March 1, 2007
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That’s So Gay
A student was being hassled by a few of her classmates because of her Mormon background. Then she spoke the forbidden phrase “That’s so gay.” She ended up in trouble in the principal’s office. Now her parents are suing the school saying that the school violated their daughter’s First Amendment rights.
The school claims they were just trying to protect homosexual students. She is claiming that the phrase has nothing to do with sexual orientation. She is saying the phrase is expressing “That’s so stupid, that’s so silly, that’s so dumb.” Here is the link: Link
Does the expression “that’s so gay” mean “That’s so stupid” or is it a reference to homosexuals?
Comments (288)
first?
time to be first.
That’s so ghey.
more often than not, it means “thats so silly”…
my gosh how much more ridiculous can people get!??? now THAT’S GAYYYYYY!!! *eye roll*
I wouldn’t use that term about people I think it is deogerative.
I think it is a little, but most people who say it aren’t think about it.
third commenter… nice
it’s offensive.
find another word. geez.
No.
It just means like, “That’s so lame or silly or somthing like that.”
My step son just said that phrase in class the other day. He got away with a warning, but it’s a big no-no. I think we are an overly sensitive society at times…but maybe I am not sensitive enough…but I think the phrase is intended to mean exactly as the girl describes it. It shouldn’t be taken so personally.
i don’t know. sometimes the people who constantly scrutinize others for using it are just as stupid as the people that use it in a discriminatory sense. i’m one of the least discrimination-oriented people you will meet but i say “that’s so gay” a lot, or joke about it with my friends who i know don’t take me super seriously. i mean you have to leave some room for humor. maybe it’s a bad thing that i say that but i’m not going to change to please a few prudes.
It means ‘stupid’, but it really is rather a ridiculous phrase to use, seriously. Gay people aren’t stupid, so why does ‘gay’ mean stupid all of a sudden? It’s one of those over-used phrases that even though people don’t really mean anything by it, it’s just -dumb- to say it –contrary to popular belief it doesn’t make you sound cool, smart, or magically make you popular.
Ha, it is derogatory, and offensive towards homosexuals. I eagerly await the day people say “damn, that’s so black” or “damn, that’s so Jew.”
Never mind, I’ve got family who use Jew as a verb.
Kikey McNiggerfaggots galore!
YES. adults need to get with it. kids use that all the time. mine do.
haha, I am a dry Mormon, and I say, “that so gay” or “that’s homosexual” all the time.
I am also gay. And btw, it is not a reference, in that context, to gays.
You’re so gay Dan.
It means “That’s lame, that’s stupid” but I don’t like it.
I mean, why can’t we say “That’s so straight!”?
HAHAHA! LOL @ Drakonskyr
Yes it means that is so stupid. They stole a word and changed its meaning to homosexual. Deal with the fact that it has changed again.
And notice that no one got into any trouble for insulting her faith. And that is were the law suit will be won
it means the person who says t is really really reallllly gay
Both. Duh.
plus, i think it’s really stupid if you’re gay and you take it personally when people say that. if “gay” is someone’s only insult then it just gets annoying and childish but personally i’m sick of all the people nowadays that psych themselves into being gay and advertise it like it’s their job. i don’t think most people in their right minds would or should take it personally…it’s developed into such a common thing to say just as an insult that it hardly means gay anymore.
I really do NOT take it as “homosexual”. I take it as “stupid”, “dumb”, etc.. Though I usually don’t use that expression.
usually i accidentally use it in the context of “lame”
Oh, wait, couldn’t it just mean, “That’s so happy?”
I say “that’s gay” all the time. but i mean it as “that’s stupid”.
politically correct this..politically correct that. get over it everyone.
and besides- she offends the homosexuals..those “bullies” were offending her. did they get in trouble?
fyi: “silly” and “stupid” do not mean the same thing… the stereotype was developed by homosexuals all on their own… men acting overly feminine does imply a great amount of silliness and satire… it doesnt however, imply a lack of intelligence, thus it wouldnt mean “stupid”
I think using that phrase makes you sound ignorant even if the intended meaning is “that’s stupid” or something of the like. Apparently it’s hard to say one more syllable. =P
Goodness, people always need a black and white answer for everything.
It’s neither, and it’s both. Look, of course the person isn’t consciously comparing whatever thing that’s stupid to homosexuality. To them, they ARE saying “that’s so stupid.” The problem lies within the message they’re giving off. Because of the phrase, the word “gay” is becoming more and more known as a negative word.
I hope the way I worded this makes sense. It’s not a direct reference to homosexuality, but it IS putting it in a negative connotation. It’s not meant to be offensive…but people need to take into account that it will sometimes be taken as such.
i say it to piss off gay flamers sometimes, although i mean it the other way.
Couldn’t gay mean happy and silly.. Why does this interpretation of gay have to do with homosexuals?
okay i’m on a roll here but IN GENERAL, i just think that it’s stupid to lose humor over something like that. if you’re seriously down to earth gay, you should not be defensive to the point where you take that as an insult, because then you’re just turning the concept of being homosexual into something that should be seen as abnormal and most of us have already established or are trying to establish that it isn’t. so lighten up, faggots.
So did the students making fun of her for being Mormon get in trouble?
I hate the espression, along with “That’s retarted.” Why can’t you just say, “that’s stupid”?
/rolls eyes.
All pc’ers should just go whine someplace else…
Did the students who taunted her because of her religion (I believe I read that the other students wanted to know if she had 10 mothers, or if her Dad had 10 wives, to which she responded “that’s so gay!”) also receive reprimands? Religious discrimination is OK (particularly when its against theistic, traditional, judeo-Christian type religions), but making a throw away comment that could be interpreted several ways is a violation of the civil rights of those who would be religious bigots.
SHUT UP!
(And by that, I don’t mean be quiet, I mean “that’s unbelievable.” In context, a high schooler would understand. Just like when this poor girl said “that’s so gay.”)
I agree. It is rather offensive.
I think it’s a really unintelligent-sounding thing to say. And I dunno, I think if I were homosexual and heard someone saying the word gay and having it be synonymous with “stupid,” it would probably be sort of offensive. How and why did this double-meaning come about anyway? Don’t think I like it much. Then again, the meanings of words change whether we like it or not. This isn’t the only example, either, there are so many more we don’t even think about, like “retarded” or something. Or even “idiot.”
I don’t like using that phrase b/c it implies that gay = silly, stupid, dumb.
but in all fairness…. did the kids who were hassling her about her mormon background get in trouble? If the school is trying to protect homosexual students … shouldn’t the school also protect religious students??? double standard.. no?
I use it in the context of ‘stupid’ or.. irrational..
it is definitely definitely not okay to say and it means dumb/lame/stupid because of the belief that gay people are dumb/lame/stupid.
the principal is right and this family is insane for suing.
