What is it with the word "homophobic? does it make sense?

Question

Homo-same
Phobic -fear
Does that mean that people have the same fear?
Does it mean that people are afraid of the same? The same what?

Can' somebody come up with a word that actually describes the various levels of discomfort a segment of our population experiences when dealing with homosexuals and their issues?
PLEASE?

It's like the term, "friendly fire". How can a speeding projectile be friendly?

killyertele...I am not tryng to stir up trouble. I just believe that a made-up word like that lacks class. It glorifies the derogotory term, Homo, and I don't see it doing anything more than providing a word for people to bandy about or rally around,

I have been trying to think of a better, or at least more correct word for this phenomenon.

Homosexophobia is too long, even if correct. why don't we think of a word describing the state of mind that causes this phobia to begin with, then call it by its initial, like ADD et al.

Answer 1

I will answer your question in good faith, even though I suspect you are being deliberately dense just to stir the sh]t. Homo is short for homosexuals and/or homosexuality. Phobia is IRRATIONAL fear and/or loathing. Homophobia is an EXCELLENT term to describe certain attitudes, because it puts emphasis on the IRRATIONAL element of the attitude.

Answer 2

I think the word is a reaction to the claim that those who have a same sex attraction have a psychiatric illness. A few years ago the American Psychiatric Association decided to take homosexuality off the list of psychiatric illnesses. Now the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme, and the defenders of homosexuality would like you to believe that those who are opposed to homosexual practices are the ones who are mentally ill - have some kind of a phobia.

The word really doesn't make much sense, but it is rather effective in killing debate on the issue. When you can't use logic to defend your point of view then you start calling people names. "Homophobe" sounds bad. So does "racist." Usually the words are only used to label people you don't like and don't want to have to answer with reason.

Answer 3

Any moron with a jr. high education knows the Greek origins of "homo" and "phobic". What we Anglos often overlook is that we tend to create contractions because the way our language works.

How tedious would it be to say "homosexualphobia" every time we needed to? Kinda long and drawn out, huh? Well, as a function of the English language and the Language of Science, the contracted version (like saying "we're" instead of "we are") is homo'[sexual]phobia or homophobia.

Literally, afraid of people who are sexually (as in sexual activity) the same.

Too bad Friar Tuck and a few others of you couldn't get that one straight. Pun intended.

BTW, phrases like "friendly fire", and the always-humorous "military intelligence" are called oxymorons. The two words are in contradiction to one another. "Homo" like "Hetero" does not contradict "sexual" because both ARE sexual.

As for your questions, you should refer to a list of defining phobias to find out what 'people who are afraid of the same thing' is called.

Answer 4

i was just having a conversation with a good friend about this yesterday. "homophobia" literally means and EXTREME FEAR of homosexuals. like arachnophobia (???--pardon the spelling!) for instance. people hyperventilate and all that jazz if they see a spider.

so basically, a "homophobic" would start freaking out beyond control if he or she were to meet me. i think not.

it's just a stupid thing that doesn't make a whole lot of sense but is still used anyway, because morons can't think up anything else to label themselves as. i guess.

Answer 5

Careful attention to detail in the definition is needed here.
Homophobia is the irrational fear or aversion to homosexuals to such a degree that it interferes with everyday life. It's used a bit too broadly, granted, but mose of the people who go out of their way to comment here against us would fall into that category, because at that point their dislike of homosexuals is interfering with the normal flow of their life by causing them to feel compelled to come to places like this and to voice their opinions.

Answer 6

No it is merely a made up word used by the sodomite lifestyle people. They seldom can attack the actual issues of thier life style, so they prefer to try and attack the messanger. By making it sound like the person telling them, that the life style is wrong, they try and make them sound like something bad.

But no, knowledge that homosexual life style is perverted is not bad, wrong or any phobial at all, it is merely commom sense along with proper values.

But they are merely trying to make proper life style living, sound wrong to make thier perverted life style sound acceptable.

Answer 7

The word homophobic means to fear or to be against HOMOSEXUALS AND/OR HOMOSEXUALITY.
And there's no need for you to be afraid or to be against gay people. There's enough ignorance in this world already. ...Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to Homo Depot to get a few things...

Answer 8

Ok...well it's called homosexual. Meaning that the same sex people like one another. If someone is homophobic...that means they are afraid of homos.

Answer 9

To me the term homosexual makes sense, but homophobia doesn't. Who fears homosexuals? They are merely disgusted by their lifestyle choices, which is not the same as being fearful. Like my friend who can't stand cats--she's not afraid, but repulsed, for reasons that make sense to her (not me).

Answer 10

homophobic is one who fears homosexuality.
homophobia is the fear of homosexuality.
you're young, aren't you?

friendly fire is when someone attacks their own party (i.e: if i we were on the same side in a war and i shot you or something). i don't know if it is limited to the incident being on purpose or not.