I wouldn't describe a bad thing as "gay" (partly because it's not a slang term that I've ever picked up, and partly to avoid offending people), but one thing I've noticed is that people use "lame" in a similar context. Does that bother you in the same way, because of the "disabled = bad" implication?
That's a really interesting point. Actually... it doesn't bother me, but that's mainly because I don't hear the association with people being lame, and I don't think that's where the phrase came from. Besides, call me lame and I'll thwack you with my stick ;)
On the other hand, "spastic" as an insult makes me see red. Spastic was an actual medical term before it got abused to the point where the Spastics' Society had to change their name because the members were so ashamed. Kids use the word as an insult without any idea what cerebral palsy is, or what the difference between cerebral palsy and other physical or mental disabilities is, and just to slag off people who aren't even visibly disabled. "Retard" is similar. I'm sure there are others.
Sure, gay means happy :) And on the rare occasion meeping or gerwinium do something stereotypically gay, I'll tell them "You're so gay!". Because it's literally true, and we all know that I don't think gay=bad. Likewise, on the rare occasion I actually behave like a person of my birth gender (like taking all afternoon to buy a pair of shoes), they say "You're such a woman!".
The problem is, if you reserve the word "homophobia" for thugs who actively beat up gay people, what word can you use for the casual insulter? Most LBGTQ people meet dozens of insulters for every one thug, and may find "casual" homophobia much more of a problem in everyday life.
I dunno. I'm sure there are links online to other people's writings, where they rant much more cluefully than me. I'm just posting late on a Sunday night about something that was bothering me, rather than proposing any radical solutions.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-03-20 11:58 pm (UTC)That's a really interesting point. Actually... it doesn't bother me, but that's mainly because I don't hear the association with people being lame, and I don't think that's where the phrase came from. Besides, call me lame and I'll thwack you with my stick ;)
On the other hand, "spastic" as an insult makes me see red. Spastic was an actual medical term before it got abused to the point where the Spastics' Society had to change their name because the members were so ashamed. Kids use the word as an insult without any idea what cerebral palsy is, or what the difference between cerebral palsy and other physical or mental disabilities is, and just to slag off people who aren't even visibly disabled. "Retard" is similar. I'm sure there are others.
Sure, gay means happy :) And on the rare occasion
The problem is, if you reserve the word "homophobia" for thugs who actively beat up gay people, what word can you use for the casual insulter? Most LBGTQ people meet dozens of insulters for every one thug, and may find "casual" homophobia much more of a problem in everyday life.
I dunno. I'm sure there are links online to other people's writings, where they rant much more cluefully than me. I'm just posting late on a Sunday night about something that was bothering me, rather than proposing any radical solutions.