"That's Sooo Gay!"

[labguy22]

I first heard this phrase, "that's so gay" about three years from one of my teenage nieces; today, it seems to be all over the place. In fact, I heard it at work today in reference to a lip piercing. The phrase seems to be related to something being stupid or not normal.
Should I be offended by this??? I try and pick my battles and I just don't see how this phrase would ever be seen as a positive.

[sailaway58]

I usually respond with, "oh, is that what it's like?" I get looks of confusion.
I think it is offensive but I don't know if it a battle to choose. I seldom let it slide by without a comment. Nothing too brainy. "Really? My gay friends have much better taste than that."

[Alecto]

Same as sailaway. I AM offended by it, but it's not high on my list of world-saving fights to undertake. Once I'm out to people, they stop, think, and say "no offense" after. At which point I say "how could that possibly be offensive, you comparing something you find distasteful to a core part of my identity?". Essentially, I acknowledge the fact that "no offense" doesn't excuse offensive stuff, and most folks try to work on it. Those that don't, whatever. They know it's offensive, and I know that they don't care enough to stop saying it in front of me, so I know they're not someone I want to hang out with a lot. It's all usually in a work setting, so that's as far as it goes.

[antiochian]

That saying has been around for at least ten years. People were using it when I was in high school, which was a good time ago. Have yet to come up with a good comeback.

[Nyshana]

That saying's been around for a while now - most of the people I hear use it aren't homophobic at all (now - they were a few years ago, but then where I was a few years ago, everyone was homophobic), so I tend to either let it slide or, if it's said in relation to me or something I do/have, respond "Thanks!". Puts them off-balance a bit.

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by antiochian

That saying has been around for at least ten years.

Add another seven years.

Sweet Moses, I'm old.

[Pablo Rafael]

Originally Posted by antiochian

That saying has been around for at least ten years. People were using it when I was in high school, which was a good time ago. Have yet to come up with a good comeback.

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

Add another seven years.
Sweet Moses, I'm old.

Oh brother!

I have no sympathy for you young whipper snappers. (with whisting s's from a pair of poorly fitting dentures.)

Try staring your 30 year!!! class reunion in the face like I am doing.

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

Oh brother!

I have no sympathy for you young whipper snappers. (with whisting s's from a pair of poorly fitting dentures.)

Try staring your 30 year!!! class reunion in the face like I am doing.

Pablo wins.

By which I mean he loses because he's so old.

[tymejumper]

I think its really a stupid thing to say, but I am not offended. I remember people, like my friends using it in the 80's, when I was in high school. I usually look at people and say "yeah, it's way too gay for even me". Some get the picture and others look dumbfounded, but they always change the subject!

[royalartisan]

I find it irritating. But then, most slangy language irritates me in general, so...yeah.

I mean..if I'm going to use the "That's so..." phrase...it typically ends with the word "lame" or "ridiculous". I try to mix it up and not sound so one-dimensional. Trendy slang just...bothers me. So does chatspeak....


But hey, that's just me.

Although, I do agree with Alecto on being bothered by the idea of someone comparing something they find stupid/distasteful/etc to a core part of my identity. I just usually point out that whatever it is they think is gay has nothing whatsoever to do with a person's sexuality and they scratch their heads and look at me with puzzled expressions, then go about their business.

[labguy22]

Originally Posted by tymejumper

"yeah, it's way too gay for even me".

Best retort I've heard, I'll try it next time.

Guess I've been under a rock for awhile, had no idea this saying has been around for soo long.

Love you all!!!!!

[RaymondCharlesWoollcombe]

"Thats so Gay" has become quite a popular thing to say. I hear it rather alot.I dont find it offensive or anything but i find it amazing how one word can go from one meaning to another meaning in the space of about a year.
I actually still have no idea what ppl mean by saying "Thats so Gay" but i guess it could mean anything.

Gay used to mean happy now its used as a swear word. Now thats funny.

Peace and Love
Raymond...

[Alecto]

Most folks mean it's "bad" (hence the offensiveness). Personally, I use it literally to refer to things that are just a little extra-queer (making it either neutral or with positive connotations).

"Awesome haircut, it's so very gay!".

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Alecto

Most folks mean it's "bad" (hence the offensiveness). Personally, I use it literally to refer to things that are just a little extra-queer (making it either neutral or with positive connotations).

"Awesome haircut, it's so very gay!".

I had this discussion with a colleague a few months ago. She was asking about using that phrase, and how offensive it really is. She had used it in front of a friend she suspects might be gay, and wondered if she had offended him. I suggested that it may depend on context. Like Alecto, I use it when something really is "so gay" that it's the very stereotype of gay behavior, or beyond. So in the case of my colleague, I offered "if your college aged son is dressed in a tutu for halloween, you might rightly say 'that's so gay' " but if you're just using gay to mean stupid or otherwise negative, find something else to say.

