from the effect of real ones.
“Can’t you just find a new insult?”
Perhaps we shouldn’t Mole Rat. Perhaps we should just not insult people we don’t know, or that we know will take offense.
This is where intent comes in. If people are obviously joking around and they are obviously not spreading hate, then relax and have fun with them.
If they are obviously mocking someone or trying to berate them by using the same words, then they are assholes and should be treated as such.
There is a difference between the two and as No Dogma sort of pointed out, context really does mean a lot. I don’t think this is they type of thing worth being black and white about.
GAY.
Oh, I don’t know, how about shithead? Asshole? Use your brain! I don’t know where I ever said that no one should ever use an insult that would ever offend anyone, anywhere?
The word bastard is used pretty commonly, but no one actually means “you child out of wedlock.” And no one calls you out for it because no one (except maybe my grandmother, and her time is limited) actually gives a shit, these days, if anyone is born out of wedlock. They’re most likely using it to mean you’re a prick. There’s no bastard lobby out there fighting for their rights. Do you get what I am saying.
Kay, even if you changed your user name, I’d still be able to pick you out of a stack of hay in less than a second. (unless you’ve changed your attitude)
OP, please, pull the stick out of your ass. People don’t change, and aren’t going to stop saying the things they say. Homosexuality IMO is unfortunately a strange phenomenon, and we’re all being forced into accepting immoral behaviour. I used to say ‘gay’, however I stopped because it began to sound embarrassing. However it in no way reminded me of homosexuality. I have a feeling i’m going to get gripe for this, but it’s my entitled opinion.
I’m also going to raise a question – why are people who disapprove of homosexuality harrassed to such a degree? What happened to having your own personal opinion?
Miles…lol @ “sort of pointed out”.
I thought I was clear, but yes, I was on a tear.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and as such in my opinion, I’m really sorry you feel that way. Your apparent discomfort of homosexuality, in my guess, probably makes you uncomfortable around people who are gay, and as such your closing your world off to a lot of people you could really like. I’m not saying that your not entitled to that opinion, and I don’t think your a horrible person, cause quite honestly, it’s online and I don’t know you, but you don’t seem mean by any means. People who disapprove of homosexuality are probably harassed to the degree they are because of past and still present “physical” disapproval. But as well, by feeling the way you do, I would guess that on votes such as, gay marriage” people who disapprove would most like say no, and that takes away from the freedom of people who are gay. Another reason might just be that the people who strongly disapprove to your opinion, or others like it, are gay, or have gay family, close friends etc. As such those people would probably take on a personal offense, and well were human, and as such emotional.
Your friend can be gay but a (_insert inanimate object here_) can’t be.
No Dogma, you were clear but as I was typing I couldn’t remember your exact words and thought it best to cover my butt in case I misquoted you.
Dino, what about homosexuality do you find immoral? I just find it an odd word choice for you, since you didn’t seem to me to be the type of person to think that way. It’s not a judgment on you or anything, I think you are a reasonable person, and I’m curious about why you think the way you do about this particular issue.
As for your question, I think FA answered it well. I’ll add that a lot of people who are vehemently opposed to homosexuality often demonstrate other traits which make the seem like intolerant dipshits and they therefore draw a lot of fire. You are an exception, hence my curiosity.
This bitch is gay.
Miles – I use the word immoral not in the biblical sense, but in the context of my own morals. Homosexuality is against my morals, and I feel that harrassment of my beliefs are just as offensive as if I were to harrass a gay person to be that way. I apologize if I worded it wrong. I am not a radicalist in that sense.
Dino, thanks for your response. I think in any sense “immoral” is not an appropriate word to describe homosexuality. But we can agree to disagree on this point and I won’t press it any farther. I typically agree with and respect your opinions a lot and was just a little surprised with your comment on this topic. No biggie, to each their own.
Sweet.
whats next Dino, you find Interracial dating immoral ? I don’t care what you say, just because you have an opinion doesn’t hide the fact that’s wrong, you do not carry any power to decide what is moral and what is not when it comes to decisions made by consenting adults, so relax and try to read more books about tolerant rather than the 199 ways to blow your BF on cosmo magazine.
damn this province is filled with concentrated douchebags , and its freaking 2009
To be honest, I didn’t even notice the use of the word gay as an insult in the SGR bitch until this OP pointed it out. There are a lot of things that people say to insult others that I personally wouldn’t say, and choose not to. When people who I am around on a daily basis say these things, I’ll call them on it, but I don’t care enough to worry about it past that. I’ll argue the gay thing because I think we’re still too historically close to beating them publiclly and giving them straight pills to use a word like gay in a negative context without negative consequences, whether or not we intend them. It might seem like we’ve come to 2009, and moved past things like I mentioned, but there are still a lot of bigots and racists out there, and we’re just helping them blend in.
