"Gay" being a synonym for stupid isn't homophobic, it's a product of today's society.
Category: Entertainment > People
Agree
1
I'm agreeing on behalf of the BBC, which says:
"â??The word â??gayâ??, in addition to being used to mean â??homosexualâ?? or â??carefreeâ??, was often now used to mean â??lameâ?? or â??rubbishâ??. This is a widespread current usage of the word amongst young people.â??
But they also warn that using "gay" in a derogatory sense could still offend people.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2212170,00.html
1
If I say something is gay, I don't mean to insult homosexuals. Ever since we were in fourth grade gay has meant stupid, it's not our fault that we've fallen into the habit of using it that way. Anyway, gay was never intended to mean homosexual, it's supposed to mean happy. So if somebody calls something gay and it offends you, I apologize, and I didn't intend it to be derrogatory.
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http://sportspickle.com/features/volume7/2008-0109-duke.html
Take things as a joke! Gay (joke) = annoying/dumb/stupid.... NOT homosexual.
People need to stop being so "politically correct", stop being so serious, and just let things be as they are. Feel free to laugh when something is simply funny (and don't over-analyze it).
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It really depends on the manner in which the term is used. Generally speaking the word Gay is an identifier of homosexuality - used by both homosexuals and heterosexuals.
Many, many words can have a negative connotation - but is really only relative to the opinions/beliefs of the person using it.
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Disagree
2
i dont think it matters if its directly or intentionally homophobic or not as much as it matter that using a word that already defines a subculture and using that word to mean something negative adds to a social perception in which being gay or anything connected to it is something to be ashamed or embarrassed about - even if its not direct homophobia it can have just as detrimental of an effect.
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I don't know where to even begin disagreeing with this one. It IS homophobic, but unfortunately it IS also a product of today's society. That is not to say that everyone, or even the majority of the people, using the word "gay" this way is a homophobe. They're more likely to just be too immature to realize that by using the word in such context they're borrowing terminology of hate from true homophobes.
Perhaps in a few centuries, when prejudice agaist homosexuals disappears completely (yeah, right), the word can be used in such a way and the etymology will come as a surprise to those who care to look. But until then, if you use a synonym for "homosexual" as a synonym for "stupid", you are either a homophobe or an idiot.
