Stop using the word "homosexual"

[InkL0sed]

Yeah, and the n-word and Negro just mean black, right?

[InkL0sed]

You know what's "stunningly ignorant"? The incredible idea that there are "rule setters" for a language.

Nobody ever decided that a slur was offensive one day. Or if they did, it certainly didn't change anything. The n-word, the r-word, "Negro", and "homosexual" are already offensive. The only difference between the terms is the universality of offense and the intensity of offense.

I'm sorry, you don't get to decide what words mean anymore than I do. "Homosexual" is offensive - period. Sorry to break it to you; you'll get over it one day.

[Gillipig]

It seems to be fashionable to be offended.

Couldn't agree more! People seek it because they think others will have their back. I can't be bothered with people who acts like they're the victim all the time. "Poor baby" is the best I response to them I've got!

[Haggis_McMutton]

I'm sorry, you don't get to decide what words mean anymore than I do. "Homosexual" is offensive - period. Sorry to break it to you; you'll get over it one day.

So who decides?
Is there a list of offensive words I can see?

Was a survey made in the homose gay community to determine the status of the word homosexual?
What percentage would have to say that it's offensive for it to become offensive?

Also, what is the new scientific term? We have heterosexual, bisexual, transsexual and ... gay ?

[PLAYER57832]

I'm sorry, you don't get to decide what words mean anymore than I do. "Homosexual" is offensive - period. Sorry to break it to you; you'll get over it one day.

So who decides?
Is there a list of offensive words I can see?

Was a survey made in the homose gay community to determine the status of the word homosexual?
What percentage would have to say that it's offensive for it to become offensive?

Also, what is the new scientific term? We have heterosexual, bisexual, transsexual and ... gay ?

Honestly, this sounds a LOT like schoolyard use of the word "woman" as a pejorative. My response? Sure, I am a woman.. and proud of it!

When people use a "scientifically" correct word to insult, it is THEIR ignorance they are showing. Agreeing that it is a pejorative not only distorts language.. as in how younger, modern readers seem to think anyone using the world Negro in the past was automatically a racist (when actually it was for a while the polite, accepting, term).

Sorry, but you are giving the bad guys power by getting offended by a correct description.

Now, is it appropriate to refer to someone's sexuality as something important? No, but that is just another issue. That "should we refer to it at all" (outside of pertinent contexts... such as "no, I don't want to go out with you I am/am not homosexual).

[Hannibał]

Woah woah. I find it very offensive for you to use the term "gay" what gives you the right to determine every homosexual/lgbt/lgbtq/lgbtqi is gay! Your ignorance is disgusting!



Those silly scientist and their technical classifications. What gives them the right to classify and call people what they are. I say we start a anti-homosapian movement, how rude of them to use the term homo, they're obviously ignorant of the hurt the word homo causes..makes me sick

[Army of GOD]

"Homosexual" is offensive - period. Sorry to break it to you; you'll get over it one day.

Yea, in the same way some people are offended by the word "crap" or "shut up". "Retard" does not offend EVERYone, "negro" does not offend EVERYone, "homosexual" does not offend EVERYone.

Which means I'm going to say it whenever I want to say it. If someone is offended by it, then I'm sorry, but too fucking bad. It's a word.

[InkL0sed]

Haggis, again: language does not evolve by committee. Nobody decides anything. Words mean one thing, and then one day they mean another. A lot of people have a lot of trouble accepting this fact, for some reason. Well, get over it.

There is a continuum in the change, obviously, but that doesn't mean that words don't change in meaning; be careful, this is starting to sound like the Argument of the Beard fallacy. Also, words change pretty rapidly in meaning, once they start.

As for what science uses, I believe it's acceptable to use "homosexual" if it's contrasted with "heterosexual", but not if contrasted with "straight". Most people, when using "homosexual", do not do this. If you are one of those people, you have no leg to stand on here.

"Homosexual" is offensive - period. Sorry to break it to you; you'll get over it one day.

Yea, in the same way some people are offended by the word "crap" or "shut up". "Retard" does not offend EVERYone, "negro" does not offend EVERYone, "homosexual" does not offend EVERYone.

