"That's so gay" - Offensive or Not?

[lily.]

Simples.

If you find it offensive, pick Yes.

If you don't, pick No.

[pinkmichk]

nope doesnt offend me

[30stone]

Thats so happy?

Course not :tongue:

[dpbb3]

nooooooooooo mannn. yerrrr gayyy

[MrGaryy]

yes I find it offensive. I'm not a prude, I think its very reasonable for gays to find it offensive. Sorry for bringing up the same old arguemtn again but 'thats so jewish' or 'thats so black' would automatically be deemed offensive so why not gay?

[lily.]

I clicked 'no', because I'm not homophobic, and I never thought of the phrase as being offensive.

Some of the posts in the other thread tell me otherwise though..

[lily.]

Originally posted by MrGaryy
yes I find it offensive. I'm not a prude, I think its very reasonable for gays to find it offensive. Sorry for bringing up the same old arguemtn again but 'thats so jewish' or 'thats so black' would automatically be deemed offensive so why not gay?

You don't have to apologise. You are making a valid point, and stating your honest opinion.

[Twilight]

Hope noone i know finds it Offensive because i say it all the time

[lily.]

Originally posted by Twilight
Hope noone i know finds it Offensive because i say it all the time

Maybe they do, but don't want to speak up. I'm starting to wonder that now, as I see people on here speaking up about how offensive they find it. :(

[MarkWaldorf]

As I said before, I tend to judge it on the context.

I don't have a problem with people saying it casually, because it doesn't offend me. It's just when people use it to offend that I hate.

[Wildcat!]

I think its offensive, therefore, I never say it.
But the funny thing is, most people that I hear saying it, are gay!

[lily.]

That's how I thought everyone viewed it Mark... but now I'm thinking that people are offended by it even when it's not used directly against someone.

[TheMac]

Originally posted by Twilight
Hope noone i know finds it Offensive because i say it all the time

That's the big problem. Everyone finds it acceptable to call something gay as like a bad thing. I used to say it a lot, but I kinda realised that it's just sorta not immature, but like erm, ignorant. Whether people around me are gay or not, I don't really think it is a good word to use unless you are referring to someone's sexuality. And not in an insulting way either.

[JOSHUAH!]

I say it a lot and when I say it I don't actually relate to it like I'm being offensive to gay people..its just a word I say really. I know that sounds pretty harsh 'cause some people do find it offensive and I actually try to not say it to people who I know are gay etc :)

[MrGaryy]

I think a lot of gay people are afraid to say they are offended by it for fear they will come across up tight or absorbed by they're own issues.

[Tom4784]

I think the phrase has taken on another meaning really. I think most people that say it don't mean to be deregatory towards gay people it's just taken on another meaning as well as the previous two meanings. I think labels like Rascist and homophobe are thrown about too easily these days. Most people don't say it with malice.

I don't say it personally but I don't get offended by people who use it casually as they aren't refering to sexuality. If they said it in a way like 'That makes you look gay' or accused the person of being gay negatively then that's wrong.

[Twilight]

I find it funny thought because most people that i know that say it are gay lol and when i say it i don't mean it like being gay's a bad thing.

[lily.]

Originally posted by MrGaryy
I think a lot of gay people are afraid to say they are offended by it for fear they will come across up tight or absorbed by they're own issues.

I'm starting to think you're right..

[Wildcat!]

LIke I said before, I dont think its right to say it, but its hard to call it offensive, when most gay people use the expression themselves. So unless it appears to offend in general, I dont think most gay people find it ofensive.

[MrGaryy]

Originally posted by Dezzy
I think the phrase has taken on another meaning really. I think most people that say it don't mean to be deregatory towards gay people it's just taken on another meaning as well as the previous two meanings. I think labels like Rascist and homophobe are thrown about too easily these days. Most people don't say it with malice.

I don't say it personally but I don't get offended by people who use it casually as they aren't refering to sexuality. If they said it in a way like 'That makes you look gay' or accused the person of being gay negatively then that's wrong.

see this is like what I was saying in the other thread. I think that sooooo many people tell themselves they don't mean it in a bad way because they don't want to be seen as predjudice people but subconsciously they actually do. Thats not to say they're bad people, for most cases its been bred ino them by society and parents, they can't help it.
Thats not directed at anyone in particular.

