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

Contributor: SXEKAT SXEKAT
I hear that all the time mostly around my friends. but when I get the chance I usually reply "Thats so Hetero"
10/30/2010
Contributor: Trashley Trashley
I don't like it particularly when they say it as an insult, but when I see people cupcaking and someone calls them gay I think its just plain silly. I admit I do it too... I'm pretty sensitive about my place in the world but I've never seen that use as insulting to anyone.. I don't know, I don't give it too much thought.
10/31/2010
Contributor: mnc5051 mnc5051
I have started using the phrase "that's so straight," makes people think and look at me strangely .
11/03/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
I couldn't believe it when I was walking and heard a kid who was probably in kindergarten or first grade use it. Really.
11/03/2010
Contributor: CS2012 CS2012
That's so gay is one of mine and my husband's favorite phrases. When we say it we aren't making fun of gay people or intending to offend gay people or anyone else. It's just an expression.
11/15/2010
Contributor: Twist Twist
I honestly don't care "thats so gay" is a just a phrase with no aim at them. I have no issues with gays however I am getting fairly sick of having the life style shoved down my throat.

I view it as unnatural but I respect their life style choice and don't treat them differently.
11/17/2010
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
I would probably tell them they are being an idiot. I checked that I would say thats retarded but I would more than likely just smack em on the back of the head or in the arm.
11/17/2010
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
OMG I clicked the wrong one without thinking I ACCIDENTALLY didn't read the last one all the way through lol I say "What you mean, is that's stupid" I think the colloquialism is rude and unnecessary and it's setting a bad example to our younger generation (who seem to be the ones who use it most...)
11/22/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Twist
I honestly don't care "thats so gay" is a just a phrase with no aim at them. I have no issues with gays however I am getting fairly sick of having the life style shoved down my throat.

I view it as unnatural but I respect their ... more
POST DELETED

Due to pissy mood and seeing some things as more insulting than I view the actual phrase itself (which IMO IS insulting.)
11/22/2010
Contributor: PussyGalore PussyGalore
Here's what I don't get...gay people can call each other all manner of "bad" names: fag, queer, queen, dyke, butch, lipstick, etc. but the minute a straight person says the very same thing they are lambasted with an anti-discrimination PSA speech. It's really rather quite silly to me and I just don't understand why it's ok for one and not the other.

I think probably one of my favorite lines from a movie appropriately sums up how I feel about the situation.

Dante: Even if you were able to take it back you can't because you're not black.

Randall: Look at you, telling me I can't do something because of the color of my skin, if that ain't racist I don't know what is.


It's one of those cases where I think what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Call me crazy.
01/28/2011
Contributor: BluePixi BluePixi
Depending on context I may or may not be offended, chances are if I heard this phase pop out of an adult's mouth once in a while I wouldn't say anything but if they applied it to everything I would be offended and annoyed. As a colloquialism it ranks a little bit lower than "that's so retarded" on my list of hurtful phases.
02/02/2011
Contributor: k3 k3
Did anyone see the commercials about this?? I have not seen one again in a while, so I think they were short-lived...just like my man said they probably would be. =/
04/30/2011
Contributor: Wondermom Wondermom
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
Here here, I am the parent of a special needs kid and hate the idea of using the "R" word instead of "gay" as an insult.

My first reaction when I hear either one is wanting to slap them around the head Gibbs style (NCIS) but I usually try to educate people on why the shouldn't say things like that. The whole catching more flies with honey thing.
04/30/2011
Contributor: YoungSpunkyLove YoungSpunkyLove
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
I tell them to not use that term in that context and I also say that it's offensive and ignorant. And I am REALLY disappointed in that last option on the poll. The term "retarded" is NO BETTER than using "gay" incorrectly.
Exactly!!! Well said Sir.
Drives me nuts... especially when one group takes it offensively, you'd think they could see the other side?!

It's ridiculous, it's absurd, it's silly, it's sad... whatever, it's NEVER gay or retarded. *sigh*
Let's open our minds people!
05/01/2011
Contributor: tickle me pink tickle me pink
I've become really desensitized to it. All through middle school that's how my friends and I talked. It was either "That's so gay" or "That's so retarded." We didn't mean any sort of disrespect. Words are just words, and they can't hurt you unless you let them.
05/01/2011
Contributor: Miss Anonymous Miss Anonymous
I just ask the person to not say it anymore, or at least dont say it around me.
06/13/2011
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
Maybe I'm old - BUT HOW THE HELL DID THIS GET STARTED AS AN INSULT??? I just DO NOT see the connection! (Although it was downright bizarre when I overheard a group of ten year old boys talking about when they'll kiss girls and one of them ... more
Lol. I wondered if I was the only person in the world who just didn't understand how it got turned into an insult. Glad to see that I'm not alone. I honestly don't think a thing of it. Gay is not only a word for homosexuality. I have gay friends who say "those jeans are soooo gay." all the time. I just guess I see more important issues in the world, like beating the heck out of someone or rape or cutting off females genitals. I don't know. Maybe I'm just out of touch with the world.
07/10/2011
Contributor: K101 K101
I also like how Carrie Ann put that. "Words only have as much power as you give them." Very true!

