“Gay” is, by far, the most popular ‘insult’ in Ireland, too. But, honestly, it doesn’t get to me when I hear it everyday at school. Many of my friends (who I know are not homophobic) use the word ; most use as a term to denote a dislike of something rather than to say that something actually relates to homosexuality and is, therefore, bad, for example “Maths class is so gay!”. Obviously, maths really doesn’t have a lot to do with homosexuality.
I’m intrigued by how the word “gay” was somehow transformed into an insult meaning “stupid.” Of course, I’m starting to sound like the little old ladies who complain that “gay” used to mean “happy” before the homos nabbed it, but still: how’d that happen anyway??
We ‘mos should simply say “that’s so straight” when referring to anything we don’t like and that’ll throw the majority off,no? But I think gay became the insult word it is simply because of the stereotype effeminate, tacky queen, especially in the 70’s…ugh.
The way I remember it growing up in the late seventies and eighties, kids use to say, “that’s so queer” since that was the oft used word to describe us. Until gay became the new more common phrase, did kids in the mid-eighties switch to, “that’s so gay.” Clearly it has always been meant as a put down, in calling something one didn’t like queer, or gay. And I don’t think it was about being PC in switching to gay from queer, but more of a way to shock those around you. So anyone who says it’s not about sexuality is fooling themselves.
When was the last time anyone heard the word niggardly? When was the last time you heard someone bragging about, “Jewing someone down on the price”?
Niggardly is not and never has anything to do with the corruption of the word negro which came from the Spanish for black. Niggardly is an old word synonymous with miserly. Jewing was derived from a stereotype that Jews were cheap. In fact, when I was a Catholic I was cheap and gave niggardly amounts to the collection plate.
leomoore, my point exactly. Niggardly has nothing to do with nigger, yet no one uses it anymore for fear of offending. The same with “Jewing” down; it is a gross stereotype of Jewish people and a poor euphemism for avoiding paying retail. Calling something gay however, is just as popular as ever and no one seems too concerned about offending us.
Mike
Why do you have a photo of David Paterson accompanying this story?
CitizenGeek
Yeah, what’s the David Patterson photo?
“Gay” is, by far, the most popular ‘insult’ in Ireland, too. But, honestly, it doesn’t get to me when I hear it everyday at school. Many of my friends (who I know are not homophobic) use the word ; most use as a term to denote a dislike of something rather than to say that something actually relates to homosexuality and is, therefore, bad, for example “Maths class is so gay!”. Obviously, maths really doesn’t have a lot to do with homosexuality.
fredo777
I’m a member of a facebook group that reminds people that “gay shouldn’t be a synonym for stupid, uncool, etc.”
Its message board certainly gets some interesting responses.
emb
I’m intrigued by how the word “gay” was somehow transformed into an insult meaning “stupid.” Of course, I’m starting to sound like the little old ladies who complain that “gay” used to mean “happy” before the homos nabbed it, but still: how’d that happen anyway??
Nikko
We ‘mos should simply say “that’s so straight” when referring to anything we don’t like and that’ll throw the majority off,no? But I think gay became the insult word it is simply because of the stereotype effeminate, tacky queen, especially in the 70’s…ugh.
Paul Raposo
The way I remember it growing up in the late seventies and eighties, kids use to say, “that’s so queer” since that was the oft used word to describe us. Until gay became the new more common phrase, did kids in the mid-eighties switch to, “that’s so gay.” Clearly it has always been meant as a put down, in calling something one didn’t like queer, or gay. And I don’t think it was about being PC in switching to gay from queer, but more of a way to shock those around you. So anyone who says it’s not about sexuality is fooling themselves.
When was the last time anyone heard the word niggardly? When was the last time you heard someone bragging about, “Jewing someone down on the price”?
And I like Nikko’s idea 8^
leomoore
Niggardly is not and never has anything to do with the corruption of the word negro which came from the Spanish for black. Niggardly is an old word synonymous with miserly. Jewing was derived from a stereotype that Jews were cheap. In fact, when I was a Catholic I was cheap and gave niggardly amounts to the collection plate.
Paul Raposo
leomoore, my point exactly. Niggardly has nothing to do with nigger, yet no one uses it anymore for fear of offending. The same with “Jewing” down; it is a gross stereotype of Jewish people and a poor euphemism for avoiding paying retail. Calling something gay however, is just as popular as ever and no one seems too concerned about offending us.