Student in trouble for using the word "gay"

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

In my opinion, young people are too afraid of homosexuals, because they have never encountered them before. Some people say "I'm homophobic, I couldnt be friends with a gay person." How do they know that? Have they ever met a gay person, probably not. It didn't change my opinion of any of my friends here at ST when I discovered some of them were gay. If they realised that it isn't such a big deal, they probably wouldn't use gay as an insult, but people still get called it for something that has absolutely no homosexual relations... Unless they mean happy, of course...

[coolotter88 2]

That discrimination against white people thing with the firehouse is really sick. there is no need for a multicultural/diverse workforce. What is it going to do? they should just hire the people best suited for the job and if you come to two applications that are the same, flip a coin!

[sc4portugal 10]

Originally posted by: The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz In my opinion, young people are too afraid of homosexuals, because they have never encountered them before. Some people say "I'm homophobic, I couldnt be friends with a gay person." How do they know that? Have they ever met a gay person, probably not. It didn't change my opinion of any of my friends here at ST when I discovered some of them were gay. If they realised that it isn't such a big deal, they probably wouldn't use gay as an insult, but people still get called it for something that has absolutely no homosexual relations... Unless they mean happy, of course...quote>

 

Your right i'm freaking scard of them (no offence to any of them), but as you say I've never met one.

[JanYpe 17]

but as you say I've never met one.quote>

Yes you have.

Your right i'm freaking scard of themquote>

What? Why? I can understand being scared in the sense of not wanting to see Bubba pop out of the bushes for some surprise sex. But being afraid of "them"? Them as one entity? It's not an international club with weekly meetings as far as I know.They aren't going to try to lure you to the dark side.

(An aside; Would it be offensive here if I had mentioned stuff like how the clubs secret handshake is limp wristed? Or how the weekly meetings are all lispy, pink and fabulous? Inquiring minds want to know.)

[Camaron 1]

Originally posted by: The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz In my opinion, young people are too afraid of homosexuals, because they have never encountered them before. quote>

 

My personal experience generally agrees, many people I know think of gay people as aliens from Mars. That is generally far from reality, when I met people for the first time here and in real life I did not instantly know they were gay, and when I discovered they were gay it did not change my opinion of them. Sexuality is important, but it is not everything when getting to know someone.

[mcarch 15]

gay gay joy joy... oh, um, er... happy happy joy joy.

There was a person who said it: She came back with a come back after someone said something about 10 Moms. It didn't sound as she used it to be derogitory. My question is this. Why didn't the other student get into trouble for his/her remark about mormons? I find this bullying, and isn't so much about saying the word gay. It is a red herring to the main subject... bullying.

I am a future educator (also gay), and neither of these things would be tollerated in my book. This girl who shot back, was doing it in some sort of defense, clearly making a statement that its hurtful and wrong to sterotype. I do believe that the school may have taken it a bit too far, and the parents WAY too far. However, I do believe that SOME sort of punishment is in order, at least detntion for her, and something more major for the person who started it. BOTH needed to be punished, just not her as severe as it was.

P.S. I don't find someone calling something so stupid, so gay. However, if translated. "That is so gay" ---> "That is so happy" Now does that make sense to a shoe or some object???? Humanistic qualities to an object...

[KyNYC 16]

I'm touched by all the supportive comments from most of the members here. Hiding my sexuality was BRUTAL for so many years (I remember feeling different when I was 7yo). I got married, joined the Army and have 2 beautiful children, then finally came out. I now have peace in my life, have a husband and a family that loves and supports me! Thank you!

[sc4portugal 10]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

but as you say I've never met one.quote>

Yes you have.

Your right i'm freaking scard of themquote>

What? Why? I can understand being scared in the sense of not wanting to see Bubba pop out of the bushes for some surprise sex. But being afraid of "them"? Them as one entity? It's not an international club with weekly meetings as far as I know.They aren't going to try to lure you to the dark side.