Which means I'm going to say it whenever I want to say it. If someone is offended by it, then I'm sorry, but too fucking bad. It's a word.

How is "it's a word" an argument? Words have real meaning, and real power. Tell me something, if words don't matter, what does matter? Does freedom matter? It's just a choice. Does your love life matter? It's just an emotion. Does social interaction matter? It's just people. Does morality matter? Everyone dies anyway. Does pain and suffering matter? Do, inequality, wealth, and money matter? Does justice? Violence? Give me a good reason why words are insignificant and don't matter, AoG, and then stop posting on this forum forever, and stop speaking at all - in fact, go live as a hermit and die of starvation because it doesn't matter if you ask for help or not - because words are meaningless, and if you keep using them, you're a hypocrite. But then again, does being a hypocrite matter?

[Army of GOD]

Words only have meaning when we give them meaning. I choose to not be offended by words.

Also, everyone is a hypocrite. You, for example, probably still use offensive words, yet you're telling US not to use the word "homosexual". That's why being a hypocrite does not matter. It's trivial.

[BigBallinStalin]

Isn't it easier to use the word "gay" instead of "homosexual"?

1 syllable or 3 syllables...

[Army of GOD]

I don't even know why I'm arguing this, I don't say homosexual.

Like BBS just said, I say gay because it's a hell of a lot shorter and I'm lazy.

[BigBallinStalin]

If "homosexual" is not offensive, would anyone care to explain why the word "homo" is offensive?

[Army of GOD]

If "homosexual" is not offensive, would anyone care to explain why the word "homo" is offensive?

Because it isn't?

[keiths31]

Terminology changes all the time. In my lifetime alone in Canada, we have used Indians, then aboriginals, then Native Canadians and now I think we are on First Nations People. Very confusing. I haven't been able to switch to First Nations People and still use Natives or Native Canadians (including for my own kids).

My aunt is gay/lesbian/homosexual. I just call her Ellen. It's easier.

[PLAYER57832]

"Homosexual" is offensive - period. Sorry to break it to you; you'll get over it one day.

Yea, in the same way some people are offended by the word "crap" or "shut up". "Retard" does not offend EVERYone, "negro" does not offend EVERYone, "homosexual" does not offend EVERYone.

Nope, bad example. Some words are legitimate and some have no other purpose BUT to offend. the word "shut up", "retard" fit.

While you can argue that "mentally retarded" was once correct language, "retard" has bever bee.,

Which means I'm going to say it whenever I want to say it. If someone is offended by it, then I'm sorry, but too fucking bad. It's a word.

Then again, there is always manners.
The power you feel is, ironically enough, diluted because of over-use.

[PLAYER57832]

If "homosexual" is not offensive, would anyone care to explain why the word "homo" is offensive?

For the same reason "retard" is offensive. Its not a factual description, its a perjorative.

[BigBallinStalin]

The main point which I gathered from the article and Inkl0sed is that using the word "homosexual" in public may offend some people; however, some are not personally offended by the term. Nevertheless, it's best to avoid accidently offending someone, so don't carelessly use that word in public.


What I'm not buying is this: If language does not evolve by committee, then why should we take seriously the author's call against the word "homosexual"? Apparently, their decision to end that word must have come from some kind of committee--e.g., the professors who specialize in Gender Studies...

[PLAYER57832]

The main point which I gathered from the article and Inkl0sed is that using the word "homosexual" in public may offend some people; however, some are not personally offended by the term. Nevertheless, it's best to avoid accidently offending someone, so don't carelessly use that word in public.


What I'm not buying is this: If language does not evolve by committee, then why should we take seriously the author's call against the word "homosexual"? Apparently, their decision to end that word must have come from some kind of committee--e.g., the professors who specialize in Gender Studies...

Its always good to be aware of how other people feel. That is just plain manners, which are ALWAYS important.. no matter how much some people want to pretend its "cool" to be rude and stupid. However, when it goes beyond respecting other people and into rules that everyone must follow because someone, somewhere might possibly be offended, then the rules are more rude and oppressive than not.

