<p>ditto</p>
<p>lots of people use 'gay'. I personally don't think it's so bad.</p>
<p>To say "since everyone uses "gay" pejoratively, it is okay" is to commit a fallacy; I leave the bright and intelligent individuals who post on this forum to figure it out...</p>
<p><em>cough</em>bandwagon<em>cough</em></p>
<p>I agree that doing so would result in fallacious reasoning. However, I don't think we're saying that "since everyone uses "gay" pejoratively, it is okay." If you look back at the previous posts, nobody said that "because others do it, it should be fine." Instead, I believe we're saying that a lot of people use the word AND don't take offense at it, which is why we didn't see the big deal about it. That's why we found it odd that people were offended. We never said that we were using the word, or that we were using it JUST because others were doing it.</p>
<p>And I don't know why you're asking the umm "bright and intelligent individuals" to figure it out as if there are radically less intelligent people here. Personally, I think anybody who applies to Rice is very smart, and everyone I've talked to here so far is quite intelligent.</p>
<p>I never said that because other people use gay, I think it's ok. My two statements were independent. When people use the term "gay", it's just another term for 'dumb' or 'stupid'. When someone says "That biology test was really gay", I don't think they really meant to offend or belittle anyone or to refer to anyone's sexuality. Because of this, I personally don't think it's that big of a deal. Not everyone has to be PC all the time.</p>
<p>
[Quote]
And I don't know why you're asking the umm "bright and intelligent individuals" to figure it out as if there are radically less intelligent people here. Personally, I think anybody who applies to Rice is very smart, and everyone I've talked to here so far is quite intelligent.
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</p>
<p>Sorry if I sounded sarcastic, the individuals on this forum really are bright and intelligent.</p>
<p>Moreover, I never claimed that someone made the bandwagon fallacy; I was simply trumping an argument before its occurance.</p>
<p>And by the way, I wonder how many homosexuals regard the use of the word "gay," pejoratively, as offensive. You could be right, but it would be improper to jump to conclusions. Moreover, I tend to view the usage of "gay" in its current context to be offensive:</p>
<p>"gay"=Homosexual
"gay"=Bad</p>
<p>Therefore: Homosexal=Bad.</p>
<p>One could argue that I am committing the fallacy of equivocation, but perhaps studying the root of the usage of "gay" in the context presented in the second premise might elucidate the intent behind its current usage...</p>
<p>Yeah I can see where you are coming from. I just think that most people don't think that hard (or don't want to ;)) when they use the term "gay".</p>
<p>athlonmj, </p>
<p>I personally think you are right: the use of "gay" is probably not intended as an insult to homosexuals. However, I do wonder if the person, who originally used the word in such a context, had malicious intent.</p>
<p>I'm really not quite sure where insults are derived from. It would be an interesting study though. I remember in the later stages of middle school / early high school, many people use "faggot" as an insult, which literally translates to 'a bundle of sticks'.</p>
<p>Fag is a cigarette in England.</p>
<p>lol, "that biology test was really gay"... such brilliant usage! I can't think of a better example. Anyways, nice to see that the two sides are coming to something of a consensus.</p>
<p>Athlonmj: I undestand that you are not trying to offend gay people, but just think for a minute if a word that describes YOU was put into those statements. For example: the first time someone said, "Oh, that algebra test; it was SO blond!", and you knew that blond meant that it was a stupid test, you might not feel so bad. If day after day, everytime you heard the word "Blond" it was in connection with something stupid or bad, I think you would start to feel hurt by the use of the word.<br>
There are many terms that, thankfully, have been phased out due to people's awareness that they are hurtful. Examples include, "Indian-giver", using the term "jew" as a verb, the "n" word (and that one is too sensitive sometimes to even write!), etc. It's time that "gay" as a perjorative get removed from people's vocabulary! Another point, just because you've heard a gay student use the word "gay" pejoratively, or he/she hasn't OBJECTED to you using the word - it doesn't mean that hearing the word used that way doesn't bother him/her. People will do a lot of things to fit in. Now be nice, get enlighted, and stop calling people names. Thank you.</p>
<p>Anxiousmom,</p>
<p>You have articulated exactly what I have been attempting to explain.</p>
<p>It is also worth noting that I wince at the pejorative use of "retard/retarded."</p>
<p>I do as well.</p>
<p>Anxiousmom, I see your point here.</p>
<p>
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Now be nice, get enlighted, and stop calling people names. Thank you.
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<p>However, athlon wasn't calling anybody names, nor did he ever say that he uses that word pejoratively towards other people. Personally, I think he was nice in responding to other people here who didn't agree with him. So I think your last line was rather unnecessary.</p>
<p>I'm thankful that you have enlightened (there's an "en" in that word, btw) us with your point of view since some of us here come from backgrounds where that word is not thought of in such a manner (by both adults and students). However, just because someone doesn't know something is considered a hurtful insult doesn't mean he/she's automatically pro-usage of that word. Read people's posts carefully before you jump to conclusions.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
However, just because someone doesn't know something is considered a hurtful insult doesn't mean he/she's automatically pro-usage of that word.
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<p>Even if one does not endorse the pejorative sense of a term, the usage of it in the wrong context, intentionally, is harmful to language as whole. I know it might seem absurd that one should know all the facets of one word, but if one uses a word without knowing the full meaning of it, then he/she is doing a disfavor to the English language as a whole and should, instead, opt for a substitute viz. instead of "gay," use "happy."</p>
<p>Edit: By the way, this post is not meant as a refutation, but as a supplement.</p>
<p>Wow, lots of responses. Sorry if I offended anyone by giving my opinion on the word "gay". Let's change the topic please. =)</p>
<p>icymoon said "I'm thankful that you have enlightened (there's an "en" in that word, btw) us with your point of view since some of us here come from backgrounds where that word is not thought of in such a manner (by both adults and students)."</p>
<p>I'm delighted you feel the need to correct my misspelling - and unless you live in a society that's totally isolated from the USA I'm sure adults in your community consider using the term "gay" to mean "stupid" or "bad" as a negative thing. Try asking your mom what she thinks of you using that word in that way. </p>
<p>And I will happily not discuss this subject again.</p>
<p>I agreed to what athlon said earlier by not posting any further on this topic. Funny how you agreed not to discuss the subject again, yet you felt that you had to get your last word in by STILL posting in that subject. That doesn't really sound fair, does it?</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm going to actually abide by not saying anything more about the word "gay" by not refuting any of your (nor nspeds) statements.</p>
<p>heh, I was amused by that myself. Hit and run tactics are quite popular among 12 year olds, but you don't see it from adults too often. And why is it that everyone is so eager to flee from this topic? It's a good discussion. This conversation, in fact, is quite appropriate, as anyone who comes to Rice will likely spend a lot of time debating issues such as this in the classroom.</p>
<p>Haha pat. I just felt that the topic wasn't apropos to this thread. However, I'm definitely looking forward to late night discussion/debates in College =)</p>