A lesson in English.

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A lesson in English.

by LandersUK ^Pro @ 2008-05-17 – 14:15:18

I am ~~sick to death~~ frequently irritated at the common misconception of seeing and hearing people refer to other people as 'homophobic' when they don't actually mean it.

Homophobic does not mean that someone hates or dislikes or is scared of gay people.

Homophobia is not the right term to use for someone who might say "you fucking poof" or words to that effect.

A homophobe is none of these. Homophobia is not a hate crime.

Homophobia is a problem. For straight people and for some gay people.

Homophobia is a fear of being gay. Straight and gay people suffer from it and rather than labelling the unaccepting with this title we should help those who truly deserve it. Show straight people that gays are nothing to be scared of... unless you're Juzzzy and I'm in the room... and help gay people realise it's okay to be gay.

Now, can we stop this silly use of a very normal and useful word?

I think it's time I had a manicure and a lay down!
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24 Comments on A lesson in English.

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- Juzzzy ^Pro
- http://juzzzy.blog.co.uk
- 2008-05-17 @ 14:24:26
Could you pass me the flannel?
- - LandersUK ^Pro
  - 2008-05-17 @ 14:36:36
  Oh yes of course. You'll need a wash before I go there.
  
  And I've since edit this entry so the comment about you actually makes sense!
  - - Juzzzy ^Pro
    - http://juzzzy.blog.co.uk
    - 2008-05-17 @ 14:40:00
    Be a-gayed. Be very a-gayed.
    
    //Christ// I'm hungover.
    - - LandersUK ^Pro
      - 2008-05-17 @ 14:41:04
      So I've heard.
      - Juzzzy ^Pro
        
        http://juzzzy.blog.co.uk
        
        2008-05-17 @ 14:43:37
        
        lol
        
        In other news, you are not - seeing as we're doing lessons in English - "sick to death".
        
        That, young man, is hyperbole.
        
        You are "frequently irritated at the common misconception of a word".
        
        I shall be in the shower if anyone needs me.
        
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        LandersUK ^Pro
        
        2008-05-17 @ 14:46:09
        
        I was going to have a go at you for being so bleedin' picky but then you called me young and it made me love you again.
        
        Of course, it has nothing to do with the images I now have of you in the shower.
        
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        Juzzzy ^Pro
        
        http://juzzzy.blog.co.uk
        
        2008-05-17 @ 14:51:09
        
        And how do you know I shit in the shower?
        
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        LandersUK ^Pro
        
        2008-05-17 @ 14:55:21
        
        What do I care if you do? That could be a turn on for all you know.
        
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        Juzzzy ^Pro
        
        http://juzzzy.blog.co.uk
        
        2008-05-17 @ 15:01:04
        
        Damn. Rumbled.
        
        Oh - you meant for //you//.
        
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        LandersUK ^Pro
        
        2008-05-17 @ 15:06:19
        
        Well whatever floats ya boat and all that.
        
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        Juzzzy ^Pro
        
        http://juzzzy.blog.co.uk
        
        2008-05-17 @ 15:07:32
        
        Shit reply etc etc.
        
        Hope all's well... x
        
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        LandersUK ^Pro
        
        2008-05-17 @ 15:20:52
        
        Well yes all is well... if you don't include my car being fucked and not looking like it's getting repaired today which means I might not be going to work on Monday!
        
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- boredrich
- 2008-05-17 @ 19:18:26
bloody irritating isnt it what the heck is wrong with people!?
- - LandersUK ^Pro
  - 2008-05-17 @ 19:42:50
  Edzackery!
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- Rampage ^team
- http://the.blog.co.uk/
- 2008-05-18 @ 00:00:02
I would like to be gay so I don't have to deal with irritating females. Does this make me a homophile?
- - LandersUK ^Pro
  - 2008-05-18 @ 10:51:25
  No love it just makes you gay.
  
  Welcome to the fold.
  - - Rampage ^team
    - http://the.blog.co.uk/
    - 2008-05-19 @ 13:59:13
    Fold? Is that some sort of gay thing? Should I know about it already?
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- SeasideMan ^Pro
- 2008-05-26 @ 13:34:07
I have to disagree. As with many words in English, homophobe has many shades of meaning. The one you give is merely one of those shades. A term for someone who dislikess homosexuals is by far the commonest way the word is used. The definition you prefer isn't even mentioned here:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/homophobia

You might wish the meaning were different, but it isn't.

It's a poor word anyway. The term "sexual prejudice" is preferable.

Cheers, Tom.
- - scoobydoofus ^Pro
  - 2008-05-27 @ 11:55:41
  I know what you mean, and shifts in usage do make words mean different things - look at the word "gay" for instance! But I think in the case of "homophobia" the meaning has been diluted by its use in the wrong situations. While it is now used to describe someone who fears/hates gay people, the original meaning was someone who felt that way because they were actually scared they were gay themselves.
  
  Language is fluid, and meanings change, but I think what Landers was trying to express was the fact that people are labelled "homophobic" all too easily.
  - - SeasideMan ^Pro
    - 2008-05-27 @ 12:17:47
    "While it is now used to describe someone who fears/hates gay people, the original meaning was someone who felt that way because they were actually scared they were gay themselves"
    
    I don't think that's right. The very first printed use of the word was by Jack Nichols in 1969 in his article "he-man horseshit" in SCREW newspaper. He states in a discussion in "gaytoday" (see link below) that he made up the word as a joke to describe how a macho straight man feels if others think he is gay. So, it wasn't fear of being gay oneself as you said, but fear that others might think you are gay.
    
    http://gaytoday.com/reviews/111003re.asp
    
    The first scholarly use was by George Weinberg in his famous 1972 book "Society and the healthy homosexual" where he described it as "fear of homosexuals.....a fear of reducing the things one fought for—home and family. It was a religious fear and it had led to great brutality as fear always does". Since then, that has been the prevailing meaning of the term.
    
    ---
    
    But I do agree that the word is overused. Lots of people dislike gay men without having any fear of them.
    
    Cheers, Tom.
    - - scoobydoofus ^Pro
      - 2008-05-27 @ 12:43:16
      My understanding of the word comes from my admittedly sketchy memory of 'A' Level Psychology. As far as I can recall it wasn't part of the course, but just an aside from the tutor when he was talking about something else.
      
      I know Wikipedia is not infallible, but this is what I was referring to.
      
      From the same Wikipedia entry:
      
      The word first appeared in print in an article written for the American //Screw// tabloid, May 23, 1969 edition, using the word to refer to straight men's fear that others might think they are gay.
      
      So, not quite what I thought. Although I was under the impression the term was much older than that too.
      - SeasideMan ^Pro
        
        2008-05-27 @ 13:36:32
        
        Thanks, that confirms what I said.
        
        I don't trust wikipedia for much, but on straight history it is often useful. That gaytoday article is pretty accurate, I think.
        
        Cheers, Tom.
        
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    - - scoobydoofus ^Pro
      - 2008-05-27 @ 12:44:00
      Arse, I just re-read your comment and saw you quoted the 1969 article bit! Sorry!
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- lyndlj ^Pro
- 2008-06-23 @ 12:40:39
I am just Phobic

I aint scared of you or brad ormy daughter or erm, get the picture, and I am not afraid that I am gay, I have been called it enough times (Funny how straight men always call you a lesbian if you refuse to have sex with them?)
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