Originally posted by: Moth3r
Using the word "gay" pejoratively does not necessarily insinuate homosexuality. For example, whilst watching AoTC, someone might shout "this is so gay" when clearly, a movie has no gender so can't possibly be homosexual. It may be offensive to some, but this usage has been common since the eighties.
Similarly, a CS player may type "OMGZ ur so ghey!!!111!" as a general derogatory comment towards another player's lack of ability.
Thus endeth today's lesson on the finer points of the English language...
Hmm... I quote from AskOxford.com:
gay
• adjective (gayer, gayest) 1 (especially of a man) homosexual. 2 relating to homosexuals. 3 dated light-hearted and carefree. 4 dated brightly coloured; showy.
• noun a homosexual person, especially a man.
— DERIVATIVES gayness noun.
— USAGE Gay is now a standard term for ‘homosexual’, and is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. As a result, it is now very difficult to use gay in its earlier meanings ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy’ without arousing a sense of double entendre. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men, lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women.
— ORIGIN Old French gai.
Using the word "gay" pejoratively does not necessarily insinuate homosexuality. For example, whilst watching AoTC, someone might shout "this is so gay" when clearly, a movie has no gender so can't possibly be homosexual. It may be offensive to some, but this usage has been common since the eighties.
Similarly, a CS player may type "OMGZ ur so ghey!!!111!" as a general derogatory comment towards another player's lack of ability.
Thus endeth today's lesson on the finer points of the English language...
Hmm... I quote from AskOxford.com:
gay
• adjective (gayer, gayest) 1 (especially of a man) homosexual. 2 relating to homosexuals. 3 dated light-hearted and carefree. 4 dated brightly coloured; showy.
• noun a homosexual person, especially a man.
— DERIVATIVES gayness noun.
— USAGE Gay is now a standard term for ‘homosexual’, and is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. As a result, it is now very difficult to use gay in its earlier meanings ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy’ without arousing a sense of double entendre. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men, lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women.
— ORIGIN Old French gai.
So when CS players type "OMGZ ur so ghey!!!111!", they really mean "OMGZ ur so light-hearted and carefree!!!111!". I'm not convinced
I've certainly seen people use the word like that - in fact, that is what annoys me - but they're not doing it because it means "light-hearted and carefree". They are doing it because it is a term for "homosexual". Doesn't really matter how long it has been used that way, it's just ga... stupid!