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- What does the word "faggot" mean to you?
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| What does the word "faggot" mean to you? | |
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| Topic Started: 20 Oct 2011, 03:48 PM (2,160 Views) | |
| Kizzume | 20 Oct 2011, 03:48 PM Post #1 |
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I'm from a generation that defined the word "faggot" as the negative thing you call a homosexual--it makes me wince a little when I hear it used, probably because I'm gay. I'm seeing that word used liberally here, and it doesn't seem to have the same connotations--but I don't really know WHAT connotation it is supposed to have now. What does the word "faggot" mean to you? I've seen it used to describe anyone they don't like, sort of like the word "gay". I've seen references to taking it up the ass as meaning the most dehumanizing thing ever. It's kind-of weird. Have people become more overtly anti-homosexual, or is it just a language thing? |
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| Iron Lightning | 20 Oct 2011, 03:56 PM Post #2 |
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That's what it means to me. |
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20 Oct 2011, 03:59 PM Post #3 |
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This and also a character from "Master and Margarita" |
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| Storage and Disposal | 20 Oct 2011, 04:27 PM Post #4 |
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It's a language thing. I kind of cringe when it's used, too, but nowadays it has nothing to do with being gay. Though I will say that it still can be a hurtful word. I personally don't like it, but I try not to take it personal. A lot of people that consider themselves straight have the privilege of not knowing what it's like to hear that word used as an attack on their sexuality. Though I did enjoy that South Park episode addressing the history of the word. |
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| PoodieCore | 20 Oct 2011, 04:27 PM Post #5 |
German douche
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I can't say too much about the word itself, since English is not my mother tongue. But in my native language we have similiar terms. Like faggot and fag, they can also be used to call something weak and pathetic. I think here is the problem... Using such words for these purposes is indirectly advocating homophobia... Well I think a solution could be to use the term more often to describe other things instead of homosexuality. Over time the word could loose its power as an insult for gays then. |
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20 Oct 2011, 04:56 PM Post #6 |
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I like to use the definition given to me by Krooze L-Roy. "Fags are people who have lost their ability to be ashamed of their wrong feelings." Don't take that too seriously unless it offends you, then take it ultra-seriously. Edited by CommieCatGirl, 20 Oct 2011, 04:57 PM.
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| Deleted User | 20 Oct 2011, 05:04 PM Post #7 |
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Deleted User
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I love the word faggot. Its simply delightful to say. Makes me feel all tingly when it passes thru my lips. With proper emphasis on the 2 'G's it is truly one of the greatest curses. I actually prefer it over 'fuck' or even 'cock'. Its wonderful. It is no longer just a derogatory term towards homosexuals, it has evolved into one of the most wonderful swears ever conceived by mankind. |
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| DesBlackmore | 20 Oct 2011, 05:13 PM Post #8 |
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To answer your question, society has inarguably become less homophobic since, let's say, the 50s/60s and that is of course a wonderful thing. However, in my opinion, the word "faggot" is just that - a word. Yes, it is usually used in a condescending way. But people should not be punished, silenced, or even look down upon when used. I say the word faggot all the time to address my friends, or to make fun of them. Why? Because I do, not because I believe being gay is a bad thing, but its the word I prefer to use the word. Nothing gets under my skin more (and I am in no way addressing this to you Kizzume) when LGBT groups want to ban the word because they do not like it, or believe it's spreads homophobia. Fuck no, fuck that. The word "faggot" doesn't spread homophobia, people's actions spread homophobia. People should have Freedom of Speech, words should never, ever be banned. Period. The only thing worse than government censorship is when fellow citizens try to censor you. Edited by DesBlackmore, 20 Oct 2011, 05:14 PM.
