I can see it now, eh?

[One Brow]

Stickler, thank you for the kind words. Don't worry about the rep points, I'm not really into that game.

I don't argue that but as I pointed out earlier it has become a word to describe something that is stupid or lame and in my estimation only people that are hyper-sensitive or overly PC view it as a slur against homosexuals.

The reason it became a slur meaning "stupid or lame" is because the word was adopted by homosexuals in the first place.

Eric, apparently there is now an established meaning to such declarations that has nuthin to do with homosexuality, but that aint even the point. The point is what is "perjorative?" Lack of particpation? Lack of outspoken advocacy for? Lack of agreement? What? Why is is perjorative for me to say, for example, "I don't like dogs." Do I owe it to dogs to love, approve of, shelter, and feed them, if that's what they want?

Hopper, it is the point that the established meaning derived from public disapproval of homosexuality.

It's not perjorative to say you don't like homosexuals, just bigoted and foolish. It is perjorative to use a word that describes people and turn it into an insult. This is not that dificult a distinction.

 

[One Brow]

It's fine for homosexuals to commandeer and co-opt a long-establshed english word ("gay") and attempt to completely revise it's meaning, but just let some non-homosexual try to do the same, eh? KNOCK IT OFF!

They adopted the word because 1) it was falling out of general use anyhow, and 2) it was meant to emphasize that they were happy with their life.

Gays seem to start with the premise that anything "gay" is "bad" and to be avoided, eh? If you say sumthin is "gay," even if it is (like, say, trollin men's restroom's, lookin for "action"), then you are "defaming" homosexuals. Zup wit dat?

If not defaming, at least stereotyping. Common for shallow thinkers. That so blues-fan of you.

Of course, since you're a fan of the blues, you took that as a compliment, right?

 

[moevillini]

I think we need to start making better use of the word DULL

 

[Scat]

2)They adopted the word because... 2) it was meant to emphasize that they were happy with their life.

Which we know now was a desperate attempt at self acceptance. The word they really needed to adopt is marriage. This is the word that will truly emphasize that they are happy with their lives... until an even better word comes along that is.

Of course by that time we will have started to use such terms as, "Look at that marriage" or "He blew through town like a marriage" or "His life is a marriage" to describe disasters and really bad situations.

 

[colton]

The reason it became a slur meaning "stupid or lame" is because the word was adopted by homosexuals in the first place.

Undoubtedly, but I found this to be interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay

In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and occasionally as a noun, referring to the people, practices, and culture associated with homosexuality. By the end of the 20th century, the word gay was recommended by major style guides to describe people attracted to members of the same sex. At about the same time, a new, pejorative use became prevalent in some parts of the world. In the Anglosphere, this connotation, among younger speakers, has a derisive meaning equivalent to rubbish or stupid (as in "That's so gay."). In this use the word does not mean "homosexual", so it can be used, for example, to refer to an inanimate object or abstract concept of which one disapproves. When used in this way, the extent to which it still retains connotations of homosexuality has been debated.

 

[One Brow]

Of course by that time we will have started to use such terms as, "Look at that marriage" or "He blew through town like a marriage" or "His life is a marriage" to describe disasters and really bad situations.

So, if we allow homosexuals to marry, you think that will inevitably result in marriage taking on a poor connotation? I'm not disagreeing, but why do you think that is so?

 

[One Brow]

Undoubtedly, but I found this to be interesting.

Appartently, the source saying it had nothing to do with being homosexual was a panel of five BBC commissioners, not one of whom seems to be a linguists.

I agree that post hoc ergo propter hoc is a fallacy, so this is not iron-clad proof. However, it seems to me that homosexual men self-identifying as "gay" has been common for some 30 years (which is why it is now being recognized by the major style guides, who do not make these changes overnight), while the pejorative use less than fifteen.

 

[moevillini]

geez folks, forget wikipedia and use common sense...


when homosexual men began co-opting the use of the word "gay" to describe themselves, it did not take long for the word "gay" to become a term of ridicule because it referred to homosexual behavior which was the object of much ridicule. Whether or not the actual application of the term "gay" as a pejorative has anything to do with homosexuality is irrelevant. The fact that it has a pejorative connotation at all has everything to do with its association with homosexuality.

That said, it is morphing into a gray area of acceptance - much like the term "bitching" is now pretty standard as a generic term for "complaining"

 

[Hopper]

If not defaming, at least stereotyping. Common for shallow thinkers. That so blues-fan of you.

Of course, since you're a fan of the blues, you took that as a compliment, right?

Call me a blues fan all ya want, sho. It's what I is. If you think that has bad connotations, help yourself. I'll NEVER feel insulted because sumbuddy else is too damn thick to loves the blues.

That's the whole point, really. YOU (or I) can not like sumthin, but, except mebbe for you, in your own mind, your opinion does not establish the objective value (or lack thereof) of anything.

