tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041078734586577907.post8265447043797491236..comments2008-03-27T03:33:54.457ZJo Christie-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02971979793175012868noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041078734586577907.post-70701157834877804062008-03-27T03:33:00.000Z2008-03-27T03:33:00.000ZVery Good article, you make some interesting points.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.schoolsdir.com" REL="nofollow">School website</A>Schoolhttp://www.schoolsdir.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041078734586577907.post-72300316329987176782008-03-16T17:47:00.000Z2008-03-16T17:47:00.000ZThis needs to be challenged because it is not a coincidence that the word 'gay' came to mean 'stupid' or 'crap'.<BR/><BR/>And semantics are important because it is through language that we give meaning to our world. If we associate 'gay' with 'stupid' or 'crap', we are saying something about how we view people who are gay, whether we realise it or not.Feminist Avatarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03364456372396228106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041078734586577907.post-68728489008207021322008-03-13T15:07:00.000Z2008-03-13T15:07:00.000ZThe key is to ensure enough education about respect, and not to get caught up on semantics as I feel you are doing.<BR/><BR/>It's all well and good putting the onus on the speaker to not offend but this is unrealistic and overly petty. If someone says "gay" in reference to something being stupid and they never mean anything against homosexuals by it then why is it your right to assume offence? Is it not highly presumptuous to believe that your interpretation of a word is more important than another person's interpretation of a word?<BR/><BR/>The reality that is needed is balance, one where people that throw words and actions around with reckless abandon are made to realise there are potential consequences of almost everything they say and do and to respect people's feelings if this is brought to their attention, while at the same time also being able to have a bit more of a "thick skin" and to not over-react because of overly personal interpretations and to engage with offenders where they feel language or actions go too far.<BR/><BR/>If everyone is to follow your stance on the word gay here, personally re-attributing to it the historical negative yet not going far enough back to re-attribute it to the historical positive, then there are logical arguments to be made for rather mundane language and actions being frowned upon just in case they ever offend anyone also. And that is simply not realistic or progressive.Lee Griffinhttp://www.griffindor.org.uk/noreply@blogger.com