Is gay okay?

Cactus Col

If a knacker is a scumbag, and not a member of the travelling community, is it okay to call something that's crap gay?

i.e. that shirt is a bit gay (essentially meaning it's lame).

RainbowBrite

Well, I call every stupid idiot I see a nob, so what does that say about me????

(With regards to your comment, I wouldn't think anything negative of it, but I suppose I should!!! Just like praising someone for being a really hard worker & saying "they work like a black")
Probably shouldn't say it...

Fanny Cradock

yeah, you probably shouldn't.

Charm Offensive

RainbowBrite wrote:

Just like praising someone for being a really hard worker & saying "they work like a black"

Jesus christ.

qz

I used to say it far more when I was younger. And "gaybo" too was a good one. Don't say it much anymore though for some reason.

Oriel

Sweat like a n!gger would be more usual.


/edit which I would never NEVER use...:rolleyes:

iFight

RainbowBrite wrote:

"they work like a black")
Probably shouldn't say it...

Never heard that before

And i wouldnt say that saying that something is 'gay' is that bad, itd hardly offend someone who is gay, is that even a proper term?

humbert

there are a few similar phrases we irish use that we'll need to discard because they mean one think to us which is harmless but some thing else entirely to many of the people coming into our country:o

tbh the only reason I wouldn't use gay as a derogatory adjective is because there are better words out there, I don't think many gay people would be sufficiently sensitive to take offence but I could be wrong.

Terry

Cactus Col wrote:

If a knacker is a scumbag, and not a member of the travelling community, is it okay to call something that's crap gay?

like this thread?

i.e. that shirt is a bit gay (essentially meaning it's lame).

doesn't "gay" mean happy?

layke

Did you ever play an online game? Gay is the most used word I have ever seen.

"Your Gay" "Thats Gay"

It generally means thats bad. But it's strangely kept separate from Homosexual gay, like a lot of people say it without thinking. I know I used to say it frequently around my gay mates when I was younger, they didn't mind or see it in a malicious way. Eye of the beholder I guess.

Besides, everyone here is gay.

WhiteWashMan

probably a topic you should start in humanities if youre looking for a serious answer

azezil

I wouldn't take offence if it was said, just find it amusing that a word meaning 'happy and care-free' is used in a negitive sense

Back in my CS playing days I used to call everyone who killed me a "FAG!", always said while laughing thou

speedy21

maybe if you're 8?

Vinnie69

humbert wrote:

there are a few similar phrases we irish use that we'll need to discard because they mean one think to us which is harmless but some thing else entirely to many of the people coming into our country:o

tbh the only reason I wouldn't use gay as a derogatory adjective is because there are better words out there, I don't think many gay people would be sufficiently sensitive to take offence but I could be wrong.

I take great offence at your remarks!

If anyone asks me if I am gay, I reply "Of course NOT, I am Queer!!" Usual does the business!

humbert

Vinnie69 wrote:

I take great offence at your remarks!

If anyone asks me if I am gay, I reply "Of course NOT, I am Queer!!" Usual does the business!

Are you being serious, I would have though queer has far worse connotations?

Vinnie69

humbert wrote:

Are you being serious, I would have though queer has far worse connotations?

I am not! I do it if people feel uncomfortable asking, it is a ice-breaker. I agree nowadays people use the "gay" as expressing something as "old hat", "bad taste" or "passe" and not referring to someone's sexuality. Confusing or what?

bonkey

Cactus Col wrote:

If a knacker is a scumbag, and not a member of the travelling community, is it okay to call something that's crap gay?

No.

In the former case, you're talking about a term which has become derogatory, and then been expanded in its application to be derogatory in a more general (as opposed to a more directed) fashion. In other words, knacker most recent etymology would be that it went from being a derogative term for member of travelling community to being a deroative term in general. Personally, I don't think its acceptable in either useage, but thats a seperate issue.

Continuing the reasoning....the only way the word "gay" would be acceptable as a generic descrioption of something thats crap would be if it was expanded from a specific description of something thas crap. In other words, if "gay" went from being a derogative term for homosexuals to being a generic derogative, then your reasoning might hold up. But thats not whats happened, so I'll finish where I started.

