How 'gay' became children's insult of choice (blog/commentary)

[Natasha]

How 'gay' became children's insult of choice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7289390.stm
03/18/2008

"The word "gay" is now the most frequently used term of abuse in schools, says a report. How did it get to be so prevalent and why do children use homophobic insults to get at each other? "

[tekla]

In the same way that 'gay' once upon a time did not mean homosexual, it no longer means that either - words change.

[Seshatneferw]

True, words change. On the other hand, in cases like this the real question is why words change -- why gay is drifting towards being a general pejorative word, or why negro became pejorative enough that it had to be replaced by black, and that one in turn is being phased out in favour of African-American and the like. The fact that words change isn't interesting in itself, but what these changes reveal about the hidden values in the society is.

  Nfr

[lady amarant]

My brother does this too when playing Counterstrike online. I've taken him to task on it many times, and he just goes "oh, I don't mind gay people. We're just messing around." And he's 24.

Sadly, coming out to him didn't seem to change the situation much.

[tekla]

I know people who are gay, or people like me who are pretty close to the gay movement, who use it.  Its not a hate deal, its a lame deal.