Huffpost "Gay Voices" now "Queer Voices"

[Rolyo85]

The term gay has been truly reappropriated. There is no effective use of the term as derogatory. There is no linguistic hang-up either since the words most traditional meaning refers to an excitedly happy person. It also lacks the vulgarity of the term ho-mo, and requires less speech than homosexual.

You jest, surely? Every other straight bro is using "gay" every other sentence to say that something is lame, pathetic or sucks.

 

[Rolyo85]

"Gay" was usually accompanied by a pantomime of a lispy, precious little Nancy boy - a sentiment NOT specifically reserved for us (...is he GAY, or just ENGLISH?...) it was a direct slur on your masculinity. "Faggot" was what you shouted in a fight, implying the other guy was a cocksucker, was about the act itself (fudge-packer, ass bandit, etc,) "Queer," didn't get a lot of usage but can probably be categorized under the fightin' words heading.

Congrats, you have now caused me to contemplate the subtle distinctions in derogatory gay bashing. It's a new field for me.

Every time you say something on the lines of "lispy, precious little Nancy boy", I get a semi...

 

[TX-Beau]

I can easily believe it from the political right in the US, where there is no seperation from the right and the far right. This however is still a tad cynical. I doubt the centre right use the term gay ANY differently to how everybody else uses it, as simple description in a PC way.

Sugar, and I'm ONLY saying that in an exasperated Southern kind of way - I tell people I grew up on a farm in the South and people WILL tell me that I'm imagining things. ONCE you get to kids around college age you get more acceptance, but even for my age demographic (Gen Xer) Conservatives of any stripe are overwhelming not pleased.

Why do you think that loon who decided she was going to break the law and oppose the supremes got off Scot free. The Moderates didn't ask for her head, they let her keep her job and told her is was just peachy for her to refuse to soil her tender fingers with any of that nasty homosexuality - and DO HER FUCKING JOB.

 

[Mitchymo]

You jest, surely? Every other straight bro is using "gay" every other sentence to say that something is lame, pathetic or sucks.

Over here, the term gay has been used similarly. Most commonly to refer to something which 'sucks' or is seen as unfair. The 'so gay' fad has albeit died over here, and it was never seen as a big deal in its usage anyways, since its context was never directed at a person, but at a circumstance. In context, it is quite understandable how some people may use it as a describer for something they feel is unjust.

I've sat and thought of how 'gay' may be used to offence, and the best i can come up with is, 'you pathetic little gay boy'. And amongst those words, the only truly demeaning ones are, pathetic, little, and boy.

 

[Mitchymo]

Sugar, and I'm ONLY saying that in an exasperated Southern kind of way - I tell people I grew up on a farm in the South and people WILL tell me that I'm imagining things. ONCE you get to kids around college age you get more acceptance, but even for my age demographic (Gen Xer) Conservatives of any stripe are overwhelming not pleased.

Why do you think that loon who decided she was going to break the law and oppose the supremes got off Scot free. The Moderates didn't ask for her head, they let her keep her job and told her is was just peachy for her to refuse to soil her tender fingers with any of that nasty homosexuality - and DO HER FUCKING JOB.

The USA is its own place. Religion unfortunately still wields a level of power that allows strength to homophobia. Here, most of the populace are non-religious or religious in principle but not practice. The USA may be one of the most liberal places on Earth, but it nevertheless is still more homophobic than Canada, UK, Western Europe, New Zealand etc.

 

[Rolyo85]

I'm sorry, where I live, I have not heard "queer" used as an insult in years, while "gay" is used daily.

 

[Mitchymo]

I'm sorry, where I live, I have not heard "queer" used as an insult in years, while "gay" is used daily.

I can only assume you are taking the word out of context if you are insulted by its use. You actually come across as the perfect queer, rallying against homonormativism. Gay is not an insult, and lacks substance even when meant as a slur.

 

[Rolyo85]

Oh, I don't mind the word "gay" one bit. I identify as gay. I also don't mind queer. I am partly queer as well.

YOU are the one butthurt by words here. I am just pointing out that if you play some Call of Duty with people online, you will hear the word "gay" every other sentence, and not once will it be used to describe a gay person.

 

[TX-Beau]

Every time you say something on the lines of "lispy, precious little Nancy boy", I get a semi...

Four Brothers, five sisters, youngest but one - if you can't win the verbal challenge, you go down hard.

 

[TX-Beau]

The USA is its own place. Religion unfortunately still wields a level of power that allows strength to homophobia. Here, most of the populace are non-religious or religious in principle but not practice. The USA may be one of the most liberal places on Earth, but it nevertheless is still more homophobic than Canada, UK, Western Europe, New Zealand etc.

It's not the religion - though that's certainly the fig leaf - that's the problem, attitudes about homosexuality have been politicized just like attitudes about abortion, when Conservatives hear "gay" they've been trained to think pervert, BY the far right.

 

[TX-Beau]

Oh, I don't mind the word "gay" one bit. I identify as gay. I also don't mind queer. I am partly queer as well.

YOU are the one butthurt by words here. I am just pointing out that if you play some Call of Duty with people online, you will hear the word "gay" every other sentence, and not once will it be used to describe a gay person.