Being gay used to be an open abberation.
To say something was “gay” meant is was less than good, not perfect or as you said, stupid or pointless.
To use it now would be like the grade school kids in Tennessee used the N word, to call someone the N word no matter what the population meant they were low or less than what is good. To crack down on casual use of “gay” is overboard, as a cocksucker I say it is a bit much, but this is the battle we must fight to make the low lying homophobia that results in beating deaths of college boys GONE in the United States.
Crucify the morman witch!
It means something is dumb- so that homosexuality is dumb.
“stupid”
And wow. What with all people say in school, that’s what get you in trouble? Wow…
It means silly. I do find it a little offensive. Gay nowadays can be used as an adjective too (a coworker told another coworker that was really gay, Z (who’s gay) wouldn’t even do that). For the folks to talk about her 1st amendment rights is just ridiculous. The schools have their rules. Why are these (and so many other) parents suing the schools for doing their jobs? I think this is the real problem.
I didn’t see anything in there about any of the students getting in trouble for hassling the girl because of her religion.
both, it means that’s so stupid, and gives a derrogitary feeling to gays
Kind of weird how the etymology of a word can change over time. Used to be that gay meant happy. Then it meant homosexual. Now some people use it to mean stupid/lame/ridiculous, etc. How does a word go from meaning happy to having other, completely different meanings???
the thing is really that, “that’s so gay” is more of a reference to how abnormal or how weird something is. though homosexuality has been around for a longggggggggggggggg time, it’s still not entirely accepted. so while these days “that’s so gay” really just means “omg thts so lame!”.. it’s just a really crude way of pointing out the weirdness of something.
I think it can mean both…..as it still also means “happy” or “glad” even though nobody really uses it to mean that anymore…I am wondering why the people teasing her about being Mormon didn’t get them sent to the principals office??? The school should at least be consistent.
Now thats so black, or Jew or whatever in regard to the commenter who mentioned that— Gay does mean something other than HOMOSEXUAL. It means HAPPY. Silly also means HAPPY, just as it could mean STUPID or immature. Pfftthhhh for freakin’ “insert-whatever here” sake!!!! being P.C. is such a crock of… doo.
I think most people say it and mean “that’s so dumb.”
no one takes it as meaning literally gay unless they are trying to cause trouble or trying to start something that wasnt there in the first place… gay people i know say ‘thats so gay’ all the time, they obviously arent offended by it
words take on a different meaning as time moves on. when people say “that’s gay” they mean “that’s stupid” but that doesn’t equate the word gay with stupid; just gay is taken on multiple meaning depending on the sentence.
good post dan. lets think. kids make it mean thats so stupid. gay is the same thing as being homosexual. so its not a question of what it means, its a question of what it implies. Im glad she got sent down. The phrase must be killed.
Derek
These days it just means stupid, although I bet the origin has to do with bashing homosexuals.
I think it’s silly that she went to the principal’s office right after she was being harassed.
unless she called a person gay, I don’t see how it can get her in trouble. Last time I checked there were only a few inanimate or abstract objects that had sex lives, er go a piece of paper, a book, a joke or hairstyle can not be homosexual.
We’re not born straight, we’re not born gay. Until you have sex with another person you aren’t even sexual…so equating this ridiculousness with being Jewish or black is irrelevant.
yeah generally “thats so gay” is used to mean lame. even “youre so gay” generally is just means lame. yes its offensive but thats just how the world is, sadly.
i think this entire situation is kind of dumb. i mean, we don’t [usually] make fun of the jewish kids. or the catholic kids. or the lutheran kids. why make fun of the mormon kids? then why send her to the principle when she was reacting in a normal way to being made fun of.
they’re connotating the word “gay” with “stupid” so its being offensive to homosexuals because they’re too ignorant to find a more intelligent way to express themselves than using the phrase “that’s so gay.”
Yes, that phrase means “that is so stupid”, although that can also mean other things, such as that is so “girly” as well, depending on the context of the usage. My little bro uses it all the time, and I warn him to be careful what he says. There are definitely some people who might be offended by the usage. I presume that the girl in question was using it to mean “that is so stupid”.
My favorite usage of this phrase was from an episode of the Simpsons: “You kissed a girl? That’s so gay!”
Why did no one get in trouble for hassling this girl about her religion?
No, it doesn’t mean the same thing. I think the students heckling her for her religion are the ones that need to get in trouble. And I’m atheist!
I used to say it all of the time, but now I try to replace with phrases like “thats dumb” (or similar ones). I think that when “that’s so gay” is used, people understand it as being dumb, and if I were to gossip, “he is gay” then people would understand that the person I am talking about is a homosexual. I think this kind of creates a double standard, in which the word gay can (depending on the context) mean dumb or homosexual.
I (personally) have an issue with the expression (that is dying away, thank God) phat. I am a rather large guy, and I don’t really like being called fat. Similarly, I don’t want to have someone call me phat (meaning cool), but my first instinct understands their meaning to be “fat”.
I’ve heard it used as meaning things like thats just silly and thats stupid. I can see how it could be offensive, but I also think the students making fun of her Mormon background should have also been spoken to.
More often than not when a person uses the word gay they mean silly or stupid. Of course society has gotten so afraid of offending anyone that it won’t be long before you cannot say something is stupid because it will be considered offensive to those who are stupid.
People really need to learn that phrases change with time and as such what was once derogatory may not be anymore and what was once a compliment might now be derogatory. The word “gay” actually has followed the latter path as it used to mean happy then it became a derogatory term for homosexuals. It is now in the process of changing back to where it is no longer derogatory.
haaha. i think thats stupid. but we arent allowed to say thats gay at my school either.
[ i think its "gay" ]
opps.
i mean. stupid!
Maybe the kids who were making fun of her backround to her face should have gotten in more trouble then the girl who could have “offended” any hypothetical homosexuals who happened to be in hearing distance.
If thats a crime, we’re gonna run out of jail cells real fast. And teenages to work the fast food joints.
Ultimately it is a reference to homosexuals. And it’s demeaning, I mean gay is defined literally as happy, but they use it as stupid. So it’s just degrading toward homosexual people.
It means ‘stupid’, but it really is rather a ridiculous phrase to use, seriously. Gay people aren’t stupid, so why does ‘gay’ mean stupid all of a sudden? It’s one of those over-used phrases that even though people don’t really mean anything by it, it’s just -dumb- to say it –contrary to popular belief it doesn’t make you sound cool, smart, or magically make you popular.
Posted 3/1/2007 3:54 PM by ThePQ4
It means “That’s lame, that’s stupid” but I don’t like it.
I mean, why can’t we say “That’s so straight!”?
Posted 3/1/2007 3:55 PM by Tallon5
Exactly.
I think that’s funny that she was being ridiculed for her religious belief, then used a word synonymous with queer (of a questionable nature or character) and got sent to the principal’s office.
