using the word "gay"

smurfitup · #1 07-24-2007, 08:35 AM

Before going to college, my friends and I would use the term "gay" fairly regularly to refer to any person/situation that we considered unfavorable, [censored], etc. But once I went to college (uber-liberal school on the east coast), I found that I had to make a conscious effort not to use the term since there was this overbearing culture of political correctness . It didn't really bother me that I had to stop using it, but now when I hear my friends use it in a context not referring to a homosexual, I always feel alarmed. Is this normal? How many OOTers use the word "gay" in everyday convo?

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #2 07-24-2007, 08:40 AM

i used it religiously from the age of 10-17 and then just stopped, i guess because it sounds really stupid and doesnt make any sense.

secretprankster · #3 07-24-2007, 08:42 AM

Wesleyan?

If you're actually going to a school where some girl will call you out on that in a social setting, you need to escape quick.

btmagnetw · #4 07-24-2007, 08:42 AM

used gay for a while, slowly had to replace it with "lame"

...laaame

TheDudeAbides · #5 07-24-2007, 08:45 AM

I think the same question applies to use of the word 'retarded'. I use it, but I know I probably shouldn't.

Slow Play Ray · #6 07-24-2007, 08:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I think the same question applies to use of the word 'retarded'. I use it, but I know I probably shouldn't.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is even worse for me, as I have an aunt and an uncle who are both err....mentally challenged, and I *still* can't stop myself from saying it.

otnemem · #7 07-24-2007, 08:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think the same question applies to use of the word 'retarded'. I use it, but I know I probably shouldn't.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is even worse for me, as I have an aunt and an uncle who are both err....mentally challenged, and I *still* can't stop myself from saying it.

[/ QUOTE ]
My fiancé's sister is severely autistic. When we started dating, I had to banish the word from my vocabulary. Now I very, very rarely think about using it. Her friends that she's been friends with since college will still say it in front of her, which is strange.

otnemem · #8 07-24-2007, 08:54 AM

[ QUOTE ]
used gay for a while, slowly had to replace it with "lame"

...laaame

[/ QUOTE ]
This is exactly what I did. Weird. I think most people get to a certain age and realize how stupid they sound referring to everything as gay.

traz · #9 07-24-2007, 09:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
used gay for a while, slowly had to replace it with "lame"

...laaame

[/ QUOTE ]
This is exactly what I did. Weird. I think most people get to a certain age and realize how stupid they sound referring to everything as gay.

[/ QUOTE ]

kidcolin · #10 07-24-2007, 03:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
used gay for a while, slowly had to replace it with "lame"

...laaame

[/ QUOTE ]
This is exactly what I did. Weird. I think most people get to a certain age and realize how stupid they sound referring to everything as gay.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed for the most part, but I still think a well placed "that's gay" can be hilarious. When the soda machine is out of cokes isn't one of those times.