What do you say to someone who keeps saying stuff like "That's so Gay"?- Page 3

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 12:58pm

"And the definition of gay is not exclusive to homosexuals, thus the use of it to mean whacked."

Actually, the derrogatory use of "gay" referred to homosexuality and became a popular slang phrase in the 80s. I know because I was there and the people who used it did so in a consciously homophobic way. Back then, they would sometimes accompany this with a limp-wrist gesture to ridicule those who liked anything that could be considered "gay". Nowadays, the people who use it may not realize the origins of the slang usage of "gay" when they use it, but that does not make it go away. I am not always offended by it now unless it is truly spoken in a dileberately mean-spirited way.

You are right that the definition of the word is not exclusive to homosexuality, but its definition never had negative connotations until this particular slang usage was coined.

Here is the Mirriam-Webster definition:

Main Entry: 1gay
Pronunciation: 'gA
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French gai
1 a : happily excited : MERRY b : keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits
2 a : BRIGHT, LIVELY b : brilliant in color
3 : given to social pleasures; also : LICENTIOUS
4 a : HOMOSEXUAL b : of, relating to, or used by homosexuals
synonym see LIVELY

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 12:59pm

But, so what? This thread is gay.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:08pm

If by gay, you mean fashionable and witty, why yes. Yes it is.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:10pm

Justice - "Like I said, I do not consider menatlly or physically disabled people "retarded" as that is not PC."

But that is exactly how they were referred to years ago. Mentally disabled people were formerly known technically as "mentally retarded". My mother worked for MHMRA (Mental Health and Mental Retardation Association). When you use the word "retarded" in a way that implies stupidity, it is considered offensive. If you call your bosses retarded, you are implying they do indeed have a specific type of learning disability.

[Justice]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:15pm

Well, okay, they do have a learning disability. You can't work some place for a year and still NOT know what you are doing.

[showmethetony]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:31pm

ignorant 14yr old: "this math test is gay"

You: "in what way is algebra homosexual?"

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 4:36pm

DayDreamer, thank you, I was going to post something about the use of "retarded" after reading this thread as well. Do all of you that complain about the derrogatory use of the word "gay" complain/yell/etc. when someone says "That's so retarded"? Probably not.

I had teachers in school that would send kids to the office for saying "That's so gay" but use "That's so retarded" themselves. Way to promote a double standard, educators.

[Justice]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 7:50pm

Again...like I have been saying, using the word "retarded" is justified, as it is used in correct meaning, and not derogatory, as opposed to calling something Gay out of context. There's nothing wrong with calling something "Retarded" considering that the definition is "Occurring or developing later than desired or expected; delayed." For those who think they are making fun of Mentally challenged folk, well...obviously that is not the case. My boss took 2 months to reissue my bounced check. TWO MONTHS! when it should have only taken 2 weeks. Therefore, my Boss is retarded!

[Elizabeth_DeBris]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 8:42pm

That may be the case, Justice, but when 9th graders use "retarded" to describe the English assignment they were supposed to do over the weekend, it can't be easily assumed that they meant the English assignment occured later than expected. Of course "retarded" isn't just a politically incorrect way to refer to someone with a mental disability- it has other meanings- but in the majority of the instances I've heard it used in, the other meanings wouldn't apply.

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 9:22pm

I hear that all the time at my school. I say 'Come on! You don't even know what you're saying' really loudly and then they shut up and I leave.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 9:24pm

I yell at people in my school for saying it all the time. For the longest time they were convinced I was a lesbian because I yelled at them for saying it. They've been better lately because I'm on their case all the time, but I find it really obnoxious when they say stuff like that.

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 6/20/05 at 11:01pm

It's the same for "Gay" and "retarded", it's the culture nowadays. You have to learn to deal with both of them. Sticks and stones people, sticks and stones. I find both equally rude and offensive but I've learned to just deal with them.

[mollyllom]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:11am

I have to deal with this more than I would like. here are a few ways

1) Play dumb and say "wait, I don't understand how a homework assignment / whatever can be gay! how can ____ be attracted to someone of the same sex? or do you mean it like "happy", as the word used to mean?" then they kind of give up
2) That's not the right adjective. How about "stupid" or "lame" or "awful" or another one of the colorful words the english language includes?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:26pm

The people say that saying "That's so gay" has nothing to do with homosexuality annoy me. The reason why people started saying it in such a way is a result of the stereotype of gays being weak and flamey. It's the same with retarded and mentally challenged people. There are other words that are obviously not offensives like the ones molly suggested that can be used for the exact same effect.

People don't seem to understand why some people find certain things offensive. Everyone who's not ignorant knows that the N word is horrible because of its roots. People need to learn to think about things from other people's perspectives, but that's probably too much to ask for.