alphastreet said:

Burn only the records though. Save the album covers to pick up the neighbor's dog shit off the front lawn.

Actually, all those things are what took me so long to come out of the closet to myself. From the way I heard people talk about gay people all my life, I thought they were all limp wristed, classical music listening, nerds and dorks. Another term used a lot is "sweet" and "sugar in the tank". All of which I considered weak (and so did they) and wanted no part of.

It wasn't until a straight friend girl took me to a black gay club a few times that I saw that a lot of gay people were the furthest thing from these stereotypes. The gay people were throwing down hard to some fast house music while straight folks at the time which were listening to shit hop which was, and still is, as slow and dull as classical music (which they tried to accuse all gay people of being into). I also saw gay people being much more permiscuous than most straight people I knew. As permiscuous as some of us have been in our lifetime, straight people (mainly men) wish they could be that permiscuous but most women aren't going to go for that unless they are sluts. In my world, a lot of us admire the word "slut", "whore", "hooker", etc. and see them as role models. All these things are far from nerdy and geeky and when I saw this, I had no problem at all coming out of the closet and admitting to myself what I am. And as for the words "sweet" and "sugar in the tank", I would rather be called the most hateful words out there such as faggot and queer before I'm called "sweet" because I see "sweet" as gullible and weak, which many straight people think we are. When someone calls me sweet, I want to show them just how sweet I can be. Hell, I'm more like rattlesnake venon. The reality is, when you piss off a gay person, a lot of them will scheme like soap opera bitches to get even with you if it's the last thing they do. Those are just the positive things about being gay. Don't be fooled though, there are negative gay people are weak, classical music listening, monagomous dorks. Just letting you know that there are a whole spectrum of us. But yes, those goody two shoe words like nerdy, sweet, and dorks can be very offensive to a mean bitch like me. Hell, I ain't Shitney Houston.
.
.
.
[Edited 12/1/08 8:55am]

I have to disagree with those saying words are just words. Words can be very powerful because they can incite love or hate. The can incite charity or violence. Words incite debate or agreement--even just to disagree. Words can lead to understanding or misunderstanding.

The thing is, I understand making a mistake--believe me I understand. But when a word is pointed-out as potentially "hurtful," then I do not understand why one would use an expression in an "insensitive" way. Both words--"retarded" and "gay" have legitimate uses in certain contexts. But then in other contexts, they can be very demeaning--like other words--maybe all words can be demeaning in certain contexts.

It is true, in the U.S. we can say what we want. However, then we also have to expect consequences and reactions to what we say. So if somebody is offended by the use of the expression, "that is so gay," this person is offended. There is no argument, and this person has the right to be offended just as any other person has the right to be insensitive or use a word out of defiance more than anything else. Fine, use the expressions if this is what makes you happy, but also expect some people to negatively respond, too, or if not respond make judgments about what is being said. Trying to justify "intent" is more after the fact--like a bully saying, "Oh, I am just kidding. I did not mean that. You are so sensitive."

Why are people accused of being overly sensitive when it is clear some expressions have negative implications? Why should people be expected to just "take it" without saying anything at all or without having any reaction? I always find it strange when a person says something that could be taken the wrong way, but people reacting to it are accused of being too sensitive? Well, maybe the person saying these things is insensitive--not evil or a bad person but just insensitive?

I just think we all could be a bit more sensitive to each other struggles.

I do not feel like reading all the long threads. Did he come out yet?

IF we are going to stop using the expression "thats gay" why not stop using the "b-word" the "f-word" ect. THEY ARE ALL OFFENSIVE.

so unless you never called a women that word, you don't have the right to say what is someone should say

HamsterHuey said:

Didn't happen and it's not going to happen.... this thread is now about people using the phrase 'That's so Gay"

TotalAlisa said:

The "f-word" demeans no one's identity (maybe their religious views, but that's another whole ball of wax).

I have no doubts that "that's gay" is a product of juvenile homophobia. Do I think everyone who says it doesn't like gay people? Of course not, but I still don't like that it's associated with "weakness." I have straight friends who say it, and honestly, I'll call them out on it (in a nice way). Mostly I'm just embarrassed for them cuz it's the kind of thing a junior-high school student says.

MendesCity said:

OH okay YOU COMPLETELY SKIPPED OVER THE "b-word" and that word demeans women. see you just proved my point how people think homosexuals are the only ones who should be cater to.

TotalAlisa said:

I'm not going to point out things in your post that I already agree with...oh, never mind. I'm going to pay attention to your sig and LEAVE YOU ALONE. Just don't say "that's so gay" around me without expecting a little trouble.

lascantas said:

have you ever called a women the B***h???? IF So PLEASE DO NOT TALK ABOUT using offensive words and offensive expressions.

Because what it seems like is some people seem to think only homosexuals have feelings and should be catered to.

IF we are going to stop using the expression "thats gay" why not stop using the "b-word" the "f-word" ect. THEY ARE ALL OFFENSIVE.

so unless you never called a women that word, you don't have the right to say what is someone should say