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The word "queer". Our homosexual friends will forgive me if I take this word back for the common usage. I imagine they're quite through with it anyway.

Without resorting to my Funk & Wagnall's, the word "queer" means odd, strange, weirdly out of place, contrary to all expectations. Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" dealt with queer topics. It's a very useful word in the English language, and its time has come to return for its original use.

The British geneticist J.B.S. Haldane famously said "I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine. Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose."

Bingo. Richard Dawkins recently had to defend Haldane for the use of the word "queer" from someone who wanted to know what the nature of the universe had to do with human homosexuality. Dawkins simply explained that the word "queer" means weird, and I think he was somewhat embarrassed in having to say so.

Queer Nation notwithstanding, call something, not someone, queer today. OK, tomorrow, it's late. The richness of the matris lingua demands it.

nsns

Make time for great justice.  Expect us.

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Well put NSNS. However, don't forget that after many, many years of hearing the word queer used as derogatory put down the gay community "took possession" of said word. It became a word of empowerment by sheer necessity. Remember "rapping" in the 70's meant to sit around and discuss current events and now it's used to describe and pitiful excuse for a musical form. Sad. A "tweet" was once a sound that a bird made. It seems that the entire English lexicon will someday be just a "fond memory" as our language continues to take on completely different meanings. I, for one, will miss it if I'm still around.
Some gay groups started using the phrase as a counterattack and to dilute its offensiveness. If you call someone a derogative term and they start using that term themselves, it looses some of the punch. I still find the term offensive. It brings back bad memories of being called that when I was growing up. To me, it is akin to using the word "n****r" for a black person.
quote:
Originally posted by David L.:
Some gay groups started using the phrase as a counterattack and to dilute its offensiveness. If you call someone a derogative term and they start using that term themselves, it looses some of the punch. I still find the term offensive. It brings back bad memories of being called that when I was growing up. To me, it is akin to using the word "n****r" for a black person.


No David, not 'gay' groups...the word you are looking for is 'homosexual'.
quote:
Originally posted by vergerbear:
quote:
Originally posted by junior samples:
It was a nice word till the gays came out of the wood-work and started shoving their life-style down our throats.While they were shoving something else down theirs!


As always a great, big A S S HOLE in every forum/group. The same A S S HOLE who thinks every gay person around "wants them."


Well...its easy to tell whats on your mind... Big Grin
GD it, I hit some unknown Microsoft BS key combo and lost a whole response. This one won't be as good, if MS allows me to post it.


Uand, if I understand you correctly, certain word have been commandeered by special interests toward their ends. I suppose such is not unknown in human history, take for example "suffragette". It used to be an insult to those uppity women who dared to think they could vote intelligently.

"Queer" is one such word. First used as an insult, commandeered as a term of pride, within a community. I am not part of that community, so if I'm wrong, someone tell me.

My small problem is that perfectly good English words have been redefined, to the loss of the language. "Queer" I've already discussed. "Gay" used to mean a care-free happiness. I suppose "gay" is beyond redemption. Language changes, but homosexuals are not care-free and happy in excess of heterosexuals, in my observation.

Heck, some atheists want to define themselves as "brights". I don't think so, and I'm one of them. It's self-flattering, like "gay".

Do I have too much time on my hands? I'll admit, I'm on vacation. Smiler

Happy New Year all, and thanks for the conversation.


nsns
quote:
Originally posted by David L.:
Some gay groups started using the phrase as a counterattack and to dilute its offensiveness. If you call someone a derogative term and they start using that term themselves, it looses some of the punch. I still find the term offensive. It brings back bad memories of being called that when I was growing up. To me, it is akin to using the word "n****r" for a black person.


Thanks, David. You've stated my point exactly. Henceforth, let us use the word "queer" to mean odd. It's passe' in terms of sexuality. Outdated, obsolete.

Similar is the word you mentioned regarding black people. When a white person says that word in its pejorative sense, the disgrace is upon him, not the person to whom he refers. The attempted insult backfires, and the insulter becomes the insulted.

We'll never get to the point where the "N" word is acceptable, because it's designed to insult, but that word was not derived from a positive word in the English language.

Not so with "queer". Oh, yes, I understand the acceptance as a means of mockery, but the time for that is over (I think). "Queer" is not a compliment, except facetiously.

