Why is the word "gay" sacred?

[FaithIsFilth]

You totally missed the point.

(And besides: You are totally free to think that an animal torturer are similar to womens genitals. But is it wise, sane?)

Well, a torturer has a stinky attitude, just like some women have stinky... um...

...runs away

[mauricio]

The reason it used in that way is because gay means homosexual.
That is why it is marked as offensive.

No you are just projecting your own stupidity on millions of young people who use the word to mean lame without any intention of disparaging homosexuals, i already proved that is a significant common usage. There's nothing more for you than to try to move the goalposts or strawman my original claims.

Btw your post is gay and you are cunt. Uhhh im such a homophobe and mysoginist, regardless that my actual positions are completely opposite to those just because i used the taboo words, herp a derp.  That is how retarded you sound, oops i did it again.

[Draconic Aiur]

Lol yup.

But seriously the title gay isn't sacred but used many times negatively like "That is so gay"; I've used it many times as a kid and still use it because it was a habit that stood out since times as a kid, because in those and these days the term gay used by many is indeed thought that gay is bad, due to religious, the ignorant, and the habitual people like me that say it and don't really mean it. The reason why actvist try to make it sacred or in this case better is because all the hate negative usage of the term because gay originally meant happy, and homosexuals made it their quota term because they are a happy people.

[widdershins]

Bullshit. "It's so gay" is only a negative remark if you see "gay" denoting something bad.

Not bullshit.  You're speaking in absolutes now.  You said "...see 'gay' as denoting something bad.", but that isn't exactly what's going on necessarily.  More correctly it would be, "...see 'gay' as sometimes denoting something bad."  We are talking about to different definitions for the same word, so if I say, "That is so gay" then in that context I see gay as denoting something bad.  But if I say, "Don't bother flirting with him.  He's gay.", in that context I do not.

[widdershins]

Bullshit. Again. Words mean something. If you say "that is so gay" you express that it somehow shares a property of gay people.
Maybe your intent wasnt that but then you failed in your usage of the language.

Now THAT is bullshit.  Some words have multiple meanings and gay is one of them.  Your claim is no more true than me saying, "His hear it black" in any way expresses that this usage somehow shares a property with black people or "little white lie" expresses that this usage somehow shares a property with white people.  One usage specifically refers to a group of people, another usage of the very same word does not, no matter how many times you claim that this reasoning is "bullshit".

[widdershins]

People do not get to decide themselves in what meaning they will use a word without considering the general/cultural usage, any context or following the herd. You can't say "I will use the word 'gay' for stupid, it is their problem, if they can't handle it". Well certainly you can, but it really doesn't mean much. You just say it yourself and you just use it yourself. And it means that you are living in the middle of nowhere surrounded just by a several people -which I think how widdershins lives and survives- yeah go on and develop your own language, use every word the way you like. But then there is nothing much to discuss about that with this issue under those circumstances, is there? Set up a nude commune with a compulsory tinfoil hat and invent a new language. Why not? 

Someone who has to live in close quarters with many different, various individuals, adapting to the usages of words in every context (slang, daily language, the jargons) and to the changes is a crucial skill. Be it at work, at home, relatives, friend circle...etc.

If you claim you can/do use words in remote meanings that would make no sense and be offensive to others the way you like; you are either over 75, anonymously posting in an internet forum or living in the middle of nowhere with a very limited amount of people who already have a dependent relationship with you.

If you have to result to petty insults then you must feel your argument isn't very strong.

By the way, I never claimed to be "deciding for myself" what the meaning of the word "gay" is, and that claim is intellectually dishonest at best.  I have stated all along that I was using a dictionary definition, and before that the culturally relevant reference from the entirety of my life.  On the flip side, other people do not get to decide for you which definitions of a word, whether actually defined or slang, we cannot use, which is very much what you are doing.

And as if it's any of your business, I live in a town of about 6,000 people, where I have lived most of my life.  When not living in this town, I lived in smaller towns.  Are you saying all people from small towns are ignorant hicks?  No, what you're really saying is that there must be something physically or emotionally wrong with all people who don't agree with you which, frankly, is a very stupid belief.

And what's this about "inventing a new language"?  TOTAL BULLSHIT!  As I've said all along, I am using a DEFINITION FROM A DICTIONARY.  There is no "invention" of any "new language" on my part.  It's actually you who is trying to revise an existing language to suit your opinion.

And then you suggest, what?  You live in a big city, so you're smarter in the ways of people, I guess?  And then go on to claim it's a "remote meaning that would make no sense"?  Based on what?  That it has been EXTREMELY common my entire life?  I gather you live in a large city, but on what planet, because I don't think we live on the same one if that use of the word "gay" is in any way a "remote meaning" where you come from.  You must in the very least not live in the US.  You're apparently unaware of this, but not only is the meaning not "remote" it is, in fact, so common that a Public Service Announcement was made about that usage.  In America a "PSA", as they are referred to, is generally not made to address something perceived by some as a problem if that problem is considered to be "remote", "obscure" or "uncommon".  It costs a lot of money to make them (money is the currency we trade with here), so you wouldn't normally waste this "money" on a "problem" you don't believe to be a very common one.