So take notes from Mole Rat and Miles, don’t insult people using potentially offensive words unless you’re prepared to have them be offended, because you can’t expect the world to read between the lines of whether or not you meant to be an asshole.
Dino: I find it a little presumptuous that anyone feels entitled to have an opinion on the ‘morality’ of someone else’s sexuality. You should only expect to face opposition for your views, because by claiming some sort of moral high ground, you are essentially attempting to assert your superiority over other human beings. To state that the ‘behaviour’ of gays is a ‘strange phenomenon’ is to belittle an entire segment of society for who they are, so it should come as no surprise to you that this draws criticism.
No one is ‘forcing’ you to accept gay people, no more than you are ‘forced’ to respect the basic human rights of anyone you happen to share this world with. Through steadfast ‘harassment’, men were ‘forced to accept’ women as having the same basic rights, white supremacists were ‘forced to accept’ blacks, and so on. Much like the aforementioned antagonists’ opinions on the rights of others to exist, your viewpoint is becoming increasingly unpopular among enlightened folk. One can only hope that your way of thinking will eventually go the way of the dinosaur, junior.
Meow, I’m with miles on this one, I don’t agree with dino’s opinion by any means, and as miles said, I usually respect dino’s comments. However everyone is entitled to an opinion, it’s our right as a society. It is when that opinion start’s to affect people negatively that it becomes an issue. By saying what (assuming) she said, although offensive, people don’t have to listen to it or agree with it. If she was voting no on issues like gay marriage, then ya that could become problematic because she is letting her opinions hold herself above a class of people by taking their freedom away. However, as long as she is respecting people of all sexual orientation, race etc. and giving them the same rights as any other human being, than that opinion is hers and it is her “right” to have it. However it’s like I said, even if she is 100% respectful to the gay community, by having that opinion, she is automatically going to be discomforted on some level around homosexuals, and really that’s her lose because she is closing her world off to a great community, but if she keeps her opinion to just that, an opinion, than the gay community won’t feel any negative repercussions as a result of it.
“You People”? What’s that supposed to mean. Not every one uses those types of phrases in their everyday speech. “YOU PEOPLE” implies a race or genre and as far as I’m concerned that’s predjudice.
sheesh, mad mom must be the new Kay is she
This has been an interesting read so far. I always thought that “thats so gay” meant “thats so feminine”. not negatively or sexualy but flower and frilly. I personally don’t care what anyone does in their bed (or anywhere else *wink wink*) unless their pushing their beliefs on me (sexuality or religion). if your gay, great enjoy, if our straight, great enjoy, if your bi well have a party and invite both lol. the point is enjoy love where ever you find it.
If someone believes its immoral or an unnatural act they have that right. BTW this works both ways I have seen comments on here that were negative to straight people to. Eg: being called “breeder”
Dino:
The thing I don’t get about homosexuality being thought of as immoral, is that it seems to imply that it’s a conscious choice, which I don’t think it is. How can something be immoral that a person has no control over? I’m not sure if the immorality is meant to be in the impulse or in the act. Is the condition of being attracted to the same sex immoral, or is it the act of following through on the impulse and having sexual activity?
If you’re not interested in discussing it, that’s fine. I’m not necessarily wanting to jump on you or change your mind, just curious as to what the particular moral is that’s being usurped.
Maybe the reason why people get attacked for expressing disgreement with homosexuality is because we feel attacked by your beliefs. I mean, to have a stranger telling you that they way you live your life is wrong is a little hard to take lying down? Especially when many of us are attacked in our real lives face to face, either physically or verbally.
Miles, you make a good point about not necessarily needing new insults. Another thing is that there are many insults that don’t offend anyone, simply because they’re words specifically tailored to what the person did to piss you off. In that sense, maybe they’re more like blunt observations.
I’m not trying to say I’m perfect or that I expect everyone else to be perfect, sometimes I just get pissed off, and sometimes I say words that *I* think are offensive. Why: because it feels good. I am interested in questioning why it is that it feels good.
Mole Rat, IMO it’s merely because it’s empowering.
Mole Rat “The thing I don’t get about homosexuality being thought of as immoral, is that it seems to imply that it’s a conscious choice, which I don’t think it is. How can something be immoral that a person has no control over?”
there are alot of things people feel/state they have no control over that are immoral, ever met a serial rapist or pediphile, murderer, hanable lecter(sp?), joseph fritzl.
I know what your saying and I believe some people are born attracted to the same sex. it’s just the wording. sorry not sure if I explained it right
Everyone – reread my second comment – I used wrong word choice. By using the word immoral I meant against my personal morals, and that I feel like it is being forced upon me to accept. I used to live in Lexington, Massachusetts, grew up there, and at high school I was harrassed about my morals contrary to others beliefs in homosexuality. I became increasingly resentful of it. Even the Westboro Baptist Church came – which just added to the tension. I respect other people’s choices, however I resent when they are forced upon me.
