I feel totally weird about starting two threads so close to each other, but I'm just really curious...

So, I'm gay. I'm very open about it. I have a boyfriend who is very supportive of my transition.

I use the word "->-bleeped-<-" and "->-bleeped-<-gy" pretty much daily. My boyfriend doesn't seem to care at all, and oddly enough, our female friend cares more about it than we do. Usually, it's in the comfort of my own home, except for a few days ago when I was shopping with my mom and she kept showing me just stupid looking girl clothes. I would never EVER use it to describe another person. (However, characters from TV or books is free game for me)

For all the gays (that word is more awkward to me than the f-word D: ) does that word bother you? Not necessarily when it's directed at anyone, but just in general. Why or why not?

EDIT: I do not condone the use of the word to label, offend or describe any person, living or dead. If someone were to call me a ->-bleeped-<-, I would be very upset.

I consider myself straight unless I fall in love with a guy so really don't identify with a word but somewhat similar

I use the word ->-bleeped-<- a lot when I'm with my trans friend because the word doesn't bother me. I keep it to myself around people who find it offensive but kinda like you I prefer that word instead of the "medical term" transsexual.

Well, i don't live in a country where people speak english. I guess that the similar word to "->-bleeped-<-" here is "bicha" ou "viado". And it's ALWAYS used as something bad, pejorative, degrading... Unless it's used between friends who know each other pretty well and have the intimacy to call the other as a "->-bleeped-<-" without being pejorative  o..o
Sometimes, when i'm talking with a close friend, i say things like "Ok, i know i'm a ->-bleeped-<-gy!", but only in humoristic conversations  .-.
My boyfriend really prefer the term "gay", because it's the "correct" word.

I absolutely hate the word, because it's almost always used with a negative conotation, whether it's about a person or not.

Quote from: Espenoah on December 23, 2010, 07:40:03 AM
I absolutely hate the word, because it's almost always used with a negative conotation, whether it's about a person or not.

I understand the negativity based in that word, but it kinda feels like it's lost all the mean-ness towards the homosexual community it originally harbored. Instead of meaning "Gay and that is bad" it seems now to mean "That is pretty darn lame".

Like the word Dank. It now, apparently means something is hip or cool. Kids these days, I swear...

I loath the word ->-bleeped-<-. I've never, ever heard it used in any way other than an offensive one, and it will always be offensive to me, even if a gay person were to say it. Similarly, I also hate the word ->-bleeped-<-. I'd much rather call myself gay, or trans, than either of those words.

Seeing as I live in Iceland, we got a good mix of american and british colloquialism 'round here, And so, we ('specially me and mine) like to play with our words.
When our friend comes over she sometimes asks if we wanna pop out for a ->-bleeped-<-, and we (me and hubby) counter with already having one in here and pointing at each other.
Things like that.

I don't "like" the power given to certain words by declaring them "bad" words.

Quote from: Miniar on December 23, 2010, 07:58:16 AM
Seeing as I live in Iceland, we got a good mix of american and british colloquialism 'round here, And so, we ('specially me and mine) like to play with our words.
When our friend comes over she sometimes asks if we wanna pop out for a ->-bleeped-<-, and we (me and hubby) counter with already having one in here and pointing at each other.
Things like that.

I don't "like" the power given to certain words by declaring them "bad" words.

This is exactly what I mean! Giving the words the power to be bad is just stupid.

Few things in language cause the hilarity as the difference between how a Brit uses the word '->-bleeped-<-' and what it means in SF when you have to 'pop round the corner and pick up some ->-bleeped-<-s.'

Quote from: tekla on December 23, 2010, 08:07:18 AM
Few things in language cause the hilarity as the difference between how a Brit uses the word '->-bleeped-<-' and what it means in SF when you have to 'pop round the corner and pick up some ->-bleeped-<-s.'

This is very true.

I dunno, I don't really mind the word if it's not used pejoratively, but then, I'm not really someone that's bothered by words in general. (Though it does piss me off when people say "that's so gay," etc.)

I'm not gay, but I honestly don't see anything wrong with the word as long as it isn't being used to offend someone. Same goes for most words, really. I think it really all depends on the context that you use the word in.

I'll be honest, I hate the word.

When it's used here in the US, it's never being used as a term of love.   There's always some sort of a hatred behind its context.

It's no different, IMO, than any racial slur someone can toss out.   

Here ->-bleeped-<- means cigarette and a ->-bleeped-<-got is a pork thing but from talking to americans I know the word is pretty vile to some.

Personally I think it's like the words ->-bleeped-<- and ->-bleeped-<-, the words put a horrible taste in my mouth, I hate them but I have no problem with people saying it to other people or describing themselves that way if it's not ment to offend. Context is everything. 

Quote from: Nathan. on December 23, 2010, 10:02:42 AM
Here ->-bleeped-<- means cigarette and a ->-bleeped-<-got is a pork thing but from talking to americans I know the word is pretty vile to some.

Personally I think it's like the words ->-bleeped-<- and ->-bleeped-<-, the words put a horrible taste in my mouth, I hate them but I have no problem with people saying it to other people or describing themselves that way if it's not ment to offend. Context is everything. 

See, it's interesting, because although I probably wouldn't say it, I wouldn't really have a problem with saying "->-bleeped-<-" in a non-offensive context, but on the other hand, although I know black guys that throw around the word "->-bleeped-<-" all the time, I could never say that casually or otherwise- I guess it's just been really effectively drilled into me that that's not an OK word to say, ever.

Curious why you would use a word you know is offensive to some, even if it isn't to you?

Seems almost looking for problems to be honest.

I think that a word is only as bad as the emotions behind it.  If it's not being used as something bad, then what's the harm?  It's just a word.

Quote from: spacial on December 23, 2010, 10:18:50 AM
Curious why you would use a word you know is offensive to some, even if it isn't to you?

Seems almost looking for problems to be honest.

See, that's the reason why I generally don't use words like this. I have no problem with them being used in a non-offensive way, but I would be wary of using unless I was sure no one else around me would be offended or think I was using it derogatively.

I don't believe a single word on it's own should ever be given the power to hurt/cause offence

It completely depends on the context and intent to me. I feel it's pretty easy to tell if somebody has malice in what they're saying and that makes all the difference

it doesnt bother me. plus, I wold rather be called ->-bleeped-<-/ ->-bleeped-<-got all day, then dyke.  ->-bleeped-<-got is kinda a compliment.

The word doesn't offend me any, even though I'm American I've been exposed to British terms since I was young due to growing up with a British friend who moved to the USA, and having dated a few British people who've moved to the states. My mind automatically associates the words '->-bleeped-<-' with a cigarette due to this, it actually takes me a moment to realize when someone is using it as a derogatory term. Not even joking, one of my gay friends was standing outside with me having a smoke, guy walked pass and my friend musta checked him out or something, due said "What are you looking at ->-bleeped-<-?" and it actually took me a moment to realize that, no, he WASN'T delusional and talking to my friend's cigarette, thankfully my friend has a good sense of humor and told the jerk that his rear reminded him of his boyfriend's and that was why he was looking, look on the guy's face after that was funny as hell. But no, the word ->-bleeped-<- doesn't bug me a bit due to my mind automatically associating it with a cig.