Gay is derogatory? - A question on terminology

[Forgon]

So,

I know many people who hate other people using gay when they mean lame. And believe it is derogatory.

My question is:

Do you think gay is a derogatory term? (i.e. that gay is referring to being homosexual, and thus relating homosexuals to people who are lame in context)

I'll go first:

I do not. And I don't think people who use gay in place of lame are trying to make that connection. I just think it has become a part of English vernacular.

Sure there might be those who are purposefully using this as derogatory against homosexuals, but I can't believe the majority do, and just because a small minority might why must it be so strictly politically incorrect. I just thinks it's making a big deal out of something so silly.

[obdigore]

If you are referring to a homosexual as gay, I don't think it is derogatory.

If you are expressing your dislike for something by calling it 'Gay', it is pretty clearly derogatory.

[Forgon]

If you are referring to a homosexual as gay, I don't think it is derogatory.

If you are expressing your dislike for something by calling it 'Gay', it is pretty clearly derogatory.

But, I mean is it derogatory to homosexuals if you are expressing your dislike, not if it is just purely derogatory if used in that context.

[s_bushido]

If you're using a word that represents a group of people as an insult, then yes. It's derogatory.

[Aitch]

Right, just like people who use the n word to describe certain types of black people don't necessarily mean all black people right? So it shouldn't be derogatory either?

[Deleted]

I'm old enough to remember when it meant 'happy'

on topic: I think it depends on how the person uses it, if they say it in an insulting way I guess most words could be derogatory

[Forgon]

If you're using a word that represents a group of people as an insult, then yes. It's derogatory.

But I guess, does it really represent them if they are not intentionally making that connection, but because other's might it should be avoided...

[Zoaric]

While I do agree that's it sorta slipped into the vernacular, I think it's still derogatory,
even unintentionally. That said, I prefer it's original meaning to all others... same with
the term queer. Using either properly gets me weird looks. =/

[obdigore]

But, I mean is it derogatory to homosexuals if you are expressing your dislike, not if it is just purely derogatory if used in that context.

If you are equating something bad/something you don't like to another person's sexual preference, you are being derogatory towards it. I'm not sure how to make that any more clear to you.

I mean, you wanted a threesome with your girlfriend for months, and she brings home a super hot friend and is like 'We want to have a threesome with you', do you yell out 'SUPER GAY!'? No? Because you are using Gay descriptor for only negative things.

[Issalice]

I know what you are saying OP, and I don't think when people are using it in the way that you described mean to be derogatory, for the most part. But as the other posters have already stated it is, plain and simple.

[Boogums]

It's derogatory depending on the inflection and intent of the word; just like Jew, or Black, or White, or LITERALLY ANYTHING YOU CAN CALL SOMEONE.

[obdigore]

While I do agree that's it sorta slipped into the vernacular, I think it's still derogatory,
even unintentionally. That said, I prefer it's original meaning to all others... same with
the term queer. Using either properly gets me weird looks. =/

I prefer asking people why having some awe (awesome!) is good, but being full of awe (awful!) is bad.

Smart ones will know the root words are different, but most people have to stop and think about it for a bit.

[ben-]

Using the word gay to imply something is bad, lame, uncool etc... is derogatory yes.

[Charmanderp]

Wait... people still use "gay" as a way to say "lame". I didn't know that everyone was still stuck at 14 years old. Normally I just say that something is dumb rather than gay, lame, etc.

[Waniou]

Is it offensive when I say "well that's sexually attracted to the same gender" as a way of mocking people who use "gay" as an insult?

[Zoaric]

I prefer asking people why having some awe (awesome!) is good, but being full of awe (awful!) is bad.

Smart ones will know the root words are different, but most people have to stop and think about it for a bit.

Fun fact: The Sistine Chapel's ceiling paintings were once described quite happily as
'awful.'

Okay, I guess it's not very fun but I enjoy it.

[Time Sage]

If you are referring to a homosexual as gay, I don't think it is derogatory.

If you are expressing your dislike for something by calling it 'Gay', it is pretty clearly derogatory.

This. I was going to say the exact same thing.

I will mention I self identify as gay. It's the term I use to describe myself and I know plenty of others that do as well.

[Suggs]

fucking hell m8 you make alot of threads with titles as questions :S
Gay is derogatory? - A question on terminology
Do you read for fun?
Do all the weirdos come out at night?
Afraid of the dark?
You last meal?
Blizzard's 10th Anniversary! - GIFT?!
World War 3? - Is it even possible?
How much have you spent on Battle Pets and Mounts?
Taxes - Do you have a solution?
Driverless cars? - Y / N
Turn yourself into a robot - Y / N

That last one lols... and that's just a few.
Either your one nosy bastard or your just one curious bastard i don't know haha not bashing btw just made me laugh a bit.

Anyway the word 'gay' gets so overused its just so boring now to hear it .I wish it vanished from everyone's head forever!!!
I had a message on twitch yesterday by some fanboi fucktard that didn't like what i had to say and all it said was ;

you are so GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! seriously who even uses that word now above the age of 11?!?

[Duronos]

Well lets just say it wasn't originally in my new phones dictionary, guess my phone is homophobic.

[Mormolyce]

I do not. And I don't think people who use gay in place of lame are trying to make that connection. I just think it has become a part of English vernacular.

If you use "gay" to mean something lame, you're implicitly acknowledging that being gay is something bad.

Not the same as the word gay itself being derogatory.

I mean, if I said "that's so Jewish" every time I saw somebody being cheap, that would be using the word in a derogatory way, even though "Jewish" is not derogatory in and of itself.

That said it's pretty difficult to dislodge the term from our vernacular.

Maybe we should just start saying "that's so hetero" to describe things that are lame as well.