I remember once when I was talking to a friend about a book. A boy with a very "PC" mom overheard me and asked her "I thought saying 'Indien' was bad". She snapped "yes, I told you call them 'natives'. " Two thoughts raced through my mind. First, I can think of nothing more offensive than saying "natives" (not "Native American, mind you, but "natives" ). Second, most People I knew who were Native American were not offended by being called "Indian" (at that time, anyway), though they preferred to be known by their own tribes. Thirdly, I was not referring to anyone in America. I was talking about an Indian book.. as in written by someone in India.

Some people take offense if you even look at them. That doesn't give them the right to expect everyone to wear blinders.

[InkL0sed]

Words only have meaning when we give them meaning. I choose to not be offended by words.

Also, everyone is a hypocrite. You, for example, probably still use offensive words, yet you're telling US not to use the word "homosexual". That's why being a hypocrite does not matter. It's trivial.

You don't get to decide on the meaning of words. No individual gets to do that. It's a process that happens on a macro scale, amongst large groups of people. You do give them meaning, yes; but in the same way you elect people - that is, you don't do it all by yourself. If you decide to vote for someone else, or not to vote, nothing changes.

Furthermore, the meaning the listener gives to a word doesn't matter at all. If you take it in a way that the speaker didn't mean it, that's just miscommunication or you being stupid (intentionally or not). If any individual gives a word meaning, it's the user of the word. The speaker is trying to convey one meaning with any utterance. The listener doesn't get to reinterpret the intended meaning if they want to communicate successfully (which, by the way, is the entire point of language).

Hypothetical scenario: at work, everybody calls you "boy". They don't do this out of playfulness or banter; they do this all the time in all contexts, because they really believe you are a boy. In their eyes, you are childish, not a man, not to be taken seriously. Do you really mean to say that the use of that word wouldn't offend you? Honestly, even if you really think it wouldn't (and that would be a lie), it doesn't matter - every other man in the world would be offended, even if they are mild-mannered enough to just shrug it off. You would ask people to please stop calling you boy, because you are not a boy; in this hypothetical scenario at least, you are a man. You'd prefer them to say man (or at least guy or dude) - even if you know they don't really mean it. If they stop saying "boy", it's a sign of respect. If they don't, it's a sign of disrespect.

Back to my brother: he changed his name when he announced that he identified as male instead of female. He also asked us to use masculine pronouns instead of feminine ones. I do so not because I see him as male (it's rather hard to start suddenly thinking of him as a brother instead of a sister), but because I respect his wishes. Using feminine pronouns, at this point, is offensive. Therefore, I don't use them. It's called respect; it's actually an important concept in civilized society.

[saxitoxin]

THREAD OF THE YEAR 2011

from the makers of Thelma & Louise

[InkL0sed]

I see you deleted your flagrant lies about this being related to bisexual erasure. Good job; at least you recognize when your left-field misdirections are too obvious.

[saxitoxin]

I see you deleted your flagrant lies about this being related to bisexual erasure. Good job; at least you recognize when your left-field misdirections are too obvious.

Which "misdirections" are you talking about this time? It's difficult for me, sometimes, to keep track of all the conspiracy theories, the architects of which you believe are out to get you through misdirection and obscurification.

I do hope you are able to find some solace or sense of calm in your life. You seem like a very emotional and angry person. Feel free to PM me - like you've been doing recently - for some stress management tips.

Celebrate Rainbows & Sunshine!
- SAX!

[Haggis_McMutton]

Haggis, again: language does not evolve by committee. Nobody decides anything. Words mean one thing, and then one day they mean another. A lot of people have a lot of trouble accepting this fact, for some reason. Well, get over it.

Right, so how do you determine when it starts meaning another thing ?

[PLAYER57832]

Haggis, again: language does not evolve by committee. Nobody decides anything. Words mean one thing, and then one day they mean another. A lot of people have a lot of trouble accepting this fact, for some reason. Well, get over it.

Right, so how do you determine when it starts meaning another thing ?

The standard that Websters uses is that something has to appear x number of times in various publications.

HOWEVER, to my knowledge, that is about adding definitions, not deleting them.

[Phatscotty]

the LGBTQH really needs to chill out