The use of the word "faggot" towards gay men is offensive and inexcusible.

[terrya]

It doesn't matter what context, it doesn't matter that there are different meanings of the word, whatever.

It's wrong. Period.

Just to clear up any misconceptions.

[LeftyMom]

1. Thank you.

I can't believe that even needed to be said. :sigh:

[blonndee]

2. Yes it is!!! And people who try to minimize it by citing an antiquated definition

of it know goddamned well that they're being hurtful. Not to mention juvenile and lazy. I don't even allow my freshmen to use dictionary definitions in their work.

[Deja Q]

10. While I agree the use of the word as an insult against another is wrong,

I found it fascinating what the original meaning used to be. Rather how how 'gay' once meant 'happy'.

All that isn't to give a 'not guilty' verdict on that poster, but still...

Arcane knowledge...

And nobody around here ought to go to Great Britain. Talk about culture-shock...

And I'm assuming people who write movies and plays and make a vile character who goes around calling people f-words and n-words just to show, in whatever context, how vile they are, won't go to jail for using those words because he didn't - the character he wrote did.

I think it's obvious and common sense to use such words to use against another is hurtful, period.

[SemperEadem]

44. I read or heard somewhere that the reference of Gay to gay men

has to do with every street in New York being straight (on a 90 degree perpendicular to cross streets) and only Gay Street wasn't a straight street. It made sense, but I don't know how true it is.

[ruggerson]

3. Exactly

k/r

[Lex]

4. I'm just waiting for someone to say she was making fun of homophobes

and wasn't actually being a hateful homophobe HERSELF.

Isn't that how the whiney pathetic excuse goes?

[ruggerson]

8. On Freak Republic

there are some alternate reality morans trying to claim it was Coulter cleverly parodying one of the fired Edwards bloggers, who apparently used the word in an "us ni**as" kind of context.

Un. Fucking. Believable.

[rodeodance]

5. its is the same as saying the n word to Blacks.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. is it really equal, or is it bad, but not quite as bad

what about cracker, honkie, jap, JAP, chink, kike...

Your statement also begs the question if its alright for gays to use it but no one else


:sarcasm:

[hedgehog]

61. I think it's pretty standard for any group despised by the Mainstream

to use the worst insults in a friendly way within the group as a way of seizing control of the word. For example, people in my family will refer to themselves as Micks even though years ago that was a pejorative.

[bicentennial_baby]

6. And how about the transphobia we've been seeing here too?

:puke:

Agreed Terry :pals:

:hi:

[keepCAblue]

45. "man Coulter" and other such references abound....what hypocrisy

I've seen so many posts that decry Coulter's "faggot" statement, calling it wrong, offensive, etc., while at the same time (often in the same sentence), the DUer refers to Coulter as "man Coulter" or other such similar references which convey a transphobic message.

[donheld]

7. Yes it is -- end of discussion

[hulklogan]

9. Hopefully you've said it clearly enough for everyone to understand.

:thumbsup:

So we don't have to have any more vocabulary lessons.

[LostinVA]

12. Thank you -- these other threads are making me sick

It's disgusting, and it's being done in oh such a cute and smarmy way.

[Bluebear]

13. But, but, Ann Coulter was calling John Edwards a cigarette!

Or an "old woman" or sticks! Ha ha ha ha! :sarcasm:

[LostinVA]

15. And Ann Coulter is a FAGGOT -- a dried up old woman!

Hey, it was a slang term all the rage in 1591, so I can post "faggot" and say it's from 1591 and it's FUNNY. nd guess what? I can also say FAGGOT and get away with it. HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA.

[Bluebear]

16. IT'S IN THE DICTIONARY!!!!!!!1111111

So we can say it!!!!!!1111

[LostinVA]

33. Exactly!!1111 Im SERIES!!1111

I fucking hate this.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. Is there anyone at DU who doesn't know this?

Is there anyone who's defending her?

I'd be amazed, and dismayed, to learn that either is true.