[widdershins]

You didnt notice the lable "offensive". In the dictionaries, did you?

You didn't notice that the definition "Homosexual" wasn't among those definitions labeled offensive, did you?

[widdershins]

The reason it used in that way is because gay means homosexual.
That is why it is marked as offensive.

AND THE OTHER THINGS given in those definitions.  You're trying to assign the word this single, absolute meaning and claim that all uses of the word at least insinuate this single meaning to some extent, which is just not the way language works.  That's why things have multiple definition.  Now, if you have an argument that makes sense, (ie, NOT one which insists that all usage of the word "gay" is referring to sexuality), make it and I'll listen.

[facebook164]

You didn't notice that the definition "Homosexual" wasn't among those definitions labeled offensive, did you?

What? What is so hard to understand?
the usage of "gay" to mean "lame" that is offensive exactly because "gay" is a nonoffensive word for homosexual!

[widdershins]

What? What is so hard to understand?
the usage of "gay" to mean "lame" that is offensive exactly because "gay" is a nonoffensive word for homosexual!

It is ALSO an offensive word for "stupid".  What is so hard for YOU to understand?  Words sometimes have MULTIPLE, often UNRELATED meanings.  But you keep telling yourself those little white lies which make your heart so black.  DAMN!  I just offended all white AND black people everywhere in one sentence because "white" and "black" only ever refer to a person's race and I just used them in a negative way!  WHAT A DICK!

[facebook164]

AND THE OTHER THINGS given in those definitions.  You're trying to assign the word this single, absolute meaning and claim that all uses of the word at least insinuate this single meaning to some extent, which is just not the way language works.  That's why things have multiple definition.  Now, if you have an argument that makes sense, (ie, NOT one which insists that all usage of the word "gay" is referring to sexuality), make it and I'll listen.

Because that is how kids and teenagers behave. They use words that is loaded and tries to "break them" by using them in sbuive ways. That is where all this perojative usage of "jew", "retard", "gay" etc comes from. Its fun because it is forbidden. Its fun because people get upset, it is fun because it gives power.

That you doesnt realize this speaks loads about you.

[widdershins]

Because that is how kids and teenagers behave. They use words that is loaded and tries to "break them" by using them in sbuive ways. That is where all this perojative usage of "jew", "retard", "gay" etc comes from. Its fun because it is forbidden. Its fun because people get upset, it is fun because it gives power.

That you doesnt realize this speaks loads about you.

It's you who doesn't know what the hell you're talking about.  If you read my previous posts you'll find that I already stated that I actually researched this a few years ago and BOTH USAGES of the word "gay" originate at about the same time.  The definition I am talking about is not slang, it's an actual definition from the dictionary.  Furthermore, the origins of both uses predate my birth, meaning my exposure to either use of the word was not influenced by "teenagers" using it as a "loaded word".  I have NEVER used, nor heard it used, to mean both "homosexual" and "stupid" simultaneously.  I have NEVER seen those usages crossed except in the minds of the PC Police.  If you have, then you have some life experience I do not.  That you simply refuse to understand that I don't see a connection between the two usages speaks very loudly about you.

[widdershins]

I would like to point out that ALL the arguments for not using the "unacceptable" definition of the word are insulting, angry and make ridiculous claims.  That there is no one on the "other side" of this debate who can speak calmly and intelligently on this matter without resulting to petty insults and false equivalencies, not to mention even address the other instances where words have two meanings, one of which defines a group of people, the other of which is seen as negative, pretty much tells me that this argument is nothing more than people simply being offended by nothing at all.  That is, unless someone can CALMLY AND POLITELY tell me where my thinking has gone wrong, which I am very much willing to listen to.  But be warned, being that my intention when saying "that is so gay" has NEVER been to insult homosexuals, nor have I ever actually heard it used in that way to insult homosexuals, you have your work cut out for you to convince me that it is actually "offensive" as opposed to people simply "being offended" by it, which, in my mind, are two very different thing.

Please note, it is not my intention to offend people here.  It is my intention to understand those who think differently than me.  There will be no understanding if all you can do is insinuate that I'm a bigot against gays, unintelligent or a redneck jerk.  If that's what you have, take it with you when you leave.

[facebook164]

It's you who doesn't know what the hell you're talking about.  If you read my previous posts you'll find that I already stated that I actually researched this a few years ago and BOTH USAGES of the word "gay" originate at about the same time.  The definition I am talking about is not slang, it's an actual definition from the dictionary.  Furthermore, the origins of both uses predate my birth, meaning my exposure to either use of the word was not influenced by "teenagers" using it as a "loaded word".  I have NEVER used, nor heard it used, to mean both "homosexual" and "stupid" simultaneously.  I have NEVER seen those usages crossed except in the minds of the PC Police.  If you have, then you have some life experience I do not.  That you simply refuse to understand that I don't see a connection between the two usages speaks very loudly about you.

That you doesnt realize the connection when explained to you says the most.

[widdershins]

That you doesnt realize the connection when explained to you says the most.

That you just presented the argument of a prepubescent child, complete with improper grammar says the most times infinity.