GAY
I mean, why can’t we say “That’s so straight!”?
Posted 3/1/2007 3:55 PM by Tallon5
Exactly.
Posted 3/1/2007 4:26 PM by SuperEvilPopTart64
Blacks say “I’m straight” when they’re referring to an “okay” status. Like “Do you want a Coke?” “Nah, I’m straight”. Straight is synonymous with “okay”.
Once I got mad and said “That’s so gay!” in front of one of my gay friends…and he laughed, and patted me on the shoulder, and said “That IS gay, isn’t it?!” It was funny. I didn’t have to go to the principal’s office. Of course I was 20, also.
All homosexuals are stupid, silly.
it started as a reference to gay people, but now has morphed into something that has nothing to do with homosexuals. It still annoys me though, so i don’t say it. plus it’s fun to catch someone off guard when their pen runs out of ink and they shout, “That’s so gay!” and i go “Huh? your pen is homosexual?”
I use that phrase alot… but I never really think of it being homosexual! lol
The girl may have been better off suing for religious discrimination. PC has seeded, grown, and planted its viral roots everywhere — so one may as well play off of it.
I hate stories like this. This is the result of an undereducated, spoiled nation, because both school officials and newspaper reporters alike failed to realize that the very etymology of the word implies that she couldn’t have meant it for offensive purposes. Within the article, Rick Ayers is quoted as saying that she probably “didn’t even know the origin of that term”. What, officially, is the origin of that term? “Happy”? Or will you claim that it has become decontextualized enough to become a derogatory slang term?
If you’re willing to say that, you must be willing to accept that the ‘new’ definition has become decontextualized as well. She probably shouldn’t have used it, but she should by no means have been persecuted for doing so.
People are responding to this post by saying “that’s gay,” which is even lamer. You’re obviously saying “that’s stupid” or “that’s lame” or “that’s pathetic,” and by using the term gay, sure, it’s offensive.
And those people need to take a history lesson. Of course by the first amendment you have freedom of speech. But that right is taken away once your own right interferes with the rights of others.
its come to mean stupid
i thought we had freedom of speech in this country.
although i don’t say “gay”. in response to something i find stupid, i say something like “that’s so homosexual”
I say it sometimes. For me it means “retarded” but yeah, I just offended another group of people. I can’t imagine how offensive it’d be, but I say let it go. Some things will always be offensive, and we shouldn’t look at the meaning but instead the intent.
“Blacks say “I’m straight” when they’re referring to an “okay” status. Like “Do you want a Coke?” “Nah, I’m straight”. Straight is synonymous with “okay”.”
Huh. Really. Blacks do that? Hm.
ANYWAY…
If someone asks you if you want a coke and you say “nah, I’m straight” you’re saying “I’m good” or “I’m fine,” so your analogy really isn’t correct. When people say “that’s gay” they usually mean it in a negative way.
“That’s so stupid.”
that video definetly makes that guy’s stomach more enjoyable
“i thought we had freedom of speech in this country.
although i don’t say “gay”. in response to something i find stupid, i say something like “that’s so homosexual”"
Read my post about freedom of speech.
Plus, that’s even worse. Now you’re not only saying gay, which is a little broader, but saying something is stupid by using the term “homosexual” in place of it really is offensive. You’ve taken it a step farther by directly using them in a negative way.
that is so stupid
me and my friends say that all the time
it has nothing to do with gay ppl
-_-
I think there are a lot of other words that she could have used… but I would know what she was saying if I had been there.
Also, she was punished for saying a phrase that MIGHT have been targeting a certain group, when she herself was being targeted blatantly?!
It usually means that its “wacked out” or stupid
Blacks say “I’m straight” when they’re referring to an “okay” status. Like “Do you want a Coke?” “Nah, I’m straight”. Straight is synonymous with “okay”.
Posted 3/1/2007 4:29 PM by This_Is_Important
This is true, but one must understand, straight could refer to many things here. I’d be tempted to say that the above usage evolved from a derivative of “I’ve got it all straightened out” — i.e, everything is okay. It almost certainly has nothing to do with sexual preference. If anything, ‘straight’ is now misused to refer to heterosexuals — it should never have picked up that connotation, and should be considered every bit as offensive as gay.
I should probably clarify that I don’t use the phrase — so here I am, caving in to political correctness — but my disuse may be attributed more to having a preponderance of knowing other things I could say than to a feeling of duty.
I think it’s supposed to mean stupid… I don’t know, don’t use it, don’t have friends who are immature enough to use it. I do, however, think the school is overreacting. She said something stupid and sorta racy without meaning to be, but she was being harassed for her religion. What’s the school doing about that?
Why didn’t the school stop or attempt to stop the other students from harassing her for her religion? Why is their sexual immorality protected but her faith is not?
And why is “gay” okay if it means “happy” but not if it means “stupid?” Do homosexuals really think it is any less degrading to refer to their sexual choice as “happy?” Give me a break.
Yes.
Depending on which context you use it in.
the phrase originated from homophobia. gay is not a synonym for stupid.
yes. gay is stupid because homosexuality is gay.
Psh. Everyone here takes it as “thats so stupid.” Same thing with saying “You’re such a faggot/fag” Is like saying “You’re so stupid”
Its actually pretty disgusting. But oh well.
It is usually used to mean silly or stupid, but I have good friends who are offended by the expression. I never use it.
it started as a reference to gay people, but now has morphed into something that has nothing to do with homosexuals. It still annoys me though, so i don’t say it. plus it’s fun to catch someone off guard when their pen runs out of ink and they shout, “That’s so gay!” and i go “Huh? your pen is homosexual?”
Posted 3/1/2007 4:33 PM by pink_fred25
That’s what one of the friends does. She’ll argue about it.
Neither: it means “It’s so happy!”
if it means “that’s so stupid,” why don’t people just say “thats so stupid”?? i don’t get what’s so hard about that.
it is offensive.
yeah. it means “that’s so stupid.” I’ve said “that’s so gay” in front of my gay friends, and they thought it was funny, because they knew it wasn’t mean offensively to their sexual preference
the first one
If someone asks you if you want a coke and you say “nah, I’m straight” you’re saying “I’m good” or “I’m fine,” so your analogy really isn’t correct. When people say “that’s gay” they usually mean it in a negative way.
Posted 3/1/2007 4:36 PM by WishingOnKarma
However redundant your comment was, I wanted to say thank you for reiterating my point that “I’m straight” refers to being Okay.
Synonyms: accurate, adequate, all right, approved, convenient, correct, fair, fine, good, in order, middling, not bad, passable, permitted, satisfactory, so-so, surely, tolerable.
