Gay Pupils Insulted By Homophobic Phrases

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/24984781

the word "Gay", from the French "gai", meaning joyful or bright and showy, was increasingly appropriated in the last century to mean a particular lifestyle associated with orientation. Now it's been appropriated by others to mean something else.

Language is constantly evolving; is this something that the LGBTI community needs to "get over", or is the word "gay" now irrevocably locked to its 20th century meaning?

[sp1814]

naomi24

And prior to that, it meant a man who consorted with prostitutes, and before that it referred to prostitutes themselves.

The word has changed meanings every couple of centuries.

I don't see why people get up in arms because the word gay has come to mean homosexual.

Why don't people get upset that the word straight now means heterosexual rather than 'extending or moving uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend'?

[joggerjayne]

There's so much pussy footing around.

Drawing attention to these words causes more trouble than just using them.

Some people take offence if you call gay people "queer"

Although, actually, only straight people make a fuss.

I don't recall the fashion guy on "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" saying You can't call me queer!

The more we make a fuss, and the more we try to stop people using certain words, the more those words will seem offensive, and the more school kids will use them.

[ludwig]

// I don't see why people get up in arms because the word gay has come to mean homosexual. //

It's never bothered me in the slightest, and if the meaning is changing again, that doesn't bother me either.

[sp1814]

joggerjayne

If your 8 year old child started using the 'c' word, how would you handle it?

I've always thought that was a bit of a minefield for parents because the more you draw attention to it, the more attractive it becomes to the child.

I assume you would at least say something? Pointing out that it's not a nice word to use?

[Baldric]

///without a curve or bend'?///

Is there where 'bent' comes from, do you think sp, as in not straight?

[naomi24]

SP, I am not 'up in arms' or 'upset'. I'm simply pointing out that the word has been hijacked, something you have now confirmed.

I agree with Jayne. Making a fuss serves only to exacerbate the problem. Apart from that, pussyfooting around people's 'sensibilities' for whatever reason results in constantly treading on eggshells. Everything upsets someone.

[joggerjayne]

Not sure about that one, sp.

Maybe we have a slightly different outlook down here.

Here's a possibility ...

In parts of the country where there isn't such a big gay population, gay words are not used so much. So, when they are used, it stands out, and gets over analysed.

Where I live, gay is just part of life. We use so much gay language that, if you got upset about particular words, we'd never be able to open our mouths.

When we go drinking, we go in gay bars and lez pubs because they have the jolliest atmospheres.

And we look out at other parts of the country, where they take the odd word, and get all twisted up about it. I could just imagine some of these people walking up the hill through Kemptown, past the gay sex shops and mens "massage" places, with their explicit posters.

Actually, maybe it's better they don't, lol.

[sp1814]

It's no more been 'hijacked' than the word 'partner' has been hijacked by straight people from gay people.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Maybe it's because I've worked with gay teens who've attempted to kill themselves that I see things slightly differently.

[FredPuli43]

Don't quite get that , Naomi. If you use insulting or derogatory words to someone, you are out of order. Everyone must surely know which words are taken as derogatory or insulting. If someone uses the "N word" to someone black it will be taken as insulting, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Treading on eggshells doesn't come into it, as regards any individual. What is odd is the universal avoidance or condemnation of words because they might cause offence to someone, whether or not any individual feels offended or would be in the particular case; this is 'political correctness'

[jim360]

The point that has been made earlier in the thread is that the word "gay" was never hijacked. It merely took on a different meaning. Rather like all words do. I have to say I always thought of it as being hijacked myself, until yesterday. It seems that it was ignorant of me to assume so.

[sp1814]

Anyway...this will go away at some point, in the same way that kids today don't use the words meffer, biffer, spazz and Joey.

Could be as little as five years away.

[naomi24]

SP, this is exactly the problem - you're looking for offence. My posts aren't anti-gay - and you of all people should know that. I've simply pointed out that the meaning of words change, which is fine, it seems, when the new meaning suits you, but unacceptable when it doesn't.

Incidentally, it isn't only gay teens who take their lives.

[Peter Pedant]

Sp

ah... where do words come from and where do they go to /

or why dont we still use 'welkin' for the sky-blue colour
and why did we start to use sky-blue when there was a perfectly good word for it otherwise ?

[joggerjayne]

But part of the problem is that the people who try to be offended, are people who are not affected.

Who decided that football clubs would take action against fans who call Spurs supporters "yiddos"? Not the Spurs fans. They watered down the word by adopting it themselves. Now the FA have given the word back to the visiting fans by telling them they can't use it.

And why do straight people get offended when te gay community is described as "queer"? The gay community really don't care. In fact ...

http://www.queerattitude.com/

Queer Attitude. The gay youth chat forum.

[Brenden]

But they use derogatory words to each other fred, the black guys in my office referred to each other as niggerboy, we were not allowed to (not that I wanted to ) they were people to me, and had names, I do not know what homosexuals refer to each other as but I bet some of the words are derogatory. I am slowly losing the plot of whats PC and what is not. Just a point of interest one of my favourite girls names was Gaye - which is now obsolete.

[jim360]

At some universities the Union for such people is LGBTQ, where the Q is for "queer" of course. I find it odd that people want to use that word to describe themselves, but if they do then it can hardly be found offensive. I think, like many other words, it depends on who's saying it and how.

[FredPuli43]

Exactly, brenden; as I have said before in threads, Reginald D Hunter, a black comedian from the deep South, has great fun with the "N word", which he uses a lot, saying that he's sorry if that offends 'you white folks'. Where he comes from, his own family uses it, and it is in common use in the black community and with no insult there. But context is everything; if I, a white man, used it in Britain, it would be intended as insulting, and would be taken as such

[Brenden]

But surely fred if words are non PC for one they are non PC for all.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Agreed, but the numbers of young gay people who attempt at some point to take their own lives is shockingly high. Far in excess of their straight counterparts.