Curse

Xue Yi Liang · Oct 26, 2005, 02:39 PM // 14:39

For the record, I'm not homosexual, but I have friends who are. The use of the term "gay" used to describe anything unfavorable, like "gay builds," is as offensive to me as the "N" word for black people.

A lot of juvenile attention-deficient people use this word in the game and in these forums. I request the moderators be more strict on the abuse of the word "gay."

Only an idiot would argue that "Hey, man. 'Gay' could mean 'happy.'" Right. In that respect a "f*ggot" is just a bundle of sticks and a "f*g" is a cigarette. The context makes its meaning obvious.

And it IS a big deal because homosexuals are marginalized and persecuted in just about every culture in every nation in every time in history. Many kids would be surprised at how common homosexuality is (but just not made obvious) - chances are they know more than one person who is gay and don't even know it.

Using "gay" as an insult is truly disgusting. After all, I wouldn't expect someone to get away with using the word "n*gger" with impunity nowadays. I implore the mods do something when the abuse of the term "gay" in these forums is brought to their attention.

D.E.V.i.A.N.C.E · Oct 26, 2005, 02:53 PM // 14:53

Words with the wrong meaning in mind; can offend some who dont use it correctly.

Personally I use the word "gay" around my mother(s) and they dont care; its the uppity ones that blame words for hate.

And more than you know get away with the N word; farmers/mechanics/enegineers/workers of trade.

If you got a problem deal with it, its the internet.

side note; intended for mods? send it to them not the public.

Xue Yi Liang · Oct 26, 2005, 03:03 PM // 15:03

I don't give a darn what you do or say to your grandma or friends. It's ok to be "non-pc" in private - I'm not PC with my friends and family either. But this is a public forum.

Would "n*gger" be OK to use, then? Maybe elsewhere but not here.

Doooom · Oct 26, 2005, 03:04 PM // 15:04

Wait, the word "lame" might offend handicapped people. You better watch out.

Just kidding, Xue. I see where you're coming from, and I'll try to curb it myself.

Xue Yi Liang · Oct 26, 2005, 03:10 PM // 15:10

This isn't flamebait. I'm responding to a recent thread entitled "super gay mesmer build."

I realize it sounds like I'm being overly "pc." But, as an ethnic minority, I sympathize with any group of people who are ridiculed without restraint. I know the use of "gay" as an insult isn't meant explicitly to put down homosexuals but it's an insult to homosexuality nonetheless.

I think of people I've known and treated medically who have been ridiculed, beaten and stabbed just for being different. That's a side of life most of y'all don't have to face. In general I really hate being "PC" about things but this isn't about "political correctness," it's about being respectful in public.

Judging by the response to this thread so far it's really sad that the term has become so commonplace this many people don't think it's a big deal.

Dri Tera · Oct 26, 2005, 03:16 PM // 15:16

I'm a bit gay :P but don't start about that!

Doooom · Oct 26, 2005, 03:22 PM // 15:22

I'm tired of commenting on this, especially when someone thinks that all people of the majority don't suffer from senseless ridicule because of things they can't control. I am sensitive to the plight of minorities, but can't stand it when minorities think that majorities have no plight at all. If you want people to not think of you in generalities then you should begin by not thinking of them in generalities.

Aracos79 · Oct 26, 2005, 03:29 PM // 15:29

While I admire the sentiment, I'm afraid I disagree with any attempt to censor speech in the name of protecting somebody's sensibilities. People have the right to say... less than intelligent things, regardless of whether you agree with them or not. You can't start restricting their speech just to save someone's feelings. We either have free speech, or we don't. The more we end up restricting, the less free a society we become. And I can't support that.

Attacking anyone on the basis of their race/gender/religion/etc. is reprehensible... but so is restricting speech.

zehly · Oct 26, 2005, 03:33 PM // 15:33

I'm a lesbian.. does that count as being "gay"?

LeftAlone- · Oct 26, 2005, 03:34 PM // 15:34

I do understand how you, and many others mite find this offending.
It is indeed very often used to offend or as a swear word with no real connection the the actual meaning, but I do not believ admins will bother to delete/threathen/edit every single spot with the word..
These words will always be used somewhere, and we just have to cope with it..
Meh.. Even I use that word sometimes.. like for example after being kept at 0 energy through a GvG all the time, I mite get pissed off and say "That was just gay"... When I say that, I do not link it with the original meaning, and never intended to offend homosexuals.. Come on.. We have Venus.. Hes cool.