I hate that phrase. I know it’s supposed to mean “Oh, that’s stupid” but really, it’s offensive. Same with “that’s so retarded.” I know it doesn’t mean to hurt anyone that’s homosexual, but I have some gay guy friends who get kind of upset anyone says that. Just stop using it, people.
It is just an expression.
Wow, I never get mad when my friends say that, and they could be insulting me. I just don’t take it that way, because I have a little more sense than that. Geez.
And if we all wanted to be literal, when people say that it doesn’t mean either, it means whatever it is is happy. Go it.
“That’s so stupid.” If being used otherwise, though, is it derogatory? If so, he whould be paddled.
It’s used as dumb, stupid, or lame.
It stems from the fact that we can’t use profanity at school. So instead of kids saying ’That’s fucked up!’ they say ‘That sucks!’ or ‘That’s gay!’
It seems that we’re playing a, “He who defines…wins!” sort of game. If we really want to fight over what gay means, should we not back up to the notion of happiness and not homosexuality?
When people say “that’s so gay,” they intend it to be taken as “stupid,” but I think it takes root in homophobia. Not to mention that the phrase is really, REALLY annoying.
I think it’s offensive.. and I’m sure it started out in reference to homosexuals.. but now I don’t think people even think about it.. which doesn’t make it right.. but still.
I think it’s offensive and derogatory to say such a thing, especially when it is said to insult someone (i.e. “you’re gay”). There are many more intelligent and creative ways to say that something is “stupid” or “strange.” The English language is cool, why don’t people use it properly?
I also hate it when people say “that’s retarded” or “I’m so retarded.”
I also think that it’s scary, as I am going into education, that schools can be sued for doing anything these days. My god, kids need to be punished sometimes. Let the school system do their job.
That’s so straight
Also, with the whole definition battle going on, “gay” can mean happy as well as homosexual. Lots of words have multiple meanings. But gay, even by definition, is not a synonym for “stupid.”
it is pretty bad that a words definition has changed like this word has. i looked up the actual definition and this is what it gives me:
gay /geɪ/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[gey] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb
–adjective
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>1.
<TD vAlign=top>having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>2.
<TD vAlign=top>bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>3.
<TD vAlign=top>given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>4.
<TD vAlign=top>licentious; dissipated; wanton: The baron is a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>5.
<TD vAlign=top>homosexual.
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>6.
<TD vAlign=top>of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues: a gay organization. –noun
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>7.
<TD vAlign=top>a homosexual person, esp. a male. –adverb
<TABLE class=luna-Ent>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dn vAlign=top>8.
<TD vAlign=top>in a gay manner.
It could mean it’s so queer. As in different, unorthodox, but in a way you don’t want. For example, House is no longer on because of American Idol. When I turned on Fox and saw Idol i said “that’s so gay”.
And what exactly is homophobia? Fear of man? Fear of gay men? I’m not afraid of them, but do not want to be in their company. Does that make me a bigot? I got plenty of other bigotry qualities, but personally I just find the flamboyant ones annoying. The whole voice thing and weird body language creeps me out. One time I played poker with a guy and didn’t find out he was gay until he left town. I didn’t have a problem with it.
As Sarah Silverman said, “I don’t mean gay like GAY. I mean like RETARDED.”
for high schoolers and younger today, yeah that just means “that’s stupid.” but it is offensive, and a lot of people dont realize that.
Of course it’s a reference to homosexuals, how does she think the phrase came about? What a dumbass. I hate dumbasses like that.
What happened to the kids that were making fun of her? probly nothing, thats so gay!
As Sarah Silverman said, “I don’t mean gay like GAY. I mean like RETARDED.”
Posted 3/1/2007 5:30 PM by madhousewife
You win if you quote Sarah Silverman. Seriously
It means “that’s so stupid”, of course. (I don’t say it, btw.)
so it is ok to be harrased for you religious beliefs but if you say “that’s so gay” your wrong. Has the whole world gone insane!!
both…somehow over time, “gay” (homosexual) became a synonym for “stupid,” and so when someone says “that’s so gay,” they’re saying “that’s so stupid,” but also subtly insulting homosexuals…if that makes sense.
It could mean it’s so queer. As in different, unorthodox, but in a way you don’t want. For example, House is no longer on because of American Idol. When I turned on Fox and saw Idol i said “that’s so gay”.
Posted 3/1/2007 5:27 PM by PSUnited1
House isn’t on anymore? why? thats the dumbest….GAYEST thing i have ever heard. i really liked that show. and american Idol realy is gay, like flaming queer gay. just my opinion. =)
I don’t like the phrase, though, as well as “that’s” (or “you’re”) “so retarded”.
traditionally, the word “gay” meant happy. i’ve heard kids say, “that’s so gay,” and then defend themselves when called on it by saying they meant, “that’s so happy.” clearly this is bullshit.
if the phrase, “that’s so gay,” means “that’s so stupid/lame/silly,” isn’t that the same as saying that the word gay means “stupid/lame/silly”? and thus, aren’t you implying that gay people are stupid/lame/silly?
gay people are no more stupid than heterosexuals are. i think the phrase is an insult to homosexuals.
“And why is “gay” okay if it means “happy” but not if it means “stupid?” Do homosexuals really think it is any less degrading to refer to their sexual choice as “happy?” Give me a break.”
Because one defition of gay is to be happy. No where is there a definition for it that states that it means “stupid.”
And how is being happy just as bad as being stupid?
“However redundant your comment was, I wanted to say thank you for reiterating my point that “I’m straight” refers to being Okay.”
Alright, so you’re totally okay that your analogy made no sense in this topic whatsoever.
It’s about “gay” being insulting when it is used in a negative way. You can’t bring up “straight” being used in the same way, when using “straight” is a positive thing.
Most of the “Gay” kids in High School are liars. They just “Came out” the year before, and before that even they were dating and making out with the opposite sex.
Next, the girl should be acquitted of charges (It happened what, five years ago?) and the kids who messed with her should repeat Pre-School. Maybe then they’ll learn that you can have only ONE mom.
It’s like saying something is lame…which my dad always comments “well, can it walk?” lol My friend says “that’s so gay” a lot, and her dad usually comments back with “that’s so homosexual”.
I don’t think anyone means it to offend people. Same with saying stuff is lame.
DEFINITELY “that’s so stupid”. Whoever thinks otherwise is just GAY lmao.
I think it is a reference to homosexuality.
Both. But last time I checked, we were free to speak our mind in this country. .
definitely means “that’s so stupid”. i don’t really use it, tho. i just say it like it is–that’s so stupid!
which, this definitely is. especially since the people she said the phrase to were harassing her about her beliefs.
And also WTF. I hate when people make fun of other religions. Thats something that should also be addressed.
And also WTF. I hate when people make fun of other religions. Thats something that should also be addressed.
Almost every time I’ve heard it said, it meant “stupid.”
