Is it OK to Use the Word “Gay”?
This is an interesting question and really has no “right or wrong” answer. It’s not black and white. It depends on who you ask and which situation you are in.
It’s generally true that in most educated circles, ie. most groups of people, you sound like a retarded fool if you really hate “gay people”. Why would you hate them?
Some people are so sensitive to the word though, that in my opinion, it makes them look retarded. You need to hear and understand it in context.
Most people are straight, unless the whole world is lying, and calling something “gay” shouldn’t be a big deal as long as you don’t hate the real gay people.
I was watching the basketball game with my buddies a couple weeks ago and one guy kept saying, “This is going to sound a bit gay but…” He’s a nice guy and doesn’t hate gays at all. It’s just somehow accepted in society to speak like that. You can joke around with your friends and say that their dancing looks “gay”. Their new clothes look “gay” or their new business idea sounds “gay”. The last one just means that it sounds like a bad business idea. It’s easy to understand in context. If you hate this word, I am sorry, I’m just trying to explain how it’s used in real life.
So back to my buddy. He’s not gay at all, but he was saying things like, “I know this sounds a bit gay, but I can totally understand why girls would like to date NBA players. A lot of them seem like super cool guys and they are obviously rich”.
We know he’s not gay, but he’s just saying that he can understand things from a girl’s perspective. I see it as “all in good fun” and not hateful in any way. Some people may disagree, but I thought it would be good to share my honest opinion on the use of a very popular word in our spoken language today. I’d say “Go ahead and use it, but be a little bit careful and sensitive to the feelings of others”.
I’ll be Tweeting all blog posts and putting them on Facebook. Please make sure you are following there so you know when they are ready.
I’d love to read your comments as always!
July 13th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Um, those expressions are rather new for me. Thank you for sharing, Andy . Though I am ok with both – gay people and “gay” words, but I’m a bit happy that “this idea sounds gay” has negative meaning .
July 13th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
When you say about being senstivie to the feeling of others – whom exactly do you mean? Gay people or getero?
July 13th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Well put, guys!
July 13th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
For me personally this word and meaning and is nothing new, many people in Bulgaria have used precisely this sense you guys as you write it,but all told this word was negative or very bad, and many people hate gay. I personally I do not care.
July 13th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Thanks for the comments guys,
With regards to Olga’s question: It can be both actually. Often the “hetero” people can be the ones who are even more offended and sensitive for some reason. It really depends on the context and who you are speaking to.
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June 5th, 2013 at 6:15 pm
I’ve had people call me gay before, and I’m perfectly fine with it!
July 6th, 2014 at 10:01 am
Ad I totally agree with you. I do not mind using this word as well, on the condition that there is no hatred behind it.
I live in country where homophobia is commonplace. Even ex-president (laureat of peace Noble prize) was arrogant enough to say that homosexual community parade should have taken place on the outskirts of the city since homosexuals are minority.
When it comes to the word that using it strikes me is faggot. If someone uses it makes mee fell about the person using it as a hompphobe. But just like you said there are a lot of people who are very sensitive to even gay word and I am only guessing that straight people are more sensitive to this words than homosexual-ones.