What would be gay of me would be to INSIST that you like and praise the blues, rather than "insult" me.

Put another way, it is straight-up GAY to claim you are "insulting" me by not liking or agreeing with me. Gay as all git-out.

Think about it. Can you imagine me runnin to the mods, whinin, and insistin that they make you stop dissin the blues, because I like it, and you don't? They would (and should) laff in my face.

 

[Hopper]

I could go on and on with examples. Spoze I smoke cigarettes, and you, and a bunch of your homeys, think that smokin is utterly stupid and disgustin, so you ridicule the smokin habit, and me, if I say I smoke.

Same with, say, drinkin. Or stealin. Or lyin. Or fishin. Or anything.

It would be asburd for me to insist that, because YOU don't like fishin, you call people you disapprove of "fisherman" and that, therefore, it is an insult, and therefore the mods must strictly prohibit you from callin anybuddy a "fisherman."

 

[One Brow]

Call me a blues fan all ya want, sho. It's what I is. If you think that has bad connotations, help yourself. I'll NEVER feel insulted because sumbuddy else is too damn thick to loves the blues.

Works for me.

That's the whole point, really. YOU (or I) can not like sumthin, but, except mebbe for you, in your own mind, your opinion does not establish the objective value (or lack thereof) of anything.

Certainly not for me.

What would be gay of me would be to INSIST that you like and praise the blues, rather than "insult" me.

No one has asked you to like or praise anything.

Put another way, it is straight-up GAY to claim you are "insulting" me by not liking or agreeing with me.

I don't see that as being a characteristic of being a homosexual, so I must disagree with characterizing such a trait as "gay". I also don't see where anyone has said that mere disagreement/dislike is the same as being an insult (although sometimes KatieMCR can give off that vibe when she reacts strongly to things).

Think about it. Can you imagine me runnin to the mods, ...

Nope.

 

[One Brow]

I could go on and on with examples. Spoze I smoke cigarettes, and you, and a bunch of your homeys, think that smokin is utterly stupid and disgustin, so you ridicule the smokin habit, and me, if I say I smoke.

You have completely missed the point. How blues-fan of you.

 

[Hopper]

You have completely missed the point. How blues-fan of you.

No, Eric, you missed the point. How gay of you.

 

[One Brow]

No, Eric, you missed the point.

What point do you think I've missed?

 

[LORDZEDD]

He's used to it.

oh man, oh man, that made me laugh like crazy, i know got rice and zabsi all over my keyboard. id rep you but I dont have the power.

 

[Hopper]

What point do you think I've missed?

What point do you think I've missed?

 

[Nate505]

You can smoke a *** as well.

I'm sure you could.

 

[Hopper]

I know a guy who is an utter coward. I mean a snivelin, cringin chicken-**** who is afraid of EVERYTHING which he thinks entails the slightest degree of risk, and he sees "risk" even where there aint none.

Is it a "sin" to be a coward? Is it a moral deficiency? That may depend on your definition, but I would say "no." It is a definite weakness, sure, but morality has nuthin to do with it. A baby is weak, but not morally reprehensble on that account.

That said, most (but not all) people do not "respect" cowardice. It just aint respectable, know what I'm sayin?

But this coward DEMANDS respect for, and approval of, his cowardice. In his mind, he's entitled to "respect" for his weakness because, I guess, it bothers him that he isn't respected.

If he had his way, it would be a capital offense for anyone to express the slightest disrepect for cowards. Luckily, the coward doesn't have the nads to ever be in a position to enforce his will, eh?

 

[Hopper]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZJcAeJ8YRo

 

[Hopper]

...I found this to be interesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay

I found this part interestin, and consistent with my prior understanding, eh, Colton?:

"Other connotations of frivolousness and showiness in dress ("gay apparel") led to association with camp and effeminacy. This association no doubt helped the gradual narrowing in scope of the term towards its current dominant meaning..." If ya click on the camp and effeminacy links, here's some of whatcha git:

"Camp derives from the French slang term se camper, meaning “to pose in an exaggerated fashion”. The OED gives 1909 as the first print citation of camp as "ostentatious, exaggerated, affected, theatrical; effeminate or homosexual; pertaining to, characteristic of, homosexuals...

Effeminacy describes traits in a human male, that are more often associated with traditional feminine nature, behavior, mannerisms, style or gender roles rather than masculine nature, behavior, mannerisms, style or roles. It is a term frequently applied to womanly behavior, demeanor, style and appearance displayed by a male, typically used implying criticism or ridicule of this behavior (as opposed to, for example, merely describing a male as feminine, which is non-judgmental)."

Seems that is what "gay" means, or was intended to mean when the term was appplied to homosexuals. Aint none of that too appealin to the average person, whatever their sexual orientation is, know what I'm sayin?

On the one hand, ya got your run of the mill homosexual. On the other, ya got your FLAMING homosexual. For better or worse, the term "gay" has seemingly traditionally been associated with the flamers.