"Fag"

[Obama08]

Why is it that in spite of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?
Everywhere you go you can almost guarantee to hear hetero males jokingly call each other "fags", and almost everything that’s "stupid" is now refereed to as being "gay".

 

[1069]

Why is it that in spite of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?
Everywhere you go you can almost guarantee to hear hetero males jokingly call each other "fags", and almost everything that’s "stupid" is now refereed to as being "gay".

The use of racist, sexist, and homophobic epithets has drastically increased in recent years because we've entered a new, more conservative era, and it's fashionable these days to use such slurs, and to dismiss anybody who objects to them as "PC", a "Lefty", and an oversensitive whiner.
This is a backlash, in response to the socially-liberal 90s, when some people on the Left actually did go a bit too far with political correctness, and caused both conservatives and centrists to feel alienated, oppressed, marginalized, and backward.
Now they are repaying the favor.
These things go in approximately ten-year cycles; the trend of social conservatism and the deliberate and unapologetic offensiveness that goes along with it is already on the wane, having reached its apex in about 2003 or 2004.
The pendulum is swinging Left once again, and moderates and centrists have become as repelled by Right's senseless, arrogant, abrasive bullying as they once were by the Left's intellectual snobbery and whiny insistence that one out of four words in the English language are deeply hurtful and insulting, and ought to be banned.

And that's how it goes.
Ten years from now, they'll be fed up with the wishy-washy, feel-good Left again, and go creeping back to the Right for more oppression and bullying.
But as for right now... I see a lot of indications that society had about enough of it for the time being, and they're ready for another infusion of "political correctness".

 

[talloulou]

The use of racist, sexist, and homophobic epithets has drastically increased in recent years because we've entered a new, more conservative era, and it's fashionable these days to use such slurs, and to dismiss anybody who objects to them as "PC", a "Lefty", and an oversensitive whiner.
This is a backlash, in response to the socially-liberal 90s, when some people on the Left actually did go a bit too far with political correctness, and caused both conservatives and centrists to feel alienated, oppressed, marginalized, and backward.
Now they are repaying the favor.
These things go in approximately ten-year cycles; the trend of social conservatism and the deliberate and unapologetic offensiveness that goes along with it is already on the wane, having reached its apex in about 2003 or 2004.
The pendulum is swinging Left once again, and moderates and centrists have become as repelled by Right's senseless, arrogant, abrasive bullying as they once were by the Left's intellectual snobbery and whiny insistence that one out of four words in the English language are deeply hurtful and insulting, and ought to be banned.

And that's how it goes.
Ten years from now, they'll be fed up with the wishy-washy, feel-good Left again, and go creeping back to the Right for more oppression and bullying.
But as for right now... I see a lot of indications that society had about enough of it for the time being, and they're ready for another infusion of "political correctness".

You're so ****ing full of **** sometimes!

 

[1069]

You're so ****ing full of **** sometimes!

Watch that jealousy, girl. It'll eat you alive.

 

[brewmenn]

Why is it that in spite of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?
Everywhere you go you can almost guarantee to hear hetero males jokingly call each other "fags", and almost everything that’s "stupid" is now refereed to as being "gay".

It's because of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, that the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?

 

[1069]

It's because of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, that the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?

Well, I don't know if it's really increased all that drastically, anyway.
Certainly in the 80s, there was a lot of homophobia and name-calling; I was just a kid then, but I was still privy to a lot of it.
In the 90s, less so, for the reasons I stated above. It was just socially unacceptable, at least in certain strata of society, including what I would call "the mainstream".
It was sort of driven underground by public pressure, if you will.
But in the current era, homophobia's resurfaced and is back in plain view.
Maybe prejudice never goes away entirely; it's just driven into hiding sometimes, and at other times, it's blatant.

 

[Gunface]

I've never figured out how gay came to mean both homosexual and stupid. Most people who use it to mean stupid, though, draw a distinction and say that they don't mean that being gay is bad. I still don't like it though, I always get annoyed at people XD

 

[mikhail]

Well it depends uknow in the uk fag means cigarette. dont understand this bullshit anyone who trys to make a point about immigration and calls people wetbacks sounds like a fool.

Racist people are morons give them the freedom of speach to show what morons they are.

Thats what is so great about slur words you know when people use them you dont have to think about coming up with a well thought out answer its like when sesame street has the letter E.

 

[Morrow]

When people call something gay, or refer to someone as a fag, homosexuality is only a fleeting thought or association. Slang is often appropriated from other sources and applied to something new. I think it is true that in its original usage it was meant to infer or state something or someone was homosexual, and therefore bad. But people have adopted that as a more broad, and more generic pejorative.

And I don’t see what the ‘accomplishments’ of a homosexuals has to do with this.

 

[Obama08]

And I don’t see what the ‘accomplishments’ of a homosexuals has to do with this.

I'm trying to make the point that as they gain more rights, and supposedly get to be more "tolerated" the use of hateful slurs continues to increase.

 

[Morrow]

I'm trying to make the point that as they gain more rights, and supposedly get to be more "tolerated" the use of hateful slurs continues to increase.

