That's so gay and retarded!

Erythritol

Erythritol

Smoke and Arrogance
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
486
Age
37
Location
New York
Gil
0
This is something that seems to be a touchy subject for some people: the use of the world "gay" and "retarded" as adjectives for something negative. Do you find it offensive when people use "gay" or "retarded" in a negative way?

I personally don't. I never thought it was that offensive until someone at school lectured me after I said something was "retarded." In my opinion, words meanings are constantly evolving.
 
welp, Leki gueses she does find it abit offensive. I'm a teenager, but I seem to have a more politeness about me. To most teenagers it doesn't seem to be that big of adeal, its just a word after all, right?

I think more of what it could really do if said in the wrong tone, or directed at certain people, or certain peoples activities. It can be really hurtful. So yup, I find it offensive, but its not as bad if you don't say it that often.
 
Answers.com said:
gay (gā)
adj., gay·er, gay·est.
  1. Of, relating to, or having a sexual orientation to persons of the same sex.
  2. Showing or characterized by cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement; merry.
  3. Bright or lively, especially in color: a gay, sunny room.
  4. Given to social pleasures.
  5. Dissolute; licentious.
n.
  1. A person whose sexual orientation is to persons of the same sex.
  2. A man whose sexual orientation is to men: an alliance of gays and lesbians.
[Middle English gai, lighthearted, brightly colored, from Old French, possibly of Germanic origin.]


=====================

re·tard1 (rĭ-tärd')
pron.gif


v., -tard·ed, -tard·ing, -tards. v.tr. To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede.
v.intr. To be delayed.
n.
  1. A slowing down or hindering of progress; a delay.
  2. Music. A slackening of tempo.
[Middle English retarden, from Old French retarder, from Latin retardāre : re-, re- + tardāre, to delay (from tardus, slow).]
retarder re·tard'er n.
re·tard2 (rē'tärd')
pron.gif

n. Offensive Slang.
  1. Used as a disparaging term for a mentally retarded person.
  2. A person considered to be foolish or socially inept.
Click to expand...
Pretty much, whenever I hear someone refer to something as 'retarded' or 'gay', I use one of the older definitions. ie; "How is the controller homosexual?" Stuff like that.

It's crazy how the meaning of words change. The next thing you know, saying "There's a snake in my boot!" will be seen as a shocking sexual innuendo.
 
Um, not really. To be honest, my friends and I typically say "That's so gay/retarded" but never took offense in that, mainly because we know we're joking around. But if it's someone I barely know, I wouldn't dare say it because I wouldn't know how that person would react. (Usually I am referring to "things" or "situations" anyway, so it's typically no problem.)

Personally, I don't take offense in it, only if it's use in a jesting way. But if it's something connected to real negativity and nasty remarks, then yeah, I suppose I'd take offense to that...not because of the words itself, but because it's simply not nice to say mean things to others.
 
I use both of them a lot. Retarded bears the same meaning as stupid, so what's the problem there?
Gay... meh. Definitions of words change. You just have to move on.
 
I still say things are 'retarded' every now and then, but not so much anymore. I've never met anyone that straight forward came out and told me it was offensive, but I can sort of tell these things now.

I used to say things were 'gay' all the time and it slips out sometimes when I'm not thinking about it, but I try not to use it at all anymore. I enjoy the company of my homosexual friends.

EDIT: This topic title should be changed to 'That's so gay, it's retarded' for the family guy lulz. XD
 
I always call things gay or retarded. I think most people accept that they're just alternate words for "dumb" and "stupid" and aren't really being used offensively.

Frankly, I think people who flip out at those words (like how the Black Eyed Peas had to change their song to "get it started" thanks to Walmart) are oversensitive morons.
 
I suppose it depends on the situation in which the word(s) are used, and in what tone they are uttered. I don't think it's healthy to be oversensitive, and sometimes it's just better to go with the flow.
 
It was Walmart who had that changed? I just thought it was the general sensitivity of it. The original version is worth buying their piss-poor album.
 
Well I know Walmart refused to sell it unless they changed it, so I'm pretty sure that was at least part of it.

But seriously, who would get offended at "lets get retarded in here"? Not actually retarded people, because they'd be too retarded to be offended! It'd just be their whiny "ZOMG UR INSULTING MY COUSIN" relatives. For Christ's sake, people who use the word like that aren't using it like "hey let's get autistic in here", they're just saying "lets get dumb in here."
 