[livewithsoulandfreedom]

one time in class we were talking about the phrase "thats so gay" and this one guy Sid said
"when you think about the phrase 'thats so gay" is really kind of gay"
to which I responded
"no it isn't, the phrase "thats so gay" is oh so very straight. have you ever heard a gay person say "thats so gay" in reference to something they thought was stupid? ... I didn't think so"

This phrase doesn't really bother me. I have to many other battles to fight. However occasionally I might make a snide remark about it.

Like one time my friend Emma was upset with me and so she said
"you know you are just really really gay"
and so I said
"heck yeah I am and proud of it too"
she got really angry then and threw a snowball at me
then I said
"oh Emma you're such a girl"
and Emma said
"well yeah thats because I am a girl"

at which point a couple came around the corner with their dog and said hi... the woman was all cheerful and "well you could be doing worse things than building a snowman" (we were building a snowman) and the man was all like "you vandals, get out of my town" (he was a cheerful guy )

I think it may have had something to do with the fact that the whole conversation I had with Emma was rather loud and they would have been able to hear it... I basically know they heard us.

It was hilarious really because as they were walking by in approval or disapproval I knew that it was because the woman didn't want me to think she was a homophobe and because the man wanted me to know that he very much disapproved of homosexuality (in other words he was a homophobe). but the look on Emma and Kathryn's faces... classic

they were like "do you think they heard?"
I was like "no I know they heard"

*sigh* you had to be there....

I have many many more stories about that phrase...

Usually if its reference to me, as Emma said (not my friend the person that posts on soulforce), I usually say "thanks" and people give me these weird looks.

Mind you, I'm used to weird looks...

[Rick336]

Yikes! I kid you not. "That's so gay" is so yesterday. It's Dullsville. Do you copy? But whatever. It's all good. I can dig it. Peace out!

Here's more slang that's so yesterday.

The Fifties:

Are you writing a book?
Cruisin' for a bruisin'
Knuckle sandwich
Classy chassis
You're so kookie
What's you tale, nightingale?
You’re so square
Razz my berries
Made in the shade
Shoot low, they're riding Shetlands
Big Daddy
Agitate the Gravel
Dullsville
Cut the gas
She's got cooties
Word from the bird
Daddy-O
No sweat


The Sixties:

Right On
Groovey
Flake Off
"Meanwhile Back At The Ranch"
Shake it, Don't Break it!
Lay it on me
Sock it to me
Gimme some skin
Don't have a cow
Hang Loose
Here comes the judge
Outta Sight
That's heavy
Ripped Off
candyass
Eat me
Peace
Don't Flip Your Wig
Bummed out



The Seventies

May The Force Be With You
Lets Boogie On Down
looo-king Gooood!
Be There Or Be Square
Get Real
Let's Blow This Taco Stand.
that's so last week
No Way, Jose
Catch My Drift?
Dingbat!
Do You Copy?
Say What?
Dy-no-mite!
Freak-me-out
Check You Later
Kiss My Grits
Cool beans
Well excuuuuse meeee!
Boob Tube
Sit On It
Dream on


The Eighties:

Airhead
Where’s the beef?
Gag Me With a Spoon
I Kid You Not
Shit Happens
He’s a Space Cadet
Way Cool
Yikes!
I've fallen and I can't get up
Barf Me Out
Pencil You In
Butt Ugly
Couch potato
Well isn’t that special
Damn Skippy!
Fantabulous
Later Days and Better Lays
Most Definitely
That's the Ticket
Whoa...
How's it hangin'?



The Nineties

Don't go there!
CHA-CHING!!!
Boo Ya!
That's so gay
My Bad!
It's all good
Step Off
Aiight
Sweet
Whatever!
Yadda Yadda Yadda
Peace out
Get Over It
Eat my shorts!
Get a Room!
Brutal
Chill Out
TMI
What up dog?
Man, I'm Slammin
Open up a can of whoop-ass



Rick

[tdogg]

Ok, so I still say "cool" to almost everything. I'm so old, so outdated. (Got a year on ya Pablo!)

That's so gay - not so offensive to me, mainly depending on context, I think it's stupid when said by people that obviously have no idea what being so gay would mean. But sometimes with friends, we can joke like that. Maybe, we should start saying "that's so straight"? Any use as a comeback?

[prairielesbian]

Originally Posted by labguy22

I first heard this phrase, "that's so gay" about three years from one of my teenage nieces; today, it seems to be all over the place. In fact, I heard it at work today in reference to a lip piercing. The phrase seems to be related to something being stupid or not normal.
Should I be offended by this??? I try and pick my battles and I just don't see how this phrase would ever be seen as a positive.

My opinion... I think folks are being use (by God's will) to desensitize society as a whole to the term "gay". The more we hear it, the less we care...