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The most effective way to protect speech, is to protect the most repugnant of speech. | |
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| m80kamikaze | 20 Oct 2011, 08:36 PM Post #9 |
generic title
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Harley rider |
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| JeffroTheMan | 20 Oct 2011, 11:43 PM Post #10 |
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Cody is a wise man. Sorta. It stops being relevant to this conversation around three minutes in. As for 'taking it in the ass' being an insult, it's because homosexuality has long had connotations of effeminacy, and effeminacy is, culturally speaking, a negative thing to have. I (and I expect everyone else on this board would agree with this) personally don't care who acts like a woman and who doesn't, but there's a long cultural tradition of men having to be manly to be respected by the social organism. |
| "Should've been a soldier, I could've fought and died/ but there's no revolution, so I bought a bride." -Bought a Bride, Brand New | |
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| salamutスタッフ | 21 Oct 2011, 12:05 AM Post #11 |
فقط الحفاظ على الابتسام
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Cigarette. |
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| Kizzume | 21 Oct 2011, 12:05 AM Post #12 |
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Yes, I've seen that video from Cody before, and as he makes good points, there's something it doesn't address: It makes it virtually impossible to tell who is using it as a rank on gay people and those using it for other reasons. I don't see people jumping up and defending the usage of the word "nigger" for every little thing except for maybe Variablast--and how do people view him? Why is it suddenly different with the word "faggot"? |
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| DesBlackmore | 21 Oct 2011, 12:15 AM Post #13 |
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You made a good point. And I think its a shame that people cannot use "nigger" openly. I'm afraid the word "faggot" is heading in that same direction. I think "nigger" is in that position because who ever uses that word are demonized and attack ruthlessly. Thus people are afraid to use it, unless your black. As I said before. Racism and Sexism and Homophobia should be attacked. But not the words associated with them. Words are meaningless unless used in context. Edited by DesBlackmore, 21 Oct 2011, 12:18 AM.
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The most effective way to protect speech, is to protect the most repugnant of speech. | |
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| Gaming4JC | 21 Oct 2011, 12:29 AM Post #14 |
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My neighbors are racist and homophobic. Surprise, they're Christian. |
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| JeffroTheMan | 21 Oct 2011, 01:15 AM Post #15 |
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I think that'll change. In modern pop culture, it's basically just synonymous with 'person,' and I don't buy the argument that 'nigga' is different from 'nigger.' There's no difference. As people stop associating it with race, it'll become part of the common vernacular- in fact, I think it really already has. The exceptions are when it's on TV and everyone's watching, or something. I know plenty of black people who refer to their white friends as 'their niggers,' and vice versa. Sure, they're all the kind of people you wouldn't want to associate with in a thousand years, but the point is that when it's just people shooting the shit with their friends, nobody seems to care. As Carlin put it, "There's no such thing as bad words. Bad thoughts, sure, but no bad words." The same for 'faggot.' It's all about intent. Racist intent is a horrible thing, but getting all huffy because someone said some naughty words is bad, too. That's my take on it. As for this,
I think intent is an easier thing to pick up on than you allow for here. If some redneck with a sleeveless, torn up Chevy shirt looks at you funny at a bar and says, "Boy, you a faggot? If so, you better get on out of here," it's obviously different than my friends calling me a faggot for fucking around with a bag of chips while they're talking. Further, there's a similar trend in gay culture as there was in rap culture- every gay person I've known playfully refers to their gay friends as 'faggots.' It's reversing the intent, and it's obvious to tell the difference. TL;DR- Intent is the key- and it's easier to pick up on then I think you've suggested. |
| "Should've been a soldier, I could've fought and died/ but there's no revolution, so I bought a bride." -Bought a Bride, Brand New | |
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| DesBlackmore | 21 Oct 2011, 01:29 AM Post #16 |
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Yeah, I agree with Jeffro. But me personally, I put more emphasis and attention on the persons actions. For Example: They are a homophobes if they ban gays from their restaurant, not because they say "faggot". To be honest, I'm struggling to answer the following question: Are people, that do not support gay marriage (they only support 1 man, 1 women marriage) always, inherently hateful? Can people hold that opinion and not be hateful? I say, yes. And my brain hurts when I ask myself an additional question: Should people allow to be hateful? Again, I say, yes. But I could be very wrong. The more I think, and the more I post replies/topics, the more I think I'm becoming a Libertarian... I'm going to be sick.  Edited by DesBlackmore, 21 Oct 2011, 01:43 AM.
