interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

interstella · 18th Mar 2008, 08:52 AM

from BBC NEWS:

The word "gay" is now the most frequently used term of abuse in schools, says a report. How did it get to be so prevalent and why do children use homophobic insults to get at each other?

here's the link

to be honest, i think the whole 'non-homophobic' use of the word 'gay' is BS (i get offended when someone says "thats so gay" etc), but obviously some people think otherwise.

Étoile · 18th Mar 2008, 12:30 PM

I hate it when others use the word 'gay' as an insult or when trying to describe something, even when it's not used in the homosexual sense. Just because something seems normal to you doesn't mean it's not insulting to others. The word runs rampant in my school and it's really annoying.

ok455 · 18th Mar 2008, 12:41 PM

I agree that word is really annoying when im out in public u can hear it every 3 seconds

But its really offensive imo its just funny how straight means okay and gay means bad

I just respond i dint know ____ has a sexuality.

Beebo · 18th Mar 2008, 12:45 PM

It doesnt bother me to hear it being used about something that is not directly about homosexuality. However, I would rather not have the word gay be used in such a negative way... How cool would it be though, if the word gay was used in a good way, like it used to be.

The blue skies today are really gay; and it makes me glad.

Psychedelic Bookmarks · 18th Mar 2008, 02:57 PM

I hear it all the time and it makes me sad. One day people will realise and it will go out of usage, hopefully.

tehnathan · 18th Mar 2008, 08:41 PM

I hear it on and off and it annoys me. Not much I can do about it though!

Scotty2Hotty · 19th Mar 2008, 08:45 AM

"Gay" has become a word with a huge variety of meaning in the new generation and although it's use is not meant to be homophobic in the majority of circumstances, it does annoy me when I hear it being used in such a manner because it seems my sexual orientation is being credited very little respect, as it is usually used to describe something negative, in a derogatory manner, and so affording no consideration for the people who are actually "gay".

19th Mar 2008, 10:37 AM

I'd like to point out a comment from the article here, "A bad pair of trainers is much more likely to be called "gay" than a person, she says. "

This is the exact point! It's used to describe a bad pair of trainers which therefore insults gay people even if its not a direct insult to their face. I must say the use of the word gay in this sense is more irritating than insulting though. Useually if people meen to insult their sexuality they use words like "Faggot" rather than "gay"

19th Mar 2008, 01:35 PM

i'm guilty sorry i say it alot and it doesn't offend me cause here no actually means it until you say "so what if i am" or something along those lines here its just for fun.

19th Mar 2008, 07:38 PM

When I was in school, "gay" would be used as an insult often. It's getting really old and it should stop.

jroakwood · 19th Mar 2008, 11:44 PM

it bugs me too.
i usually say something when someone uses it.
oh, i didnt know that 'your homework being due tommorow' had a sexual preference'
or something like that, just to let the person know i dont like to hear it.

Level N Human · 20th Mar 2008, 12:54 AM

I have a counteractive plan: We will mutate the meaning of the phrase "Damn straight!"

It will be a successive approximation.

Phase 1 - Incorporate into daily use. Ex: "Bob Marley is cool." Respond with "Damn straight!"
Phase 2 - Apply sarcasm. Ex: "Barbara Streisand is cool." Respond with "Haha.. damn straight."

Here we begin to see that "damn straight" is starting to take on a negative connotation. Which will prepare us with...

Phase 3 - Abort phase 1 completely and only use "damn straight" to refer to things that suck. Over time, it will eventually lose its original meaning.

Questions?

pirateninja · 20th Mar 2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Level N Human

I have a counteractive plan: We will mutate the meaning of the phrase "Damn straight!"

It will be a successive approximation.

Phase 1 - Incorporate into daily use. Ex: "Bob Marley is cool." Respond with "Damn straight!"
Phase 2 - Apply sarcasm. Ex: "Barbara Streisand is cool." Respond with "Haha.. damn straight."

Here we begin to see that "damn straight" is starting to take on a negative connotation. Which will prepare us with...

Phase 3 - Abort phase 1 completely and only use "damn straight" to refer to things that suck. Over time, it will eventually lose its original meaning.

Questions?