I know what you mean, Eryithritol. I'm not the type of person to give a hoot about the words that come flying out of my mouth. I say "that's so gay" and "you retard" all the time, and it doesn't mean a thang to me. But to be honest, in the cases where I have been around someone who was gay or mentally handicapped when those words slipped out...I did feel a kind of remorse in the back of my mind.

To be quite straightforward...if you can't make fun of minorities (or certain groups) or slander them right to their face, then don't do it behind their backs either. It's hard to change your mentality and the way you speak overnight, but this is something that you should just be careful with. Words are very hurtful sometimes.

There are quite a few "idiots" out there who take false offense to things like this. I mean...someone who's not gay, or who's not handicapped who is trained by society to take offense to these things. I don't think that's right either. If you don't fit the condition, don't defend it.

That's about like a white person taking offense to the "n" word.
And believe me, some of them do. It's ridiculous.
 
Rhea said:
There are quite a few "idiots" out there who take false offense to things like this. I mean...someone who's not gay, or who's not handicapped who is trained by society to take offense to these things. I don't think that's right either. If you don't fit the condition, don't defend it.

That's about like a white person taking offense to the "n" word.
And believe me, some of them do. It's ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Aye, I quite agree to this. People just use words than can be offensive as an advantage to getting what they want. Especially the blacks who spazz out about the "n" word. Sometimes it seems to me that the only reason they even keep the word around and still use it is so if a white person slips up and says it they can sue for racial discrimination. But I'm sure there are just as many whites who use "gay" and "retarded" for the same reason.
 
Rhea said:
There are quite a few "idiots" out there who take false offense to things like this. I mean...someone who's not gay, or who's not handicapped who is trained by society to take offense to these things. I don't think that's right either. If you don't fit the condition, don't defend it.

That's about like a white person taking offense to the "n" word.
And believe me, some of them do. It's ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I agree. It's rather annoying when someone says something they're not and take offense to it. People need to shut up and mind their own business.

My younger bother is autistic and I use the word retarded often. I don't get offended at all. I actually find it offensive when I person says: "Well the word retarded is offensive because my friend's aunt's husband son is retarded." Okay, well my younger bother is autistic and I've grown up with him all of my life. I think just some people like to pretend those words are offensive, they have nothing else better to do.

I use to know a girl who took offense to the word gay. I found it silly, it's just a word.
 
When my boyfriend is asking at work who he'd do, he point blank says none of them cause he doesnt fancy any of them and hes in a relationship. Then they call either him gay because he wont be a bloke by saying who he'd shag! I hate "macho" wannabes like that.

What I cant stand is when people go "Oh stop being gay!" when they dont want to part take in what they want to do! Childish people.
 
My group of friends and I actually do overuse these phrases quite a bit; but I'll tell you, if you take offense to it, then you really need to get a grip.

As a quick side-note, I'd like to point out a contradiction.
"Words can hurt more than a punch."
"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me."

If I go to the corner shop, I do tend to say that I'm at the Paki shop - but I don't use it in a derogatory way. I phone up the Chinkies. I call my friends gay. I say we rape sentences - but you know what? We're all mature enough to realise and accept that we're just talking like we do. I'm not actually suggesting that a Paki is of a lower standard, or that all the Chinks can do is cook, or that a friend might actually be gay and that it's actually a bad thing.

Stuff being politically correct; we're happy and no one else gets hurt, because we're not racist, nor do we discriminate against anyone.

Get things in perspective if you take offense to it, seriously xD
 
I think that in a selected group, where everyone know each other, these words mean nothing, well nothing offensive, but if you say them to a person who does not know you, and the way you communicate with your friends, I think he may take you seriously. But this is rare too I think, since these words have lost any meaning :D And yea whoever finds them offensive needs to chill :D IMO
 
I try not to say things like that, mostly because I do know some people that are affended by those kinds of sayings. My best friend's brother is gay and he hasn't really admitted it to anyone, and I can tell it hurts when people joke around like that because it's like they're using that word like it's something wrong or bad or abnormal and I actually agree with him. You hardly ever hear people use those two words in a positive way, it's almost always negative
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top