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Title: How 'gay' became children's insult of choice (blog/commentary)
Post by: Natasha on March 18, 2008, 06:04:16 PM
Post by: Natasha on March 18, 2008, 06:04:16 PM
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? "
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? "
Title: Re: How 'gay' became children's insult of choice (blog/commentary)
Post by: tekla on March 18, 2008, 07:51:47 PM
Post by: tekla on March 18, 2008, 07:51:47 PM
In the same way that 'gay' once upon a time did not mean homosexual, it no longer means that either - words change.
Title: Re: How 'gay' became children's insult of choice (blog/commentary)
Post by: Seshatneferw on March 19, 2008, 05:27:20 AM
Post by: Seshatneferw on March 19, 2008, 05:27:20 AM
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
Nfr
Title: Re: How 'gay' became children's insult of choice (blog/commentary)
Post by: lady amarant on March 19, 2008, 08:01:27 AM
Post by: lady amarant on March 19, 2008, 08:01:27 AM
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.
Sadly, coming out to him didn't seem to change the situation much.
Title: Re: How 'gay' became children's insult of choice (blog/commentary)
Post by: tekla on March 20, 2008, 04:04:30 PM
Post by: tekla on March 20, 2008, 04:04:30 PM
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.