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February 23, 2007
Going to court is so gay!
No really: (CBS 5) SANTA ROSA The school district's battle against a phrase many teenagers use without giving much thought -- "that's so gay" -- has sparked a legal fight.So that means that even acceptable words may not be used in an unacceptable manner? In my darker moments, I'd almost swear the word police are behaving in a niggardly manner. But that wouldn't be very white of me. Sigh. This is not new. Hell, I can even remember when Norton Utilities was gay. I think that whether it's logical or not, if you don't like something, you should have the right call it whatever you don't like. Take, for example (via Glenn Reynolds), these scowling models, for example. No please take them: Judging from their cold glares on the runway, it seems something has gone terribly wrong in the lives of fashion models. It doesn't matter where they are - the fashion shows earlier this month in New York, last week's in London, this week's in Milan. No place is up to their standards. They look perpetually peeved, as if there's nothing so hellish as wearing new clothes in exchange for thousands of dollars. What do they want-more money? Better clothes? More admiring glances?I don't know about unified theories, but for starters, smiling is gay. Well, isn't it? If you don't think so, have a nice day. In court. UPDATE (02/25/07): Thanks to Clayton Cramer for link. In another post, Cramer explores the issue of possible selective (religious based) bias in the decision to single out this girl. posted by Eric on 02.23.07 at 11:14 AM
Comments
Don't forget the Flintstones. :) Eric Scheie · February 23, 2007 02:17 PM Dan Savage dealt with just this issue in one of his columns. Here was his response: Officially, FWFR? It's so not okay to use "gay" as a synonym for lame. When you use "gay" like that, you're reinforcing a cultural prejudice against gay people—I mean duh, right? You may not be a homophobe, but using that expression is homophobic, and when you use it you're helping to sustain the prejudice that deprives your gay friends of their civil rights and marriage rights. Unofficially, FWFR? I don't care what you do. Most of the gay people I know use "that's so gay" the same way you do, and the few times I've overheard strangers using the expression, people who may or may not have been gay, I had to concede the point: The thing they were tagging as so gay was, in fact, so gay. tim maguire · February 23, 2007 06:56 PM I raised my kids in the Santa Rosa area. When I heard my daughter use that expression, I explained that it was not okay, because it was a form of insult. Now, some people have suggested that I change the name of my blog to Homophobe Central--but there's no reason to use a phrase like "that's so gay" to express lameness. Never offend with style when you can offend with substance, that's my motto. By the way: I would guess "that's so gay" entered the popular slang there because there was so much vigorous school promotion of homosexuality. Clayton E. Cramer · February 23, 2007 08:18 PM Hell, I remember when our hearts were young and gay. triticale · February 23, 2007 10:53 PM Honestly, I'm young enough that I feel like I remember when kids started saying this in this fashion. And, I think Mr. Cramer nailed it in a way. After proposition 9 failed in Oregon way back (proposition was to make it illegal to discuss homosexuality, AIDs, or anything related to the two in school), the school went a bit far the other way and had unofficial Homosexual Awareness week. Homosexuality was displayed as an activity of frolicking, harmless morons (I guess they thought we were going to be afraid of homosexuals, since the presentations were offensively stereotypical with regards to gay men being interested in primping and preening themselves). And, shortly afterward, people began saying "gay" in place of "lame". That's how I remember it. Jon Thompson · February 24, 2007 06:09 AM There are few terms more ridiculous than "homophobe," which (unless "homo" means "homosexual" to the word police) means "fear of sameness." CC, it speaks highly of you that you raised your daughter to be polite. Just because I think people are carrying these things to ridiculous extremes and I ridicule them in my blog does not mean that I do what I defend, any more than I would smoke because I defend smokers' rights. Eric Scheie · February 24, 2007 11:07 PM it's the fact that a mormon who's parents were activists against open-mindedness. Do they honestly not think that kids don't discuss this stuff in school among friends? of course kids talk, the reason for the presentations is so that bigots aka mormons and the like, at least have a realistic view of who they're trying to alientate. people like themselves FrankieBGood · February 25, 2007 07:35 PM Post a comment
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There are times when the only possible phrase to describe a particular situation is "that's so gay".
For instance, as you so elegantly (and eloquently) state, taking someone to court for using an adjective is, ironically, gay.
Depression, tears, and insomnia over Global Warming? Highly gay.
The hood of your car falls down because GM saved 20 cents on cheap seals for the pistons? Totally gay.
Getting caught running from the cops because you wear the waist of your pants down around your ankles? You guessed it: gayer than the gay mayor of Gayville.