Reply to the thread-starter:
I would probably ask the person why they seem to have something against homosexuals. People are free to have their own opinion about things, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. However, I would probably want to talk it through with them and hopefully have a rational discussion about it. I don't buy the argument: "I dislike them simply because I dislike them even though I have barely a clue as to what the word I just called them entails" but I'm willing to discuss it.

As for myself I wouldn't mind having homosexual friends. Friends are friends no matter which sexual orientation they have and as long as I can talk openly with them and trust them I will stand by their side, even against my own family if I'd have to. I think it's important to keep an open mind and always remember that no two people are identical. We all have our own personalities, likes and dislikes and that's something we should respect.

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You mean if someone goes like "OMG, that soo gay?" I say nothing and go about my way. It's just a freakin' sentence. It's like saying "You're so retarded." {Which is still wrong, but nothing to destroy a friendship over} I'm not going to jump on someone and fight them for a sentence. I only get angry if they drop it like every ten seconds or something. But if you only hear them say it once or twice, it's nothing to get into a huge row over.

However, if any of my friends were being blatantly homophobic and being complete you-know-whats about it, then yes, I'd jump on them and give them a stern talking to. But, then again, our politics have a tendency to stay on the outside of a convo. Unless I'm talking with my extremely liberal friend.

I hear people say that all the time (even on the radio e.g chris moyles) I guess it depends on how they say it and when they use it. 😕

Always believe in yourself.....

I read the topic and then I read the OP and now I am confused.

To the topic:
Yes we can.

To the OP:
Do my friends use "gay" in a derogatory way? Yup. Are people offended? Nope, because we all do it, including myself and my gay friend. We use gay like most people use it in everyday conversation (aka retarded).

Some people also call me homophobic. At a summer camp where it was 2 to a bed, me and my friend had a sofa bed and we both immediately decided to just take turns using the bed with the other person sleeping on the floor. I always lose at the "Are you freaked out yet" game which is basically chicken but seeing how gay you can be instead of driving off a cliff or something.

That's how I am and I hate the people who preach at me for saying "gay" when they don't even know me. I don't say it to them either, I only say it when I'm with people I know and they just overhear me. I defend my gay friend, I voted no on Prop 8, I know more gay people than most. People who attack people like that are of the same mold as the ones who attack gay people without getting to know them. The difference is in degrees, not in kind.

Yeah, this is a pet peeve of mine.

Nothing wrong with gays at all 😀 Their just normal people =0

My best friend is gay =0

Yaoi is <3 🙂

www.myspace.com/xxyaoigoddessxx

I'm actually more annoyed with the people who pounce on others about insensitive comments --- I've listened to to many arguments, most because they are unavoidable; people are far too loud. Now I just leave the area or tune the strangers out. Self-righteousness annoys me; too often have I witnessed strangers get into arguments about the issue which always has the same format. The arguments follows little logic and are full of ad hominem, slippery slopes, red herrings, straw-man arguments, and a multitude of other fallacies. It's not just the person making the comments that starts degrading the argument, or even starting the argument in the first place.

I've heard and witnessed several of these conversations; the self-righteous person takes a personal offence to the initial comment and usually says something along the lines of : "I have gay friends and they ....." or even "Have you ever met/talked/known gay people? You're completely ignorant and know nothing about..." These arguments go nowhere and accomplish nothing more than a disturbance.

I don't hate homosexuals but at the same time I don't support them either, I don't argue with them because doing so does nothing productive. It's strange that the populace with defend them so adamantly causing more trouble than homosexuals themselves.

Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?

I never use "gay" for retarded things. Don't have that habit and I seldom hear people around me saying that. I guess this expression is popular among some people but not others? I think we don't use it because it could sound rude and hurting since you don't know whether there are real gay people around when you are talking. Considerate people rock.

The only issues I have with people and their opinions and views on homosexuals is when...

1. They're friends with someone and everything is hunky-dory... and then they find out they're not straight and want to act like total assholes. Someone's sexual orientation has no relation to who they are.
2. They never want to see past someone's sexual orientation to the person that they actually are.
3. They want to consider it as a "mental illness." Or due to some traumatic childhood experience that lead them to not being "normal" aka heterosexual.
4. When they want to discriminate against their rights as people (such as same sex marriages).
   .... and I could go on.
   Everyone has the right to their own opinions and views, but I think it's important share those opinions respectfully - don't be a dick to those that are different.
   And since some usually want to knock on those that aren't heterosexual.... I'll say, straight people suck ( 😛 )...