**
Blacks say “I’m straight” when they’re referring to an “okay” status. Like “Do you want a Coke?” “Nah, I’m straight”. Straight is synonymous with “okay”.
Posted 3/1/2007 4:29 PM by This_Is_Important**
…
oh, and seriously guys,just substitute gay for fucking stupid.
as in
”thats fucking stupid”
It usually means “stupid.”
I don’t like it when people use the word “gay” that way,
but I don’t think this girl should’ve gotten in trouble for it.
But she could argue that she said, “That’s so ghey.” I guess.
By using a word that is so closely associated with homosexual people to mean “stupid” or to put someone down there by associates homosexual people also with being stupid or inferior. It’s like saying you “jewed someone down” on the price of a car; because we all know jews are cheapskates. It can be hurtful, so I try to discourage people form doing it.
Wow… “That’s so gay” and “That’s so retarded” are the stupidest phrases in the history of phrases. I know what they mean and I know that they generally are not used in a derrogatory manner. They mean “that’s so stupid” or “that’s so dumb.”
But wouldn’t it be just as easy to JUST SAY “That’s so stupid” or “That’s so dumb” instead of “That’s so gay?”
House isn’t on anymore?
Haha! House comes on again starting next Tuesday.
I dont’ consider it a reference to homosexuality, nor do I think it should be used in every day common dialect. Slang is slang though and there is not really anything a school can do to stop kids in this country from saying it. I don’t think she should be punished. She didn’t physically harm another child. Geez, I remember being a kid and the schools let kids say/do to one another quite a bit. Unless you threatened harm or got physical with another student, you had to deal with everyday childhood meaness. And we wonder these days why kids are such pansies and law suits are out of control!
Uhm…but no one cared that they were making fun of her for her religion…???
yeah…i can see it being perceived as offensive….but usually it’s not meant to be
My kids use that too. Means stupid or silly. To say its gay in the homosexual sense doesn’t even make sense in the sentence. Gay also means happy. We are PC to the point of ridiculous.
some take it offencsivly. but honestly most don’t mean to refer to homosexuals
Actually…the term means happy.
But yeah…I like that the phrase “That’s so gay…” is offensive, but “Jesus Christ!” and “Oh my God” are okay. When people say “that’s gay” they don’t mean anything regarding sexual orientation (usually), though I’m sure that’s how the phrase started.
same as ‘retarded’ or ‘lame’; means ‘stupid’, but it shouldn’t. and doesn’t.
definitly as a substitute for dumb.
It means “that’s so stupid,” but since it implies that gay is synonymous, it is very offensive. To me, at least. I can’t believe how many people just let it roll off their tongues with no regard to whether people could get hurt by the phrase or not.
I think it’s offensive.
i see it as that so stupid. =)
so why arent the other groups in trouble for harassing her about her faith?
j
poor girl, was is with people taking things way out of proportion?
Actually “gay” didn’t always mean “homosexual.” In earlier days it meant happy or joyous. Lovely what we Americans do to words.
It means it’s stupid, although it’s a rather dumb comment.
I say it sometimes.
>.<
It definitely means stupid, not referring to gay people at all.
Yes. The problem is exactly that it is a reference to homosexuals. Where do you think the phrase came from in the first place? It equates being gay with being stupid, worthless, wrong, etc. and thus it means both “homosexual” and “dumb”.
I don’t think the school was wrong to send her to the principal’s office: if she had used a racial slur, which is essentially the same thing as a heterosexist slur, no one would have a problem with suspending her ass. She just got a warning from the administration, which is light considering that the article also mentioned the incident where two kids at that school were paid to beat up a gay student the year before.
In fact, the article says that the girl in question’s family has “conservative views on sexuality”. My best guess: that translates to “we hate the gays, in a totally hate the sin, not the sinner kind of way”.
However, it’s also bullshit that other kids were harrassing her about being Mormon. Those kids should have gotten in trouble too.
The way the girl said it…was like she meant ‘stupid’. Monkey see monkey do. People don’t always know the true meaning behind things they hear. Usually when you hear the expression “that’s so gay”…it’s done with a limp wrist.
Both.
No, it has no reference to homosexuality.
But even if it did, it cannot be assumed to be an insult. One can say “That’s so awesome.” And mean it as a positive phrase. Obviously the principal was trying to earn some brownie points, or whoever sent him to the office.
I think the fact that she was being persecuted for her beliefs is at least as offensive as saying “That’s so gay.”
“That’s so gay” can be interpreted in a few different ways, but their religious discrimination can only be taken one way.
That is a serious miscarriage of justice.
Dan, your post is sooo mexican
I believe it to mean “that’s so stupid,” but in using those choice of words to express one’s (negative) opinion of something is an indirect insult to the homosexual community. It implies that their sexual preference is stupid. Come to think of it, why do people say “that’s so gay” and not “that’s so straight”? My guess is that it’s because if you said “that’s so straight” then whoever you said it to would not take it as an insult (seeing as to be straight is widely considered the “normal” sexual preference).
It’s derogatory, so I wouldn’t use it around an open homosexual, but I see nothing wrong with it.. a lot of things people say could offend some people.. but it’s not that big a deal.
why is there even homosexual students in a MORMON school?
Its an expression of pure ignorance. I could say: “Oh! That is so African American!” and when someone called me racist I could say: “I didn’t mean it as in black people, I meant it as in silly!”, but no one would buy it. Sadly, homophobia is the last truly accepted bigotry. Using the societally accepted term for a group of people as a slang for something unwanted/bad is hurtful to the group, whether intentionally or not.
It means that’s so stupid. I’ve gotten used to that phrase as my kids say it all the time.
Candy
ZeroBarsSmith: Do you say nigger when the oppurtunity arises because there aren’t any Blacks around?
And I’d like to say that yes, the other kids should’ve gotten into trouble too for harrassing her religious beliefs.
Last time I looked at a dictionary “gay” also meant “happy” so why is this such a big deal?
Oh for the days when all it meant was happy………..
I’m gay, and I say that phrase all the time. Should I? Now that’s the question.
It means dumb.
It would be hard to imagine a phrase having a sexual orientation.
SQ
my meaning for that’s so gay is ”that’s so ridiculous”
People say it to mean dumb, but I think it’s insulting and stupid. It’s like calling someone a Jew. Totally wrong. (Except maybe not as bad.)
So, should we just stop talking altogether?
Because no matter what you say, someone will be offended.
And that is both gay and retarded.
Should I stop using the phrases “gayer than a three dollar bill” and “queer as a football bat”?
In all fairness, I use them to describe gay people.
People need to be offended more. The way people react towards offense is completely ridiculous and uncalled for. Just deal with it.
I try to be more creative when verbally assaulting my peers, but yes, for some cretins the word passes as an insult.
it means thats so dumb, however, it also has the other conotation. i try to catch myself from saying this myself cause i think its wrong.
