Pathetic.

I'm a gamer so I hear it a lot. To be honest it gets a chuckle out of me sometimes but I don't use it myself.

I turn to someone who uses it that way and say, "You say that like being gay is a bad thing." That usually shuts them up.

If they say it in front of me & I don't know them I say Well I'm gay do you want to do something about it???? If I know them than I start lecturing them & call them assholes

That they're ignorant.

Do you mean what do I think of people who use derogatory terms about other people? It saddens me...more for them than those whom they are attacking. It tells me that their parents did a lousy job in teaching them what is important in life...respect for others, kindness, being helpful, being accepting of differences. Those that are the attackers are the ones to pity, because they are the haters in the world..haters end up consuming themselves in their hatred. As I said, it saddens me. :(

I think people are just mean and judgemental these days! I'm sure there is another word that could be used...

I think that they are dummies!

Well me and friends call each other gay all the time but its out of fun .lol.I think its just a guy thing pretty much.

It shows their ignorance.

it shows that they are ignorant. i hate it when "gay" is used as a derogatory term. i know many gays, and they are neither stupid ignorant or mean.

I would assume that they are closed-minded, uneducated and ignorant..and that they were raised by parents who were the same. just like any other bigot.

that they have low self esteem...

First, that they're stuck in 1998. Then I think they are ignorant and need better ways to communicate their feelings. Using that word as in insult (Man, that movie was gay!) still gives that word a negative connotation, and subconsciously when you hear that word you still think of gay as a negative word, when it's not. I think it's extremely junior high, and we should find a better word to use to describe our feelings.

I'm quite certain I'm going to be downrated for this, but here is my honest opinion: We have to take every word in the English language in context. Whether it be "Fuck" or "Gay" or some other word that has alternative cultural meanings. "I want to fuck you" means something entirely different from "Fuck you!" It's all about context. No word is ever the same when used in different contexts. I use "gay" in a negative manner sometimes. Do I hate gay people? No, absolutely not. Some of my best friends are gay. In my mind (and whether you want to claim that my mind is ignorant or not is up to you) it equates to "lame" in certain contexts. Do I say "Wow, that was horrible because I think gay people suck and therefore that's gay." No. I don't. We also have to account for the evolution of language. 100 years ago, gay meant happy. 50 years later, it meant homosexual. Today, it has a number of different meanings. On a final note, we can't let words get to us as much as they do. I'm of German descent, and I get called a Nazi sometimes when I speak German. Do I get offended? Absolutely not. Because I realize the context it is being used in, and realize that anything that comes from another person's mouth is not mine to own. It's theirs.

I've tried to emplain to people a number of times that "gay" does not mean stupid, but they don't listen, so instead when somebody says things like that I tend to use something about them instead... "I'd say it's pretty blonde" "Sounds pretty Peter to me" Seems I've started something in a rather small community and now instead of saying something is "gay" they say "That's so mormon" which is a little better I guess.

Quite frankly, I'm only bothered if people use it as a serious malicious word. If it's just playing around, especially between gays friends or even straight friends to gay friens, then it's ok. But if it gets really mean, well then I draw the line.

I pretty much think they are ignorant assholes! And then I have to decide if I want to "play" with them or can't be bothered....the anticipated amusement factor is the final decision maker for me.

I think it depends on the context. When Rep. Dick Armey called his political near-opposite Rep. Barney Frank, "Barney Fag", I think it was a venting of fear and loathing and meant in a very hurtful spirit. OTOH, when I taught high school students a few years ago, they threw the term "gay" around like we might use "dumb", or "stupid" or "gross". I'm not excusing their insulting behavior, but I believe that to them it wasn't an explicit condemnation of homosexuality per se. It was simply the derogatory slang term of the day, much like "mother*****r" is near-ubiquitous in rap/hip hop songs.

They're gay!

I become annoyed, regardless of the context. That shows the mainstreaming of negative stereotyping about gays.

They are retards.

What's wrong with being "cheery: bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer?"

We obviously have different interpretations of the word. I try sometimes to work out how it could possibly even be an insult, and my mind fragments.

I think its stupid.

I think they are ignorant.

I feel sorry for the homophobic mothers and fathers that scared these people.

Personally, I think people should stop using it that way. I don't mind if they use "gay" to describe something that's camp, but if they say "gay" to describe something just because it's boring or whatever, it does piss me off. Some of my friends say "gaaayyyy" in a stupid voice when they don't like something, so I just say "straaaight"

It doesn't really bother me. I don't use it around my gay/bi friends but I do find it to be one of my favorite insults. I don't use it as a real insult. I'd just sound stupid if I did. It's more of a joke. Here's a little convosation between my gay and straight friend. J:You're gay! B:I thought that was quite obvious. J:You're out?? B:Yes. [[We all expect J to be a jerk]] J:*shakes hand* Congradulations. I love my friends sometimes. :)

It's really just to do with the way people say it. The word packi actually means clean, but because of the way it's said it's seen as an insult. Same with gay, there's nothing wrong with being gay, it's the way people say it that makes it offensive.

Just curious as to why someone saying someone is "Gay" would be an insult since "Gay" people refer to themselves as "Gay"? ????? - Scratching head in bewilderment!

It is improper to use the word "gay" as a way to insult another person. No types of insults are proper.

that they're ignorant, buffoons, but I make them turn red with embarassment, when I kinda put them on the spot, only for fun tho.

Just to big note themselves.

lol! Sorry but anyone who calls me or anyone else gay where i live is nothing more than i bit of banter. It shouldn't really offend you, im aware of what subject this is on, but even if you are gay don't let it bother you. If it does then in my eyes its signs that your not happy with who you are. And if you aren't gay just laugh in their faces and call em pathetic for coming out with the worst insult ever!

well i actually have three meanings for the word gay: 1. happy, cheerful 2. homosexual 3. stupid, ugly, or childish so usually when i hear someone go like, for example, OMG THIS BOOK IS SO GAY, i go with #3. but i'm not homophobic at all.

I never thought of the question in this way but, I guess to refer to someone who is not homosexual or lesbian as 'gay' would be an insult to that person. I took it that the question was being asked in reference to someone who is homosexual or lesbian, since the topic is "Homosexuality and Religion". I have also noted that there are some lesbians who take it as an insult to be refered to as "gay" in that they believe this word only refers to homosexual men but, there are many lesbians who refer to themselves as "gay".

.....it usually always make me say something like...it is none of my business what another person does behind closed doors and no ones business what I do behind mine....usually I don't get that type of remark in a conversation again....I am so glad that I am not the judge of everybody.....I am happy to be me...even if I am a (straight)woman.....why would I talk like that....I don't know....but I have learned that most people condemn and then have a bit of better feelings for themselves....like a brunnette who makes alot of dumb blonde jokes...as if being a brunnette they are smarter....