(An aside; Would it be offensive here if I had mentioned stuff like how the clubs secret handshake is limp wristed? Or how the weekly meetings are all lispy, pink and fabulous? Inquiring minds want to know.)quote>

 

Ok. it's not exatly sarced but more  and it's not as an entity but more of the concept well it's this:

The idea of someone loving someone of the same sex freaks me out a little, but I have nothing against them.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: vlad755 I find it ironic that she (a Mormon which in Liberals worldview are the hand-maidens of Satan- see the treatment Romney, Cox* et al receive(d) in the "main-stream" press) whereas the little darlings that accused her of having ten mothers receive nary a slap on the wrist.  Just proves yet again that if you do something wrong against the left, there will be hell to pay, but if you say something that is within their worldview, i.e. Mormons-polygamy, that is okay.quote>

Excellent point. There is definitely a big secular activist movement in the US that wishes to suppress all public expression of religion. And it has done good things (removing religious content from public schools) and bad things (the whole Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas thing).

Making fun of Mormons isn't frowned upon because Mormons are stereotyped as being devoutly religious, and thus making fun of them is to be expected. But make fun of gays? ZOMG you homophobe!!!!11one!1

There is definitely some unfairness in it.

And another thing with your second phrase quoted up there: substitute "Gays" and "minorities" with "Evangelicals" and you would also have a proper statement. quote>

Well, gays and minorities are diffenrent in that they're groups which one doesn't choose to be a part of, they just are. Evangeicals had to make a choice to be Evangelical, and common stereotype has it that they're religious whackos who wish to control the world. And, unfortunately, there at times seem to be truth to that. Look at all the stuff they've been doing in recent presidential elections. There's definitely a religious agenda there.

I am not an evangelist, but I am Catholic and even I am sick and tired of the Lefts' treatments of Evangelicals.quote>

Well, so far as I'm concerned, ragging on people about their religion is perfectly valid and not bigoted in any way, since everyone who has a religion in this country has it by choice. Since they made a choice to be part of a religion, that choice is something you can criticize them for. You can't, however, criticize someone for being Mexican, or gay, etc. See the difference?

 

Only the left would consider desecration of a religious symbols art- elephant dung on the Virgin Mary is considered art in NYC.quote>

Well, anything that's a result of someone's personal expression can be considered art. You can be offended by it and not like it, but it's still art nonetheless. Art is a very broad category, and lots of people like to try and classify things they don't like or don't approve of as not being art but just smut. But the fact remains, no matter what you think of it, if there is at least one person who can appreciate it, it's art. Even pornography is art, though most people would like to think otherwise.

[Ded 30]

Pffft, I use that term as an insult frequently... See me getting up and arms about "queer rights"? Not on my life... And student rights... don't exsist!

[sc4portugal 10]

I'm a catholic and left-wing (the euro version of left wing and im not connumist)

[dannylm 0]

It depends on what context you use it in. Iam gay is not offensive but that jumper is so gay is offensive and I know that kids here in the UK dont use it as a term of endearment it is used as an offensive term. It should be placed in the same catergory as other offensive words used to describe someone colour or ethnicity. As it is much the same.

BTW yes I am gay.

[dannylm 0]

It depends on what context you use it in. Iam gay is not offensive but that jumper is so gay is offensive and I know that kids here in the UK dont use it as a term of endearment it is used as an offensive term. It should be placed in the same catergory as other offensive words used to describe someone colour or ethnicity. As it is much the same.

BTW yes I am gay.

[FlyHigh 181]

My opinion about a person doesnt change by the fact that the person is gay or not. I mean, yes it is a diferent... choice from the 'usual' but I don't think it's a reason to be scared. And yes, the word 'Gay' is often use as an insult (at least around these parts of the world). Personaly I condemn those people... I mean, If I wan t to make fun of someone I'm not gonna call him/her 'hetero'... I simply don't understand why do people use it as an insult. It's not a choice. It simply is a way of being. I suport the idea that a person should do whatever they want (whith whom ever they want (as long as it is with mutual concence)). If you're gay, thats great. If you're hetero, thats great. If you're bi- thats better for you (I like to think bi-sexual people have the opurtunity to get the best from both 'sides' ) But most of all, I believe people shouldn't judge and criticise other people based on their sexuality.