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The most effective way to protect speech, is to protect the most repugnant of speech. | |
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| dephlogisticator | 21 Oct 2011, 03:22 AM Post #17 |
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| EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP AND OPEN PALM SLAM A VHS INTO THE SLOT. IT'S CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK AND RIGHT THEN AND THERE I START DOING THE MOVES ALONGSIDE THE MAIN CHARACTER, RIDDICK. I DO EVERY MOVE AND I DO EVERY MOVE HARD. MAKIN' WHOOSHING SOUNDS WHEN I SLAM DOWN SOME NECRO BASTARDS. NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY ESCAPED THE GALAXY'S MOST DANGEROUS PRISON. I CAN. I SAY IT AND I SAY IT OUTLOUD EVERYDAY TO PEOPLE IN MY COLLEGE CLASS AND ALL THEY DO IS PROVE PEOPLE IN COLLEGE CLASS CAN STILL BE IMMATURE JERKS. AND IVE LEARNED ALL THE LINES AND IVE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE MYSELF AND MY APARTMENT LESS LONELY BY SHOUTING EM ALL. 2 HOURS INCLUDING WIND DOWN EVERY MORNING. THEN I LIFT | |
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| morgothroth | 21 Oct 2011, 03:28 AM Post #18 |
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It is a term that straight people shouldn't use, just like white people don't use nigger It is still a hurtful term, and I've yet to meet a stragget(straight guy that wants to act gay, see wigger) Almost all use of this word outside of gay men using it amongst themselves always has some sort of ill will towards gay men(in america, other places it does mean cigarette so...) just like when I catch people saying 'that's gay' and they try to qualify it as not meaning homosexual, but if it didn't have anything to do with being gay then why not just say stupid or dumb instead? In fact most uses of faggy/faggot are by people trying to say something is weak or stupid, and they all use this because they have at least a subconcious stereotype of gay men as weak, most will either qualify it as 'oh well you're not like other gay men' if I ask them if I am weak, or they try to play it off as they didn't mean it to have anything to do with homosexuality, which I pointed out there are better alternatives than the word that they also use to describe me, and yes they almost always use gay to describe me and other gay guys This reminds me of how when you get a bunch of white people in a secluded room they will say stuff like 'I'm not racist, but such and such is just a dumb nigger'(not all white people are racist, but if you get racist white people in an all white person space they tart to say this shit) If you like to throw around nigger you are a racist, if you say things like 'that's so gay/don't be such a faggot' or just faggot(in exclusion of asking for cigarettes) you are homophobic on at least some level |
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| Kizzume | 21 Oct 2011, 03:45 AM Post #19 |
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Yeah, I don't buy the "they're just words" argument either. Words have meanings or there wouldn't be a point to language itself. However, I also don't think just saying the word makes one homophobic. I do think it's funny when people use the same logic as Ann Coulter did to excuse the usage of the word. |
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| dephlogisticator | 21 Oct 2011, 03:59 AM Post #20 |
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And meanings of words change over time. People who think "faggot" must always mean homosexual and is therefore insulting to homosexuals, might just be ignoring the fact that "gay" used to mean happy. I like the word "faggot". I like saying it. I use it in the context of my previous post. I think it serves that purpose well. Edited by dephlogisticator, 21 Oct 2011, 03:59 AM.
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| EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP AND OPEN PALM SLAM A VHS INTO THE SLOT. IT'S CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK AND RIGHT THEN AND THERE I START DOING THE MOVES ALONGSIDE THE MAIN CHARACTER, RIDDICK. I DO EVERY MOVE AND I DO EVERY MOVE HARD. MAKIN' WHOOSHING SOUNDS WHEN I SLAM DOWN SOME NECRO BASTARDS. NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY ESCAPED THE GALAXY'S MOST DANGEROUS PRISON. I CAN. I SAY IT AND I SAY IT OUTLOUD EVERYDAY TO PEOPLE IN MY COLLEGE CLASS AND ALL THEY DO IS PROVE PEOPLE IN COLLEGE CLASS CAN STILL BE IMMATURE JERKS. AND IVE LEARNED ALL THE LINES AND IVE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE MYSELF AND MY APARTMENT LESS LONELY BY SHOUTING EM ALL. 2 HOURS INCLUDING WIND DOWN EVERY MORNING. THEN I LIFT | |
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