Don't be 'gay' about thought control

[sbp]

A story about a kid who got suspended for using the word gay.

Article is kind of long so here's part of it.

The article also talks about another boy who got suspended for sexual harassment cause he stuck his tongue out at a girl who didn't want to be his girlfriend.

http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/opini...882423,00.html

The meaning of the word "gay," like many words, has changed over time. Fifty years ago, "gay" meant "lighthearted" and "happy." Remember the theme song from "The Flintstones," which went "we'll have a gay old time"? Fred Flintstone didn't wear any pink oxfords. Of course, no one was ever too sure about Barney Rubble.

In any event, a lot of old-timers lament the passing of this beautiful word, which to today's generation is only allowed to mean "homosexual."

To the next generation, it seems it will again mean something different.

Twelve-year-old Ben Madison was playing foursquare at West Middle School in Grand Junction. Foursquare is where you bounce a ball from one square to another. Another 12-year-old kid was acting as the referee. As ref, he called one of Ben's bounces out of bounds. Ben didn't agree with the call.

While tennis great and super-brat John McEnroe would have yelled, "you cannot be serious!" Ben protested by saying, "your call was gay." When this was reported to a teacher, it was immediately interpreted to be sexual harassment, so of course Ben was suspended.

Sexual harassment? Ben didn't say, "Have sex with me or you'll lose your job." Ben didn't say, "You are a homosexual, I hate homosexuals, and therefore your call is invalid." He said the call was gay.

Can a 12-year-old boy really sexually harass another boy? Maybe, but it would be hard. At 12, most kids understand the birds and the bees, but do most really understand homosexuality?

According to Ben's mom, Ben didn't even know "gay" meant "homosexual." To him and many kids his age, "gay" means "stupid or dumb." So even if Ben did understand homosexuality, maybe it was the teachers who didn't understand the new term "gay."

--------------
How gay.

[Jenny]

oh geez. *sigh*

[xsiled2]

thats gay

[bachviet]

Really "gay" if you ask me!

[revil]

I think this has to do with the rise of stupid teachers. I say down with stupid teachers!

[InfiniteNothing]

You mean gay teachers

[Speedfreak]

I don't see why you guys think this is soo happy.

[speedracer120]

ROFLMAO.

That is a pretty gay reason to supsend a kid.

[xsiled2]

Originally posted by Speedfreak
I don't see why you guys think this is soo happy.

geeze dont be so gay about things

[Butch]

Personally, I think using "gay" to refer to stupid or dumb is completely inappropriate and reflects a tremendous amount of ignorance on the part of the kids and those raising the kids. I wish more people would do something to end the use of that word in that context.

[xsiled2]

thats a really gay way to look at it.

[InfiniteNothing]

Words change meaning all the time and you can't do anything about it. I think context usually sorts out the meaning. Furthurmore, this opens up a world of puns. See above post for example. Saying otherwise is just gay.

[sbp]

Originally posted by Butch
Personally, I think using "gay" to refer to stupid or dumb is completely inappropriate and reflects a tremendous amount of ignorance on the part of the kids and those raising the kids. I wish more people would do something to end the use of that word in that context.

Personally, I think using "gay" to refer to homosexuals is completely inappropriate and reflects a tremendous amount of ignorance on the part of homosexuals and those promoting such usage. I wish more people would do something to end the use of that word in that context.

[LPMiller]

Originally posted by Butch
Personally, I think using "gay" to refer to stupid or dumb is completely inappropriate and reflects a tremendous amount of ignorance on the part of the kids and those raising the kids. I wish more people would do something to end the use of that word in that context.

I personally think trying to fight linguistics and force it to fit into some sort of offensive stereotype because you aren't flexable enough to change with the times is pointless and tiresome.

Gay had many meanings before Gay Pride Day, and will have many meanings after Gay Pride Day. Move on.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by sbp
Personally, I think using "gay" to refer to homosexuals is completely inappropriate and reflects a tremendous amount of ignorance on the part of homosexuals and those promoting such usage. I wish more people would do something to end the use of that word in that context.

What word would you prefer? Its tough to find words which are instantly descriptive and at the same time not a slur.

[InfiniteNothing]

I think gay works for now. Homel (the O sounds like O in pot) is a good word too. It's like homo but preserves the integrity of all words that have homo in them. Sorry, I like inventing words. If you want to prevent it from becoming a slur you have to make homosexuality acceptable. Or better yet make heterosexuality an insult kinda like what we did with White. Those teacher are completly hetero.

[xsiled2]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


What word would you prefer? Its tough to find words which are instantly descriptive and at the same time not a slur.

take a moment out of your day, and not be gay.

[eSDee]

If you were a depressed homosexual, would you want to be called gay?

[Momma Kitty]

Personally, I think that kids like to use words like "gay" because everyone around then has made it into something bad. If we didn't make such a big deal out of it, it wouldn't be so fun to say!

[zenbooty]

You know, its a shame how so many words can no longer be used in normal conversation because of their newfound uses to describe homosexuality and homosexual behavior.

I mean, don't you miss being able to freely and unashamedly speak words like gay, queer, butt-plugger, rump ranger, choad-smoker, and chowder belly?

[Grimm]

Sounds like a 1st Amendment violation to me...
We should just get rid of that nasty 1st amendment because it offends so many people.

[zenbooty]

Originally posted by Grimm
Sounds like a 1st Amendment violation to me...

Teachers have the right to dictate what kinds of behavior and speech are allowed in their classrooms. Not that this suspension isn't ridiculous, just pointing out that this really isn't a first amendment issue.

[topane]

[Windsor]

Originally posted by zenbooty
Teachers have the right to dictate what kinds of behavior and speech are allowed in their classrooms. Not that this suspension isn't ridiculous, just pointing out that this really isn't a first amendment issue.

Yeah, public schools are "special environments" where staff and administration have the right to put restrictions that would otherwise would violate some rights.

[hang10wannabe]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


What word would you prefer? Its tough to find words which are instantly descriptive and at the same time not a slur.

whoa... i totally... agree?

[Grimm]

Originally posted by zenbooty
Teachers have the right to dictate what kinds of behavior and speech are allowed in their classrooms. Not that this suspension isn't ridiculous, just pointing out that this really isn't a first amendment issue.

Not true.

Teachers can dictate the speech in their classes because children are not accorded the Rights of an adult, not because it is their classroom. It's an important distinction.

However, as the line you quoted out of context was just the setup for the sarcastic statement (as indicated by the .) it is inapropriate for you to comment on it. If you want to do so you need to include the whole statement.

Originally posted by zenbooty
Teachers ... are ... ridiculous...