Reply #19: The predominant view is that...

[TreasonousBastard]

homosexuality is an inherent trait, and not a question of learned behavior or choice.

So, using "fag" would be the equivalent of using "nigger." It is a pejorative for someone who "is" rather than "does."

Insulting someone for what he or she is, rather than what they choose to do, is the lowest form of discourse. It's not even debate. It's beneath even arguing. It's simply insult for the sake of insult and inflicting harm on the target.

I am adamantly against banning words, but if words must be banned, ban the ones that insult an entire class of people for simply being what they are.

This does, of course, mean that we have to come up with synomyms for British cigarettes and bunches of kindling wood.

(Curious that we have so far spent more time on this word nonsense than just about any other subject this month.)