Anyways, just like the word "fag" (people, I am using this as an example please do not flag me!) means more than one thing. It also is a word some (I believe particularly in the UK? or at least I've only heard my friends from the UK use it this way) use for cigarette. I have heard (still do everyday) people say "fag" meaning homosexual. It's actually the people who ARE homosexual that I only know of using that one.

I believe in God and I also have friends that choose to say words like G.D. quite often. It makes me flinch when I hear it, but mostly just out of shock. I never ask them not to use it. I just choose not to let it offend me, as easy as it would be to get offended by such a word, I don't. I don't get offended when people make jokes about my being short or the color of my hair. Blonde jokes don't offend me. Although everyone is different and some words are way more hurtful than others, I don't think using the word "gay" out of context is hate. Now I certainly wouldn't let my kids call people names that are hurtful and I don't do it, but I am not offended by any of them whether they're directed toward me or not. I think there's a HUGE difference in TRYING to be mean and direct the hurtful words toward someone and just using them in a simple sentence. I hear people say "cracker" or "saltine" talking about white people all the time. I even get called cracker. Never let it bother me. I am white so if they're only using it like "the white girl..." in the same way you'd say "the brunette-headed girl" (only to describe the person) I wouldn't think the person was trying to directly hurt me or someone else. I really don't think it's too hard not to get offended. I do think these days people somewhat seem to enjoy it.
07/10/2011
Contributor: Howells Howells
I don't know why suck my dick is an insult. The that's so gay is okay and I don't see it as an insult.
07/10/2011
Contributor: melissa1973 melissa1973
I think it's stupid for anyone to say something's gay, retarted, Oh but the biggest peve is the (N) word. My daughter called me that one time (I gave her the chance to re-word herself) and she repeated it. Needless to say she'll never call anyone that again. As far as gay we had a sit down talk and she sees the commercials about the name topic (she's only 11) but still we need to teach the generation of today to RESPECT others no matter who or what they are. We see people with down syndrome, mental issues, in wheel charis and so on she know's these people as (special)
07/10/2011
Contributor: melissa1973 melissa1973
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
I have seen people who are gay, use the word like that. Scott Thompson goes out of his way to use the harshest phrases in the most demeaning ways, and Scott Thompson Rules! I do see the point. I don't disagree, but I do dislike how PC everything ... more
Hey now that shit hurts, when I was a kid way back I felt that lol on my butt, that along with my first taste of a bull whip, believe me at the age of 4 or 5 it just plain hurt like all get out. Now at my age I look forward to getting the Gated Barbed Whip, that I've seen on EF with baited breath.
07/10/2011
Contributor: RainbowOokami RainbowOokami
I don't see it as insulting and I'm gay. Honestly if I really want to get the point across I'll say "damn thats gayer than me"
07/14/2011
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
I don't say anything
07/15/2011
Contributor: Rhazya Rhazya
I find it offensive even though I'm heterosexual. Whether I tell them they should use a different word and why depends on how I feel at the time, what I think of them and how well/not well I know them.
07/22/2011
Contributor: Kdlips Kdlips
nothing i don't care
10/31/2011
Contributor: mudpie mudpie
I'll usually call them out, but try to say it jokingly/with a smile so it doesn't seem too serious. Like, "Oh, really, you think that's homosexual? That's kind of weird." I don't like letting it pass without comment because it's NOT okay and the more people get called out the less they'll say it, but I don't like bringing the tone way down either. I've found if you call people out jokingly they're more likely to say "Haha, you're right, sorry." If you just straight-up say "Hey, that's offensive" (even though it is) people will get defensive and not want to listen.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Rhinobaby Rhinobaby
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?
When used as a derogatory remark, he term "retarded" is no better than the term "gay."
12/05/2011
Contributor: sweetcaroline sweetcaroline
I don't get why it's seemingly become an insult. there's nothing wrong with being happy OR homosexual.
12/06/2011
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
I correct them, and say "that's so stupid" instead. I also tell them when they use a term that's completely unrelated, i.e. a ridiculous situation as an analogy to "merry/happy" or "homosexual" (which are definitions of "gay") implies their own stupidity as well.

I usually get glares and cusses thrown at me, and oftentimes I get called "gay" too...heh. Stupid people, what can you do?
12/06/2011
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
Quote:
Originally posted by Twist
I honestly don't care "thats so gay" is a just a phrase with no aim at them. I have no issues with gays however I am getting fairly sick of having the life style shoved down my throat.

I view it as unnatural but I respect their ... more
Being "straight", or heterosexual, choosing opposite sex partners, and getting married, etc. etc. - those are all lifestyle choices too.

Everything you do in your life can be viewed as a lifestyle choice. No matter how it may seem natural to you, the same can be said of anyone else's "lifestyle choice" - it is natural to them.
12/06/2011