it's not okay to use "gay" as a negative thing, people will attack you if you do...but people use the word "retarded" as a negative adjective all the time....why is it considered acceptable? after all, gay people can defend themselves but mentally handicapped people can't.
2007-03-04 17:44:39 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
why would you think "that's so retarded" is acceptable to say?? it's not, its a mean thing to say and so is "that's so gay".
2007-03-04 17:51:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Retarded in itself is a negative word - Gay has been turned from a negative word to a common descriptor. Therefore retarded has no more use other than negative connotations that people who have learning difficulties would not want to be described as. Besides why would you want to be looking for negative ways to describe anyone?
2007-03-05 02:28:55 · answer #2 · answered by waggy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate when people say things are retarded. It makes me really sad and angry because people are not thinking of who they are insulting (I am a reformed user of "retard" as an insult). I don't really give a poo if people say things are gay, in fact, I say things are gay. Who cares? BTW, I am gay. It's not that big of a deal to me.
P.S.
Don't you think it is just a bit insulting to say the mentally handicapped can't defend themeselves? There are very highly functioning people who are completely able to defend themselves. Don't lump everyone into one category.
2007-03-05 03:37:03 · answer #3 · answered by T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friend who has a son who has down syndrome does not in the least little bit find it acceptable to say, "that's so retarded.
Of course you shouldn't use gay as a negative adjective. Boy, I miss the days when it meant happy.
2007-03-05 02:33:36 · answer #4 · answered by cassandra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because some people attack you does not make it wrong to say 'that's so gay'.
It is not OK with me to say 'that's so retarded' if it is meant as an insult; nor is 'that's so gay'.
The wrongness is not in the expressions but in the intent.
2007-03-05 01:55:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
niether should be acceptalbe, but after awhile words develop another/second meaning that arent related at first glance. the word "gay" is turning into a word that also means "stupid", or just something that people dont like. same with "retarded." soon, gay will mean both "homosexual" and "stupid," but wont be interrealted, as its seems now.
(i do not think gays are stupid! in case thats going through your head)
2007-03-05 14:43:07 · answer #6 · answered by ♥chikalee♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not acceptable to use either one in a negative way, and no one should do so without being called on it.
2007-03-05 01:50:21 · answer #7 · answered by Dawn G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because retarded people aren't gay enough to make a big deal out of nothing!
2007-03-05 01:51:57 · answer #8 · answered by Direktor 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Actually, neither one is acceptable - although a lot of folks - particulary teenagers - think it's perfectly OK to call someone or something "gay" if they don't like it!!
2007-03-05 01:49:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
But retarded actually has a negative connotation, a negative meaning, if you will. "Retarded" basically means stupid (in a way), "gay" on the other hand, doesnt.
2007-03-05 01:48:37 · answer #10 · answered by Jesus W. 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