.. and I also know a few in real life.. No problem..
It really has just lost its meaning.. Its a swear word like any other.. like for example SHIT..
Cant do anything about it.

And this was not a flame.. so please dont jump at me... :/

Xue Yi Liang · Oct 26, 2005, 03:35 PM // 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by zehly

I'm a lesbian.. does that count as being "gay"?

Usually "gay" applies to male only but I've heard it applied to females on occasion.

I'm not arguing to censor every time the word is used, but to at least do something in those rare times it's obviously abused - not unlike using racially unfavorable words.

Mariena Feladon · Oct 26, 2005, 04:15 PM // 16:15

SOT, inform a mod and just leave it at that if you think this thread is not acceptable. Just stop spamming to have it your way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zehly

I'm a lesbian.. does that count as being "gay"?

I guess it does. And if it does, I'm proud to be gay. Lol. (Yeah, Shinsei was right.. Sigh.)

wsmcasey · Oct 26, 2005, 04:18 PM // 16:18

Calling a black man a n*gger is vastly different than calling a homosexual man "gay". Calling a homosexual man gay is not really offensive because that is what he is and that is how he ultimately chooses to live his life. Now, if you call a homosexual man a f*cking f*aggot, then I would call that very offensive along the same lines as calling a black man a n*gger. The black man does not choose to be black, and just because he is black doesn't make him a n*gger because a lot of black people equate that term as being someone that's a bad person.

It's really all in how you say the word and who you say it to. Many words can be taken out of context in the English language. Grow a thicker skin and move on.

By the way. That male mesmer river dance is kinda gay. Any straight american man will say the exact same thing! If you dress a guy up in tights, give him a mask, and have him prance around like a fairy, then there's a good chance that he's not a straight man.

There, I made a comment. Guess what, thats my opinion, and as long as its not physically hurting anyone then there's no harm in it.

This is a gaming forum, your not going to find much sympathy here.

Tzhebee · Oct 26, 2005, 04:52 PM // 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsmcasey

Calling a black man a n*gger is vastly different than calling a homosexual man "gay". Calling a homosexual man gay is not really offensive because that is what he is and that is how he ultimately chooses to live his life. Now, if you call a homosexual man a f*cking f*aggot, then I would call that very offensive along the same lines as calling a black man a n*gger. The black man does not choose to be black, and just because he is black doesn't make him a n*gger because a lot of black people equate that term as being someone that's a bad person.

It's really all in how you say the word and who you say it to. Many words can be taken out of context in the English language. Grow a thicker skin and move on.

By the way. That male mesmer river dance is kinda gay. Any straight american man will say the exact same thing! If you dress a guy up in tights, give him a mask, and have him prance around like a fairy, then there's a good chance that he's not a straight man.

There, I made a comment. Guess what, thats my opinion, and as long as its not physically hurting anyone then there's no harm in it.

This is a gaming forum, your not going to find much sympathy here.

Well, I was perfectly happy keeping my mouth shut until I saw this post.

First of all...homosexuals do not have a choice anymore than a black man being black! It's not like you wake up one day and think to yourself "Hmmm, I'd really like to sleep with other people of my same sex so that I can be ridiculed by the general public, never be able to get married, not be able to adopt, etc, etc." No, gay people are BORN gay, like blacks are born black.

Now, if you walked up to a person and said "are you gay" that's fine...but when you use the term "gay" as derogitory, which is what the OP was talking about, then your meaning of the term becomes offensive. You are correct about context...but a phrase like "dude that is soooo gay" is just rude. It's not cool. It's not funny. It's just as cruel and inappropriate as n*gger. (which, BTW, I agree that a n*gger is not necessarily a black person, but rather a piece of trash of any skin tone)

As far as the mesmer thing goes...give a guy a mask, tights and have him riverdance does not indicate that he's gay...in fact, he's probably a heterosexual man who is secure enough in his masculenity to not give a flying f*ck what closed minded bigots think. Then again, he may be a flaming homosexual who enjoys prancing about in tights. But that doesn't make the derogitory use of the term "gay" acceptable.

