The word "faggot"

areusad831 · Post by **areusad831** » 8/10/2003, 12:16 am

why is it so offensive...

Webster would say it is a bundle a sticks. Why
is a bundle of sticks equated with a gay man?

In the inquisition of Europe, when witches were
being burned, among those sought out for
burning were gay people. They were required to
gather the very "bundles of sticks" (the real
meaning of a faggot) with which they would be
burnt. When the faggots (sticks) were running
out, gay men were thrown on the fire to keep it
going for the witches. Faggot came to mean gay
man to force them into the closet for fear of
death. Scary, huh? Think about what you are
saying -- who you are offending when say this
word, even if in jest to a friend.

http://www.genderweb.org/general/gpol4.phtml

article about verbal abuse of homosexuals and the trauma it causes them.

http://www.starbulletin.com/97/06/10/editorial/otherviews.html

article joey found about the damage of the word

also there are articles about "the history of faggot" with the following reflections

1)What does the term “faggot” mean? What does the term “dyke” mean?
Who gets called “faggot” in your school? (Don’t name specific names, just describe what type of people who get called “faggot”.) Under what circumstances might someone get called “faggot?
2)Who gets called “dyke” in your school? (Again, no specific names, just describe what type of people get called “dyke”.) Under what circumstances might someone get called “dyke?”
3)Are the terms “faggot” and “dyke” used only to insult lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, or people perceived to be LGBT, in your school? What other types of people might get called “faggot” or “dyke” and why?
4)Have you ever called anyone in your school “faggot” or “dyke?” What made you choose those words? How did the person/people react to being called those names?
5)Have you ever been called “faggot” or “dyke” by anyone? Did you know why people chose to use those names to describe you? How did it make you feel? How did you respond?

if you care to read the article use this guide and it is in there

http://www.glsen.org/binary-data/GLSEN_ARTICLES/pdf_file/1049.pdf[/url]

superboots · Post by **superboots** » 8/10/2003, 9:27 am

I can't stand the word faggot, but I also don't like when people use "gay" in reference to something they don't like or something they find stupid

By saying that, it makes me feel like you are saying that people who are homosexuals are stupid

this brings something else up that REALLY bothered me yesterday

I went to church yesterday with my family, cause i'm at home and they make me go.
The deacon (not a priest, guy who helps out at mass and has a family, etc) gave the homily and it was all about gay marriages

he kept on going on and on and on about how if the pope said it is wrong, then obviously it is wrong, and how marriages involve femininity and masculinity and that doesn't happen with gay marriages and how if you say that nobody should care if gays get married then you are not a catholic, etc. etc. etc.

I was floored. I was so close to walking out that door because that guy got me so angry. so very angry
I didn't want to cause a scene, so I just stood there and listened to the bullshit he was saying

:mad:

oh that made me so mad

*calms down*

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 8/10/2003, 11:26 am

When my friend got married I had to go (since I was a bridesmaid) but normally I detest churches and all they represent .. so anyway, during the priests little speech he kept talking about gay people and how gay people shouldn't get married .. even when he first met my friends getting married he asked them a few times if they were gay, did they approve of gay marriages etc etc .. it's disgusting. It took all I had to sit through that bullshit.

I almost lost it when he then went on to discuss how a woman's place is in the kitchen and at home cleaning for her husband.

:mad:

The word faggot is a nasty word and one of the cruelest things to call a person. It shouldn't be used at all, even in a "joking" manner because of all that it represents and the pain that it's caused numerous people. :neutral:

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/10/2003, 11:47 am

I couldn't agree more with this thread.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 8/10/2003, 12:17 pm

Agreed

I truely despise people who call people that

starvingeyes · Post by **starvingeyes** » 8/10/2003, 1:13 pm

i use fag only in reference to cigarettes. although, i must make a point about the word that i think is important. in 8 mile, eminem is rap battling this guy, and says "paul's gay, but you're a faggot".

i believe that the word is going to take on a new meaning in societies lexicon, which will be akin to nerd, dork, loser, etc.

