Is it wrong to get offended when people say "That's so gay"?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

People often say that's so gay when they are referring to something that they think is bad or stupid or lame. Such a thing is considered to be homophobic because it is perceived as equating homosexuality with negative things and that it would be equivalent to saying sexist. Then there are those who feel that it is wrong to get offended by it because most of those who use the term are not homophobic and do not mean to degrade gays.

[Vonn]

It depends on the context. Most of the time people are only joking and it shouldn't be taken seriously.

[Jess]

It depends on the context. Most of the time people are only joking and it shouldn't be taken seriously.

This. shouldn't be taken seriously

[Azunite]

Gay has two meanings:
1-Homosexual
2-Stupid, ridiculous

[The Dark Lord]

Gay has two meanings:
1-Homosexual
2-Stupid, ridiculous

technically it means happy, but I agree.

[MoveAlong]

I feel it sort of an insult that "gay" has a meaning that identifies a person, and another meaning that is derogatory.

i.e. How would the black folk feel if black meant:
1. African-American
2. mold-ridden, rotten, worthless

This may be an exaggeration but I still don't appreciate that the word we use to define ourselves also is used to describe something negative.

I think the reason people like gay as another word for stupid is because that's just how it is and it's very easy to use (convenient).

But on the contrary I don't like the word "homophobic". Barely anyone is "homophobic" - they're not scared of gays, they just detest them or dislike them. It's an inaccurate word. In addition I don't think calling things "gay" is homophobic - it's just an improper use of the word and a little insulting for word that a lot of us as homosexuals take pride in.

[Amnesiac]

I feel that it's wrong to get offended at anything, really. People shouldn't care about what possibly offensive things other people say, if you don't like it then just ignore it. When people say "that's so gay," they're not demoralizing homosexuals. It's being said in a different context, something people fail to understand.

[The Dark Lord]

I feel it sort of an insult that "gay" has a meaning that identifies a person, and another meaning that is derogatory.

i.e. How would the black folk feel if black meant:
1. African-American
2. mold-ridden, rotten, worthless

This may be an exaggeration but I still don't appreciate that the word we use to define ourselves also is used to describe something negative.

I think the reason people like gay as another word for stupid is because that's just how it is and it's very easy to use (convenient).

But on the contrary I don't like the word "homophobic". Barely anyone is "homophobic" - they're not scared of gays, they just detest them or dislike them. It's an inaccurate word. In addition I don't think calling things "gay" is homophobic - it's just an improper use of the word and a little insulting for word that a lot of us as homosexuals take pride in.

Surely homosexuals hijacking the word gay in the first place was equally improper?

I have used the word gay, and I have never thought of it as homophobic, words only have the meaning you give them.

[MoveAlong]

Surely homosexuals hijacking the word gay in the first place was equally improper?

I don't see it as equally improper, because we didn't take someone's word for an identity and put a negative meaning to it. Idk the history of the word "gay" and I really don't give a damn but no I don't think it's "equally improper".

[Sogeking]

I feel that it's wrong to get offended at anything, really. People shouldn't care about what possibly offensive things other people say, if you don't like it then just ignore it. When people say "that's so gay," they're not demoralizing homosexuals. It's being said in a different context, something people fail to understand.

Agreed, the word is only derogatory when you want it to be.

[Daniel_]

I personally say it all the time, and mean no offence at all, what so ever.

My friend is bisexual and I say it around him, and he even says it himself sometimes. It's usually just messing around, however if someone is being completely serious about it, then
I can see offence being taken by that.

[Perseus]

My only response are the words "dumb" and "lame". Two subgroups like gays, but it's not offensive to use them as not referring to them.

[hotandgay]

i dont like it when gay is used in such manors because saying it is gay (stupid lame) well i feel that they are saying that anything with the word gay is stupid and yeah i take offense to it because im proud of who i am and people take that and put it as a joke or meaning something stupid...i wish that word only had one meaning well or two gay-homosexual gay-happy :)

[Jess]

but just because they use the word gay as in stupid doesn't mean they think gays are stupid.

[Scarface]

I say it all the time and I'm as gay as they come. I don't take any of it as an insult. Names and words don't have any meaning until it's given it. So to be honest, I just don't care. I say it, my friends say it. No big deal.

[Zephyr]

I find more straight people than gay people find it offensive. Ironic, no?

Anyway, it's not wrong to get offended, some people just get upset easily. But it's not that big of a deal to say it because the context of it is meaning 'stupid', not 'homosexual'. Either way, using gay to mean stupid or homosexual is slang.

