We don't live in Kansas, where, frankly, I would NOT use the word gay as I thought I could here, since in Kansas people might think I was referring to homosexuals.
IMO, gay is not a derogatory word. There are lots of other words that are derogatory that I would not use - ever.
To me, 'That is so gay' evokes childhood -- and a time when I certainly was not thinking of homosexuals when I used it. The phrase meant something lame, and corny, not 'homosexual'.
marymoon
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
the reason eople started using the word 'gay' to mean 'lame' 'bad' and sucky' is becayse they equated those characteristics with other things refered to as 'gay', such as people who are homosexual. I know that's not how you meant it, but it bears the history of hatred.
Butterflybride
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
I used to hate it when people used that word, but so many of my friends used to say it in high school and I got so tired of explaining why it bothered me, that eventually it got to the point where the word didn't even phase me any more. So many young children use that word so openly now ('that's so gay!' 'you're so gay.' etc.) that nobody even realizes that it came from hatred and wasn't meant to be used in such a silly and common way that it is now.
MuchInLuvMichi
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
i never really use that word.. but still...its just a word..
i dont think it was ment to b used offensively in the other thread..
we need a 'simmer down' icon
MrsERod
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
Posted by MuchInLuvMichi
i never really use that word.. but still...its just a word..
i dont think it was ment to b used offensively in the other thread..
we need a 'simmer down' icon
thank you michi...i have to agree
june262004
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
Dont want to get involved in the drama.... Just wanted to add that I have three Gay cousins and the word Gay (the way you used it) Does NOT bother me. JMHO.
lolita4life
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
the word doesnt bother me either. i used to say it, but i dont want to offend, so i dont use it
june262004
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
Posted by lolita4life
the word doesnt bother me either. i used to say it, but i dont want to offend, so i dont use it
LOL I say it in front of my cousin and he says it back LOL!!!!!!
lolita4life
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
i DID however say it on new years eve, drunk, in front of a gay kid.. hes a queen and it didnt bother him a bit
june262004
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Posted by lolita4life
i DID however say it on new years eve, drunk, in front of a gay kid.. hes a queen and it didnt bother him a bit
A queen LOL...
When we had the rehersal dinner for my cousins Comitment ceremony My cousins boyfriend husband (whatever we call him) brother was sitting next to me and mike on the other side. Anthony (the brother) kept putting his arm around me and touching mikes arm and going tall dark handsome young my type it was so funny. He was talking about going to a store in Miami for Queens and buying his pumps for his alter ego TaraMasu
marymoon
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
I never even KNEW anyone who said that in a negative wasy until I went to college on LI, and I was totally shocked. I don't like it because it's used to mean something negative, the implication AND the source is that being gay is negative. it may seem harmless, but people have been KILLED because people equate being gay with being 'lame, bad, etc'....anything that has roots in hatred isn't harmless.
SeptWed
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
Remember the Flinstones opening theme song.....WE''LL HAVE A GAY, OLD TIME!
I personally do not see anything wrong with it. And i don't think it is necessary to call her out on this...its obvious to me that she was not using it to be derogatory.
luvsbob4603
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
that word doesn't bother me at all. it can be used in all differents ways like we are going to have a gay old time ( meaning fun) also in the context of calling someone gay which would not be appropiate. but overall its just a word and its not a big thing.
Kate07
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
Posted by Butterflybride
I used to hate it when people used that word, but so many of my friends used to say it in high school and I got so tired of explaining why it bothered me, that eventually it got to the point where the word didn't even phase me any more. So many young children use that word so openly now ('that's so gay!' 'you're so gay.' etc.) that nobody even realizes that it came from hatred and wasn't meant to be used in such a silly and common way that it is now.
Using 'gay' to describe something that is lame or stupid or corny bothers me bcause it makes me think when guys say 'Women!' like women are stupid. I don't know if anyone understands what I mean but anyway I guess anither reason is I guess we're all adults, I don't know why we can'y just talk like it - even if it is a corny game - still a fun one at that. I'm really not trying to be offensive because I know Clueless wasn't trying to be offensive in the least. But I can certainly see marymoon's point as well. Using 'gay' to describe something definitely has a meaning other than corny, or else people would just say corny or lame.
1017Bride
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
I remember as middle school kids if we heard that word in a story or as in the Flintstones we would just laugh as just kids those age do because we attribute it as meaning homosexual. I thought it was silly though when people laughed.
In high school some people would use the saying 'that is gay'. I attributed it to mean its lame. I don't know though if anyone had any bad intentions using that phrase.
palebride
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
I personally find it just as offensive as when people describe things as being 'retarted' If any of my students use it in my presence I ask them to choose another word. Gay can be used to mean happy....but it generally isn't. There are so many other wonderful words in the English Language...why choose one that might be offensive to someone?
1017Bride
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
I realize how silly it was as a kid to use those words. I think now it is totally wrong and it is so ingrained in our society we don't even think about it.
RedHead
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
IMO...it is just a word..a word by definition means happy, exuberant or joyful..how is that bad or wrong?
Ignorant people have put the negative connotation to the word...the word itself isn't meant to be derogagtory...
I think the word can and should be used and not stigmatized the way it has... The more people attach negativity to the word the more it is associated with it.. jmo
palebride
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
The problem is that the word was meant to mean happy but the way people use it rarely means happy. I missed how it was used that it offended someone....but I know that when I hear people use it 99% of the time, they are using it to describe something that they do not like, or something they find undesireable.....which is a negative thought. If someone was to use it to describe something happy - as in 'i Had such a gay time at my wedding, it was wonderful', that would be great. It might sound a little antiquated....but it would be the proper use of the word. I don't know - I think i might be sensitive to it because i had a gay uncle who died of AIDS in the 80's and my grandparents were very hurtful to him because of their beliefs that being gay was wrong.....and it still bothers me to this day. I don't like that people associate being gay with something negative.....even if they don't intend to necessarily
suven
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Re: My use of the Word GAY
Yes, we can always use better words when speaking.
but, sometimes I worry that we will become like 1984