Well, you're the only person I am aware of saying they are more tolerated, or have gained rights. To would say that the negative is truth in both of those. And, my point is that the 'slurs' aren't hateful. It is a mistake to think word usage constitutes a prejudice on the behalf of the user.

 

[brewmenn]

I'm trying to make the point that as they gain more rights, and supposedly get to be more "tolerated" the use of hateful slurs continues to increase.

I think thats true, but I don't think that phenomenon is at all unique to homosexuals. It seems that any minority that pushes to gain their right sees an increase in hateful slurs.

 

[GarzaUK]

Fag means cigarrette people!!

 

[Monk-Eye]

Fag Mint Ation

"Fag Mint Ation"

The opportunity for perpetual life of male identity exists through progeny via the male haploid.
Genetic mortality, which is eternal damnation, is despised.
Welcome to free association.

When one trivializes the endeavor to procreate and the rituals of society that support it, the eternal property of being and becoming may fail to be affirmed.

 

[FreeThinker]

I came to this thread expecting a free pack of Marlboro Reds but IT SEEMS I WAS MISTAKEN AS THERE IS A SEVERE LACK OF SMOKING DEVICES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY.

 

[Jerry]

Why is it that in spite of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?
Everywhere you go you can almost guarantee to hear hetero males jokingly call each other "fags", and almost everything that’s "stupid" is now refereed to as being "gay".

Your thread is gay.

 

[FreeThinker]

Why is it that in spite of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?
Everywhere you go you can almost guarantee to hear hetero males jokingly call each other "fags", and almost everything that’s "stupid" is now refereed to as being "gay".

No but seriously: people that don't believe in god say "god dammit" all the time just like people that don't hate gay people say "fag" all the time. It's just an expression.

It's the same with the N word: it's people getting offended that gives the word its power. Stop caring and people will come up with a new word to throw around.

 

[Obama08]

Your thread is gay.

:2wave: :2wave:

 

[Kelzie]

Meh, I use gay both ways sometimes. It's a homonym...or synonym...some kind of nym. Like "bitch" is both a female dog and a witchy-poo. "***" is a donkey and a jerk...and a body part. Saying someone has a nice *** doesn't mean they are a jerk too, you can say something is gay and someone is gay without cross-over meanings.

 

[Stace]

When people call something gay, or refer to someone as a fag, homosexuality is only a fleeting thought or association. Slang is often appropriated from other sources and applied to something new. I think it is true that in its original usage it was meant to infer or state something or someone was homosexual, and therefore bad. But people have adopted that as a more broad, and more generic pejorative.

And I don’t see what the ‘accomplishments’ of a homosexuals has to do with this.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the original useage of "gay" was to denote a "happy" mood.

 

[Felicity]

Why is it that in spite of major accomplishments homosexuals have made in the last 3 decades, the use of gay slurs has drastically increased?

What "major accomplishments" are the result of one's sexual orientation? What are you talking about? Are we analyzing the "major accomplishments" of people who are "hetero" too—and giving credit to their “straight-ness?”

 

[Schweddy]

I do not use "fag" and prefer not to use "gay". Gay means happy. Happy is a positive word, and personally I see nothing positive with anyone claiming or being homosexual.

Calling another male "fag" in an all male heterosexual group is actually an endearing term. It is not much different than calling another prick, bastard, or even arsehole. It is an insulting joke and also a way to unconsciously proclaim their own heterosexuality.

 

[Obama08]

What "major accomplishments" are the result of one's sexual orientation? What are you talking about? Are we analyzing the "major accomplishments" of people who are "hetero" too—and giving credit to their “straight-ness?”

By "major accomplishments" I mean the following:
-More acceptance among people in general.
-Homosexuality was taken off the list of "mental diseases".
-Gays and Lesbians have gained a significant amount of rights when it comes to being employed, meaning they can't be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, and if someone murders a gay person based on them being gay the charge of murder can increase when its considered a hate crime.

 

[ARealConservative]

It seems the increase in "rights' was more from judicial fiat then changes in individual thinking, so it could be that these accomplishments are fueling the increase of negativity.

 

[BodiSatva]

When gay Gay is gay...well, that is a confusing time.

Gunface
I've never figured out how gay came to mean both homosexual and stupid. Most people who use it to mean stupid, though, draw a distinction and say that they don't mean that being gay is bad. I still don't like it though, I always get annoyed at people XD

When I comment that something is “Cool” I am not referring to the weather, though a cool day is cool…

Morrow
Well, you're the only person I am aware of saying they are more tolerated, or have gained rights. To would say that the negative is truth in both of those.

I am not sure what your experience is with the gay community or where you live, but gay people are much more “tolerated” (though I would use the word ‘accepted’) than they used to be. They also have more rights…

“In the late 1990s and early 2000s, opposing efforts to legalize or ban same-sex civil marriage made it a topic of debate all over the world. In 2001, the Netherlands were the first country to allow same-sex marriage. At present, same-sex marriages are also recognised in Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Spain, and the U.S. state of Massachusetts”

Wikipedia

Brewmenn
I think thats true, but I don't think that phenomenon is at all unique to homosexuals. It seems that any minority that pushes to gain their right sees an increase in hateful slurs.

Well said.

Jerry
Your thread is gay.

I thought that it was just Obama, not the whole thread…