[JackBeck]

18. Actually, yes.

There have been posters who actually asked why the term "faggot" was offensive. That we should not give the word any power and we should just ignore someone who calls us a faggot.

[Bluebear]

20. And of course, those who use the word are closet gays themselves.

Or so the mindset goes.

[JackBeck]

22. Yeah, that one was trotted out as well.

Thankfully, more allies are present than the haters.

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. Wow... just, wow

Okay, color me amazed and dismayed.

Mostly dismayed.

[JackBeck]

25. I would love to throw it away as a mole infestation

but sometimes you never know.

What I do know is that there is a concerted effort on certain sites to put a wedge between the GLBT community and the rest of DU. The past few days I've been wondering of these outrageous comments are part of that effort.

[BlooInBloo]

17. "referring to" is better than your "towards", perhaps.

[terrya]

29. You're right.

I just hope my point was made clear.

[stellanoir]

19. The most antiquated definition of which I am aware is the MOST offensive.

French for kindling for the burning of witches and heretics. First they supposedly burned cats, then homosexuals, then witches or heretics.

No humanity there. Those masquerading as Christian's lust for torture and blood is so unbelievably hypocritical, even to this day.

The repressed homosexuality of the primary offenders is the real problem methinks otherwise why pray tell would they be so threatened by something that is really none of their beeswax?

[cui bono]

21. I think it is towards straight men as well since it's meant as an insult.

By calling them gay which is not an insult except to bigots and homophobes.

[JackBeck]

26. I hear staight guys call other guys faggots all the time in the city.

It hurts every time.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. K&R

[Cha]

27. Yeah, it's an homophobic

slur that says everything about the user and nothing about the intended sluree.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. Yep.

[unhappycamper]

30. I completely agree.

That word does not belong in our lexicon.

[Beelzebud]

31. I think it's offensive to any thinking person.

I don't have to be a homosexual to know that it's a vile word meant only to inflict wounds.

It's offensive in any context.

[Forkboy]

32. K&R

[knitter4democracy]

34. I agree. It makes me cringe when I see it here.

Just bad. It's a nasty word, and people have been hurt both physically and emotionally when they've heard it. It's not okay. I don't like it when people say something or someone is "gay" either, considering they're using it as an insult or throwaway put-down, like it's common belief that "gay" is stupid or bad.

Time for love, not hate.

[VelmaD]

35. I agree with you 100 percent

But be prepared...you are going to get the same level of shit I always get when I post the same basic sentiment about the word bitch. There are a lot of people on this site who think their right to free speech comes with no responsibilities whatsoever...particularly the respobsibility not to be a jackass.

:hug:

[Bunny]

56. But but but...a bitch is a female dog! What's the problem??

You little ladies need to just calm down. :eyes:

:sarcasm:

I was going to post something about this, too. The use of language is certainly interesting, isn't it?

[LostinVA]

66. I agree with you about "bitch"

I don't think it should be allowed.

[slj0101]

36. It's such a "no shit" situation.

The fact that it has to be addressed is astounding.

Thanks, terrya. :thumbsup:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. Absolutely. But Were There Really Any Here That Had Misconceptions?

[JackBeck]

40. Yes.

And they went on a rant about how we should not be offended when called such names since all we're doing is giving the word power.

I have my own theories about the situation.

[Catherine Vincent]

38. Duh!

I think you're preaching to the choir here.

[ruggerson]

39. Not so sure about that n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. who doesnt know this?

[Jamastiene]

65. There have been quite a few posters lately

who haven't understood this. Luckily many of their posts were deleted eventually, but it wasn't pretty while they remained up.

[Straight Shooter]

42. I think Coulter revealed clearly that she thinks of gays as faggots.

That's the real story. We all know what a waste of oxygen she is, but she does represent the unspoken agenda of the Republic party. They use her to speak their thoughts. The fact that they applauded her words, and laughed at them, proves that they believe gays are faggots.

Another defining moment in the Republic party under the "leadership" of Little Boots and his divisive agenda.

