# A fag by any other name...well is just a fag... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 14, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267 "2003-03-14T05:10:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Plavacek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Plavacek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plavacek)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/21 "2003-03-14T06:56:25Z")
\ It is March 11th, 2003, in Eglin Air Force Base, northwest Florida. A C-130 Transport plane slowly cuts across the still morning sky. The air is calm, the sky is hazy but clear. The plane is clearly visible through high-powered lenses. A sled falls from the plane. Tied to the sled is a conventional weapon with a power generation potention equivalent to 21,000 pounds of TNT. It is nicknames MOAB, the Massive Ordinance Air Burst. Under normal test conditions, the device is guided to its target by satellite - on board computers use overhead information to regulate fins controlling tilt and yaw, pinpointing the target to within 15 feet of the designated point of impact. However, for this test, the targetting mechanism has been reconfigured. This time, the US Military has secured the services of **Bindrah**. Armed with a laptop and a wireless internet connection, he will type some of the most ignorant fucking shit, pulling out the lamest fucking excuses, known to man, beast, or lower life form, into a completely undeserving message board, until the bomb explodes, leaving a square-mile area crushed, smoked, and destroyed. \ ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/22 "2003-03-14T07:20:53Z")
What’s a sheeny? ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/23 "2003-03-14T07:44:03Z")
Based on the context, I can only assume it’s a derogatory term for a Jewish person (I ran across it in _It_, in reference to a Jewish character). ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/24 "2003-03-14T08:01:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrazyCatLady \* > \*\*Based on the context, I can only assume it’s a derogatory term for a Jewish person (I ran across it in _It_, in reference to a Jewish character). \*\* Learn a new thing everyday. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/25 "2003-03-14T08:03:50Z")
I find the term offensive. Now will you stop using it? If not, how many people have to tell you it’s offensive before you’ll stop? ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/26 "2003-03-14T08:11:14Z")
Okay, okay, I’ll stop!! Sheesh. Ask a simple question… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/27 "2003-03-14T08:41:55Z")
Originally posted by astro **Out of curiosity just what is “hate speech” definition wise?** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrazyCatLady \* > \*\*I’d say it’s any term used to deride a minority group. That’s the usual working definition, anyway. \*\* I’m a member of the smallest minority group. (Only about 4% of the population has red/orange hair). Does that mean when my wife gets mad at me and calls me _Pumpkin Head_ she’s guilty of hate speech?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/28 "2003-03-14T09:10:38Z")
_sigh_ Well, he _is_ starting to use capitalization and paragraph breaks so I suppose that’s progress. You know, it is just amazing how similar g and q look when they’re underlined. ---
**Author:** ![Lilly\_Putt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Lilly\_Putt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilly_Putt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/29 "2003-03-14T09:24:48Z")
I think that the only reason these “hate” words have any power, is because we give them power. I am of a certain ethnic group, (W.O.P.) and have friends of different ethnicities and creeds. We use epithets to address each other all the time, if for anything to laugh at the sillyness and stupidity of it all. When somebody uses these word SERIOUSLY, all they do is showcase their ignorance and stupidity, and is usually a call for attention. I once had a friend from England tell me “I’ve been wanting bum a fag all night, but I’m trying to quit.” HILLARITY ensued. (I’d heard him refer to asses as “bums” on several occasions.) ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/30 "2003-03-14T10:35:35Z")
**Bindrah** , I’ve read a few of your Pit threads, and the thread which **Czarcasm** linked to. You mentioned in one of your other threads that you don’t use capital letters because you’re too lazy to do so. To me, not only do proper grammar and capitalization make what you have to say easier to read, they’re also an indication of how whether you’re willing to show us basic respect. Continuing to use certain after you’ve been told they’re offensive also shows a lack of respect. In fact, it shows you’re willing to be insulting. So tell me, why should we be thrilled about a person who shows the rest of us disrespect and contempt sticking around? This can be an incredibly open, accepting, interesting, and fun community, but one of the primary rules here is, “Don’t be a jerk.” If you don’t want to abide by it, that’s your privilege, but it’s also the privilege of the people who run the board to decide you can be a jerk somewhere else. You have choices – use them. You’ve also been told what the consequences of some of those choices will be, so, if you still decide to make them, don’t complain about the consequences. CJ ---
**Author:** ![moc.liamtoh\_rorrim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f17d59/32.png) [@moc.liamtoh\_rorrim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moc.liamtoh_rorrim)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/31 "2003-03-14T10:38:06Z")
I say if one gay (_its HOMOSEXUAL!_)… If one Homosexual man (_THATS SEXIST!_)… if one homosexual woman (_Men have feelings too!_)… If one homosexual person of no specific gender, can call another homosexual person of no specific gender a particular word and isnt offended by it, then i say whats the harm in saying it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/32 "2003-03-14T10:46:07Z")
A fag by any other name… is a cigarette (where I come from). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/33 "2003-03-14T10:48:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bindrah \* > **There you go with the group mentality thing.** Which ‘group mentality’ thing would this be? Is it the one where most people agree that being a complete fucking idiot is completely fucking idiotic? ---
**Author:** ![Lilly\_Putt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Lilly\_Putt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilly_Putt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/34 "2003-03-14T11:02:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*A fag by any other name… is a cigarette (where I come from). \*\* …But have you ever **bummed** a fag? ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/35 "2003-03-14T11:20:19Z")
FYI, I have bummed a fag, for other people, on several occasions. And I don’t even smoke. That really is choice phrase to use out of context. Haven’t heard anyone actually use in a long while though. Easy to see why. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/36 "2003-03-14T11:29:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lilly Putt \* > \*\*…But have you ever **bummed** a fag? \*\* I have not only bummed one, but then I’ve put one in my mouth and sucked. I smoke fags. This is SO childish… ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/37 "2003-03-14T11:42:58Z")
I used to put _French_ fags in my mouth, and LOVED it! ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/38 "2003-03-14T11:44:31Z")
Don’t you mean _Freedom_ fags? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/39 "2003-03-14T11:56:29Z")
_Victory_ Cigarettes, Winston. He who controls the past controls the present. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267/40 "2003-03-14T12:08:31Z")
I tried doing a fag once, but it didn’t really work for me… Umm… cigarette - this isn’t hate speach right? I mean, I don’t approve of people getting cancer, but that’s their business, I don’t want to interfer or insult them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fag-by-any-other-name-well-is-just-a-fag/161267.md?page=3)