Kids using gay as an insult

fluffnutter

tiger_eyes wrote: »

I identify as LGBT

What? All of them? You're completely correct of course. But part of me can't help but think that you're just a bit more PC than most (not that that's a crime of course). Your comment above leads me to that conclusion, I'm afraid. Why not just say 'I'm gay' or 'I'm lesbian' or 'I'm bisexual' or 'I'm transgender'? Why the need for these right-on euphemisms? You sound like a badly-worded questionnaire.

Blue_Elephant

haha I've had it explained to me by my friends son as it's not "gay" but "ghey". Two completely different words see?

I really hope he grows out of it :S

victory

quietheart wrote: »

My boys are 11 and 9 and most of their friends seem to think this is fine.
I feel I have to say something, I can't let it go. At the same time I don't like 'telling off' other peoples kids. How do others deal with this.
My husband is a teacher and feels this is getting more and more commonplace. Racism won't be tolerated but homophobia is.

I agree with other posters, the word gay is used at school, with school mates, at home to mean 'it is awful, rubbish, waste of time, badly sang or danced or acted, that type of thing .....

flutterbyuk25

The meaning of the word has changed to be along the lines of 'naff' etc now. I work with teens/young adults and this is what they use it as. I've even been guilty of saying it once or twice like fluffnutter when in company of friends.

That said, I saw this poster and it made me think more about it and I've stopped using it myself.

rachbc

pinkshoes wrote: »

Google "urban dictionary" and look it up.

It used to mean 'happy', then it meant 'homosexual' and for the last 3 or so years it's meant 'naff/rubbish/lame/pathetic'.

As a trainee teacher, I'd say most using the word are not using it in reference to being homosexual.

But by implication its saying that some one who is gay (homosexual) is therefore also naff/ rubbish/lame/ pathetic surely?

One of my colleagues was disciplined for using the word 'gay' in that way after a gay colleague complained and rightly so imo.

I just tell me son its not appropriate and I don't expect to hear it - only to be hopelessly undermined by my OH using it (mainly to wind me up!)

j.e.j.

Blue_Elephant wrote: »

haha I've had it explained to me by my friends son as it's not "gay" but "ghey". Two completely different words see?

::headdesk::

I really hope he grows out of it :S

I didn't know about the different spellings (is it like fat and phat?:rotfl:) but clearly the word gay has two meanings (or three if you count the now very old-fashioned meaning of happy!)

A lot of attributes have come to be seen or used in a negative way. (I often find myself having a 'blonde' moment ) I am not sure to what extent policing people's language is policing their thoughts and attitudes, - it's an interesting topic!

loracan1

Let's face it, the word 'gay' didn't originally mean 'homosexual' - language evolves, it's just another example.

And yes, my kids use it, and yes I tell them off for it (...and they look at me blankly and tell me that's not what they mean)

milliebear00001

fluffnutter wrote: »

Yes, it should be challenged. But it's naive to think that kids won't find inventive ways to insult their mates. Nor is it the case that using the word necessarily reinforces that there's something wrong with being gay. You say that some of the kids hearing this stuff will grow up to be gay. Some of the kids saying this stuff will grow up to be gay (are already gay obv but might not realise).

I, like all my peers, called my school mates '!!!!!!', 'Joey' whatever. I'd have used 'gay' if it was around at the time. I've grown up to be one of the most inclusive, non-prejudiced people I know.

Prejudice is about far more than unthinkingly using words. We must teach children what those words mean of course, and that it's insulting to use them, but just because a kid calls someone 'gay' doesn't mean they're homophobic.

I never said it did. I said the use of the term gay to describe something lame needs to be challenged.

Person_one

Gloomendoom wrote: »

That is because it isn't homophobic any more. The meaning has changed... again.

I work with young adults and the term is in common usage, usually used to describe something they don't like or agree with.

I can't quite believe people don't think its homophobic!

They use it as an insult because being gay is seen as a bad thing, the same way boys call each other girls or other insults that imply that being female is naturally worse.

Its an insidious homophobia, so ingrained it becomes instinctive, and it should be challenged each and every time.

Person_one

fluffnutter wrote: »

I feel a confession coming on here... I use the word 'gay' as a pejorative term about naff stuff.

You should stop doing that.