[Daniel_]

I find more straight people than gay people find it offensive. Ironic, no?


It's because quite a few people are arrogant and feel everything offends a certain group of people, so they think it's their job to help and try and stop people from doing that "offensive" thing.

[LilTurtle]

Here it is from a gay dude.....
I have gay friends and many straight friends. Its no big deal saying gay references. I call my straight friends...."your so gay" at times. Its all good between friends.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Does anyone think that when gay people complain about the saying "That's so gay" they are getting mad over something that has nothing to do with them because most people are not saying it to be homophobic even if they do mean to be insulting to somebody?

[Cloud]

Here it is from a gay dude.....
I have gay friends and many straight friends. Its no big deal saying gay references. I call my straight friends...."your so gay" at times. Its all good between friends.
Dam right it is
when im talking or a gay friends present instead of saying thats so gay (not cos im morally epic but cos im just that cool) i describe the thing as that person
for the lulz they dont take offence

[Azunite]

technically it means happy, but I agree.

Yep, the dictionary meaning is happy

[KylieEatWorld]

Gay in the original English use means bright, colorful, or joyful however it has been adapted as a slang word for something that is not preferable to the person speaking. Being offended over slang words is a personal choice and I can not say whether it is right or wrong. However out of respect for people who might be offended over it I would refrain from using any of the possibly offensive slang words.

[Death]

Do you think people would be offended if I started saying "Oh that's so Christian" whenever someone does something stupid or wrong?

[KylieEatWorld]

Do you think people would be offended if I started saying "Oh that's so Christian" whenever someone does something stupid or wrong?

You could try, I don't think people would catch on though.

[Camazotz]

I don't use the word "gay" as an offensive term out of respect to the feelings towards gays. Plus saying "gay" as a derogatory for another situation makes people respect you less. People with empathetic manners and use respectful language are far more enjoyable to be around. People that describe situations as, "Dood, omfg, dat wuz toats gay," are usually people I don't like to be associated with. It's embarrassing, I think, to use language that's so crude.

Not many people say, "That was so nigger" or "You're such a Jew" or "That was dumber than an atheist." But people say "That's gay" or "That's retarded," all too often. I just think it makes people sound uncivilized and quite frankly, stupid.

[KylieEatWorld]

Not many people say, "That was so nigger" or "You're such a Jew" or "That was dumber than an atheist." But people say "That's gay" or "That's retarded," all too often. I just think it makes people sound uncivilized and quite frankly, stupid.

I've had people tell me I was such a Jew many times before. Especially when I don't consider 4.99 a "value" meal.

[Sogeking]

Not many people say, "That was so nigger" That makes no sense, nigger, as far as I know, cant be used as an adjective

[bmr11]

I'm not offended when people say "thats so gay" and I'm gay and sometimes I say it to. It's the same as when people say "thats so retarded" its wrong but its just a saying

[Coolcar65]

I do think its offensive. Their is nothing wrong with being homosexual and i think we as humans evolved enough to get over our pettie diffrences. And what do people mean when they say "thats so gay". By the way im not gay but i believe in equality and justice and i believe that although people dont think much about it, some do get offended.

[Jess]

@Coolcar

just because people use 'that's so gay' doesn't mean they have anything against homosexuals

[Coolcar65]

So then what do you mean when you say thats so gay? I dont think you mean thats so happy! Or do you?

[Nathan_B]

I think it depends on who you are around and the context it is used in. Like i would never say it around my Lesbian aunt and her partner. but as a bisexual individual, it does not bother me as much. i try not to say it as much but when were just kidding around or something, I'll say it. Its not that big of a deal to me

[Death]

@Coolcar

just because people use 'that's so gay' doesn't mean they have anything against homosexuals

You're probably right, but would that include any word?

[INACTIVE_USER]

I think that the word has expanded its meaning now. While it used to mean happy, the use of the word to emphasise this emotion has ceased. It can now be used as a word to describe something not to one's taste or as reference to a homosexual male and sometimes female.
As a gay man, I do not take any offence because we must differentiate their meanings. There are countless words in the language that have different meanings and we understnad each in their context. Today's society is just too afraid of offending anyone!!


Edit:

Sorry the first time I put (it's meaning now) instead of (its meaning now). English is not my first language so I do make mistakes :D

[Preacher]

evolution of language I guess, gay used to mean the opposite of what it means today xD gay meant something like 'happy' :P

[deadpie]

It's not wrong to be offended by anything. That's human nature. I do think it's annoying to blurt out anytime you're offending by something, "HEY GUYS THAT OFFENDS ME CHANGE SUBJECT!"