No.

biko

AFAIK Gay doesn't mean lame or crap, at least I never heard it in this sense.

r3nu4l

Yep, in England a lot of teenage kids are using the word 'gay' to mean cr*p or stupid.

Personally I think it sounds really stupid to say 'That (insert noun here) is gay'. It has no real meaning and yes gamers are using it quite a lot. I remember in a MMORPG I was playing, someone told me that the sword I was using was 'gay'. Took me a while to figure out he meant that the sword wasn't very good

Swearing in general is just a really easy and lazy way to express displeasure or dislike at something. It's easy for those with poor linguistic skills.

RainbowBrite

RainbowBrite wrote:

Just like praising someone for being a really hard worker & saying "they work like a black")

BTW, I don't actually use this phrase, nor have I ever, it's just something I hear being said quite often, & it is one to cause offence, I think

r3nu4l

I don't use these either but there is also the...

"What, am I black?" when you are left out of something.
"You scabby Jew" to someone who won't share something with you.
I remember saying these in the playground at primary school and not really having any comprehension of how wrong they were :rolleyes:

I think the 'that's gay' thing is offensive but probably not quite as offensive as those.

mang87

I call people actualy homosexuals homos, morons fags, and anything that is crap is gay or hax

Vinnie69

mang87 wrote:

I call people actualy homosexuals homos, morons fags, and anything that is crap is gay or hax

Ohhh!! that is soo straight!!:D

ateam

Although kids say "gay" to mean uncool or whatever, it doesn't make it ok. You don't see gay people saying "god that's straight".

Oriel

It's meant to mean inferior... which some people think gay peope are.

humbert

I would have assumed it came from an ignorant adolescent homophobia and a consequential negative association with the word.

Nevyn

This topic came up a while back in the LGB forum
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054924936

I don't agree with terms of reference to a persons gender or sexuality being use as a term that degrades a person, item or an activity.

Giblet

I call people faggots all the time, I'm not thinking they're gay or calling them gay, I don't even put those together. It's just another slagging.

Cactus Col

Now ... the reason I asked was because of a complaint put into the BBC about the Chris Moyles show. He refered to a ringtone as being gay. The BBC Commissioners dismissed the complaint, saying that the "use of the word "gay" to mean "lame" or "rubbish" was widespread among young people "

I've no problem in using the word in the context of something being crap, but I was wondering if I was just being maybe not p.c. enough.

Emmo

No its offensive and it brings negative connetations to a word already used in a hateful way by some.

If something is **** then use the word ****, if its stupid use stupid.

If someone is gay then use it in a non offensive capacity to describe their sexuality.

Emmo

Donegal Lass

Emmo wrote:

No its offensive and it brings negative connetations to a word already used in a hateful way by some.

If something is **** then use the word ****, if its stupid use stupid.

If someone is gay then use it in a non offensive capacity to describe their sexuality.

Emmo

well said, I agree!

Tar.Aldarion

Ok in my book.
Everything I said here is why.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054904659&highlight=gay+as+abuse

Pigman II

Giblet wrote:

I call people faggots all the time, I'm not thinking they're gay or calling them gay, I don't even put those together. It's just another slagging.

Me too. I use it as a term of insult for unmanly behaviour. I'll call someone a **** if they are acting stupid or indecisive or just poncing around.

So a straight guy who goes on a like a pussy is a **** but a gay guy thats cool, to the point, and will stand up for himself isn't a ****.

L31mr0d

Emmo wrote:

No its offensive and it brings negative connetations to a word already used in a hateful way by some.

If something is **** then use the word ****, if its stupid use stupid.

If someone is gay then use it in a non offensive capacity to describe their sexuality.

Emmo

A word can have one of many connOtations depending on the context in which it is used. I'm not going to so trite as to give examples of other words but under your logic, we should then force Homosexuals to stop using it and return it to its original meaning of being light hearted, bright and lively rather then a sexual orientation. The meaning of words change, if it is now understood to be something, albeit colloquially, lame/camp/crap/kitsch then that is what it is. It is not said to berate Homosexuals, rather as an alternative to a melee of other words to slag others

Cactus Col

Emmo wrote:

If something is **** then use the word ****, if its stupid use stupid.

but what if something is the ****?