Oh...and this is just my opinion.

Xue Yi Liang · Oct 26, 2005, 04:54 PM // 16:54

Nobody's looking for sympathy here.
"Gay" used in a pejorative fashion is offensive. Yeah it's not in the league of "f*cking f*ggot" but it's still insulting to a group of people.

Look. If you disagree, then there's nothing I would say that's going to change your mind - so I'm not going to even try. But just because a black man can call his friend a "n*gger" doesn't mean it means the same coming from me.

It's not overly "sensitive" to be offended when someone uses that word as an insult. A-Net bans guilds that sneak in the word "gay" or "ghey" in their names - how is GWguru any different?

Lasareth · Oct 26, 2005, 04:58 PM // 16:58

A lot of the time it's the straight crowd that opposes the term. Except for a touchy minority, it's not that big a deal to call things "gay" imo, it's just a perverse lingo developed to mean something different. If you'll recall, 'gay' originally had nothing to do with homosexuality. Then it was adapted to mean so. Now it also means 'stupid' or something like that.

The only time it gets my goat is when people call things outright homosexual. I mean... what's the point in that. There's nothing wrong with that(being gay) unless you're a bible-toting radical :/

Loviatar · Oct 26, 2005, 05:17 PM // 17:17

what the OP and many other people are forgetting is that *GAY* used to be a light, cheerful, happy word.

it was hijacked until it has no other meaning to people under 25 at all.

and the same community that hijacked it is the most prevalent user of the word bar none

entropy · Oct 26, 2005, 05:27 PM // 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang

Look. If you disagree, then there's nothing I would say that's going to change your mind - so I'm not going to even try. But just because a black man can call his friend a "n*gger" doesn't mean it means the same coming from me.

Well actually there is two forms of the word n***er. N*gga or n*gger. at least thats how people use it where i'm from. lol. The one ending in a is not offensive its more like "dog"

Count Feanor · Oct 26, 2005, 05:28 PM // 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tzhebee

Well, I was perfectly happy keeping my mouth shut until I saw this post.

First of all...homosexuals do not have a choice anymore than a black man being black! It's not like you wake up one day and think to yourself "Hmmm, I'd really like to sleep with other people of my same sex so that I can be ridiculed by the general public, never be able to get married, not be able to adopt, etc, etc." No, gay people are BORN gay, like blacks are born black.

Now, if you walked up to a person and said "are you gay" that's fine...but when you use the term "gay" as derogitory, which is what the OP was talking about, then your meaning of the term becomes offensive. You are correct about context...but a phrase like "dude that is soooo gay" is just rude. It's not cool. It's not funny. It's just as cruel and inappropriate as n*gger. (which, BTW, I agree that a n*gger is not necessarily a black person, but rather a piece of trash of any skin tone)

As far as the mesmer thing goes...give a guy a mask, tights and have him riverdance does not indicate that he's gay...in fact, he's probably a heterosexual man who is secure enough in his masculenity to not give a flying f*ck what closed minded bigots think. Then again, he may be a flaming homosexual who enjoys prancing about in tights. But that doesn't make the derogitory use of the term "gay" acceptable.

Oh...and this is just my opinion.

I'm sure if you can post your opinion, that you'll allow me to post mine.
You are not "born" homosexual as someone is "born" black. There is no "gay gene" to speak of. If you wish to argue this point, I'd like to see all the valid research "proving" it. All the research I've seen is less than convincing. If someone has a "gene" to be gay, does someone have a "gene" to be a pedifile? I think not. Opinion stated.

Xue Yi Liang · Oct 26, 2005, 05:30 PM // 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by entropy

Well actually there is two forms of the word n***er. N*gga or n*gger. at least thats how people use it where i'm from. lol. The one ending in a is not offensive its more like "dog"

thanks for that info

As far as homosexuality being a choice or not .... the debate in the medical community is whether homosexuality is genetic or developmental - In either case, choice plays a part but is generally considered a lesser factor. There's probably more of a genetic/developmental component in men than in women.