Comments on: Let’s talk about a little phrase “so gay” http://www.leadingout.net/blog/lets-talk-about-a-little-phrase-so-gay/ Adventures in Teaching & Travelling in Australia Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:36:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Alysha http://www.leadingout.net/blog/lets-talk-about-a-little-phrase-so-gay/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Alysha Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:05:19 +0000 http://leadingout.net/blog/?p=38#comment-133 Hey Ms Teacher, (That's a great name by the way) thanks for your thoughts. I agree with you. I wonder if historically, there has always been language (within the same language) that has been used to isolate and perjore a group. These terms really seem to haunt the English language, no matter what country you are in. Or, maybe it's popular culture's continual inclusion of them in films (and other media) as the forever punchline. I'm thinking about how I felt after seeing "The Departed". I'll post that discourse. Hey Ms Teacher,

(That’s a great name by the way) thanks for your thoughts. I agree with you. I wonder if historically, there has always been language (within the same language) that has been used to isolate and perjore a group. These terms really seem to haunt the English language, no matter what country you are in.

Or, maybe it’s popular culture’s continual inclusion of them in films (and other media) as the forever punchline. I’m thinking about how I felt after seeing “The Departed”. I’ll post that discourse.

]]> By: ms_teacher http://www.leadingout.net/blog/lets-talk-about-a-little-phrase-so-gay/comment-page-1/#comment-126 ms_teacher Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:55:21 +0000 http://leadingout.net/blog/?p=38#comment-126 When I hear students saying "so gay", it is one of the things that really bothers me. I also dislike them using the "n" word, even though I know that it's a cultural thing. My other peeve is using the word "retard" or "retarded" because I have a younger sibling who is mentally/physically retarded. When phrases are used pejoratively, it's never a good thing. However, when my black students use the "n" word, I understand that they are using it in a much different way than someone who is a racist uses it. I think the gay community often uses words that those of us on the outside would probably cringe at, but again, it's a way of embracing a word that has been used to demean in the pass and take away the stigma that's associated with it. (wow! I wrote much more than I anticipated. Sorry about that!) When I hear students saying “so gay”, it is one of the things that really bothers me. I also dislike them using the “n” word, even though I know that it’s a cultural thing. My other peeve is using the word “retard” or “retarded” because I have a younger sibling who is mentally/physically retarded.

When phrases are used pejoratively, it’s never a good thing. However, when my black students use the “n” word, I understand that they are using it in a much different way than someone who is a racist uses it. I think the gay community often uses words that those of us on the outside would probably cringe at, but again, it’s a way of embracing a word that has been used to demean in the pass and take away the stigma that’s associated with it.

(wow! I wrote much more than I anticipated. Sorry about that!)

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