Tricity Bendix

I use it as a term of insult for unmanly behaviour. I'll call someone a **** if they are acting stupid or indecisive or just poncing around.

Well, the word **** can be used to describe 'unmanly' (but not necessarily homosexual) behaviour, so you're alright to use it.

It also means a bundle of sticks.

Personally, I try not to refer to things as 'gay', but my brothers use it all the time.

mang87

words shall destroy us all!!

Terry

this thread is gay.
take that as per your preference.

The_Minister

I think if something is crap your meant to spell it Ghey (don't quote me on that). Its a way for gay activists to cseperate the two uses.

Pythia

From http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1791597,00.html

One listener complained after Moyles described a ringtone as "gay" on his Radio 1 show in July last year.

The BBC governors accepted his comment could cause offence, but said the item "met the required editorial standards and did not demonstrate homophobia".

"In broadcasting to an audience of predominantly young people, it was to be expected that Chris Moyles would use expressions and words which the listeners used themselves," the committee's report said.

Guy:Incognito

The word is GHEY , you bunch of homos.

Crucifix

A friend of mine recently said to me "I don't care that he's gay, but he's just such a ****". I'm not sure what bearing that has on the debate, I just thought I'd share.
And this.

Tar.Aldarion

I knew what that link was before I went near it, spooky. o_0

AnitaMcCluskey

People use terms like this all the time and no offense is meant. If homosexual take offense, its their problem. The words does not belong to them as it technically doesn't mean homosexual, rather happy. I use this term around my "gay" friends all the time and I have heard them use it also to describe things that are crap or rubbish. Its all in the way you deliver the "that's gay"
Irish people have a great sense of humour and using these words are just part of that, I once told a boy to F**k off in France and he started to cry! Now though, he understands that I use it to exaggerate a state of disbelief. Too much time is spent trying not to offend people and not enough laughing about stupid "gay things"

Talliesin

Cactus Col wrote:

If a knacker is a scumbag, and not a member of the travelling community

A knacker is a harnest-maker, someone who buys dead animals (esp. horses) for slaughter, someone who renders such dead animals into glue, or (by extension) someone who demolishes unwanted buildings for scrap materials.

Cactus Col wrote:

is it okay to call something that's crap gay?

i.e. that shirt is a bit gay (essentially meaning it's lame).

No, it is ineloquent and unimaginative and demonstrates a mind to which language is an ill-fitting tool, like a monkey trying to use a stylus-operated PDA.

Lux23

Its something that kids say. If I heard someone over 20 say it in a serious way I would just think they were a childish idiot. It can't be nice for young gay kids hearing their mates calling everything bad 'gay' because your peer's opinions mean everything at that age.

dbnavan

Talliesin wrote:

No, it is ineloquent and unimaginative and demonstrates a mind to which language is an ill-fitting tool, like a monkey trying to use a stylus-operated PDA.

Love it Talliesin, Love it! Thanks for the morning giggle.

Cactus Col

Talliesin wrote:

No, it is ineloquent and unimaginative and demonstrates a mind to which language is an ill-fitting tool, like a monkey trying to use a stylus-operated PDA.

And brevity is the soul of wit.

Emmo

I guess it depends on who you are but I find it offensive.

Its already hard enough for some people to become who they are, to come out to their family why use words in a negative capcity which shouldnt be used in that way to make it harder?

There are tons of words that can be used to describe things, they are called adjectives. Why not use an approriate one in an appropriate situation?

Emmo

Talliesin

Cactus Col wrote:

Talliesin wrote:

No, it is ineloquent and unimaginative and demonstrates a mind to which language is an ill-fitting tool, like a monkey trying to use a stylus-operated PDA.

And brevity is the soul of wit.

Clichés have the same problem.

L31mr0d

Talliesin wrote:

No, it is ineloquent and unimaginative and demonstrates a mind to which language is an ill-fitting tool, like a monkey trying to use a stylus-operated PDA.

On the flipside being pleonastic and superfluous is just as bad. Sometimes a word that everyone relates to like "gay" can be better than a paragraph about why, how and what it is. It's a euphemism for other harsh words and it encompasses so many meanings in just one word.

Like was said earlier a Homosexual could be called gay or not gay depending on there actions... like "queer eye for the straight guy is gay, but not as gay as desperate housewives"