None whatsoever

Oooohhh.... I'm going to have fun...

tehnathan · 20th Mar 2008, 06:33 AM

It's so old, people used to say it when I was in school. :[

Alexander · 20th Mar 2008, 06:38 AM

It's been that long? sheesh, and we complain when we hear our parents say groovy or something.

Rette · 20th Mar 2008, 11:24 AM

My hobby; anytime someone calls something gay, I just say something along the lines of "wow, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's reminded of man-on-man loving when talking about [insert whatever it was that was called gay here]".

I've personally stopped people from using the term "gay" pejoratively with this strategy. And if nothing else, it's fun seeing people squirm.

interstella · 20th Mar 2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rette

My hobby; anytime someone calls something gay, I just say something along the lines of "wow, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's reminded of man-on-man loving when talking about [insert whatever it was that was called gay here]".

i have MASSIVE respect for you!

LOL i should try that!

tehnathan · 20th Mar 2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by applovr

It's been that long? sheesh, and we complain when we hear our parents say groovy or something.

It has indeed.

21st Mar 2008, 11:15 AM

It annoys me when people say gay like it's something bad. Still nowhere near "faggot" or *shudders* "batty boy" in terms of offensiveness.

StarEater · 19th Dec 2008, 04:18 PM

it hear it alot to and i just hate it when poeple say "thats gay when it has nothing to do with being gay

18th Mar 2008, 08:52 AM	#1
interstella Don't call me GaGa... Full Member Gender: Genderqueer Orientation: Queer Out Status: Everyone Location: London, UK Age: 18 Posts: 700 Join Date: Feb 2008	interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools from BBC NEWS: The word "gay" is now the most frequently used term of abuse in schools, says a report. How did it get to be so prevalent and why do children use homophobic insults to get at each other? here's the link to be honest, i think the whole 'non-homophobic' use of the word 'gay' is BS (i get offended when someone says "thats so gay" etc), but obviously some people think otherwise. __________________ Lesbian? Gay? Bisexual? Transgender? Queer? Whatever.

18th Mar 2008, 12:30 PM	#2
Étoile He ate my heart Full Member Gender: Garçon Orientation: 95% Gay, 5% Cheesecake Out Status: Out to everyone Location: The Peach State Age: 20 Posts: 1,575 Join Date: Nov 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools I hate it when others use the word 'gay' as an insult or when trying to describe something, even when it's not used in the homosexual sense. Just because something seems normal to you doesn't mean it's not insulting to others. The word runs rampant in my school and it's really annoying.

18th Mar 2008, 12:41 PM	#3
ok455 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Some people Location: Can't tell L!O!L Age: 24 Posts: 437 Join Date: May 2005	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools I agree that word is really annoying when im out in public u can hear it every 3 seconds But its really offensive imo its just funny how straight means okay and gay means bad I just respond i dint know ____ has a sexuality. __________________ http://209.50.252.116/smile.gif Last edited by ok455; 18th Mar 2008 at 12:46 PM..

18th Mar 2008, 12:45 PM	#4
Beebo the cat what has facial hair. Full Member Gender: MAN Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Toronto Age: 23 Posts: 893 Join Date: Feb 2008	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools It doesnt bother me to hear it being used about something that is not directly about homosexuality. However, I would rather not have the word gay be used in such a negative way... How cool would it be though, if the word gay was used in a good way, like it used to be. The blue skies today are really gay; and it makes me glad. __________________ New Song up. a rough version of "The Ghost of Adam".(I will be adding more.)

18th Mar 2008, 02:57 PM	#5
Psychedelic Bookmarks Helena Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Close family and quite a few friends Location: UK Age: 18 Posts: 2,195 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools I hear it all the time and it makes me sad. One day people will realise and it will go out of usage, hopefully. __________________ "I refuse to recognize the terms hetero-, bi-, and homo-sexual. Everybody has exactly the same sexual needs. People are just sexual, the prefix is immaterial." (Morissey)

18th Mar 2008, 08:41 PM	#6
tehnathan Aspiring Student Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: That way. Over there. Or is it that way? Out Status: It's not a big deal. If people want to know, yes. Location: Ottawa, Canada Age: 35 Posts: 264 Join Date: Aug 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools I hear it on and off and it annoys me. Not much I can do about it though! __________________ "I like to tell people I have the heart of a small boy. Then I say it's in a jar on my desk." - Stephen King

19th Mar 2008, 08:45 AM	#7
Scotty2Hotty Newbie Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few people Location: Macclesfield Posts: 7 Join Date: Feb 2008	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools "Gay" has become a word with a huge variety of meaning in the new generation and although it's use is not meant to be homophobic in the majority of circumstances, it does annoy me when I hear it being used in such a manner because it seems my sexual orientation is being credited very little respect, as it is usually used to describe something negative, in a derogatory manner, and so affording no consideration for the people who are actually "gay".

