I’ve heard this sentiment that it is immoral a lot on the internet, and I would like to hear more about it. It feels intuitively correct to me, but I would like to hear the reasoning behind it.
Examples to further the title's meaning
- Calling someone ‘queer’ to mean they are weird, but not in a way intended as disparaging to those who are LGBT(Q+).
Not Examples
- Calling someone ‘queer’ to mean they are within the group known as LGBT(Q+). (or in any other neutral/positive tone)
- Calling someone ‘queer’ to mean they are weird, in a way intended to attack and/or disparage the LGBT(Q+) community.
- Calling someone ‘queer’ to mean they are weird, and you say you do not intend it negatively towards the LGBT(Q+) community, but you secretly do mean it negatively. (This is not intended as referring to anyone in particular /srs)
Discussion questions:
- How does this factor into meanings of words fading away?
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- Does it still pack the same “punch” after it no longer is commonly used as a pejorative?
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- If not, at what point is it generally considered okay to use?
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- How does this differ/compare with reclamation?
Some potential reasoning that I've thought of on my own, feel free to discuss.
- Bad actors can piggyback off of the use as a negative to help condemn the original target group.
- It may directly harm the group, by them (also knowing the original context) coming into contact with it and causing/enabling self-hate.
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- This may apply irregardless of if they know it was intended as non-disparaging to them or not, but this is just speculation based off of my similar experiences.
I apologize for any personal bias within this comment, I tried my best to limit it but I am fallible.
Though I would like a discussion in the comments, please refrain from insults and inflammatory statements towards your fellow lemmings, despite the hot topic. /srs
I’m in my mid-60s and I would still assume “queer” or “gay” when used about a human being refers to them being not-cishet in some way.
I can see them being used about something inanimate. A rainbow flag and a US flag can both flutter gaily in a parade. And a queer old Cabinet of Curiosities might be intriguing.