That's Gay

[N.W. 3,619]

Used to use it every so often, now I use it as satire when someone actually makes a gay joke.

Of course the idea that "That's Gay" is an insult is rather stupid to begin with. Nothing wrong with being gay.

[Here No Longer 5,276]

I always found this very immature, and honestly slightly offensive considering they're trying to insult somebody by implying they're doing something or acting in a way that's somehow able to be associated with homosexuality. Being a basically homosexual male, that hits a nerve for obvious enough reasons.

 

But now, I have better things to focus my offense on, like the use of the word f@ggot. Now that's just downright unacceptable to me.

Edited August 18, 2019 by Dustlicious

[Lucky Bolt 35,085]

I admit, I've used this phrase a lot in the past and to be honest I still do. I don't ever mean to offend anyone, which is why I only use that phrase around people I know won't be offended by it...all my hetero friends for example haha

[Meson Bolt 2,648]

Uh... well, I use it every now and again, mostly to describe an activity or something that I just don't like. Like, if I'm doing a 10-mile forced march, I'll probably be all "this is gay" to my buddies and all.

I don't mean it as an insult to homosexual people of course, I just say it because it's convenient I suppose. :v

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,732]

I don't hear this much anymore actually. Unless I am entirely out of the loop. Definitely heard it a lot in high school, but it doesn't seem like a common thing people say. Despite being gay, it never really bothered me. I guess I've always seen it has just some random word replacement and not much else. Kinda like how sometimes I might say to something I disapprove of "That's balls." and that makes just about as much sense.

[The Historian 516]

I still utter that phrase or some variation thereof. Usually it's an expression of frustration like dropping the f-bomb. If someone says it while irritated, I'm not gonna take offense or anything. It can be overused but it's been diluted to the point where it's functionally meaningless.

[Xe__or 4,377]

That phrase in most cases is inoffensive to be honest. It's just words; what must be kept in mind is not the meaning of each word uttered, but the meaning of the sentence in its generality. Basically each word alone is souless; so "gay" here is not meant as gay gay; granted, it can be considered a poor choice of words, but that's all it is: words. No need to be offended by that

[Luna the Great of all the Russias 2,998]

As I see it, using the word gay in this context ironically seems to rarely, if at all, have any relation to actual homosexuals. Maybe not as much six years ago when this thread was first made, but at least that seems to be the trend.

Edited August 17, 2019 by Luna the Great of all the Russias

[Dreambiscuit 10,095]

No one likes to be called something they aren’t. Even so, if someone says it about me (I’m not gay) I’m still no more offended than if they call me any other name. It’s just a word, and I’m not damaged by words.

[KatonRyu 1,033]

Personally, I just use it in the same way I'd use religious exclamations: as a normal remark. I don't actually use it in the context of its 'homosexual' meaning, nor its original 'happy' meaning, in the same vein that I don't use 'dumb' or 'lame' to disparage people who can't speak or paraplegics, respectively. Basically, South Park got it right with their discussion over the meaning of the word 'fag' (in the spoiler tags).

Judge 1	We are really trying to understand this. How is it that you boys think referring to gay people as fags in today's world is acceptable?
Kyle	[exasperated] Because we're not referring to gay people! You can be gay and not be a fag.
Stan	Yeah, a lot of fags aren't gay.
Judge 2	I happen to be gay, boys. Do you think I'm a fag?
Stan	Do you ride a big loud Harley and go up and down the streets, ruining everyone's nice time?
Judge 2	No.
Stan	Then you're not a fag.
Judge 1	So what if a guy is gay and rides a Harley?
Cartman	Then he's a gay fag. I mean, is this really this hard?
Stan	I don't know.
Kenny	(This is fucking ridiculous.)
Stan	All right, look, you're driving in your car, okay? And you're waiting to make a left at a traffic signal. The light turns yellow, should be your turn to go, but the traffic coming at you just keeps coming. And even when the light turns red, a guy in a BMW runs the red light so you can't make your left turn. What goes through your mind?
Judge 3	"Fag."
Stan	Right. But you're not thinkin' "Oh, he's a homosexual," you're thinkin' "Oh, he's an inconsiderate douchebag like a Harley rider."
Judge 1	This, this is, making insanely good sense to me.
Judge 4	Alright, how about this: What would you call a straight man who doesn't own a Harley, but likes them and might buy one someday?
Cartman	You call them "bike-curious".
Judge 1	"Bike-cu-"
Stan	"Bike-curious"! Don't you people keep up with today's lingo at all?!
Kenny	[puts his head in his hands out of frustration] (Jesus fucking Christ!)