[SemperEadem]

43. I agree... there are different meanings of the word

however, the context in which coulter used it wasn't referring to a cigarette or a bundle of wood.

[keepCAblue]

46. She was clearly using the F word in the context of Isaiah Washington

"Grey’s Anatomy Actor, Isaiah Washington, in Therapy for Gay Remarks"
http://www.411lowdown.com/2007/01/24/greys-anatomy-actor-isaiah-washington-in-therapy-for-gay-remarks/

[Mick Knox]

47. It always hurts me when Gay men refer to themselves as "faggots"

My gay friends routinely do so and I think it helps perpetuate homophobia by making it "OK".

"Queer" is the same thing.

It is self reference to strangeness/oddity.

Unfortunate that some gays themselves perpetuate it.

[bicentennial_baby]

51. Oh, I better tell my gay male "Queer Literature" professor

that he's perpetuating homophobia... :eyes:

[keepCAblue]

48. Coulter has the mentality of 5th grade school yard bully

You know the type...the bullying little boy on the playground who, lacking intelligence or creativity, resorts to name-calling of the other kids who threaten, intimidate and outwit him by using what he, in his atrophied little mind, believes is the ultimate insult: "You're a faggot!"

And so goes Coulter, who resorts to the same unimaginative name-calling of any political figure whom she is unqualified to intellectually spar with on any level. Coulter's clearly established a pattern of this:

Previously, Coulter has put “even money” on Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) “coming out of the closet,” said Bill Clinton shows “some level of latent homosexuality,” and called Vice President Al Gore a “total fag.”

(from http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/02/coulter-edwards)

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sniffa]

50. charming

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

52. Of all the legitimate reasons to complain about Bush, you choose to use an anti-gay slur.

If he was black, would you call him a n****r.

And Bush isn't even gay.

[JackBeck]

53. There's a sarcasm smilie. Did you forget to use it?

[terrya]

54. Tough shit. It's still wrong.

Christ, was I supposed to draw pictures or something? I thought my point was sort of clear.

[Duncan Grant]

57. Of all the political message boards to choose from, you picked us. What a pity.

:nuke:

[wryter2000]

55. K&R

For pity's sake, it's a no-brainer. What's wrong with people? This isn't freakrepublic.

[SayWhatYo]

58. You're right... However, I always wondered about something...

Let's say you're straight and you have a good friend is gay and you two always give each other a hard time and joke around with each other. Both of you throw equally insulting comments toward each other. However, neither of you really care because you both know what the deal is. If done away from people who may be offended, is it still wrong? Same thing goes with racial, religious and whatever else...

I never had any issues associating with people who are "different" than me, so I have had a diverse set of friends. However, I know that me and my friends have often times took part in such immature dialog... more-so in the past than now, though.

[terrya]

59. Yes, it's still wrong.

I can't imagine a gay man...that is, one who isn't self-loathing or getting ready to join some "ex-gay" group, thinking it's ok, even in a "joking" manner, to use the word "faggot" to describe himself...or to let a hetero friend use that word to describe me. I, luckily, don't have hetero friends like that.

[SayWhatYo]

62. I dunno...

Don't you think it's better remove that power from a word? If it gets people upset than it only working to 'help' those who truly hate. I suppose that is how we all view it... I'll tell you something, a good friend of mine is gay and if he was ever in any sort of trouble then I would be one of the first people there to help him out. Are saying that because we
sometimes joke with eachother that I am not a good friend, or that I secretly hate him? I mean, I know you didn't come right out and say that, but I'm getting get feeling.... correct me if I'm wrong... Oh, as far as I can tell, he has no issue with being gay and he doesn't hide it. I'm going to email him this link and ask that he register and leave his thoughts. He's better with words and far more intelligent than me, so he could probably explain things better..

[flamingyouth]

60. Yes.

:kick:

[Hunky Dunky]

63. Agreed. It's offensive and ignorant. n/t

[NMMNG]

64. Agreed. n/t