Saw that too, that he noted his mistake. Woo! Maybe I fought ignorance. 
Years ago when my first child started school she came home asking me questions like “what’s a faggot?”. Even now she will occasionally slip and call her brother the same thing. Altough she does realize that it is a derrogatory term and isn’t happy with they way gay students are sometimes treated at her school. Doesn’t seem to stop her occasionally from using terms such as this because they have come so familiar to her.
I’m not trying to impose my “tight ass” attitude on anyone else. It’s just a personal choice I have made, mainly because I don’t want to set a bad example for my children in this regard. Children don’t always know how to sift through harmless humor and a true insult. And just because some of you here might not mind a little harmless joking around about stereotypes that doesn’t mean that others won’t. I wouldn’t want to get to comfortable with thinking that way. It’s a personal choice really and it’s made with the utmost respect for others people’s feelings. Just in case. It certainly wouldn’t be beyond the capacity of my mouth to fit my foot inside. And I can think of any number of people that might be harmed by identifying them with a stereotype.
I might be a little anal where this kind of stuff is concerned but I think I’m trying to do the right thing. Besides…Goboy’s comment was funny. I just don’t have to like that fact that I thought so.
Needs2know
Unfortunately, it does not appear to be in their archives, but there was an Onion article on this very topic a while back:
POINT-COUNTERPOINT:
The Spartans are Gay (typical bashing of rival team for prancing around and wearing purple)
vs
The Spartans did, indeed, engage in homosexual activity
Damn that one had me laughing…
Needs:
I suppose it might be argued that if your really were all that anal about it, your daughter would know not to use those terms in your hearing . . .
Contrary to waht you think, N2K, I actually admire you for your efforts to combat prejudice and hate in your area. I admire that you educate your children not to use hurtful slang unthinkingly. however, as I have said before, you need a sense of humor. Sometimes, it’s OK to poke gentle fun at stereotypical foibles a la Will and Grace. There is a huge, yawning gulf in sentiment between a straight friend of mine saying, “Dude, that is so gay!” when I quote Blanche DuBois (which is particularly funny given that I look and act 180 degrees opposite of the gay stereotype and my friend knows I’m 100% gay) and somebody saying, “Hey, faggot!” Big, big difference there.
So, again, N2K, I applaud the effort you make to educate those around you. Just remember, sometimes the best way to fight prejudice is to ridicule it to death.
Guess what andros despite my best efforts in some things my daughter is head strong, hot tempered, sometimes terribly self centered an quite often a royal bitch. A few nights ago she told me fuck you, and lost her phone privledges along with it. But when she sees injustice it bothers her and sometimes she sticks her neck out to say what she thinks is right even when it goes against the majority. I’m proud of her for that. My son on the other hand is different. Granted he’s only nine but he will say Opps! and throw his hand over his mouth if he slips and says “shut up”. (I don’t like them to say shut up either.) He will on occasion call his sister a butthole. She started that of course. He’s never even asked me what faggot means like she did, I’m not sure if he knows. He just knows it’s something he shouldn’t say. He isn’t nearly as observant about things as she, he’s my kind of goofy guy and in a way that might be good. He did wrestle the tar out of a neighbor kid not to long ago for saying “cussys” at him.
You are all probably right. I should lighten up a little at least in adult company. Maybe I’m a little touchy because I do live among so many bigots. I’ll try to do a little better in the future. Perhaps a few episodes of Will and Grace are in order. My best girlfriend says that’s her favorite show on TV.
Needs2know
I thought I’d add something about stearing your kids…My daughter is vehemently against abortion. (I suspect because she loves babies and small children so much.) Despite the fact that I have been pretty much pro-choice or at least ambivilent about it. What I’m trying to say is that I am fully aware that despite how I might try and lead my children about certain things, particularily social issues they may not follow. They do have to make their own decisions about some things and I am more than aware of the influence their peer groups have on them.
Needs2know
I’m almost afraid to comment…
Keep up the vilgilance, oldscratch. Hopefully this was a one-shot from the guy.
Esprix
I’m the first to say discrimination against gays is horrible.
BUT
It’s a horrible, sad fact that words like “gay” and “faggot” have become insults among some demographics. At least some of the time it’s not meant as actual gay-bashing.
What sucks is that this notion of being gay as an insult is indoctrinated into our society. Which is why I’m glad you didn’t flame him, oldscratch. I don’t know red_dragon60 that well, but he doesn’t strike me as a raging homophobe.
Although it’s important to make sure that we stop seing “gay” as an insult, we can’t do it by yelling at people who say it flippantly.
[/preaching]
whoa, pit thread about me. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought Rasa meant about my comments about heartbreak, not gaybaiting. I really like our good gay friends here on the SD. I am trying to be tolerant. I am sorry that it came out wrong, I really am. I hope that everyone will be able to forgive me for this grievance. I truly am sorry that it came out that way. I didn’t mean that comment about the gay comment, which I regret posting. I am sorry about that too. I thought Rasa was talking about me comments to Speaker, which were also pretty harsh.
To wrap up, I am really sorry for this whole messup. I understand where you are coming from, Olscratch. I would be offended too. I really think what I did was wrong, it was a bad joke.
I hope we can all get along again.
Yeah no problem… just be a little more considerate IRL about your actions. Also, if you notice other people acting like that, you should speak up. Although, depending on your circumstances I could understand if you don’t.
I figured it was a thought tossed out without thinking. I’ve done a fair ammount of those. Forgotten and forgotten.
Here, have a peace balloon full of N2O.
Thanks Oldscratch. I speak up when other people make comments like that, I still have no idea why I said it. I guess the air bubbles finally hit my brain. My sincerest apologies.
red_dragon60, thank you. I sincerely did want to believe that it was just a tossed-off remark that you made without thinking about. It happens. Thanks for venturing in here and clearing things up. Good to know I’m right about people from time to time.
The matter is closed. Be not worried about it any further, red_dragon. (mom voice) But let this be a lesson to you!!!
Dragon: I am glad you learned your lesson. The more you know, the more you grow, GO JOE!
Quote of my vacation this year: “Esprix, it’s not polite to bogart the balloon!” (Hey, it was my first time - “Esprix fall down!”)
Esprix