Man…this country is sliding into political correctness hell. Oops, I mean…
Fuck it. Political correctness blows ass.
LOL @ DMV
Yeah, it is slang for lame or stupid, but I hate it.
OMG THAT’S SO GOTH!!!
it means stupid, but i don’t think that they should be allowed to say that. it kinda gives gay a bad connotation.
I find it offensive. It usually means “that’s so stupid” and people are just so well, stupid, and argh. It makes me want to shake them or something.
It means( most of the time)- thats so dumb !!
When my kids say it about their Father they truly mean Gay, as in Homosexual……
I know they think it means its so stupid, and thats how kids are using it.
The subtext, GAY=STUPID=IRRELEVANT=LESS THAN, so its still not a good phrase to be using, teach your kids better.
I used to say the phrase all the time but I’ve tried to refrain from it because I know it hurts people’s feelings so I don’t say it as much. If I catch myself, I apologize.
OK. I am stubborn. I wanted to say this when the post frist came up but my connection went down, so now I am back to yell at all the parental comments about how they are used to the term cuz their kids use it so much.
Would you mind if your child called his/her playmates nigger or spics of kykes? I certainly hope so. So why not mind when your child reffers to something of disdain as “gay”? Any bigotry is wrong. Not teaching your children to accept is just as bad as teaching them to not accept.
By the way, I’m sixteen years old, in the middle of teens, I hear that phrase all the time and never use it and tell people not to when I hear it.
The way I see it is that the term “that’s so gay” derived from homosexuals being “stupid”
Gay =/= stupid.
It’s insulting and immature.
-Jacob
dumb hetero..
-jacob
gay = stupid
it all becomes such a mess… I kind of wish there were no ways of defining our sexuality at all. We would just have the lives we live in and out of the bedroom…. like sexual harrassment laws have seperated the sex from the office worker (thank dog), gay sexuality, etc… needs to become as much a non-issue as whether or not two married people are still hot for each other.
calling something gay or queer or w.e has NOTHING to do with sexual preference…its just the same as calling something stupid…&& for all that principal knows, she could have been calling something happy…
i use the phrase “that’s so gay” or whatever, but i mean it in a “that’s so lame” context. not necessarily saying that something is homosexual.
“Gay” is no synonym for “stupid”, “silly”, or “dumb”.
Don’t try to justify it. It’s so heterosexual of you.
gay originally meant happy, so getting mad at people because they have now associated it with the word silly or stupid is hypocritical, as it being linked with homosexuality is the same thing.
everyone i know that uses it means ‘that’s so dumb’
Either way it’s a dumb thing to say
1– I think the teacher is ridiculous for sending that girl to the office for the phrase.
2– I don’t use the word, because I like to think my spoken vocabulary is a little less derogatory toward people than that. If something I say can be misconstrued as offensive, I try to avoid it. Unless I am just being blatantly offensive. I don’t like to compromise my character with words like “gay” and “retarded.”
3– Is it just me, or is America completely full of bigots continuing to breed new generations of bigots?
It’s not about tolerance… it’s about love.
Back in the day wasn’t “gay” another word for happy!?!?!
“”Gay” is no synonym for “stupid”, “silly”, or “dumb”.
Don’t try to justify it. It’s so heterosexual of you.
Posted 3/1/2007 9:04 PM by Undamage”
Fucking heterosupremacists.
people use it to mean ‘that’s so stupid’, but seriously. if you’re saying that to mean stupid, then it’s clearly saying that you feel gay people are stupid, but you know whatever. actually, i think the people who say it are too stupid to realize what they are actually saying..-sigh-
you don’t hear people saying, “that’s so straight!”
i should start it.
in the teenage world, it usually means “that’s stupid”
“It’s like saying something is lame…which my dad always comments “well, can it walk?” lol My friend says “that’s so gay” a lot, and her dad usually comments back with “that’s so homosexual”.
I don’t think anyone means it to offend people. Same with saying stuff is lame. “
Exactly. That is why it CAN be offensive. You admit you use it to describe something lame, but by using the word gay, you are implying that lame things and homosexual people have something in common.
“But yeah…I like that the phrase “That’s so gay…” is offensive, but “Jesus Christ!” and “Oh my God” are okay. When people say “that’s gay” they don’t mean anything regarding sexual orientation (usually), though I’m sure that’s how the phrase started.”
Saying “Jesus Christ!” is an exclamation. I don’t say fuck him, I say his name. How is that offensive?
Plus, offending a group of people vs. offending a superior being that not everyone agrees in? Hm.
“Actually “gay” didn’t always mean “homosexual.” In earlier days it meant happy or joyous. Lovely what we Americans do to words.”
Rawr. People. Obviously, it has another definition. But do you really think people are referring to the “happy” definition when they say it? Probably not.
it means ‘thats so silly or crazy ect.’
“It means ‘stupid’, but it really is rather a ridiculous phrase to use, seriously. Gay people aren’t stupid, so why does ‘gay’ mean stupid all of a sudden?” Posted 3/1/2007 3:54 PM by ThePQ4
If some one were to call you a blond, or an aggie, or a longhorn…..
Sure it can be insulting. But the words nigger, jew, and all manner of other categorizations are used to describe people in a negative way by some, or as an insult of some sort. Homosexual people are hardly alone in their misery.
depends on the context
it means stupid, but i don’t think that they should be allowed to say that. it kinda gives gay a bad connotation.
Posted 3/1/2007 7:38 PM by ChIcKaRoO831
Just like we shouldn’t be allowed to say that we don’t like the Pres. or America, right? If we cut a little on the First Amendment, why don’t we just cut the whole thing? In fact, screw all our rights, lets be like the USSR and China and N.K. and Iraq and Iran. Wouldn’t that be fun?
You have to be careful about what you say, everyone needs to learn that. Taking away the right to say something will not teach them anything.
Even if you don’t think you are using the words to mean homosexual;
YOU ARE!
Gay means gay, context doesn’t count. Because, you are basically saying that gay and dumb are synonymous, which is deeply hurtful.
Please, people, dont say it. I agree with the school.
Gay is not a synonym for stupid.
Ugh. It bugs me when someone uses that terminology.
People say “oh my God” all the time, which Christians are against, without getting sent to the principal.
She didn’t say the statement with the idea of insulting homosexuals. She said it because she was angry because they were mocking her about her mormonism (is it mormonism?).
….and the principal did nothing about the ones who were making fun of her being a Mormon?
I was a Mormon once, I don’t worship as they do, but they have the right not to be persecuted . The school should have protected her too
It mostly means it’s stupid but it still makes me tense up every time I hear it.
i think it is offensive in the context she used it
That is lame/gay/retarded. The people who use it now don’t really mean it to be wrong to homosexuals. It depends.
we used to have first ammendment rights but the the liberals decided that we only have the freedom to say that which is PC.