If it weren't for the gutter, my mind would be homeless.

Yea being straight can be a total bitch at moments.

For many of man's faults one can see a single factor influencing the result in others. Organization is what gives man its stability over the natural world. It allows it to categorize the things around it ,and it allows man to triumph over nature through precision and efficiency. Yet, the creation of organized strati in various area has led to social conflict. Religious differences, ethnic differences, class differences too name a few are example of this expanding trend. The idea of what is right in the world also comes from this. What we perceive as right is not limited to what others thinks is right, but that is not to say that others do not have an influence in our own perceptions of reality. Look at what you do every day, and this fact can be more easily discerned. Treating people differently will always be ingrained as a part of society. This is because as long as there is diversity or a need for comparison, we will be unable not to see those differences. Many people think its not what makes us the same, its what makes us different(family,blood,etc)

"the world is an illusion, one created by our own attempt to piece together an ephemeral reality." 🙂 🙂 🙂

True victory does not come in defeating the enemy in battle, but in winning the war before the need of one.

Sun Tzu

Gays or straight, whatever.

I know well that I have a thing for women..and Im not attracted to men, at all..

I hate it when ppl say "Z0mg, how come when you're gay But you never had sex/kiss with a girl b4?" or "You will like men someday, you're just growing up" "You never really love anyone b4" "Guys can be jerks but not all of them are bad"

oh forgodsakes, is sexual orientation really define by sex, immaturity or personal experiences/gender stereotypes?? 😐

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[color=black]The Hidden Agenda=[/color][color=red]Gol.D.Ace[/color]

[color=black]This Week's favourite:[/color]
DoLL (Okado Tatsuya)
Xp

Quote from Hermit-chan

Gays or straight, whatever.

I know well that I have a thing for women..and Im not attracted to men, at all..

I hate it when ppl say "Z0mg, how come when you're gay But you never had sex/kiss with a girl b4?" or "You will like men someday, you're just growing up" "You never really love anyone b4" "Guys can be jerks but not all of them are bad"

oh forgodsakes, is sexual orientation really define by sex, immaturity or personal experiences/gender stereotypes?? 😐

Well you are still in high school so it could change. No guarantee like those other people you quoted were saying.

Quote from KennEH!

Quote from Hermit-chan

Gays or straight, whatever.

I know well that I have a thing for women..and Im not attracted to men, at all..

I hate it when ppl say "Z0mg, how come when you're gay But you never had sex/kiss with a girl b4?" or "You will like men someday, you're just growing up" "You never really love anyone b4" "Guys can be jerks but not all of them are bad"

oh forgodsakes, is sexual orientation really define by sex, immaturity or personal experiences/gender stereotypes?? 😐

Well you are still in high school so it could change. No guarantee like those other people you quoted were saying.

I'm a 2nd year uni student btw 😐

[img]http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/obinrobin31/FINISHED2-Roger.gif[/img]
[color=black]The Hidden Agenda=[/color][color=red]Gol.D.Ace[/color]

[color=black]This Week's favourite:[/color]
DoLL (Okado Tatsuya)
Xp

Quote from Hermit-chan

Quote from KennEH!

Quote from Hermit-chan

Gays or straight, whatever.

I know well that I have a thing for women..and Im not attracted to men, at all..

I hate it when ppl say "Z0mg, how come when you're gay But you never had sex/kiss with a girl b4?" or "You will like men someday, you're just growing up" "You never really love anyone b4" "Guys can be jerks but not all of them are bad"

oh forgodsakes, is sexual orientation really define by sex, immaturity or personal experiences/gender stereotypes?? 😐

Well you are still in high school so it could change. No guarantee like those other people you quoted were saying.

I'm a 2nd year uni student btw 😐

Sorry meant uni, thinking of High School atm. Still though life can change when your that young. Nothing is really set in stone.

I'll say something along the lines of "Wow that's really gay." sometimes, but it's not like I'm purposely using the word to discriminate or hate on gay people. Hell I'm gay! I just use it without thinking about it's prime, or literal meaning or anything.

Just like when people use the word retarded or dumb. When someone calls another person retarded or says that they're dumb, it's not because they have anything against the mentally retarded or people who can't speak, it's just because those words have taken on an alternate, slang meaning. It's like a homonym; they are said the same, they may have some similarities, but they are ultimately used for different purposes.