[CiaraD]

I say it alot but I have never thought negativly of gay people when I have said it as I have no problem with gays. I have never though of it being offensive.

I do see how gay people could find it offensive though. Don't think I'll say it as much now!

[Spike]

No because its just a saying, not a dig at gay people or anything
Me and my friends say it because its become natural, it will soon die out

[lily.]

Originally posted by CiaraD
I say it alot but I have never thought negativly of gay people when I have said it as I have no problem with gays. I have never though of it being offensive.

I do see how gay people could find it offensive though. Don't think I'll say it as much now!

Me either.

[Shaun]

Nah, I call things "gay" to mean stupid or annoying sometimes.

[letmein]

It is extremely offensive, and bigoted.

How would you feel if I said that you "Jewed me out of a dollar"?

Same exact thing.

Equating "gay" with "stupid", is just unacceptable.

This is the same exact crap people did to blacks 40 years ago.

Treat people with dignity!

[Axiom]

Not offensive to me

[lightyears]

i dont mind it at all, if i say thats so gay i normally mean fabulous lol

[Hugo]

NO
I am gay, and I'm always saying it.

[Sod_James]

nope.

i say it all the time.

[Arneldo]

Yes it is, extremely. It annoys me when people say it about everything, especially if they are using it in bad way. Like they see a car they don't like, "eww thats so gay". But if the car was bright pink had flowers all over it with a speaker at the top blaring Elton John and the driver was wearing anything shorter than 'short shorts' and a tank-top - then, yeh, that is gay.

[lily.]

Originally posted by Arneldo
But if the car was bright pink had flowers all over it with a speaker at the top blaring Elton John and the driver was wearing anything shorter than 'short shorts' and a tank-top - then, yeh, that is gay.

Indeed. :thumbs:

[John.]

That's so gay = No

You're gay = yes




Didn't they change the definition of 'gay' in the dictionary, so that it described how a person felt?

[bronaaaa]

I don't find it offensive, unless it's used like delebritly to get to someone. I get why some people would find it offensive.

[Sod_James]

i suppose if i was straight i wouldnt say it as much. it doesnt offend me when ppl say it so i have no issues saying it.

[mkdfan]

It didnt used to bother me but now I hear it too often that it bugs me.

It annoying cos kids grow up calling things gay and associating things that are gay to be bad, wrong, boring, horrible, evil etc.

So when they get older and meet gays they assume that they are those things.

My cousin thought that gay meant you were a paedofile. I was like :conf:!!

[John.]

Originally posted by ***********
Originally posted by JD.
That's so gay = No

You're gay = yes




Didn't they change the definition of 'gay' in the dictionary, so that it described how a person felt?

Hold on...
You can say you're gay with different accents giving it different meanings... such us...

you're gay? - Question
You're gay!!! - Statement or could be suprised in the fact finding out someone is gay

and you should really look at subjects in broader, check out the meaings given to it in the dictionary.

ohh god! you again.

i meant it as a statement. and i was asking a question not stating a fact!

[Tom]

No but I grew out of saying it when I was about 9

[5CORPIO]

I personally dont say it and wouldnt, to me it would be like saying something is 'so black' etc.

[PinkSmurf]

Offensive! :)

Agree with what someone else has said, its like insulting somebody in modern times.

No one says in to mean happy anymore.

[30stone]

I would personally get rid of Chris Crocker.

[andyman]

Gay means.. "That's fookin sh*t that is!"

Gay means.. "Shut up, Ya'gay ed or il knock u out like!"

[GhettoSuperstar]

The fact that this whole debate is up for consideration means that it is offensive in some form - which is WRONG.

I am not offended by it but I would not like it to be used, simply because it is coming from someone elses ego (straight/gay/bi). If they had a reason to dislike something they would use another word - something out of the english dictionary which has a purpose - instead of sexuality..

I even hate when gay guys say ''thats so gay'', I mean, wouldn't they know exactly how other gay people felt when they use that term? Thats what most bugs me. Learn some real words, idiots.