While I think that when people say that often now they do mean “That’s so silly, stupid, etc.” I personally find it a bit offensive b/c I think that it stems from the idea that there’s something wrong with being gay, that it’s bad. When people first started using that term in my middle & high schools, they used it as a negative specifically because it was anti-homosexual. (My hometown was/is very homophobic.)
I wish that people would find something else to say, but if they don’t, then they need to be aware of how people may react to it. A word is just that, a word, but connotations can get you in trouble.
words change meanings……. it’s generational……… slang…….. i believe i read something about gay meaning happy/cheerful – years and years ago – lol
The idea behind it is gay people can’t make intelligent decisions so really it’s a reference to both. I think it’s stupid when the kids at school say it’s “gay” when their teachers give them too much homework. It’s always the gay students who agree it’s too much homework and the straight teachers who assigned it. Personally, I’d be creeped out if my homework had a sexual orientation.
I made the EXACT same statement in highschool in 1985 and this very “feminine” guy got offended and threw a desk through a window and Im the one that got expelled for two days. Go figure. …then again, I was kinda a rebel back then…a rebel with a mean streak.
Whether or not it is USED in reference to homosexuals, I can see how they would take offense, because I’m pretty sure what it really means is “that’s not right” or “that’s not as it should be”, which, is how a lot of people feel about homosexuals. I think that’s how the phrase originated.
However, I think the fact that the girl got sent to the principle’s office is gay.
its become a catchall for something silly or ridiculous lately. Remember when it was retarded before that?
omg wat losers r they retarded or sumfin? homosexual isn’t the only meaning of gay, get a dictionary. anyways, it also means ‘happy’ so why can’t we use it as ‘lame’ or ‘stupid’ as well?
It means “that’s so stupid’ but it is offensive and students should get in trouble for it.
whenever i say it, i always just mean ‘stupid’
It means both, but if you’re going to punish one student, then punish the ones who were harassing her because of her religious beliefs, too.
It seems like she’s being punished because someone MAY have been offended, while the principal is overlooking the fact that she WAS being a victim of religious harassment.
everyone I know who says “That’s gay” means “That’s stupid or lame.”
But it is offensive to use it, because how would you feel if someone said “That’s so Theologian” to mean something was stupid? It’s all about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. Like someone said earlier–change the word “gay” to “black” or “Jew” or “Jesus” or “Christian” or “Republican” or “Texan” or whatever.
People always think it is silly when it insults someone else. But let it insult THEIR group, and holy shit!!!! Do people forget how horribly insulted a bunch of you all were when people were saying, “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”? I do.
Man.. People these days. *rolls eyes* They’ll jump all over her for using a common phrase like that, that even homosexuals use at times.. But they never say a word about them belittling her beliefs, you know? *sigh* Poor girl. :/ I pray her family wins this lawsuit. That’s just silly!
<3,
Heather
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I have said that phrase alot and I have never thought about two guys having sex when I said it.
It can be either. I guess it depends on the context of which it’s used. There are certian things that appear to fit the stereotypical “homosexual mold”, to which someone might say “that’s so gay”, and there are other things that are just so utterly ridiculous or lame to which you might say the same.
Either way, I think that both parties (the girl and the overly-sensitive/politically correct school administration) need to learn some respect, and realize that both issues ought to be treated equally, as petty as it may seem.
I doubt many people who ever say “that’s so gay” are consciously thinking about disparaging homosexuals. It is still understandably offensive so those who want not risk offending others should try to avoid the expression.
wow what a mess
to bad for that student.And I think Gay is stupid.
It may be offensive, but then again, she’s a kid, her get cop a verbal warning and leave it at that.
’nuff said…
It may be offensive, but then again, she’s a kid, ler her cop a verbal warning and leave it at that.
’nuff said…
It doesn’t matter what the “meaning” of the expression is, because the meaning will be different to different people. If people were suddenly to start saying, “That’s so Jewish” or “That’s so Black” or “That’s so Hispanic” to convey that they “mean” “That’s so stupid” – all hell would break loose. Because the word gay is so closely associated with homosexuality and lesbianism, the conveyed meaning is subject to great interpretation. To respect ALL people of all sexual orientations, all faiths, all ethnicities, etc., this expression should be forbidden. On the OTHER hand, the two girls that were harassing this young lady about her religion should ALSO be suspended. Intolerance, regardless of the reason, needs to stop. Where has CIVILITY gone??
gay means happy.
To me that phrase means “that is so stupid.”
I don’t think it’s meant to be offensive towards homosexuals, although at one point it might have been aimed that way (as in when people started saying it). I think that it’s became the new “that’s so retarded”, honestly, and that’s why it’s almost bizzare that people are making a fuss over it. Hell, I’m probably the most open-minded person that I know, and I still say “that’s gay with an H”, or sometimes “that’s so straight” (as ways to mock the phrase itself, as well as not offend anyone who might become offended)
Honestly, I find the whole situation just plain silly.
The phraseology of our speech constantly changes some people used to say “go fly a kite”, or “you are a turkey” does that mean a litereal translation is important? Everything that is said must be taken in context. We have become a societry of oversensetive wimps who refuse to stand up for anything for fear of offending someone. Enough with the stupidity. We have made knowledge king and yet have no common sense. Sad commentary of the times we live in
(But school officials say they took a strict stand against the putdown after two boys were paid to beat up a gay student the year before.
“The district has a statutory duty to protect gay students from harassment,” the district’s lawyers argued in a legal brief. “In furtherance of this goal, prohibition of the phrase ‘That’s so gay’ … was a reasonable regulation.”) <—quote from the article.
it doesnt say he was beat up for being gay, only that he was gay and beat up. also doesnt say “sexual harrassment”(being harrassed for their sexuality would qualify) just “being harrassed”(ie bullied) at all.
this sounds to me like maybe those of us who dont aprove of or accept homosexuality as normal or good need to report to the “reeducation camps” where we will recieve “therapy” and wear gray suits. for those who say the first amendment was NOT violated..
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
note the freedom of speech. note also the so called “seperation of church and state”. if we were to use the same misiterpretation that the schools use to attack children who bring their bibles to church or to pray we would say, “the school acting as an officer of the state was condoning the persecution of this child on the basis of her religious beliefs, they did not step in to stop the incident until it became apparent that she was not going to just sit there and allow others to mock her religion.”
i say the whole situation is pretty gay.
well as such it means both. more stupid nowadays than anything else unless a member of the gay community uses it. i say ‘you’re so gay,’ or ‘that’s so gay’ all the time, but only bc i am gay, and because it’s ok for us to use the word. it’s like the ‘n’ word in some ways. i don’t think anyone except for the african american community should be able to say it. it’s just part of their vocabulary, as is gay for us. i correct people all the time who say ‘that’s so gay,’ even my teachers. gay doesn’t mean silly or stupid. it’s either homosexual, or happy.
