Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Marshaul · 03-26-2002, 02:40 PM

not exaclty philosophy, but I'm curious to see what anyone thinks:

If someone says something racist or hateful, etc., to insult or otherwise hurt someone, then they can be looked down on as "ignorant." This is the most commonly used word to describe people with behavior such as this, as is fairly accurate. If someone calls someone else "gay," for example, he is implying that all gay people are bad, which is obviously false. Anyone hearing, seeing, or whatevering this use of the word "gay" who thinks that it is incorrect is at least that much less ignorant than the person saying "gay," because they KNOW that there is nothing wrong with gaiety. So this puts them a little above the person saying "gay." However, if this use of the word "gay" offends them, then they are putting actual weight on the words of someone who is, as far as we know, stupid. Thus, they PUT themselves on the level of the ignorant person spouting the word "gay." If they were TRULY smarter, they would KNOW in every inch of their body that it is wrong to call people "gay" as an insult (and i don't mean morally wrong), and wouldn't even hesitate over the usage of that word. They might hesitate because they don't KNOW that gaiety is all right; they are a little unsure (their beliefs are wavering) and they feel the need to defend it, and thus know no more than the person saying "gay" and are on his level. Also, they might be "offended" because it is the "right" thing to do, because its how everyone is. If you follow the crowd in being "politically correct," then you are a sheep and think for yourself no more than the person saying "gay" as an insult and are, once again, at his level. If you are not above the person, why should you be above his words? By being offending, you DESERVE to hear him say "gay" over and over again, if he so chooses. If you don't believe that being gay is wrong, if you truly think it is O.K., then the only thing you should do upon hearing the word "gay" used as an insult is to smile inwardly at the knowledge that the person you are talking to is far stupider than you. This applies to all derogatory uses of any racial names, sexual preferences, etc.

Mageth · 03-26-2002, 02:58 PM

Including the words "dumb" and "stupid?"

[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: Mageth ]</p>

Megatron · 03-26-2002, 03:16 PM

One word: Formatting.

The rest of it... well... I'm not even touching it.

[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: Zero Angel ]</p>

Mageth · 03-26-2002, 03:18 PM

You could add to that brevity.

pug846 · 03-26-2002, 05:13 PM

This whole thread is just gay. It abounds in gaiety. It is pretty clear to me that the original poster is just trying to justify his gaiety by espousing this gay rant. If he wasn�t so insecure about being gay, he wouldn�t have posted such a gay idea. By the very posting of this gay thread, full of his gaiety, he is basically admitting that he is gay.

I�m sorry, but that�s just gay. Count me as offended.

(No live homosexuals were hurt in the making of this post.)

Viti · 03-26-2002, 05:20 PM

::smiling inwardly with the knowledge that the original poster is far stupider than I am::

John Page · 03-26-2002, 05:24 PM

Yes, use of pejorative terms is not helpful to open debate. I wonder what response you'd have got if instead you had used the terms "Materialist", "Nihilist" and "Theist" in this forum....

I note you just joined, perhaps try your post in the Secular Lifestyle forum?

uhcord · 03-26-2002, 05:25 PM

The word gay has been turning into meaning stupid.

When I use the word, I mean no offense to people that are homosexuals.
I know people my age (high school) also mean no offense.

Though of course it at first was meant to be putting down homosexauls (and still is in many cases), but many have turned its meaning to stupid, idiotic, etc.

Heck, I acuatlly know a some homosexuals that use the word in that sort of context.

Words meanings are constantly changing, and this certain word seems to be changing quite fast ....
happy->homosexaul->stupid
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Jonsey3333 · 03-26-2002, 09:05 PM

As with every derrogatory term, it is a power issue. If you call someone "gay" with the intent to insult, the implication is that they are lesser, because you believe being gay is lesser. People who misuse gay usually don't use it because they don't know the correct meaning of the word "gay". They believe themselves, being straight, to be superior.

That is why it is offensive. It's just plain wrong.

-Mike

03-26-2002, 09:07 PM

Marshaul,

The question here is not about what people should feel. We cannot help that gays have been and are actively persecuted and that this persecution is manifested in certain forms of insults and disparagement. We should not simply insist that they dull themselves to insult , that they should

Quote:

smile inwardly at the knowledge that the person you are talking to is far stupider than you.