[FlyHigh 181]

My opinion about a person doesnt change by the fact that the person is gay or not. I mean, yes it is a diferent... choice from the 'usual' but I don't think it's a reason to be scared. And yes, the word 'Gay' is often use as an insult (at least around these parts of the world). Personaly I condemn those people... I mean, If I wan t to make fun of someone I'm not gonna call him/her 'hetero'... I simply don't understand why do people use it as an insult. It's not a choice. It simply is a way of being. I suport the idea that a person should do whatever they want (whith whom ever they want (as long as it is with mutual concence)). If you're gay, thats great. If you're hetero, thats great. If you're bi- thats better for you (I like to think bi-sexual people have the opurtunity to get the best from both 'sides' ) But most of all, I believe people shouldn't judge and criticise other people based on their sexuality.

[coolotter88 2]

hey, gay people call other people straight to make fun of them...(something I didn't know like 3 months ago).

[coolotter88 2]

hey, gay people call other people straight to make fun of them...(something I didn't know like 3 months ago).

[slowerisfaster 0]

Guys, this topic is 3 months old. Unless you have new information why bring it up?

[slowerisfaster 0]

Guys, this topic is 3 months old. Unless you have new information why bring it up?

[hamsterTK 93]

Whatever

anyways, Ive been thinking of this, and my opinion has changed, and im disgusted how it was handled

If a student is being homophobic that is the job for the counselor. If a student is also being picked on because they are being brought up in a strict religious household, that is also something the counselor should be doing....What is the point of strong punishment and playing favorites to make what seems like a political statement? One I agree with but am sickened by the way it was carried out...

Look, Im an atheist and I wouldnt mind getting involved in something involving gay rights, but to me there is something seriously wrong with a kid being picked on just because their parents are fundies, and for that behavior to be tolerated by the school. Im sure that girl will grow up and eventually form her own opinions, if she doesnt she's roadkill in modern society but at that point it wont be the school's problem

If I was a teacher/counselor/principal at that school, I would have a talk with all parties involved and try to get them to be more tolerant of one another, and actually learn a lesson. Call in the students and tell them they arent in trouble, they just need to talk, and im sure you would have a chance. If it didnt work out, obviously its the parents who are the problem....

Anyways, its kind of late for this situation, but this is an interesting topic, and I have a big feeling that it is going to show up again

[hamsterTK 93]

Whatever

anyways, Ive been thinking of this, and my opinion has changed, and im disgusted how it was handled

If a student is being homophobic that is the job for the counselor. If a student is also being picked on because they are being brought up in a strict religious household, that is also something the counselor should be doing....What is the point of strong punishment and playing favorites to make what seems like a political statement? One I agree with but am sickened by the way it was carried out...

Look, Im an atheist and I wouldnt mind getting involved in something involving gay rights, but to me there is something seriously wrong with a kid being picked on just because their parents are fundies, and for that behavior to be tolerated by the school. Im sure that girl will grow up and eventually form her own opinions, if she doesnt she's roadkill in modern society but at that point it wont be the school's problem

If I was a teacher/counselor/principal at that school, I would have a talk with all parties involved and try to get them to be more tolerant of one another, and actually learn a lesson. Call in the students and tell them they arent in trouble, they just need to talk, and im sure you would have a chance. If it didnt work out, obviously its the parents who are the problem....

Anyways, its kind of late for this situation, but this is an interesting topic, and I have a big feeling that it is going to show up again

[Duke87 1,070]

Reviving this was rather unnecessary, dannylm. It's an old topic, and you already posted your coming-out in the closet thread, so that wasn't necessary either.

Can we get a lock on this thread, please?

[Duke87 1,070]

Reviving this was rather unnecessary, dannylm. It's an old topic, and you already posted your coming-out in the closet thread, so that wasn't necessary either.

Can we get a lock on this thread, please?

[MrFingers 0]

wow, this is REALLY stupid. From now on, anyone who uses a word in a negative manner and that word can be associated with someone else (ie, the very definition of an insult), they will be punished.

[Micah 16]

Yes, I'll close it; but, I'll close it only because the author asked for it to be closed.

-Thread closed-