I was watching Degrassi: The Next Generation on TeenNick the other day when I came across an interesting commercial.
These two girls where at a boutique trying on clothes. The girl asked her friend, "Do you like this top?" And the other replied , "That's so gay." Then Hilary Duff stepped out and told the girls that they really should not say that and that it's offensive to say "gay" when you mean "bad". The commercial ends with this question and statement:
When you say, "That's so gay."
Do you realize what you say?
Knock it off.
Now, I don't get to watch TV that much anymore, so maybe this commercial has been around for awhile but, this is the first time I've seen it.
I am so happy that this issue has been addressed this way. The whole issue of "thinking before you speak" is important. We always say thing without thinking about them. We say mean and offensive things without the intent of being offensive because we say them without thinking. Thinking before you speak is essential.
I'm human, definitely not perfect, so I'll admit I've said this before. I've said stuff like, "That's retarded." I never really thought about how offensive it would be. One day someone really just opened me eyes. How would I feel if I was someone with a mental retardation and people said, "that's retarded."
I have a very diverse group of friends. They are all important to me and I love them no matter what. I know for a fact that I would never want to hurt or disrespect them by being inconsiderate and offensive. If everyone could have this type of mentality to everyone, and not just their friends, maybe there would be more peace.
For complete information go to: ThinkB4YouSpeak.com
Check out the commercial here:
http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/psa.asp?play=tvspots&video=TV_FittingRoom_30
Thank you for pointing this out.
Meh....words have different meanings in different contexts. I don't really find people using the phrase, "That's gay" or "that's retarded" to be offensive, unless there is truly malicious intent. Pretty harmless to me.
Words are not what are offensive; the intention is. Just like the "N-word" isn't inherently offensive. What's offensive is the cruel, racist insult that it entails.
Meh....words have different meanings in different contexts. I don't really find people using the phrase, "That's gay" or "that's retarded" to be offensive, unless there is truly malicious intent. Pretty harmless to me.
Words are not what are offensive; the intention is. Just like the "N-word" isn't inherently offensive. What's offensive is the cruel, racist insult that it entails.
thank you Andrew!
as a gay person I deal with this on a regular basis, and it's really annoying
when gay is used like that, it doesn't mean homosexual in a derogation way anymore
it means the same thing as bad or stupid in no relation to being homosexual at all
sure the origin is offensive, but am I really to hold society responsible for an idea they no longer endorse, only inherited, and now have no real offensive intent behind?? that would just be childish