Enjoying the conversation.

nsns
Yes, I see what you mean. However, I don't think the use of that word will go back to what it once was. I think it is now considered an outdated term. I'm actually reading a novel now that was written in the early 1900s and "queer" is used over and over again as an adjective. You don't see it used like that these days and I don't believe you will again. It is just outdated, period. A lot of words end up that way. I love old films and I'm constantly hearing terms and phrases that are not used today.
I repeat, just try to tell someone on the forums that you take gluco****e for your diabetes 2. I found this about about three years ago and I use it as a litany when this subject comes up. (Even censors the 'ph' factor!) I will try a new one. Years ago children read a story about a little boy who saved his town by putting his finger in the ****. There was a goal rush in the Klon**** at one time. So- what would you do for a Klon**** bar? The ***gots were stacked around Joan of Arc's feet. I could go on forever and this is without coffee. I am all ***ged out!
quote:
Originally posted by Tool:
quote:
Originally posted by vergerbear:
quote:
Originally posted by junior samples:
It was a nice word till the gays came out of the wood-work and started shoving their life-style down our throats.While they were shoving something else down theirs!


As always a great, big A S S HOLE in every forum/group. The same A S S HOLE who thinks every gay person around "wants them."


Well...its easy to tell whats on your mind... Big Grin


Your screen-name is certainly appropriate! Wink
quote:
Originally posted by junior samples:
It was a nice word till the gays came out of the wood-work and started shoving their life-style down our throats.While they were shoving something else down theirs!


they've always been around and always will be, moron. god i despise alabama sometimes but i guess ignorance knows no bounds.
quote:
Originally posted by junior samples:
Hey Vergerbear, you should change your name to Boogerbear!

I think the word your looking for is "bugger." It is a British idiom (which describes an expression in case you don't what idiom means) that is used to refer to intercourse; not just the kind between two men.
So you actually mean "Buggerbear" I would guess.
Instead of saying "f*%k that" the expression is "bugger that."
Buy a dictionary.
Queer indeed that I am on the same page with NSNS and Uno on this topic.

I wonder if it started innocently enough... like 2 fellas chattin and one ask the other if he has heard anything about 2 guys hookin up and the guy says... "That's queer"... Because, in fact, it is odd to think of. Like watching an adult constantly try to ram the square peg in the round hole...No matter how many times you try to explain to them that the square peg doesnt go in the round hole... that there is in fact a round peg for the round hole and a square peg for the square hole... it's quite queer that the fella keeps tryin to ram that dam square peg in a round hole...... Wink

Also, the word f --- a ---- g is still used regularly by folks from England. I've met a few recently through my job and the use it everytime I mention going out for a smoke. It'll def catch you off guard at first. lol
quote:
I wonder if it started innocently enough... like 2 fellas chattin and one ask the other if he has heard anything about 2 guys hookin up and the guy says... "That's queer"... Because, in fact, it is odd to think of. Like watching an adult constantly try to ram the square peg in the round hole...No matter how many times you try to explain to them that the square peg doesnt go in the round hole... that there is in fact a round peg for the round hole and a square peg for the square hole... it's quite queer that the fella keeps tryin to ram that dam square peg in a round hole......

Not even going to go there.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
I wonder if it started innocently enough... like 2 fellas chattin and one ask the other if he has heard anything about 2 guys hookin up and the guy says... "That's queer"... Because, in fact, it is odd to think of. Like watching an adult constantly try to ram the square peg in the round hole...No matter how many times you try to explain to them that the square peg doesnt go in the round hole... that there is in fact a round peg for the round hole and a square peg for the square hole... it's quite queer that the fella keeps tryin to ram that dam square peg in a round hole......

Not even going to go there.


I find it rather 'queer' that the fella would have a square peg. LOL.

Mechanically speaking-You CAN put a square peg in a round hole Ya just need a big enough hammer...... -and then you end up with a pair of 'squovals.'

Big Grin
quote:
Originally posted by Tool:
quote:
Originally posted by vergerbear:
quote:
Originally posted by junior samples:
It was a nice word till the gays came out of the wood-work and started shoving their life-style down our throats.While they were shoving something else down theirs!


As always a great, big A S S HOLE in every forum/group. The same A S S HOLE who thinks every gay person around "wants them."


Well...its easy to tell whats on your mind... Big Grin


Thank you, Anita Bryant. Roll Eyes

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