BBC says derogatory use of GAY is OK!

[Reuben]

As the times has reported today (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...212170,00.html) the Governnors at the BBC have decided that because the word gay is used to mean 'rubbish' it is ok for presenters to use it as a term of abuse. The decision was triggered by complaints about Chris Moyles saying 'that ring tone is gay'. The governors ruled that since "the word 'was often now used to mean ‘lame’ or ‘rubbish’ " and that "This is a widespread current usage of the word amongst young people” such comments were OK.

This is ridiculous. You would have to be completely stupid to think that the connotations 'gay' has in the playground (weakness etc) are divorced from popular stereotypes of queers. This argument is like saying that because someone might use the word jew to refer to somebody mean - as opposed to an actual jew - using 'jew' as term of abuse is OK. The real implications of the disgusting BBC decision is that once i stereotype becomes so hegemonic that people subscribe to it and sustain it without even thinking, it then becomes ok.

I am actually wondering what actions are being planned/could be planned in relation to this.

Reuben

[Angry Young Man]

Chris Moyles is an arsehole anyway. All the insults of Wilde wouldn't show my contempt for him!
(Strange I should mention that, but he is "everything to everyone and nothing to anyone"

[Black Dagger]

The decision was triggered by complaints about Chris Moyles saying 'that ring tone is gay'. The governors ruled that since "the word 'was often now used to mean ‘lame’ or ‘rubbish’ " and that "This is a widespread current usage of the word amongst young people” such comments were OK.

Funny, this actually sounds similar to a member of the CC made a while ago,

In response to this post made which received a warning point for homophobic language:

Originally posted by Coggy
Ok thats kinda gay , but those reagan shirts are hilarious , not that id buy one or anything

they said:

"I don't think everyone who uses 'gay' as an adjective meaning stupid associates it with homosexuality or 'gay', just as not everyone who uses 'gay' as in 'happy' or 'bright/sunny' associates it with homosexuality...i mean, clearly the only contemporary, mainstream use of 'gay' is 'homosexual' but i don't think you can attribute political intent to youth culture slang; plenty of young gay people use 'gay' in the slang sense as 'stupid' as well. It really amounts to a second, seperate definition of the word, at least in usage.

He said 'gay' as in 'stupid' not 'gay' as in 'homosexual' (or for that matter, 'gay' as in 'happy&#39

Just like i might say "Isn't it lame that you can have three pages of deliberately sexist comments from both restricted and unrestricted members and people pick on someone for making a comment that while politically incorrect was clearly not intended to be homophobic?"-that would be using the term 'lame' as in 'stupid' not 'lame' as in 'disabled.'"

What do people think?

[emma_goldman]

My ideas are mixed. Part of me feels it is wrong to use the word "gay" because it IS more than just teen slang, it is used as a pejorative, i.e. to imply that is something stupid or bad, etc. This I think further assists in homophobia because it equates gay people with something also stupid, bad, wrong, et al. But another side of me doesn't want to be a P.C. Nazi, sometimes it's recognizable that you don't mean it as a belittling term you're just joking with your friends like I sometimes call my friend John an "emo fag". I don't mean this to be discriminatory to homosexuals, I'm just messing around with my friend.

[Invader Zim]

The BBC should certainly not be allowing it, te fact that it is used by youth today in shouch a manner is a bad thing! They should not be, condoning, encouraging and promoting this kind of language.

Bloody BBC trying to be 'down with the kidz'.

[Janus]

They should definitely cut down on this. This homophobic phrases such as gay and faggot pervades much of youth culture. Even though some kids may not mean it intentionally, they are associating the homosexuality with stupidity as it is almost always used in a derogatory way.

[Palmares]

Just like in the legal system ignorance of the law isn't an excuse to commit crime, ignorance of the etymology of words is not an excuse to propagate oppressive language.

[Brekisonphilous]

I am guilty of sometimes using it that way. And I am definitely no homophobic. I just think of it of having two different meanings. I think of two differnt things depending on the context i hear or use the word. It is just a simple little word though. I don't see why we let language even constrict us so much. But leave it to pop culture.

Media should not use the term in that way, it is very unprofessional and inaccurate to use the word in a way other than sexual orientation.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Brekisonphilous+--> (Brekisonphilous)I am guilty of sometimes using it that way. And I am definitely no homophobic. [/b]

If you are 'definately' not homophobic why continue to use homophobic language? It is not terribly difficult to say what you actually mean, 'lame', 'crap' etc. instead of using homosexuality as a catch-all synonym for 'a state of shit'.

Originally posted by Brekisonphilous+--> (Brekisonphilous)
I just think of it of having two different meanings. I think of two differnt things depending on the context i hear or use the word. [/b]

The problem is that such language plays a significant role in reinforcing the acceptability of homophobia and homophobic language in everyday life.

Gay is a sexuality, not something that is 'lame' or 'crap' - by not being critical of this homophobic usage, by accepting it as you say 'I just think of it of having two different meanings' you're perpetuating homophobia.

Brekisonphilous

@

It is just a simple little word though. I don't see why we let language even constrict us so much. But leave it to pop culture.

I'm not really sure what this has to do with letting language 'constrict us' or with 'pop culture' - but homophobia and homophobic language is not something that should be taken as 'just' 'simple little words' - that kind of complacency lends passive (and at times not so passive) support for homophobic attitudes. Homophobia along with all forms of bigotry and prejudice need to be tackled head-on WHERE EVER it is manifest - there's no such thing as an acceptable level of homophobia.

Brekisonphilous

Media should not use the term in that way, it is very unprofessional and inaccurate to use the word in a way other than sexual orientation.

'Unprofessional' and 'inaccurate'?

How about, it's down-right homophobic?

And why is not acceptable for the media to use, but you continue to use it in your every day life?

[chimx]

this thread is gay.

[Red Heretic]

Originally posted by chimx@Jun 28 2006, 03:50 AM
this thread is gay.

Does it make you happy to use heterosexist language?

[chimx]

it depends on the situation.

[kjt1981]

totally in the wrong. Everyone knows what the word means and the fact that its linked with what many would consider undesirable behaviour is the reason its unacceptable to use as a metaphor for rubbish/crap/whatever. The word "shit" is used by everyone on the entire planet to describe something undesirable but they cant use that on the radio... If anything its less offensive - everyone does it and who really wants it around!

If Moyles (arsehole) called someone Jewish for not lending money would that be ok? Of course not! Yet the word has slipped into common parlance to deride someone when it is considered they are being selfish. I clearly remember occasions when i was younger calling people "Jewish" before i really knew why i was saying the word or what a "Jew" was, and therefore why the word held such connotations.

Ive heard moyles get away with using the word "nigger" on his show; i think the reason for this is that the word "nigger" is being used more and more as a term of affection yet words such as "Gay" and "Jew" are used in a derogatory sense.