What does everyone else think about the term "ghey"?

[benevolent dictator]

I have friends who use the term "ghey" to mean dumb or stupid or whatever, the same things they use the term "gay" for, but they claim that the different spelling takes out the "homosexual" meaning but just leaves the "lame" meaning. They're pronounced pretty much the same as far as I can tell, so the only difference is online (or if you say, "That's really ghey, G-H-E-Y.") I've also seen "fhegit."

For some reason these terms are supposed to be less offensive than using "gay" or "faggot" to mean bad/stupid/dumb/lame. IMO, they aren't less offensive, but then again I don't consider "$h!t" to be any less offensive than "shit" or "f*ck" to be any less offensive than "fuck" because I know what they are supposed to be. (My dad always taught me to swear and mean it or not swear at all.)

So what does everyone else think? Is calling something "ghey" less offensive than calling something "gay"?

[saltpoint]

1. It's disheartening that "gay" is used as a way of invoking a powerful --

-- slam on someone else. I'm thinking particularly of high schools, but suppose it could apply to anyplace.

The derivation your friends use to change it only changes it on paper and not in the ear of the victim at whom it's hurled, nor to his or her heart and mind.

Navigating in the world is challenging enough without denigration from others.

[meegbear]

2. First time I've heard of it ...

and while I'm not thrilled with the word being used in that context, I give them kudos for trying to disassociate the negative meaning with us.

[REP]

3. Odd!

My Loved One and I were discussing how "gay" was used as 80s highschool slang, and how it seemed less to do with sexual attraction to the same sex but to behavior that wasn't particularly sterotypical of any group, and that "gay" was the completely wrong word to use. LO joked that maybe "ghey" could somehow be substituted. I thought it was just something he made up! I'm surprised to see it outside our kitchen.

(Just to be clear - not defending the stupid 80s highschool slang, or pretending that that use of "gay" was never homophobic.)

[MADem]

4. I think it is the same *fucking shit*, only different, frankly

Changing the spelling doesn't change the origin of the word. Sounds to me at best, like a lame excuse for failing to be creative, at worst, a deliberate attempt to con people that the motivations are somehow pure. I'm not buying it. Take any offensive word, spell it differently, and somehow it is all OK? Sounds like a GOP argument!!!

Of course, words do change in meaning over time. Gay used to mean just that--happy, cheerful, and was a common name back in the 30's and 40's. A faggot was a meatball, nothing more, and a fag, a cigarette.

But I think this is a way to shove offense in under the radar, while wearing a look of innocence. JMO.

[Democrats_win]

5. Sounds like new word is for effect rather than an attempt to help gays

Use of the word "sooo" by teens is similar. 'I sooo want to go to the Green Day concert.'

I read a lot of gay fiction and authors often refer to the idea that teens us "gay" to substitute for the word "stupid." For example, 'Invading Iraq was so 'gay.'

The authors never make a comment about the usage; they just accept it as fact.

[kweerwolf]

6. So alternate spellings take the sting out of slurs?

That's so comforting to know if I ever decide to refer to a latino as a "spik." Or refer to an African-American as a "neeger." Or maybe I can get by with referring to a woman as a "kunt."

:sarcasm:

Sorry, but I don't buy the argument that it becomes less offensive to use a different spelling for a slur. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein: "A rose is a rhose is a roze."

[benevolent dictator]

7. That's what I tried to say.

I was like, so if I called a black person (or anyone, really) a "nhegahr," should they be expected to not get upset once I explain that it's spelled differently? I don't think so.

They didn't really have anything to say to that, other than, "Why are you taking this so seriously? It's not a big deal."

[Ian David]

11. Tell him he's an ihnarent bhigot n/c

[mitchtv]

8. Fermented Yak Butter?

[realisticphish]

9. right

That's a load of shit (not sh*t ;)). It means the exact same thing, and is just as offensive. if i said "yu stoopid pees uv phuking shit" it would still mean "you stupid piece of fucking shit", even though I spelled it wrong

[bertha katzenengel]

10. Bogus.

What a crock of shit. If I called someone "you nyggher," meaning only that I thought he was a lazy, slovenly fool, is the offense any less?

[slackmaster]

12. I've stopped using it

I made a remark in public that someone took as offensive though I didn't mean it that way.

[davidinalameda]

13. people generally aren't that clever

to try and use a word as to avoid offending people

someone was trying to be cute

I'd compare this to "phat" `

[xchrom]

14. gay folk embrace queer and straight folk drive gay into the ground.

i've never been fond of ironically embracing certain derogatory terms in our language.
it never seems to transmogrify -- not really.

it's still horrifying for someone to scream queer at you while they drive by in public -- or to hear teens use ''gay'' or ''ghey'' in a smarmy, tribal knowing way.

it's all intended as a verbal culling technique -- used by the stupid and brutal.

[hippiegranny]

15. call me gay or call me ghey

I'll answer either way! But use the word to mean stupid or bad? NOW I'm offended.

[elshiva]

16. That won't fly! I wish they'd stop using gay in that

context. Don't care how you spell it, it's homophobia.

[TaleWgnDg]

17. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet . . . "

.
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet . . . " depending, of course, upon the usage.

Is it used in a derogatory manner? Then, no. Or is it used in a positive manner? Then, yes.

Language and its use can be a very powerful sword. Our first amendment protects those who use speech; that is, unless of course that such speech rises to incite others to do harm, is slander or libel, or violates other constitutional issues.

However, all that being said, if you use "guey" then that, alone, is an implied admission that "gay" is derogatory. And, what's to stop "guey" from being used in a like derogatory manner? Nothing.

The more positive and reasonable behavior would be to embrace "gay" as his/her own as much of the homosexual community has done.





.

[satyricrash]

18. booo!!

i think the whole thing is despicable. i grumble to all of my friends when they use it, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. it's the one verbal twist that really fucking bugs me, more than anything else really.

[FreepFryer]

19. Nhey. Bhad Idhea. (n/t)