What do you do if someone said that in front of you?
2007-04-28 01:17:43 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
I just want to know how it sounds because I'm not native English speaker.
2007-04-28 09:54:32 · update #1
It's just an expression to mean "that's weird", all in jest, nothing meant to hurt anyone's feelings.
2007-04-28 08:18:26 · answer #1 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't find it to be so much rude, as childish.
What defines "gay" in such a context anyway?
I debated with my entire class on this, once, when a student recieved a low mark on an assignment and declared "This is gay"
–adjective 1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.
4. licentious; dissipated; wanton: The baron is a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.
5. homosexual.
6. of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues: a gay organization.
–noun 7. a homosexual person, esp. a male.
–adverb 8. in a gay manner.
None of these definitions really describe what this student meant to say, so why use it, and risk hurting the feelings of another student?
2007-04-28 09:21:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's such a commonly used term that its homophobic connotations are not always recognised by those who use it. However, it is still deeply offensive and indicates that homophobia is still ingrained within our society. If you replaced 'gay' with a racial, ethnic or religious group, this would be unacceptable as it would imply racism... so what's the difference? It is very rude and offensive.
As for what I would do if I heard someone say it... usually nothing as it is so commonly used that I would spend all day challenging people's homophobic assumptions. However, if I heard a friend or a child in my care using the phrase, I would encourage them to think about the implications and ask them if they wanted people to think that they were homophobic.
2007-05-03 17:15:15 · answer #3 · answered by K H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is offensive.
When a was around 17 I said "that's gay" about a lot of things. I wasn't really prejudiced against homosexuals it was just a "cool" thing to say...it was popular at the time, and still is.
Then a really close friend of mine took me aside and told me he was homosexual, and that he found it offensive when I said "that's gay." From then on I have stopped saying it.
However after thinking about it I also find gay is offensive to. I think the homosexual community shouldn't call themselves gay because it feeds in to stereotypes.
For example, gay means happy and flamboyant. Two stereotypes of homosexuals. I think calling being a homosexual being gay just makes it okay to assume this stereotypes.
2007-04-28 08:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by theFo0t 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't particularly like it, but it is becoming a common expression among the latest generation. Usually when they use it, it is not in an insulting way and it doesn't bother me. It is no different than some one coming across something that is very different or odd and remarking "ehh that's queer". Unless he is pointing to me, or some other person, I have no reason to take offence.
2007-04-28 08:36:57 · answer #5 · answered by roqofages 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't like how alot of people use gay to describe stupid, or something they don't like. That's not the definition of the the word gay. People will be watching a move with no homosexuality in it what so ever and if they don't like it they'll say that it's gay.
2007-04-28 13:02:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is not really pointing at gay people .My younger family members use this word often and does not pertain to gay people at all in any way.It does draw my attention quickly when it is used though
2007-05-02 23:24:41 · answer #7 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is rude. Not only is it rude, it shows the person to be thinking on the same level as a 13 year old.
2007-04-28 08:58:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i wouldn't care. it is really the immature gay guys that care if someone says something is gay. i mean i say stuff is gay all the time.
2007-05-02 02:03:20 · answer #9 · answered by Sexy Model 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LoL it really wouldn't matter to me, its like saying "ehhh that's str8" I'm gay I'm not expected to do gay things but you have to admit sometimes we do tend to gay out a bit....
2007-04-28 08:24:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
i dont have a promblem with it ,i like the way language evolves,the way new generations give new meanings to old words.this is a word that seems to have been reclaimed,the new meaning ''limp,to be weak,superficial''reflects how a lot of the younger generation perceive ''gayness''
2007-04-28 09:05:52 · answer #11 · answered by bushy 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