tk5800
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Sep 13, 2008
Posts: 177
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 Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject: is it wrong of me to use the word........ |
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fag
now we all know fag is used as a derogatory term, but all of my LGBT friends use it to describe homophobic people, so when someone calls me "ewww, your gay" am i allowed to say "fag" back
of course, there is always "this aggression will not stand man, you fascist!"
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Mindslave
Jackass of all trades
Joined: Nov 15, 2010
Age: 24
Posts: 1851
Location: Where the wild things wish they were
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| What do you mean, allowed? I say fa***t all the time. If someone gets offended, I can only conclude they are too sensitive for me to be around. It's not like I'm referring to anyone in particular. |
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Simonono
Bug
Joined: Oct 26, 2010
Age: 20
Posts: 3299
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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In England, 'fag' means cigarette. And 'fa***t' is a type of meat.  |
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DrS
Snowy Owl
Joined: Feb 08, 2010
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't like it. I especially dislike it when people use 'gay' as a perjorative term, as in "that sucks, that's totally gay". Annoys the hell out of me. Feels like I'm swimming upstream though, it's so commonly used that way. |
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delic
Blue Jay
Joined: Nov 01, 2010
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Personally I fail to understand how using gay in the way described above is offensive in any way, it's just the way people have learnt to use in that context, people aren't expressing their dislike for gays whenever they say it or anything sinister. |
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Descartes
Cogito Ergo Sum
Joined: Apr 09, 2008
Age: 21
Posts: 6005
Location: Arlington, Texas
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| DrS wrote: | | I don't like it. I especially dislike it when people use 'gay' as a perjorative term, as in "that sucks, that's totally gay". Annoys the hell out of me. Feels like I'm swimming upstream though, it's so commonly used that way. |
I'm the same way. I never say "fag" or "that's gay" out loud, because I take offense to those phrases. The only time I'd ever use the words "fag" is whenever I'm being sarcastic or trying to prove a point while arguing with someone, if that makes sense.
Also, while people who use the phrase "that's gay" may not be homophobic, I still take offense to it because the word is being used as a synonym for something that is bad.
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Zen
Phoenix
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Joined: Nov 11, 2010
Posts: 1868
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| It bothers me when people say that words are just words. Words are loaded with emotion and connotation. I haven't had personal issue with these words, since I don't know anyone who uses them in such a way, but I have issue with other words in a similar way. |
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syrella
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 15, 2011
Posts: 942
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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I don't really like the term "fag", so I don't use it. I never understood why people use the term "gay" either in slang. It always confused me.
As far as its usage, so long as you aren't trying to put someone down, I don't see a reason for why you can't use it. But that said, don't expect everyone to support you when you do use it. Some folks do get really offended, even if the term is used innocently or jokingly. Like the "n" word, and other racial slurs.
Also, know your audience.
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. |
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visagrunt
Polymath
Joined: Oct 17, 2009
Age: 46
Posts: 5761
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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I think that it is very much dependent upon context.
When a bully uses the words "fag" or "gay" to torment a victim, that is not excusable.
But when we reclaim words like "fag" and "queer" and make them our own, then I think that there is a legitimate use.
The difficulty comes, then, when a person uses the words in an ambiguous way. If you are using the work in a way that unambiguosly accepts and supports queer people, then I see no problem in using it. If, however, your words could be interpreted as being perjorative, then it is probably best to avoid using them.
And that means that you have to know your audience.
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the_curmudge
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Age: 62
Posts: 612
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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To me "fag/fa***t" is superoffensive because it involves a physical threat. My understanding is that fa***t originally meant a stick used for burning, perhaps a kind of kindling. The reference is to being burned alive at the stake. What could be more insulting than to be equated with the sticks used to burn you? That's not cute, funny or sophisticated. It's not something that can be "reclaimed." It's deeply offensive in the same way that references to nooses or hanging are to African Americans.
True, most people who use the term aren't aware of its origins. Perhaps they need to be educated in a (legally) forceful manner. |
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dunbots
Resident Linguist
Joined: Jan 03, 2011
Age: 19
Posts: 2721
Location: Washington, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| delic wrote: | | Personally I fail to understand how using gay in the way described above is offensive in any way, it's just the way people have learnt to use in that context, people aren't expressing their dislike for gays whenever they say it or anything sinister. |
Actually, people say "that's gay" because of their homophobia. Equating something inferior in quality or whatever is in reference to how homosexuals were treated in the past, and still some today. |
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Cornflake
Rattles when shaken
Joined: Oct 31, 2010
Posts: 31578
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
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| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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^^ +1
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Giraffe: a ruminant with a view. |
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delic
Blue Jay
Joined: Nov 01, 2010
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Actually, people say "that's gay" because of their homophobia. Equating something inferior in quality or whatever is in reference to how homosexuals were treated in the past, and still some today. |
I disagree, how could you possibly know what everyones views are when they say that. |
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Cornflake
Rattles when shaken
Joined: Oct 31, 2010
Posts: 31578
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
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| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| delic wrote: | | dunbots wrote: | | Actually, people say "that's gay" because of their homophobia. Equating something inferior in quality or whatever is in reference to how homosexuals were treated in the past, and still some today. |
I disagree, how could you possibly know what everyones views are when they say that. |
You don't need to know their views.
It's enough to know that in common vernacular, gay=homosexual, and when someone says "that's gay" they're saying "that's crap/defective/lame/useless/poor".
Therefore, 'gay' becomes a substitute word for crap/defective/lame/useless/poor.
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dunbots
Resident Linguist
Joined: Jan 03, 2011
Age: 19
Posts: 2721
Location: Washington, USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Cornflake wrote: | | delic wrote: | | dunbots wrote: | | Actually, people say "that's gay" because of their homophobia. Equating something inferior in quality or whatever is in reference to how homosexuals were treated in the past, and still some today. |
I disagree, how could you possibly know what everyones views are when they say that. |
You don't need to know their views.
It's enough to know that in common vernacular, gay=homosexual, and when someone says "that's gay" they're saying "that's crap/defective/lame/useless/poor".
Therefore, 'gay' becomes a substitute word for crap/defective/lame/useless/poor. |
You said it best.  |
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