Mole Rat, usually when someone feels the need to throw out an insult, it is because they feel they have been wronged somehow. Sometimes, the insult is directed at the person doing the wrong (e.g. the asshat that cut me off) and sometimes at a group of people that they feel does them wrong (e.g. “gays threatening my lifestyle”).
Insulting them makes us feel better because, as FA said, it gives us a little bit of power over them and, maybe it helps to salvage some of our hurt pride, depending on the situation.
If you really want to take the moral high ground (I path I don’t always travel) you are probably better off not insulting people. Anyway you slice it, it’s an immature way to deal with people.
Dino: First of all, homosexuality is not a ‘choice’, no more than heterosexuality is. You didn’t wake up one day and decide to be sexually attracted to a specific gender and neither did anyone else.
Secondly, unless there’s some group of marauding gays attempting to kidnap you and convert you to their homosexual cult, no one is forcing anything upon you.
The hypocrisy in demanding that everyone accept your right to have an opinion, while you deny the right of homosexuals to simply ‘be’, *should* be more apparent to you than it is. You seem like an otherwise reasonable individual, Dino, so it baffles me that can’t see the flaws in your logic. Sure, you can choose not to ‘accept’ homosexuality, just like you can choose not to accept that water is wet, or that humans breath oxygen. Just don’t expect many people to take you seriously, or not oppose your point of view when you decide to share it in a public forum.
I was in a bar the other day, and a dude said to a chick… “your haircut makes you look like a polygamist”. i nearly shat myself. And he was actually trying to hit on her. She was a dumbshit and didnt know what he meant.
Should polygamists have to put up with that?
I guess that depends on her haircut.
Dino, maybe you should take your homophobic opinion back to the States. lol
lol @ pas. it looked like the little girls from the big polygamy story last year down in colorado or wherever.
Sorta like an early 90s sackville hairdo.
Ace Boogie: Uncalled for. Did I ever say I was homophobic? No. It’s something I don’t agree with. I’m not an intolerant asshat. This is the kind of bullshit that I have zero tolerance for.
I’m not surprised someone decides to bring up pedophilia…in my mind there’s no comparison with this, and murder, etc. When a man has thoughts about other men, and follows through by doing stuff with men, who does this hurt? When a pedophile has thoughts about children and follows through and molests them, hurt occurs. Children are incapable of forming meaningful consent, while adults can.
My own personal moral beliefs are basically formed on the question does it hurt myself or others? So in that sense, if hurt results from following through on your impulses, then, yes, it is morally wrong, to me.
I agree that Ace’s comment is uncalled for. Throwing around insults and extreme terminology detracts from what was otherwise a relatively reasonable debate. There is a big difference between homophobia and heterosexism, and I politely suggest, Ace, that you read up on it if you’re so passionate about the issue.
So Dan Savage just started using the word “leotarded” instead of retarded as an insult. Let us all follow suit with our new words “Kay” and “Leotard”.
What’s “leotard” supposed to be referring to?
It refers to the strong and healthy rather than the disabled because picking on people who aren’t disabled doesn’t really matter.
Right, but where’s the “leo” part come from?
Maybe it’s still to early in the morning for me to get the joke…
GAY PRIDE. Get some.
“No one is ‘forcing’ you to accept gay people”… but if you don’t you’re a bigot or a “simpleton” according to the comments here.
Bitches… I can’t stay away for long and I never lie so, to change my name, which is my name… well, I didn’t.
Leotard, as is the spandex outfits that athetes wear.
Yep, Nevermind: Notice how Re- and Leo- both end with TARD. It’s a play on words. I understand.
Okay, I’m an idiot.
I get it know – that’s actually pretty funny 🙂 thanks PAS and Dino.
Dammit! That was supposed to be “I get it NOW”. Man I wish we could edit our comments after posting them.
I gotta get back to bed!
kay: As usual, you take the facts, and put that delightful ‘kay’ spin on them. If you go back and put your reading comprehension skills to work, you will clearly see that I called you a simpleton for using drag queens on which to base an opinion of gay people. I stand by my assessment of your limited reasoning ability. You’re quite obviously leotarded.
MAd mom, you people could refer to you people across the room, or you people who are going to ork today. get a f#$in clue.
drag queens are gay
you really are a genius, aren’t you, kay?
okay, drag queens are lame. better?
Kay not all drag queens are gay. There are quite a few guys who enjoy dressing up as ladies. It’s a job for some and a passion for others. I’ve seen some amazing looking ones that are straight.
shit mad mom mysteriously disappeared.
Tim… tell them I’m not mad mom
Tim, tell us to settle our own disputes.
he only sees IP and the user info provided… I think.
If she posts from a different physical site and used a different e-mail then I’m not sure even Tim could tell.
just my .02
what else could Tim possibly see? Hopefully her IP is geographically far from mine because her one-day history gives me no defense other than the fact that hers are not my words.