If people are offended by words, that just shows you how weak of people we've become.

On being offensive, someone may think rape jokes are offensive. But lets say I think trains are offensive because I saw something traumatic on one. Does that mean anytime someone says or mentions trains I should say, "Guys, let's not talk about trains because that offends me."

It's the same with saying "That's so gay". I know many gay people who call people faggots. Even to some of them it's just a word. Because it really is, JUST A WORD.

I could understand if you were watching a public display of someone burning a gay man alive would be offensive. But if someone just said, "Well, this is gay", it wouldn't be that bothering.

[cody2010]

hell. yes. that pisses me off when people say that. but its the same way when people say stuff like "you retard" i hate that too. people are such idiots sometimes! ugh!!! ok i'm done. sorry. lol

[The Dark Lord]

However out of respect for people who might be offended over it I would refrain from using any of the possibly offensive slang words.

Do you realise how stupid that is? Using your logic politics and religion shouldn't be discussed on the basis that they might offend someone. It's people like you who think political correctness is a good idea, and it's posts like yours which show why political correctness is retarded.

I do think its offensive. Their is nothing wrong with being homosexual .

No-one has said there was

By the way im not gay but i believe in equality and justice and i believe that although people dont think much about it, some do get offended.

I believe in equality and justice and I tell racist and sexist jokes. Get off your moral high-horse

[Coolcar65]

. I believe in equality and justice and I tell racist and sexist jokes. Get off your moral high-horse

No! you see its just a way of thinking and to tell you the truth people will be way better of thinking like this. You might think nothing of it but other people do and its gotten to such a point that theirs ads that tell you not to say it because its offensive. and hey everyone says racist and sexist jokes the thing is we should refrain from using them.

[Death]

I believe in equality and justice and I tell racist and sexist jokes. Get off your moral high-horse

Generally, said jokes will not be made to those whom they 'discriminate against' whereas the nonsensicle abuse of the term 'gay' will be.

[The Dark Lord]

No! you see its just a way of thinking and to tell you the truth people will be way better of thinking like this. You might think nothing of it but other people do and its gotten to such a point that theirs ads that tell you not to say it because its offensive. and hey everyone says racist and sexist jokes the thing is we should refrain from using them.

No, its not a way of thinking, its a meaningless playground expression. Our society is much more tolerate of homosexuality than ever before, inspite of the use of the word "gay", anyone who finds the phrase "that's so gay" offensive is:

a. a twat and
b. out of touch with the gay community

[Death]

^^That may be so, but how many Christians do you think would be offended if everyone started saying "That's so Christian!" whenever they wanted to express displeasure?

[The Dark Lord]

^^That may be so, but how many Christians do you think would be offended if everyone started saying "That's so Christian!" whenever they wanted to express displeasure?

Many, but that's life, it'd be hypocritical to be accept "that's so gay", then condemn "that's so Christian"

[KylieEatWorld]

^^That may be so, but how many Christians do you think would be offended if everyone started saying "That's so Christian!" whenever they wanted to express displeasure?

If people made an expression saying that something was, "so Christian!" to express displeasure then it would obviously be created out of spite and people would be offended. Where as the meaning of the word gay isn't even homosexual in that context. It's basically a homonym.

[Death]

If people made an expression saying that something was, "so Christian!" to express displeasure then it would obviously be created out of spite and people would be offended. Where as the meaning of the word gay isn't even homosexual in that context. It's basically a homonym.

But what if we told all the Christians that we were not being spiteful and the word 'Christian' in the context was simply another hononym? Would they accept it?

[KylieEatWorld]

But what if we told all the Christians that we were not being spiteful and the word 'Christian' in the context was simply another hononym? Would they accept it?

No. It's kind of obvious that it would be made out of spite.

[Craig1995]

I personally don't get offended by it normally but sometimes I suppose it could be offensive since it is associating gays with negativity. I say it sometimes and i am gay even tho I don't tell people I am

[Just _1_ Look]

Uuumm...not really! I think it depends on the context like everyone else said.

[Death]

No. It's kind of obvious that it would be made out of spite.

So wouldn't it then be feasible for a gay person to say the same about the abuse of the term 'gay'?

[Grid]

It depends on the context. Most of the time people are only joking and it shouldn't be taken seriously.

What this man said.