Arg.

[themegaloo]

Maybe it's just because I'm a bit cranky, but today at my GSUET Officers meeting, one of my fellow officers, upon my telling them I have a roommate named Meghan, said 'Well, that's gay'.

I look at her and tell her it's not 'gay'. She says 'I meant, you know, retarded'.

Somehow that bugged me more than her saying it to begin with.

I mean- do people just not REALIZE how mean that is? Because by associating the word 'gay' or 'retarded' with something negative...you make those things seem negative. Word association. And both groups have a hard enough time finding acceptance and confidence in this world for people to go and make it worse by negative word associations.

And it bugs me. Not much I can do about it on a larger scale, but I sure as hell can say something to individuals.

Comments

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

At least when one says something is "stupid," you don't automatically think of the poor, stupid people wandering around. Gay and retarded are highly offensive, though. I thought it wasn't popular to say "That's so gay." anymore.

Then again, that is Statesboro. *whistles*

[themegaloo.livejournal.com]

And Statesboro is in Georgia, which passed a bad on Same-Sex Marriage by 76%.

Stupid I don't find overly offensive because it's defined as someone who has the capability of learning but refuses to do so. They deserve to be picked on, in my opinion. It's a -choice-. Homosexuality and retardation...neither of those are choices.

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I voted no on the ban, so I'm in the minority. :P

It's ridiculous putting anyone down, whether something is "gay," "retarded," "mental," whatever. I just say, "That's stupid." and get on with it. ;)

[duchessdollydot.livejournal.com]

Word.

[paradise4writin.livejournal.com]

*hug*

[adrenya.livejournal.com]

My co-workers used to use the word gay to mean 'retarded' or as one guy put it 'something that sucks, you know?' They claimed it was just a 'generalization'. All it took was one little look from me before they'd apologize.

Now the only time they utter the word gay is when they are talking about my brother and they are never mean about it. He's a brown belt.

[themegaloo.livejournal.com]

Nice. I think I'd learn to be polite about it too, if I were them.

I don't know these people all that well, and though I have the fact that I'm bi and a far left liberal stamped over, oh, everything...I don't think they really recognize it.

I'll get them soon enough to respect it. =D