Forgot about that - see I really am old, but yeah, I don't see how this isn't exactly the same level of insult people get upset about over "queer."

Having "gay" lumped into denigrating something else, IS using it in a derogatory manner by definition.

 

[Mitchymo]

Oh, I don't mind the word "gay" one bit. I identify as gay. I also don't mind queer. I am partly queer as well.

YOU are the one butthurt by words here.

Yes, something which is entirely justified. You identify with the word, i do not. That is where the butthurt comes in. It is not acceptable for a term descriptive of a subculture be used to define the whole LGBT culture. And the reason is valid as much, because it contradicts the identity of those who are gay but revile the term queer and what it represents.

I am just pointing out that if you play some Call of Duty with people online, you will hear the word "gay" every other sentence, and not once will it be used to describe a gay person.

Then why would you take offence unless you are determining the context to a negative end? There is no denial that the term is ambiguous in such context, probably why its usage has declined over here. But if its not blatant, why worry.

 

[Mitchymo]

It's not the religion - though that's certainly the fig leaf - that's the problem, attitudes about homosexuality have been politicized just like attitudes about abortion, when Conservatives hear "gay" they've been trained to think pervert, BY the far right.

We have things a little easier here, since the far right of politics, the BNP is shunned, so much so that they are joining UKIP to try and reclaim influence. They have had some moderate success in this, but even the UKIP elite are turning their backs because they know that you can't afford to be far right in politics here, the electorate won't tolerate it. The Conservatives here are like a republican party whose had the tea party seperated from it.

 

[TX-Beau]

Yes, something which is entirely justified. You identify with the word, i do not. That is where the butthurt comes in. It is not acceptable for a term descriptive of a subculture be used to define the whole LGBT culture. And the reason is valid as much, because it contradicts the identity of those who are gay but revile the term queer and what it represents.




Then why would you take offence unless you are determining the context to a negative end? There is no denial that the term is ambiguous in such context, probably why its usage has declined over here. But if its not blatant, why worry.

One would take offence because the intent of saying GAY to mean bad is offensive. You are narrowly construing what "Queer" means according to your own context - as we all do (which is also kind of my point,) and certainly you may feel offended by whatever prickles your fancy, I still say that all of these terms are in flux one era to the next and I would far rather "queer" come to mean what Rolyo is describing that what you are describing; and since the name of the game is who has the most voices defining the term, I'm going to throw in my vote on the happy hipster side of things.

 

[TX-Beau]

We have things a little easier here, since the far right of politics, the BNP is shunned, so much so that they are joining UKIP to try and reclaim influence. They have had some moderate success in this, but even the UKIP elite are turning their backs because they know that you can't afford to be far right in politics here, the electorate won't tolerate it. The Conservatives here are like a republican party whose had the tea party seperated from it.

Conservatives over there are Hilary and Obama - don't fool yourself. Trump accepts endorsements from outright white supremacists. like. the sheet wearing kind.

 

[Rolyo85]

There is nothing ambiguous about "I'm sorry I failed the mission"/"GAY!".


Also, many queer people do not identify as gay. For many the term "gay" identifies a culture and not their sexuality. Just because YOU feel you're justified in deciding what words are ok and what aren't, doesn't make your experiences universal.

 

[Mitchymo]

Re: Huffpost "Gay Voices" now "Queer Voices"

and since the name of the game is who has the most voices defining the term, I'm going to throw in my vote on the happy hipster side of things.

Perhaps only an elite few, within the US, matter, eh? I think if we were to determine voices globally, it wouldn't be a happy hipster win.

- - - Updated - - -

Conservatives over there are Hilary and Obama - don't fool yourself. Trump accepts endorsements from outright white supremacists. like. the sheet wearing kind.

Well then god help America.

 

[Mitchymo]

Also, many queer people do not identify as gay. For many the term "gay" identifies a culture and not their sexuality. Just because YOU feel you're justified in deciding what words are ok and what aren't, doesn't make your experiences universal.

This view is no different when thrown back at you. And in the case of the HuffPost, it WAS thrown back.

 

[TX-Beau]

Re: Huffpost "Gay Voices" now "Queer Voices"

Perhaps only an elite few, within the US, matter, eh? I think if we were to determine voices globally, it wouldn't be a happy hipster win.

Since I've never heard a hipster use "Queer" in that fashion, I suspect you're right. But that doesn't change anything, for all we know in five years it may be a global phenomenon.

Plus WEAK, pretending that somehow either myself or Rolyo was promoting American Exceptionalism. I know it's a sore point across the pond, what with there being no English Exceptional-ism and all, but surely you can do better than that.

I'll even give you points and get a little chubby if you manage to insult me in a particularly colorful and clever manner.

 

[Rolyo85]

Look, I had no problems with "Gay voices", I have no problems with "Queer voices" either. I find it easier to NOT be offended by things rather than being offended by things. Your prerogative if your panties are wadded over the word "queer", I was just trying to show you that "gay" is much more commonly used as an insult today, it's just used as a negative word for "lame" rather than in gay-bashing.