On Fri, 2009-07-31 at 17:37 -0400, Glenn Sieb wrote: > LuKreme said the following on 7/31/09 3:27 PM: > >> Richard -- please watch your language. This is a public mailing > >> list, and offensive language here is inappropriate. > > > > I dunno, 'gay' isn't that offensive. > > > > > > Gay is *not* a synonym for stupid. > > I do take offense to the term being used in that manner. > > --Glenn > I find it deeply offensive that the word 'gay' is used as a synonym for homosexual in an attempt to stop people from using 'queer' - but hey 'gays' are not the only ones with opinions that 'matter'.
Gay **is** a synonym for 'stupid' (silly) as far as I am concerned. It's original meaning of 'carefree','happy','silly' and 'showy' are clearly being used with sarcasm. The fact is 'queers' hijacked the word as per this; "— USAGE Gay is now a standard term for ‘homosexual’, and is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. As a result, it is now very difficult to use gay in its earlier meanings ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy’ without arousing a sense of double entendre. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men, lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women." http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/gay?view=uk So please *quit* with the sympathetic pink preaching and learn what the word actually means. Just because it "is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves" does not mean a minority have the right to slate people who use the word properly. With regards to the dig about Barracuda - this *WAS* OT. There were some benchmark tests discussed here that were impressive. My experience of SA in daily production is on Barracuda Appliances that ****STRUGGLE**** to push 6-8 messages a second through, so it was relevant as comparison. The wording could have been chosen with more care and I apologise to Christians or dog lovers who found the use of the messiah or female form offensive. However, the use of gay in a sarcastic context clearly fits with the original origin of the word, not by that section of the society who have stolen it and made it OT and OM. For that I make ***NO*** apology. I appreciate that using 'gay' in it's real meaning may hurt the feelings of some 'homosexuals' but as I have to respect their choices and views, they should show *me* the same respect for *my* views and choices. You may not like who I am and what I do, I may not like who you are and what you do. Now do we need to continue this or throw little tin God banning threats around more or can we just *get along* knowing we are all different but frequenting this list for Spamassassin information ?
