# Don we now our \*bright\* apparel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388 "2011-12-07T17:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/21 "2011-12-07T21:55:47Z")
Brian, don we now our gay apparel. _SIGH_ Doesn’t get much gayer than this. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/22 "2011-12-07T22:06:34Z")
When I was in elementary school we learned Little Drummer Boy with the line “the ox and lamb kept time”. Many of the students-- including me-- corrected the teacher. She let us sing the word ‘ass’. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/23 "2011-12-07T22:26:35Z")
I’m all for the teacher trying to keep the peace; but sometimes kids will be kids. It has to take more effort to get the kids to use a different word than than just let the kids have their smirk. When I grew up in the 70s you used to see the word faggot a lot more; meaning twigs and such. We had (I assume) the same reaction. A lot of sniggering ensued and we went on with our lives. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/24 "2011-12-07T23:50:07Z")
I have to admit, it’s kind of nice to see more stories about institutional over-reactions because people are worried about offending gays, as opposed to institutional over-reactions because people are worried about offending homophobes. But it’s still an over-reaction. Laughing because the word “gay” has a double meaning isn’t homophobic. Neither is changing the word to get the kids to shut up and sing the damn song. But it’s small change in the grand scheme of things: nobody’s getting in trouble over the change, or the song, so really, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/25 "2011-12-08T01:39:13Z")
I think there should be a required vocabulary test of words that use to mean this but now mean that. On this list would be: Gay Queer [Ejaculate](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ejaculate): definition #2. Titular. Fabulous. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard this in any term but in either FABULOUS! in the sparkly sense or completely sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/26 "2011-12-08T03:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Fabulous. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard this in any term but in either FABULOUS! in the sparkly sense or completely sarcastic. Don’t let **Skald** hear you say that! Personally, while I understand the teacher’s intentions, I fear it’ll be counterproductive. The students are guaranteed to hear the other version, and the changed word will call attention to it (well, even more attention). Pretty soon, you’ll have the class singing the song, and you’ll get most of the class mumbling most of it, and then shouting out the word GAY! over the teacher’s “bright”. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/27 "2011-12-08T04:07:17Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > It’s the ‘Don we now’ that gets to me. You’re right. It should be “Bruce we now.” ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/28 "2011-12-08T04:50:36Z")
Hm. The only time I remember giggles over that line was when someone decided to change it to ‘glad’ in the overhead we were singing from. And that was less giggling and more show-stopping laughter at how crazy that little college was. Yes, college. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/29 "2011-12-08T04:59:37Z")
Everything I wear is, by definition, gay apparel . . . but not much of it is bright. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/30 "2011-12-08T05:01:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I have to admit, it’s kind of nice to see more stories about institutional over-reactions because people are worried about offending gays, as opposed to institutional over-reactions because people are worried about offending homophobes. But it’s still an over-reaction. Laughing because the word “gay” has a double meaning isn’t homophobic. Neither is changing the word to get the kids to shut up and sing the damn song. > > But it’s small change in the grand scheme of things: nobody’s getting in trouble over the change, or the song, so really, who cares? You don’t see the problem with changing a truly innocent word just to prevent children snickering? They should be educated and grow up. Have them write it 200 times and they won’t see the humor. You really think it’s “kind of nice” to see overreactions by tinpot institutional dictators? Remember the guy who lost his job over “niggardly”? You seriously want people to watch every word they say in fear of being called out? If you really don’t see a problem with that, that’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/31 "2011-12-08T07:05:01Z")
I too agree with the teacher. On one hand you can say it still draws attention to the line, but on the other kids are very literal and there’s no way they’re gonna sing the word gay without snickering. And no, doing that is not a fucking hate crime. Plus, [according to the Master](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/517/how-did-gay-come-to-mean-homosexual), gay kinda always meant, well, gay. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/32 "2011-12-08T11:47:24Z")
What if “Don” has connotations of mob bosses? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/33 "2011-12-08T14:18:10Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > You don’t see the problem with changing a truly innocent word just to prevent children snickering? They should be educated and grow up. Have them write it 200 times and they won’t see the humor. > > You really think it’s “kind of nice” to see overreactions by tinpot institutional dictators? Remember the guy who lost his job over “niggardly”? You seriously want people to watch every word they say in fear of being called out? If you really don’t see a problem with that, that’s a problem. They KNOW the meaning. But it’s a funny word in context, so they giggle in the middle of a song, which makes them go out of time. Your second paragraph is a parody, surely? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/34 "2011-12-08T14:25:30Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I think there should be a required vocabulary test of words that use to mean this but now mean that. > > On this list would be: > > Gay > Queer > [Ejaculate](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ejaculate): definition #2. > > Titular. > > Fabulous. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard this in any term but in either FABULOUS! in the sparkly sense or completely sarcastic. Wait! What does ‘titular’ mean now? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/35 "2011-12-08T14:33:45Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > So, maybe if they redid [this old pen commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q98WrVhaTg) nowadays, they’d say, “so bright and BRIIIIIIIGHT.” That commercial was probably from the early 1970s, well into the era when “gay” meant “homosexual” more so than “delightful”. I’m surprised it aired like that, especially with Charles Nelson Riley in the lead. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/36 "2011-12-08T14:38:33Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Gay > Queer > > [snip] Would “butch” be in there too? It used to be a common male nickname, but now i hear it almost exclusively in reference to masculine lesbians. Somewhat off-topic: there’s also superlatives that have lost their meaning over time (“deluxe” comes to mind). Don’t forget “special”, which seems to be shifting thanks to “A very special” TV shows and its use as a replacement for “retarded”. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/37 "2011-12-08T14:42:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Everything I wear is, by definition, gay apparel . . . but not much of it is bright. Guess I know what I’m getting you for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/38 "2011-12-08T14:52:22Z")
What’s really weird is that the younger set use “that’s so gay” to mean “lame.” The first time I heard such a use, I told the speaker never to use that word in that context in my hearing again. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/39 "2011-12-08T15:16:06Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > What’s really weird is that the younger set use “that’s so gay” to mean “lame.” The first time I heard such a use, I told the speaker never to use that word in that context in my hearing again. The first time my daughter did it she got the ‘it’s okay to be gay’ talk. It took about 20 minutes. I am pretty sure she has never said it again mostly so she won’t have to endure the talk again. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388/40 "2011-12-08T15:44:07Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I too agree with the teacher. On one hand you can say it still draws attention to the line, but on the other kids are very literal and there’s no way they’re gonna sing the word gay without snickering. And no, doing that is not a fucking hate crime. > > Plus, [according to the Master](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/517/how-did-gay-come-to-mean-homosexual), gay kinda always meant, well, gay. Not exactly: it used to have a double-meaning as “licentious” but not specifically homosexually licentious (for example, calling someone a “gay blade” meant they were into sexual promescuity but not with other men, or use of the term refering to female prostitutes). The progression seems to have been by way of the anti-homosexual stereotype that assumed homosexual men were, of necessity, licentious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-we-now-our-bright-apparel/605388.md?page=3)