 

[Cash In 22,510]

I don't really use the phrase, though the context of it is relatively harmless and doesn't seem to be under the intention to directly offend.

[O-78 28,607]

I've never really used this phrase. There are plenty of other (more effective) things you can call something you don't like.

[Tacodidra 61,292]

I think it reflects very poorly on the person using it – it comes off as very immature, first of all (in part because of how overused and uncreative it is as an insult). Besides that, it makes me sad to hear or see it, as it's reflective of an attitude I wish was left in the past.

Using a term referring to a group of people as a generic insult (not only "gay" but many others, as well) isn't going to do any good for the acceptance of those groups of people. It's hard to say if it would always have a significant negative effect, but I see absolutely no reason why it would have a positive effect especially on young kids hearing (and then possibly using) these insults.

[Misty Shadow 7,946]

It doesn't bother me anymore, but I wouldn't use the term myself unless it was very obvious to the people I was using it around that I was just joking. 

[Miss 6,234]

I personally dislike the use of the word, and I think people shouldn't say it. I especially don't say it. 

Even as a gay person myself, I don't think their should be some rule/law enforcing that people don't say the term. Just wish people would be more considerate when they say it in public. Say it all you want with your friends I guess, but like it is still bad regardless. 

Of course I know alot of people, who are in the lgbt, who say "you're gay" and even "you're a fa**ot" and you know the idea that "it's out word so we can use it" always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I definitely don't want anyone calling me that and I never use the word outside of referencing it. 

 

[Stardust 641]

I use it as a joke and think it depends on context its so cliched if anything people tend to be homophobic more subtly often then this.

But I got warned on a chat for using it before when commenting on a unicorn thing even though with good intention some ppl take it offensively

[Ittoni 538]

I think people just need to be conscientious of the fact that other people exist, and what you might say does in fact cause an impact.

[King of Canterlot 9,603]

Not gonna lie, I think this thread is pretty gay 

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

I believe nobody actually thinks of that being offensive also why would you make an assumption on what they mean anyway. Gay now means pretty much what you want it to mean we think it is negative but I've also heard it used to refer to something thats colourful so if a word is enough to offend you. Well I suppose best is to buy some headphones and keep them on as you'll always hear words like that. 

[Bastian 13,320]

People should take jokes as jokes, however, since they don't, we have to be more polite and avoid the use of "that's gay" just for the sake of those people and being respectful.

[Splashee 28,566]

We'll have a gay old time!

[Technoblade 114]

wELL gaY mEanS hAPpY sO yEaH

[Evil Pink One 13,510]

Its a common mock word for us..... I also say this mockingly...but only to a few close friends and gay friend workers.... We cool on that. But never on a stranger.

[Splashee 28,566]

A lot of kids on the bus says horrible things, things that scale in comparison to "gay". I don't know if I can even say those words here.

[Jesse Terrence 2,969]

I guess is because in my country there are some actually heavy insults, but the whole that's gay thing seems extra tame to me.

Honestly, even I use the spanish equivalent (and spanglish one as well) irl with no actual ill spirit towards the lgtb collective (and several people from said collective use the slang as well). We also use the equivalent of "faggot" a lot, but meaning no harm to homosexuals. In our language is more of a synonim to coward, cheapshot or obnoxious most of the time. And I guess this is a clear example on how words are just words and societies and people are the ones that give them or substract any power from them.