What do you do when someone says, "that's so gay?"

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What do you do when someone says, "that's so gay?"

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Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Words, for the most part, only have the power you give them.

I grew up on the 80's. "That's so gay!" was standard vocabulary. Not a single one of us, at 12 years old, thought about gay people when we said it.

Just ... more
I totally agree! Very well said!
12/10/2011
Contributor: sassyNsensual sassyNsensual
I used to say something until a few of my gay friends said it really didn't offend them. I still think it's wrong and I don't like it, but sometimes it's not worth getting into a debate about
12/10/2011
Contributor: cathy23 cathy23
I don't say or do anything., It's not my business to alter what people say or think.
01/24/2012
Contributor: aliceinthehole aliceinthehole
Quote:
Originally posted by Timaree
How do you respond? Do you say anything, like "that's offensive," or "i think you mean, 'that sucks.'" Or do you let it go and think to yourself?
at work, i hold my tongue. until i get my job secured here i can't say a word. my boss likes to make gay jokes and i can't tell you how it rips me up. those seemingly harmless jokes are the root of the prejudice that results in people losing their jobs, families, and lives due to brutal beatings.
it's so completely wrong.

i will sometimes use that slur being used as a conversation starter about my personal experiences and that of friends who've been persecuted for not being totally straight. it's usually being said by peers of mine, so its an opportunity to open their mind a bit. knowing someone personally who is not 'straight' often makes people think twice about their prejudices against gay people.
01/24/2012
Contributor: Jesse-in-TX Jesse-in-TX
Well, if you happen to be gay, and a someone is saying that in a conversation...say something like...."You mean so gay it's almost straight." or "Yeah, you'd know about the gay wouldn't you."
01/24/2012
Contributor: True Pleasures True Pleasures
If I can drag them over to a computer, I make them watch this started at about 1:44. I think John Green does a wonderful job of explaining why "gay" should not be an insult.DFTBA
01/24/2012
Contributor: kawigrl kawigrl
i haven't heard it in yrs
01/24/2012
Contributor: (k)InkyIvy (k)InkyIvy
When someone uses the word "gay" or the term "that's so gay" to describe something they don't like, it does tend to irk me a bit... I mean, there are so many words in the English language, and the only one they can come up with for their current situation or feeling is "gay"? It's just sort of sad...
01/24/2012
Contributor: Jesse-in-TX Jesse-in-TX
It's kind of like the South Park episode 'The F Word' with the motorcycle gang and how they started calling them fags. It is super funny and sends the same message as what a lot of people here are speaking.
01/26/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I tell them they're being inappropriate depending on how bold I feel that way.
01/26/2012
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
And honestly, why do people feel the need to use the terms "gay" or "retarded" in exchange for stupid or silly? Can they not just say the latter? I am at a loss of understanding here, regardless of the whole "words have the ... more
Agreed. I would say back to them, "you mean that's so straight" and I get a weird look back. Then I say, "yeah, thought so."
01/26/2012
Contributor: Lizzy Lizzy
I try and explain, that that's not an appropriate response
01/26/2012
Contributor: samanthalynn samanthalynn
nothing
02/01/2012
Contributor: ViVix ViVix
Quote:
Originally posted by Timaree
How do you respond? Do you say anything, like "that's offensive," or "i think you mean, 'that sucks.'" Or do you let it go and think to yourself?
I have a close family member who is gay who often says "That's so gay." Therefore, I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. However, if someone openly bashes gay people in front of me, chances are that I'm going to say something to make them think.
02/12/2012
Contributor: Apirka Apirka
I think it depends on the person or how they meant it. If they're just saying it because it just popped out, then I let is slide because I've done it. But it's different if they meant it as an anti-gay insult.
03/01/2012
Contributor: Supervixen Supervixen
I move on with my life and deal with the fact that sometimes people say things I don't like?

Life does go on, I promise.
11/06/2012
Contributor: Girly Juice Girly Juice
I call them out. I don't tolerate homophobia in my life, even if the person making homophobic remarks thinks of them as a "joke" or insignificant.
11/12/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
I usually make a face, shake my head, and think to myself that that is wrong. My body language says it all.
11/12/2012
Contributor: skeeterlynn skeeterlynn
Depends on their context. You can easily know if it's offensive or not depending how it's used. I however would NEVER tell them to say "that's retarded" though. Because that is more offensive since it IS degrading mentally challenged personnel since saying it in that way is meaning something is stupid or of the sort. One should never correct them trying to be politically correct with an even worse statement.
11/12/2012
Contributor: roskat roskat
Side-eye and judge them silently.
11/12/2012
Contributor: llellsee llellsee
I just accept that it has nothing to do with Gays and that the word has taken on a different meaning.
11/12/2012
Contributor: SelectZen SelectZen
I am with the majority here. I wouldn't have any problem with homosexuals at all but I do use the term the odd time. They are separate in my head.
11/12/2012
Contributor: Moniqua Moniqua
I do nothing. By the way how is saying "that's retarded" any better? lol.
11/12/2012
Contributor: ginnyluvspotter ginnyluvspotter
Depends on how it's said
11/12/2012
Contributor: vanillaSpice vanillaSpice
Say something. I AM gay, and I don't feel comfortable when someone uses my sexual orientation as an insult, even if it's not directed at me. And it's so juvenile! The last time it was "acceptable", I was in grade school. :/
11/14/2012
Contributor: dawnkye dawnkye
Pointing it out rarely accomplishes anything, so I bite my tongue. But it is irritating.
11/14/2012
Contributor: loveme loveme
I dont see how its offensive. There's alOt of meanings to the word gay. And if they are trying to tell me I look or am acting gay (as in homosexual), I'll take that as a compliment .. Point of the matter is.. It's really not that serious.
11/14/2012
Contributor: Ivanna Ivanna
I dont think anyone usually means anything offensive, I think the term has come to mean something totally different than what gay actually means, but I could see how it could offend some.
11/14/2012
Contributor: allme1 allme1
Nothing. It's just a colloquialism. It has nothing to do with gay people. i havre gay friends and they say it all the time.
11/14/2012
Contributor: Marie Hanna Marie Hanna
People are overly sensitive to this.
11/14/2012