19th Mar 2008, 10:37 AM	#8
JWAD Guest Posts: n/a	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools I'd like to point out a comment from the article here, "A bad* pair of trainers is much more likely to be called "gay" than a person, she says. "* This is the exact point! It's used to describe a bad pair of trainers which therefore insults gay people even if its not a direct insult to their face. I must say the use of the word gay in this sense is more irritating than insulting though. Useually if people meen to insult their sexuality they use words like "Faggot" rather than "gay"

19th Mar 2008, 01:35 PM	#9
mark4444 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools i'm guilty sorry i say it alot and it doesn't offend me cause here no actually means it until you say "so what if i am" or something along those lines here its just for fun.

19th Mar 2008, 07:38 PM	#10
Mick Guest Posts: n/a	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools When I was in school, "gay" would be used as an insult often. It's getting really old and it should stop.

19th Mar 2008, 11:44 PM	#11
jroakwood You're My Indian Summer. Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Some people Location: Minnesota Age: 21 Posts: 671 Join Date: Apr 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools it bugs me too. i usually say something when someone uses it. oh, i didnt know that 'your homework being due tommorow' had a sexual preference' or something like that, just to let the person know i dont like to hear it. __________________ "EVERYBODY SHOULD BE PRO LOVE." -BRITNEY SPEARS

20th Mar 2008, 12:54 AM	#12
Level N Human Deluxe Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Fag-ette. Out Status: Most friends Age: 22 Posts: 816 Join Date: Jul 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools I have a counteractive plan: We will mutate the meaning of the phrase "Damn straight!" It will be a successive approximation. Phase 1 - Incorporate into daily use. Ex: "Bob Marley is cool." Respond with "Damn straight!" Phase 2 - Apply sarcasm. Ex: "Barbara Streisand is cool." Respond with "Haha.. damn straight." Here we begin to see that "damn straight" is starting to take on a negative connotation. Which will prepare us with... Phase 3 - Abort phase 1 completely and only use "damn straight" to refer to things that suck. Over time, it will eventually lose its original meaning. Questions? __________________ If we hit that bullseye the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate.

20th Mar 2008, 06:33 AM	#14
tehnathan Aspiring Student Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: That way. Over there. Or is it that way? Out Status: It's not a big deal. If people want to know, yes. Location: Ottawa, Canada Age: 35 Posts: 264 Join Date: Aug 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools It's so old, people used to say it when I was in school. :[ __________________ "I like to tell people I have the heart of a small boy. Then I say it's in a jar on my desk." - Stephen King

20th Mar 2008, 06:38 AM	#15
Alexander EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Red Hook NY Age: 19 Posts: 2,736 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools It's been that long? sheesh, and we complain when we hear our parents say groovy or something.

20th Mar 2008, 11:24 AM	#16
Rette Without me, it's just aweso Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few people Location: Calgary Age: 25 Posts: 739 Join Date: Jun 2007	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools My hobby; anytime someone calls something gay, I just say something along the lines of "wow, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's reminded of man-on-man loving when talking about [insert whatever it was that was called gay here]". I've personally stopped people from using the term "gay" pejoratively with this strategy. And if nothing else, it's fun seeing people squirm.

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21st Mar 2008, 11:15 AM	#19
STK Guest Posts: n/a	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools It annoys me when people say gay like it's something bad. Still nowhere near "faggot" or shudders "batty boy" in terms of offensiveness.

19th Dec 2008, 04:18 PM	#20
StarEater Member Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: My 2 Best Friends Location: Wisconson Posts: 23 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: interesting article on use of the word 'gay' in schools it hear it alot to and i just hate it when poeple say "thats gay when it has nothing to do with being gay __________________ ~Shine Like A Star~