Use of the word gay

It annoys me too MY. I can't stand it.

Can I ask why?

I mean, to me the use of the word gay to mean something is rubbish (although not a word I'd use, because others spring to mind quicker) is just that, a word to describe something it crap. The fact that there are other a couple of other meanings for the word is just how it is, some words have more that meaning.

So far as I am aware the original meanings for gay were homosexual and carefree/happy. I was under the impression that the use of the word gay as a negative has come out of attitudes towards homosexuality, and what it means to be gay.

Maybe originally, but, I don't think (or I certainly don't in my eyes) now people use it because of any negativity towards gays.

But! maybe that's just me, and I'm fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who are accepting of peoples sexuality what ever it may be and so, do see any discrimination against people because of their sexuality.

Like I said, it's not a word I would use to describe something rubbish - I'd tend to go for something a little stronger, but I don't find it an offensive word..

I know people who say it but have no problem with homosexuality, I think it's just a saying that has caught on that is meant in a different context to the original meaning of the word? I wonder how someone who's gay feels about it though and if it offends them?

I don't think my sister or any of her friends would find it offensive, I'll have to ask her later.

I know quite a few gay people who hate it.

I totally get what you're saying MY, but like some of the others I've heard it used completely innocently in this context by people who are very accepting of homosexuality. There's a lot of words used nowadays in the opposite meaning of the original meaning.

Strange world.

I've been reading about it in the last ten minutes and it's a recent thing, last twenty years or so. Started out as 'oh, he's so gay' when someone was perhaps viewed as weak or not manly enough, and has progressed to 'that's so gay' to show dislike or that something is stupid.

Even if people don't mean it to be offensive, they really need to think about what they say.

I think if you were particularly sensitive then you could say the same about a lot of words or terms people use and more importantly the way they use them. I wouldn't find it offensive unless I knew they meant it to be derogatory to homosexuals. A lot of words take on a whole new meaning after frequent use in another way and cease to be what they originally meant.

My gay uncle describes things as gay ? I suppose its how you as those around you have been brought up with it? I admit when I was a teenager it was just a describing word, nothing malicious was meant by saying it and it was never even connected to being derogatory to homosexuals. I don't say it now so maybe I'm more aware of the possible impact?

I think Stephen Fry did a tv show a while back and this was one of the things he spoke about. How the use of the word gay as a negative word had now become mainstream, but that we shouldn't accept it as such and shoul fight it.

Just becuase it's mainstream doesn't make it right IMO. In fact I think it's quite sad that gay is a negative word, in whatever context.

I know lots of gay people that would find it offensive, I also not lots that wouldn't. That isn't really an argument for using it.

You've said it better than I could Mrs Imp ?

What sort of people do you hear saying it MY?

The reason I ask is because I used to say it when I was a kid, as did most of the kids. It was one of those words that just caught on. Like "epic" or "sweet".

I grew out of using it, so I just wondered whether "older" people still use it, or whether it's just a teenage thing?

Haa Ali g I wa about to ask if there are really many adults who use it.

IMC It should be stamped out in schools and don't think it's acxeptable.

Claire that's what SF was saying, that it starts in the playground and then it becomes the norm so adults think it's acceptable.

I've heard adults use it, not to be intentionally offensive, but I still think it is.

It seems to be kicking about my FB a lot right now, all adults.

I hate it. There are so many words to describe the thigs you dislike, IMO gay should not be one of them. It doesn't offend/upset my brother but I hate people using it.

I use the word gay to describe annoying things too.

But then isn't it the same as black people using the n-word Funky? Would you be offended if you heard a straight person describe something crap as gay?

I hate it and I would never use it. I don't buy the "it's just a word" argument.

While I agree with what you're saying Peanut, this statement is a point that actually bugs me in life. Double standards shouldn't exist in any circumstance.

One group of people shouldn't be able to say something, then take offence when a different group says it.

I'll be honest here. I use the word 'gay' as a descriptor. But I don't ever use it to mean 'rubbish', I use it to mean 'a bit gay' (especially if the situation isn't).

Boy goes to the loo at same time as male friend = gay.

Boy comments that Top Gun is a good film = gay.

Boy says that new man at work is a nice chap = gay.

Have no idea where this falls on the 'offence' spectrum.

I find that different Footlong, you're using the word gay to mean homosexual, even though you are using it is jest. It is the use of the word gay as a negative about random stuff that pees me off, personally.

Oh I agree. As a Jewish person I hate it when Jewish people use the word yid, for example. But I was just saying that although gay people may use the word gay in that context, I still think it's very different (and very uncomfortable) when a straight person does it.

No doesn't bother me if a straight person uses the term gay either. Probably because I don't see the word gay as a negative word.

Switch it around would you be offended if I said "ahhh straight my phones broken'?

But straight people aren't a group that is discriminated against. I can't imagine there is anyone in the world who thinks being straight is a bad thing (if they exist, they must be a very small minority!) But there are plenty of people who think being gay is a bad thing. So if someone says "that's so straight", I know with 99.9% certainty that there is no malice behind it. If someone say "that's so gay", I don't know whether they mean it as a harmless, thoughtless comment, or they actually are homophobic. That's what makes me uncomfortable.

If I heard someone say "argh my phone's broken, that's so Jewish" I would be extremely offended and uncomfortable.

Ok change the word gay.....

You "Staying in tonight with a bottle of vino and a romcom'

Me "that's so girly"'

You "i'm soooo hanging today I went down the pub last night to watch the footie did 10 pints"

me "that's so butch"

You "Staying in tonight revising have an exam next week"

me "that so geeky"

I just see it as using mild stereotypes to express your feelings towards a situation

Doesn't it say something when the only gay in the village OT isn't offended? ?

I agree to a degree when you use it like that funky, as to use the stereotype.

Its when it's used to replace the word sh1t or bad or generally just a negative word that it bothers me.

I think Funky has described it well and I have, on occasion, used it like that.

I've never really heard anyone use it as a substitute for rubbish etc but just to touch on that point... Does that fact that people are offended by it (saying that it's worse than using the word straight because being straight doesn't have negative connotations) add to the negative connotations? Are we marginalising the term (and therefore homosexuality) more by being so offended by it? I don't think any of use would think twice about saying 'my bast*rd phone is broken' in an age where many of us are just that, whereas once that was a very offensive term.

These aren't necessarily my feelings - just something that was rumbling through my head in the Asda confectionery aisle earlier.

But Funky doesn't speak for all gays, just like Peanut and I don't speak for all Jews ;o)

Now I am offended I am the Queen of queens I'll have you know ?