It’s Valentine’s Day, which for some of us is a time to celebrate with that special someone and make up for those 364 days of the year when romance is only found in Webster’s.
For the rest of us, it’s just another reason to limp ever closer to diabetes by consuming all the candy and chocolate that will be on sale in 24 hours.
Among those candies are Necco’s iconic Sweethearts, which have been giving people toothaches with their sugary sweetness — both in flavor and in cutesy sayings — for 147 years.
The Atlantic obtained a list of the sayings that have been mercifully retired, either due to advances in technology — who faxes anymore? — or changes in popular slang — groovy has been replaced with the equally tired LOML (love of my life):
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
- DIG ME
- HOT CHA
- SAUCY BOY
- GIRL POWER
- OH YOU KID
- WHY NOT
- GROOVY
- COOL DUDE
- MY, SUCH EYES
- FAX ME
- HEP CAT
- TELL ME HOW
- YOU ARE LATE
- 1-800 CUPID
- [PEACE SYMBOL]
- YEAH RIGHT
- OH BOY
- YOU ROCK
- LET’S READ
- YOU ARE GAY
It’s a bit surprising “You are gay” was a candygram to begin with since a.) offensive, and b.) probably not the most effective way of getting into someone’s pants. At least if there was a question mark at the end — “You are gay?” — it could be seen as an interesting proposition.
Photo: BosGuy
Damianvargas
As per usual, there is something missing from this story in order to clarify that the term “you are gay” is actually offensive. When the saying was actually used by necco would make a huge difference. If it was used 147 years ago, or even 50 years ago, the alternative meaning for gay, having or showing a merry or lightly mood, could easily be the definition it is referring to. I could be wrong but I don’t know because not all the facts are stated here. Way to attempt to drum up mock outrage though.
Chad Hunt
I am old enough to remember the, “You Are Gay” candy from Necco and it did not mean then per se what it means today. Gay was meant to mean more like light-hearted, carefree, & happy then and not homosexual. I do remember though a lot of kids in class laughing at those when we would pass out all the valentines candy/cards in elementary school.
AEH
Sometimes the ignorance of writers here is just downright embarrassing. Ever hear of something called research?
Will L
I wasn’t really reading this as ignorance on the writer’s behalf. I took it as saying that the phrase was not offensive when originally used, but it was discontinued when the use of “gay” changed.