is “gay” gay?
[Editor's note: This is evolution's 2,500th post.]
Time to admit to another politically incorrect peccadillo: I have used this particular phrase in this particular context.
In another example of shocking news related to studies, a recent gaming survey on the homophobia that permeates the video game landscape says that a majority of online players use the words “that’s so gay” or another form of “gay bashing” in their time spent shooting people in the face. From Next-Gen:
88% of respondents said they had heard the phrase “that’s so gay†while 84% said they had heard ‘gay’ used in a derogatory fashion. Over 50% said they felt that games portray gay people in a stereotypical way, while 42% believe gays are under-represented in games. 15% said the industry creates a culture where gay employees “feel like they must stay in the closetâ€. 52% believed that the gaming community is hostile to gay and lesbian gamers. Only 9% said they “never†encounter anti-gay sentiments from online gamers.
(Links in original.) We’ve all heard it. We may have even said it. Certainly it qualifies as juvenile. Does it qualify as homophobia?
02.26.2007 @ 21:07
Probably not homophobia but definately juvenile. A tendency in language is to reverse meanings so bad or wicked becomes good-awful originally meaning full of awe becomes, well awful. So maybe gay is another example of this.
Personally I would not use the term gay in a derogatory sense. Another intersting usage perhaps of a bad word becoming good is queer. This used to be a derisive term for homosexual but gays and allies are expropriating this term in a positive sense to include the whole range of sexual minorities. So gay scholarship now refers to “queer studies” as an inclusive term. It seems to be recognition that the old sort of sexual and gender cubbyholes don’t work anymore.
02.26.2007 @ 21:28
As I’ve gotten older and more “mature” (actually I just pretend better now), I have developed a tendency for plainspokenness. If I mean “lame” or “idiotic” I just say “lame” or “idiotic”. I’d rather save my capability for giving offense to those who deserve it.