Cultural question

[Typhoon]

“Gay” as a pejorative seems to be more of a teen/high school thing, which is seeping more into the mainstream.  “Dude, that is so gay…”  Although, online, I have seen this particular usage spelled as “ghey” with the appropriate shift in pronunciation. “Ghe..”

I inadvertently caused much gleeful hilarity in class when I suggested that my students needed to “ratchet up” their efforts…

Oooops…

“Ratchet” or “ratchet girl” seems to connote “ghetto” or “ho” or Miley Cyrus’ new twerking persona.

Sigh…

I shouldn’t complain.  When I was in high school, students dissolved into fits of adolescent giggles when the chemistry teacher said that if we didn’t follow his instructions, he would “whack off” points.

Hee hee hee hee hee…

[41magsnub]

I shouldn’t complain.  When I was in high school, students dissolved into fits of adolescent giggles when the chemistry teacher said that if we didn’t follow his instructions, he would “whack off” points.

Hee hee hee hee hee…

Once in high school we got the debate teacher to admit she was a "Master Debater"   

[RocketMan]

IIRC, *Not nice word for gay men* used to be a slang term for cigarette in the UK.  I wonder if that has changed?

[fifth_column]

It's also possible to throw another *Not nice word for gay men* on the fire . . . .

[onions!]

*Not nice word for gay men*

I liked the tinfoil hat guy better.

[fifth_column]

I wonder how the word became a derogatory term in the first place.

From thefreedictionary.com:

*Not nice word for gay men* (ˈfæɡət) or fagot
n
1. a bundle of sticks or twigs, esp when bound together and used as fuel
2. (Metallurgy) a bundle of iron bars, esp a box formed by four pieces of wrought iron and filled with scrap to be forged into wrought iron
3. (Cookery) a ball of chopped meat, usually pork liver, bound with herbs and bread and eaten fried
4. a bundle of anything
vb (tr)
5. to collect into a bundle or bundles
6. (Knitting & Sewing) needlework to do faggoting on (a garment, piece of cloth, etc)
[C14: from Old French, perhaps from Greek phakelos bundle]

[HankB]

I think the word "gay" for homosexuals started to come into common use sometime in the late 60's - at least, that's when I remember some columnists debating the use of a word meaning "happy" for a group that seemed singularly unhappy at the time. (An alternate suggestion to the word "gay" was "morose.")

The most "polite" term was used by Johnny Carson . . . "A little light in the loafers."   

[MillCreek]

^^^ I buy my loafer lightener and mincing gel by the barrel!

[Monkeyleg]

Here's an interesting article on the etymology of the word that can't be said.

[onions!]

Here's an interesting article on the etymology of the word that can't be said.

The URI you submitted has disallowed characters.
The posted link took me here.^^

[freakazoid]

The URI you submitted has disallowed characters.
The posted link took me here.^^

New link, http://tinyurl.com/yjcv87w
It's because the original had the word *Not nice word for gay men* in it so it changed the url.

[lee n. field]

A foot note reminder on the eighties?

Remember GRID?Gay Related Immune Deficiancy?

I don't remember it being called that.  I do remember reading articles in Science News about this new disease that seemed oddly prevalent in male homosexuals, involving immune system problems.  Early '80s.

[makattak]

I wonder how the word became a derogatory term in the first place.

From thefreedictionary.com:

*Not nice word for gay men* (ˈfæɡət) or fagot
n
1. a bundle of sticks or twigs, esp when bound together and used as fuel
2. (Metallurgy) a bundle of iron bars, esp a box formed by four pieces of wrought iron and filled with scrap to be forged into wrought iron
3. (Cookery) a ball of chopped meat, usually pork liver, bound with herbs and bread and eaten fried
4. a bundle of anything
vb (tr)
5. to collect into a bundle or bundles
6. (Knitting & Sewing) needlework to do faggoting on (a garment, piece of cloth, etc)
[C14: from Old French, perhaps from Greek phakelos bundle]

It's simple: people used to burn homosexuals because they are made out of wood.