The Use of the Word Gay

[MT Fan]

Recently Beerbelly, who is just BL under a second account made this post...

My bad, der HOMOSEKZSHULASSS that dont lissin to de good werd of der Beyble be pissin on my fukin opinions. I sed "The humor of Full House is awesome when people took meh jerb. I like it in season 8. It's not all homo and shit." Bite me homos, just get marryed in hell and git free helthcare nd all that otharr shit!

What has risen discussion in the moderator board is the use of the word homo and gay as a deragatory term. The staff has been debating this for about a week now to no avail, so we have opened this discussion to all members looking for input. Do you think gay or homo and such terms should be allowed to be used in this way?

[BL]

I think my behavior was perfectly acceptable for three reasons. (1) I am making fun of homophobic rednecks and in fact detracting from the cause of homophobia, (2) I am opposed to censorship in any form, and (3) I personally do not believe people have the right to never be offended.

[MT Fan]

I side with you BL and my main argument is the standerd this sets. If we don't let people say gay how can we let them say swear words, it just doesn't fit with our polocies.

[Nay (fhfreak)]

Yeah, I'm definetly with you guys here.  No reason at all to ban it, no one should be offended.  And it'd be too hard to ban it.

[BL]

I wouldn't go as far as to say "people shouldn't be offended" because offense if genuine is a response people can't control easily, but I don't think the offense of a minority should have an effect on the enjoyment of the majority. Even if the majority were offended, you can do something called ignore...

[Csoup715]

I wouldn't go as far as to say "people shouldn't be offended" because offense if genuine is a response people can't control easily, but I don't think the offense of a minority should have an effect on the enjoyment of the majority. Even if the majority were offended, you can do something called ignore...

so it's fine go around calling people/things gay because out-of-the-closet gays/lesbians are a minority therefore how they feel doesn't matter?  think about what you're saying!

you're right, no one is going to never be offended, nor should they be because assholes are a part of life, therefore get over it and move on.  However, say you never really thought about it before, you just start calling things "gay" because other people do, no big deal.  then someone points out to you that it is equating gay people with suckiness, you realize that and understand that it's offensive, and stop doing it, right?  or at least it seems to me that would be the considerate thing to do

as for it being the same as censoring curse words, it is NOT the same situation, as I already explained in the staff thread about this....

I also oppose censorship, and perhaps the right way to go about this is not to censor it.  I am simply asking you as rational and conscientious people (which I assume you all are) that once you become aware that your behavior/speech can be interpreted in offensive ways that you didn't realize before, you change your behavior/speech for the sake of others.  it's not hard, you're just changing one little word, but it could make a world of difference to someone.....

again, beerbelly's fine b/c I understand BL's motives, so that's cool lol

[BL]

"The minority" in this case isn't gays/lesbians, but those who are offended enough by the usage of gay to actively tell people not to use it, which is clearly a minority from what I have seen (at least on this forum). In other words, the minority shouldn't be forcing the majority to do something simply because they'll be offended otherwise. While the association between gay and suckiness is definitely a valid argument, most people aren't openly implying such an association, so it's fine with me.

[Csoup715]

"The minority" in this case isn't gays/lesbians, but those who are offended enough by the usage of gay to actively tell people not to use it, which is clearly a minority from what I have seen (at least on this forum). In other words, the minority shouldn't be forcing the majority to do something simply because they'll be offended otherwise. While the association between gay and suckiness is definitely a valid argument, most people aren't openly implying such an association, so it's fine with me.

no one's forcing; I don't want to ban anything.  but I as well as leftturn as well as I don't know who else because only staff have replied here so far (lol, oh the irony...) would appreciate it if people used "stupid" instead of "gay" now that they're aware of what they're implying

[fullhouseforever]

I also oppose censorship, and perhaps the right way to go about this is not to censor it.  I am simply asking you as rational and conscientious people (which I assume you all are) that once you become aware that your behavior/speech can be interpreted in offensive ways that you didn't realize before, you change your behavior/speech for the sake of others.  it's not hard, you're just changing one little word, but it could make a world of difference to someone.....

Well I definitely agree with this part, which is why I never use that kind of vocabulary to describe things.  I just don't find it very productive to censor something like this (and I suppose you've somewhat touched upon this as well).  I understand that in a lot of cases people misuse terms to desribe something in slang speech because that's basically a role it has taken on among some people.  Of course, there are going to be some people, and beerbelly represents this well, that will actually exhibit some kind of opinion that most people would find intolerant.  It'd be very hypocritical to try and ban that.

[BL]

It looks as if the clear majority of members want to keep the rules on the word the "gay" the same as they have been. I'll be locking this thread then.

[MT Fan]

Lol, we didn't even get any member opinions though... this was just all staff again.

[fullhouseforever]

I don't really think the members want to get involved with this though, as suspected before.

[Csoup715]

well BL just cancelled their chances of getting involved in it by locking it anyway lol....therefore I unlocked and I think it should stay that way just in case some random member get inspired by a new opinion or something I mean it can be an ongoing discussion, so there's really no need to lock it....