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Well, here is another term for Gay people...

Not "right" in the head *smile*

Something mixed up in the wiring, so they don't go the normal route.

(Yea, I know, a lot of hate mail is coming my way, but, its not bigotry, its just plain fact, "they" aren't the "norm").

I wish you well...

Jesse

sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me

"They" are still people. Pull your head out of your ass Mr. Merino.

When's the last time you heard "That's so straight."

Look in any English dictionary and you will find thousands of words with multiple meanings. Many words casually tossed around today were considered completely vulgar as little as fifty years ago. My mother told me stories about my uncle getting beaten just for using the word "cool" at home, because my grandparents associated that word with "sounding black." And of course, there's another word, "black," that's been artificially politicized within the last fifteen years; instead of a single, straightforward syllable that almost no one found offensive in 1985, we're afflicted with the cumbersome, unwieldy "African American" instead. How long before we're coerced into referring to GLBT as "Alternatively Lifestyled Americans?"

The fact is, language is organic. Word meanings change over time, and they do so more and more rapidly with advances in the way we communicate. Who can now listen to the theme song to "The Flintstones," which invites the audience to have a "gay old time," without either snickering or at least sitting up a little straighter?

The hangups over language that this culture is inflicting upon itself recall the early Victorian period; Jane Austen devoted an entire page of Northanger Abbey to one character haranguing another over her use of the word "nice" to describe the weather. If you tried to do the same thing over the word "nice" today, people would look at you like you were retarded- pardon me, I meant to say "mentally challenged."

I will continue to use "gay" in the slang context it has developed in the past decade, because it is efficient. In one short syllable, I can sum up my feelings about a situation. What should I say instead? "This situation is extremely undesirable?"

The QLF and the NYC council should turn their attention to real issues of bigotry and hatred infesting our culture at even the highest levels of government instead of focusing so much energy on two words. These words will not go away through legislation or through gently or belligerently "correcting" people who use them. Like it or not, these words are part of our language, and they will be with us in their current meanings for a long time to come.

Get used to it, and move on, because frankly the whole issue is completely gay.

What is interesting to note is that according to the English Oxford dictionary, which is the authoritative academic and scholarly dictionary in the US and Europe, the term 'gay' IS a synonym for 'stupid.'

Oxford lists this defintion under the cateogry of slang.

The term 'gay' as a meaning of 'homosexual' is also listed under slang.

To use 'gay' as a word for 'stupid' can be seen as incorrect for it is only slang. But likewise one would also have to view 'gay' as 'homosexual' also as incorrect.

But since slang is seen as acceptable in most instances of conversation, the term 'gay' is used in various contexts. The difficulty lies in determining the meaning of the term when it is used.

If one sees that meaning is implied by use, which is still debatable in analytic philosophy, there can still be misunderstandings in the use of the term 'gay.'

For example, the sentence "he is gay" in an understanding of both literal definitions and slang definitions remains ambiguous. The sentence could imply that the man is 1) a homosexual, 2) stupid, 3) joyous, etc.

The context of the sentence may be needed in order to better understand the exact use of the term.

But the real argument over this issue appears to be over the notion that 'gay' as a synonym for 'stupid' is derogatory. There are certainly people using the term 'gay' for 'stupid' but not with a derogatory meaning against homosexuals. But many who use it that way are critized as being derogatory. But there are also people using 'gay' as a term for 'stupid' AND trying to be demeaning towards homosexuals.

One could even go as far as to indicate that 'gay' for 'homosexual' is itself derogatory given that 'gay' can also now mean 'stupid.'

It seems that people want to use certain slang usages and not others when the entire issue would be resolved by only using 'stupid' for 'stupid' and 'homosexual' for 'homosexual.'

But that resolution seems a very distant one if any at all. What is important to note is language is power. If people continue to develop slang, then words will continuely lead to multiple meanings that wind up with possibly contradicting situations that could lead to debates such as this issue.

WOW!!!

I quit posting replies to different stories, simply because people got tired of the "old man" posting to thier stories, and NOW, I find that my NAME is being used in a derogatory way, belittling others!!!

Just because I dont post, doesnt mean that I dont READ the Kent Stater when ever I get some free time, (which I have a lot of, since I am retired, people!).

I regret that some one is using my name, and my 'sign off' in order to smear my reputation and there isnt a thing I can do about it..Unfortunately....

I would never slander or belittle anyone, as I can appreciate diversity, though, with my Religious upbringing, I have 'differnce of opinions' about the 'gay lifestyle', (and thats only because of what the Bible says about it, but, that doesnt mean that I dont love the sinner, I just dont love the sin).

I cant stop anyone from using my name, or anything else that some one wants to do, but, the Kent Stater surely has an IP Number for whomever posted, and if any type of legal issues come up, thats how they are going to catch the person! Each computer has an IP number and is registered with Kent State, (if your a student), so, you 'CAN' be found out!

(Normally, I wouldnt post, but when my reputation is being demeaned by some idiot, then I must speak up and defend my own point of view! My apologies to whom ever may be offended by the idiot, who is posing as me).

I wish you well...

Jesse Merino

Chris, I'm sure Jane Austen rolled in her grave as you used her wonderful book to justify your laziness in language use. If indeed you do care about the bigotry and hatred that infests our culture then you will also take any opportunity to adjust your personal behaviors that inflict hurt on others. I--like many--realized that this word DOES carry bigoted connotations FOR SOME and stopped using it to mean "stupid" or "abnormal." I really didn't have to think too much harder to find a suitable replacement. I didn't even have to consult a dictionary!

All you kent state people are just so kent state. Post about 1981 that means, yep, stupid.