.
They have every right to object inwardly (ie. to be insulted) and outwardly to such manifestations of bigotry just as the rest of us should.

03-26-2002, 02:40 PM	#1
Marshaul New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 2	Why getting offended makes you dumb not exaclty philosophy, but I'm curious to see what anyone thinks: If someone says something racist or hateful, etc., to insult or otherwise hurt someone, then they can be looked down on as "ignorant." This is the most commonly used word to describe people with behavior such as this, as is fairly accurate. If someone calls someone else "gay," for example, he is implying that all gay people are bad, which is obviously false. Anyone hearing, seeing, or whatevering this use of the word "gay" who thinks that it is incorrect is at least that much less ignorant than the person saying "gay," because they KNOW that there is nothing wrong with gaiety. So this puts them a little above the person saying "gay." However, if this use of the word "gay" offends them, then they are putting actual weight on the words of someone who is, as far as we know, stupid. Thus, they PUT themselves on the level of the ignorant person spouting the word "gay." If they were TRULY smarter, they would KNOW in every inch of their body that it is wrong to call people "gay" as an insult (and i don't mean morally wrong), and wouldn't even hesitate over the usage of that word. They might hesitate because they don't KNOW that gaiety is all right; they are a little unsure (their beliefs are wavering) and they feel the need to defend it, and thus know no more than the person saying "gay" and are on his level. Also, they might be "offended" because it is the "right" thing to do, because its how everyone is. If you follow the crowd in being "politically correct," then you are a sheep and think for yourself no more than the person saying "gay" as an insult and are, once again, at his level. If you are not above the person, why should you be above his words? By being offending, you DESERVE to hear him say "gay" over and over again, if he so chooses. If you don't believe that being gay is wrong, if you truly think it is O.K., then the only thing you should do upon hearing the word "gay" used as an insult is to smile inwardly at the knowledge that the person you are talking to is far stupider than you. This applies to all derogatory uses of any racial names, sexual preferences, etc.

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03-26-2002, 02:58 PM	#2
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Including the words "dumb" and "stupid?" [ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: Mageth ]</p>

03-26-2002, 03:16 PM	#3
Megatron Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: New York Posts: 5,441	One word: Formatting. The rest of it... well... I'm not even touching it. [ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: Zero Angel ]</p>

03-26-2002, 03:18 PM	#4
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	You could add to that brevity.

03-26-2002, 05:13 PM	#5
pug846 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1,587	This whole thread is just gay. It abounds in gaiety. It is pretty clear to me that the original poster is just trying to justify his gaiety by espousing this gay rant. If he wasn�t so insecure about being gay, he wouldn�t have posted such a gay idea. By the very posting of this gay thread, full of his gaiety, he is basically admitting that he is gay. I�m sorry, but that�s just gay. Count me as offended. (No live homosexuals were hurt in the making of this post.)

03-26-2002, 05:20 PM	#6
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	::smiling inwardly with the knowledge that the original poster is far stupider than I am::

03-26-2002, 05:24 PM	#7
John Page Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: US Posts: 5,495	Yes, use of pejorative terms is not helpful to open debate. I wonder what response you'd have got if instead you had used the terms "Materialist", "Nihilist" and "Theist" in this forum.... I note you just joined, perhaps try your post in the Secular Lifestyle forum?

03-26-2002, 05:25 PM	#8
uhcord Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1,158	The word gay has been turning into meaning stupid. When I use the word, I mean no offense to people that are homosexuals. I know people my age (high school) also mean no offense. Though of course it at first was meant to be putting down homosexauls (and still is in many cases), but many have turned its meaning to stupid, idiotic, etc. Heck, I acuatlly know a some homosexuals that use the word in that sort of context. Words meanings are constantly changing, and this certain word seems to be changing quite fast .... happy->homosexaul->stupid <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

03-26-2002, 09:05 PM	#9
Jonsey3333 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA Posts: 92	As with every derrogatory term, it is a power issue. If you call someone "gay" with the intent to insult, the implication is that they are lesser, because you believe being gay is lesser. People who misuse gay usually don't use it because they don't know the correct meaning of the word "gay". They believe themselves, being straight, to be superior. That is why it is offensive. It's just plain wrong. -Mike

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