both "gay" and "faggot" are words which have been hijacked from their original meaning. whose to say the meaning cannot change again?

call me andrew · Post by **call me andrew** » 8/10/2003, 1:57 pm

i use the word faggot at least 3 times a day. but i have nothing against homosexuals. i just say it because... well i dont know why. but yeah.

the one time i went to church with my girlfriend (she's catholic and i'm atheist) they talked about how bad people who dont believe in god are and they said that catholics should marry those kind of people. but my girlfriends dad said that he doesnt think that and that he's ok with my faith. it was ennerving.

starseed_10 · Post by **starseed_10** » 8/10/2003, 6:14 pm

i pretty much never use that word. and never to offend anyone.

I have a question though. did you guys ban Jeff or is he gone of his own accord?

megxyz128 · Post by **megxyz128** » 8/10/2003, 6:16 pm

i call my guy friend a homo. but he is so it's okay.

sandsleeper · Post by **sandsleeper** » 8/10/2003, 6:18 pm

starving eyes wrote:i use fag only in reference to cigarettes. although, i must make a point about the word that i think is important. in 8 mile, eminem is rap battling this guy, and says "paul's gay, but you're a faggot".

i believe that the word is going to take on a new meaning in societies lexicon, which will be akin to nerd, dork, loser, etc.

both "gay" and "faggot" are words which have been hijacked from their original meaning. whose to say the meaning cannot change again?

ooo you sounded like william safire in that post. very nice.

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/10/2003, 6:20 pm

Even if the meaning is changing again, the word "faggot" is still primarily used as an insult towards homosexuals. Just because rappers are trying to cover their asses by saying it isn't doesn't make that true.

starseed_10 · Post by **starseed_10** » 8/10/2003, 6:25 pm

a word means what you want it to. if you use faggot to mean fluorecent light bulb, then it pretty well means fluorecent light bulb.

can someone please answer my jeff question?

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/10/2003, 6:28 pm

But if I use it as an insult, it's still an insult. And, because of it's originality as an insult towards gays, it is still taken that way. Therefore, it is offending.

And I don't know the answer to the Jeff question.

starseed_10 · Post by **starseed_10** » 8/10/2003, 6:30 pm

if used as an insult.

areusad831 · Post by **areusad831** » 8/10/2003, 6:39 pm

no we didnt ban jeff

starseed_10 · Post by **starseed_10** » 8/10/2003, 6:42 pm

thanks.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 8/10/2003, 7:48 pm

starseed_10 wrote:a word means what you want it to. if you use faggot to mean fluorecent light bulb, then it pretty well means fluorecent light bulb.

if you were to goto compton or any other really bad "ghetto" where a lot of black folks reside and said something along the lines of "wheres the nearest "nigger." i need gas for my car"
you think there gonna accept that explanation?!

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/10/2003, 7:52 pm

You can't just ignore the most commonly accepted meaning for a word though.

I can't, for example, sit at the supper table and do this:

Me: Mom, pass the clock please.
Mom: What?
Me: The clock, please. You know, the creamy stuff you spread on bread.
Mom: The butter?
Me: Yes, that's what I mean by saying "clock".

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 8/10/2003, 10:16 pm

you gotta watch which words you use in your examples Rob... "clock" :neutral:

gerri_cherry · Post by **gerri_cherry** » 8/11/2003, 12:30 pm

i don't use the word "faggot" for obvious reasons of it being used as an insult to gay ppl. but also, the sound of the word is ugly. it's probably one of the ugliest words in the English language next to cumquat (sp?) :drool:

and as for gay ppl and how they shouldn't get married, etc. that's just stupid cause what they want is the legal right to marry, not the religious right. they're not forcing their beliefs on religion, it's the other way around. i don't see why ppl are feeling threatened by gay ppl trying to get their equal right to marry cause to the catholic church, a legal marriage isn't even a real marriage. i don't get it. and we live in a secular society, where there is a separation of church and state. Bush should look up the meaning of that.

ClumsyMonkey.net

ClumsyMonkey.net

The word "faggot"

The word "faggot"