[GhettoSuperstar]

People who use it = *****s

:whistle:

[Stu]

I use it all the time and most of the gay friends I have also use it all the time. It is just a thing. Calling someone a **** in my opinion rates somewhat higher on the offence scale. Three cheers for sweet hypocrisy.

Comparing it to calling something 'Jew' is not a valid comparison either. Gay culture has spread it's legs over the 21st century media. Being gay is everywhere, and the television attention has made the culture into a sort of lighthearted self parody. Theirs no 'Jew eye for the new guy' on television, is their?

I think the word is second nature to a lot of people now, including me. And we can either embrace it for the 99.9% of the time non seriousness it bears, or be offended, and by doing so turn it into an offensive term.

[Firewire]

I am not gay, but, I find it extremely offensive.

[xDramatick]

Yeah, I find it offensive.
Not majorly, I have friends who say it jokingly, fair enough.
But when someone's actually saying 'that pen is gay' or 'that top is so gay' or even 'she's so gay', I find it offensive.

Gay shouldn't be used as a substitute for bad, stupid, or any other negative word.

[Firewire]

Originally posted by GhettoSuperstar
People who use it = *****s

:whistle:

Ha ha.

I was in class once.

Someone said me to do something, I said no.

And he was like "Don't be gay."

And I was like "What do you mean?"

Then someone was like "In the happy way"

Then the boy said "No. I mean in the sad way"

I was like "WTF? Sad way? You are saying that gay people are sad?" I am not gay, but I know gay people. TiBB.

He was like "Because it is". I just didn't speak after that.

[Hugo]

Originally posted by Firewire
I am not gay, but, I find it extremely offensive.

:conf2:

[NettoSuperstar!]

depends on the context I spose

[Firewire]

Originally posted by Hugo
Originally posted by Firewire
I am not gay, but, I find it extremely offensive.

:conf2:

I do find it offensive. Not to me, just in particular.

[Hugo]

Originally posted by Firewire
Originally posted by Hugo
Originally posted by Firewire
I am not gay, but, I find it extremely offensive.

:conf2:

I do find it offensive. Not to me, just in particular.

Then surely if your not offended yourself, then your just saying its offends you for the sake of being over PC.

[Firewire]

Originally posted by Hugo
Originally posted by Firewire
Originally posted by Hugo
Originally posted by Firewire
I am not gay, but, I find it extremely offensive.

:conf2:

I do find it offensive. Not to me, just in particular.

Then surely if your not offended yourself, then your just saying its offends you for the sake of being over PC.

It doesn't offend me. I just hate it when people say it.

[Noel]

It is offensive to some, but it doesn't offend me. I have a gay friend, and we call things gay all the time and he does it too and just laughs along. It depends though.

[30stone]

Originally posted by NettoSuperstar!
depends on the context I spose

[Annie]

I say it soooo often its unreal but I dont think of it as being homosexual etc. Or suggesting that this thing that I am calling gay as in its bad means that being homosexual is gay. Like I just think of it as another word for rubbish etc but not meaning that to be gay is rubbish if you get me?

Like I just use it but I dont mean it offensively against the homosexual community.

[Stu]

Interesting point. The too over PC folk who SAY it is a bad thing to use 'gay' to describe an inanimate object are actualy, in theory, being more homophobic than we are, seeing as we respect and understand the fact that we use the word in a lighthearted way, whereas they are assuming we mean it in a bad way because homosexuality = bad.

BAM!

[Z]

In the advert posted in the OP, saying "that's so gay" was used to describe something. It wasn't used in a homophobic manner; so I think the girls in the advert fall under the same category as most of the rest of us; they use it to describe something in a negative way, without meaning it in a homophobic sense. People who find the term offensive; has it ever been used around you in a homophobic sense?

[DanielJordan1991]

I hate the term "that's so gay".

When you say it you're talking about something negative, which gives the impression (consciously or subconsciously) that "gay" in general is a bad thing. Which is unacceptable.

[bigbr0ther]

To be honest it really offends me. I'm not gay but I think it's wrong to discriminate and whenever someone says it I find myself a bit taken aback. My opinion of said person is usually lowered considerably. Why would you need to put down others to make yourself feel better?