It does mean thats so stupid, but I do not think it is appropriate or polite. If something is stupid, call it stupid. Is it so difficult to use the correct words? I don’t think so. So people really need to learn how to respect different people.
People are so retarded….I Dont know why they have to make such a big deal about this kind of garbage! We said that a lot in the 80′s, and occasionally, I say it still… and it meant LAME or STUPID or similar things. The original meaning is HAPPY…so whatEVer!
How come no one will stop saying “God Damn it”? I find that totally offensive.
(OH MY!!! I hope I have not offended any retarded people out there).
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<TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width=”100%” background=”" height=250 UNSELECTABLE=”off”>Clearly a refernce to homosexuals. The only other meaning of gay is ‘happy’.
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Gay used to mean happy.
Then it changed to homosexual.
Now it has another new meaning….lame.
How could they not know and be administraitors? Are they that far removed from students? I understood its meaning after spending one weekend w/ my teenage nieces.
That phrase annoys the crap out of me.
~*RoXy*~
Just because everyone says something doesn’t make it okay. I feel that it is derogatory to use that word in such a context, and I never allowed it in my classroom when I was a teacher.
i say it meanign RETARTED?
I think the politically correct police need to give it a rest. It’s a wacky world when kids can get away with saying, “F– you,” to their teacher, but they get sued for saying something is “gay.”
OK, does anybody else see this as ridiculous? I think the kids that were harassing her should get punished if she gets in trouble, because they were making fun of her religion.
When it first started it meant “that is so lame” or “stupid”. Now…no.
I used to say that constantly when it first started around here, and I considered it to mean “stupid”, “dumb”, whatever. Then I got some gay friends and sometimes it does hurt them when people say it, so about a year ago I stopped saying it. But now if I hear someone say it, and they say something stupid, i’ll reply with “Now isn’t that homosexual” or “Stop being so homosexual” just to see how they’ll react.
I use that’s so gay.. as in so dumb, stupid, lame, dumb.. etc.. I have nothing against homosexuals.
It is incredibly offensive, actually. Although it has come to mean “stupid” or “lame”, gay is not a synonym for those things.
Every time I hear someone say that, I cringe. It bothers me beyond belief.
I can see why they sued the school =/
Thats stupid
obviously she is saying that it was stupid
Everyone can SAY that the meaning or context of it is different and that it does not refer to homosexuals but rather more like “that’s so stupid,” but I think the phrase derives from and reinforces the belief that homosexuality is bad/undesired/etc. etc. You can’t just take a phrase such as “that’s so gay” and claim that the meaning has changed. It is just plain offensive.
it’s just like, “that’s stupid” but i can see how someone might take it offensively, just like saying, “that’s lame” to a crippled person.
This reminds of a teacher who called a young boy student a bad word and used the excuse that she was calling him a “chit”. She forgot to mention that chits only apply to girls.
The girl could have gotten out of it by saying that she was referring to “happy”, which is what gay used to mean.
its cool dont listen to other people commets its all about what u like.
gay isn’t a synonym for stupid. why is that school protecting gay students and not Muslims?
mormon, sorry
um, definitely stupid.
both. people say it to mean stupid, dumb, etc. but it’s offensive and derogatory.
no
its a little offensive but she has the right to say whatever she wants
It means stupid or silly.
But I call using it stupid and silly.
we all know what ppl mean by it. but perhaps it’s best to stop using that word to express such a sentiment. there are plenty of other words readily available that would get the message across.
hey i am on my friends account .. &&& i am MORMON .. its a great religion && i love it .. believe it or not teachers rag on us ALL the time .. they never get in trouble [[go figure]] ~!~ …
oh and BTW .. “GAY – STUPID” .. doesnt take a mormon like me to point it out.
People who that word in a derogatory manner are only proving thier ignorance and poor vocabulary…..
Most homosexuals I know do not say that phrase, only one I know does.
I guess it’s both. It means silly or lame but because it does refer to homosexuals, it is in a sense saying they are lame, etc. Where do you think the phrase came from?
When a person says Jesus Christ, after stubbing they’re toe, do you think they are calling out to him? NO. They are saying it hurt. I wonder what Christians would say about that.
excuse the many typos above. Thanks!
How many hundreds of words in English, or any other language, have more than one meaning? Why should “gay” only refer to homosexual? Homosexuality never enters my mind when I hear that phrase … I always take it to mean stupid, lame, dumb, etc. We have become a ridiculously oversensitive society who need to find a new focus for our ever-present pique!
…I don’t think that ‘gay’ is the best insult to use, but it’s certainly used as one. According to that article, all she got was a mark on her record, but I’d like to know why none of the students harassing her about being Mormon got one.
It depends on how it’s used and in what context.
I use it all the time and I get called on it too. I don’t use it to refer to homosexuals. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to pander to political correctness.
I don’t think it should be taken so seriously. Gay hasn’t always been a homosexual reference .. there was a time in our society before gay marriage was an issue and before everything was so nasty and corrupt that Gay was a common word referring to happiness.
I personally say “that’s gay” all the time, I never think of homeosexuality or am thinking badly of homosexual’s when I am saying it. People say “that’s retarted” all the time, but they don’t send them to the principals office in order to protected the “special ed” kids I bet. It’s just rediculous and very hypocritcal. I’m sure they say derogative tons all the time.
It means the same as lame or stupid.
I notice that she was being teased because she was a Mormon, but she couldn’t use the term “That’s so gay!” Double standard?
wow, i’m late, but anyway:
It means both. In my opinion calling something gay when meaning to call something stupid is no different than calling homosexuality stupid.
It means exactly what you mean it to be.
And what you know the person it’s directed to will take it as.
I wouldn’t use it around my mom. But my friends would find it hilarious.
So?
I don’t know
it never was, like queer or gay (meaning happy), although this term is much more slang; however i could understand that people would take offence at that. it probably shouldn’t be said.
it’s not necessarily a stab at gay people, I mean come on, how paranoid can you get? It’s just another way of saying “Oh how stupid” or something, it’s slang, it’s not meant to be taken so literally, think of it as a figure of speech. As much as I support gay rights, homoesexual people need to stop thinking that everything is trying to go against them, not that I’m saying they are the ones who think this phrase is insulting. Saying “That’s gay.” isn’t an insult towards gay people.
For those who don’t speak English slang…which I assume that teacher knows nothing about…”That’s so gay”….actually means, “that’s so stupid” or “that’s so silly.” My family says it all the time. It’s a part of the language.
That teacher is just being anal……Oh my gosh…..well what if I used, “That’s so lame” in the presence of a disabled person? How come no one ever gets mad over that?….see homosexuals are so protected. no one really cares about disabled people…NOT…i care. But that’s not what the word really means.