i could have a field day with this onemistafuktasticJune 19 2006, 21:26:23 UTC
but i'll try and focus.
starting with fag: though both words carry negative connotations, this one wins in that category. on one level, a fag encompasses all those negative stereotyped images of homosexual men. i'd go so far as to say that it has really lost much of it's original connection to the homosexual population and mostly just means a man who's lacking in masculinity. however, as with many pop-culture terms, it really has lost most of its meaning to me and i'd be willing to call just about anything faggy if i felt like it (ie: your mom's a fag) without thinking much about the homosexual population. within the homosexual male population it has been adopted as an endearing term, though only when used within the sub-group (much like the black community's adoption of the term "nigger"). it's interesting to think that a group of homosexual men will refer to themselves as fags and laugh, yet also use the same term for another homosexual man they dislike.
as for gay: first off this is a much broader term. it encompasses the whole homosexual population, whereas fag only refers to homosexual men (and more broadly, men lacking in masculine traits). the term lesbian has come to differentiate homosexual women, but a lesbian will still describe herself as gay. it too contains similar conotations of femininity, but has taken a much more generic usage. a guy could be called a fag or gay to insult him. however, inanimate objects and concepts are refered to as gay. for example, you'd more likely hear, "this class is gay" than "this class is a fag." the term has come to describe anything that is undesireable, regardless of what trait is making it so. this is probably due to overuse and overexposure thanks to frequent use of the term in the media.
starting with fag:
though both words carry negative connotations, this one wins in that category. on one level, a fag encompasses all those negative stereotyped images of homosexual men. i'd go so far as to say that it has really lost much of it's original connection to the homosexual population and mostly just means a man who's lacking in masculinity. however, as with many pop-culture terms, it really has lost most of its meaning to me and i'd be willing to call just about anything faggy if i felt like it (ie: your mom's a fag) without thinking much about the homosexual population. within the homosexual male population it has been adopted as an endearing term, though only when used within the sub-group (much like the black community's adoption of the term "nigger"). it's interesting to think that a group of homosexual men will refer to themselves as fags and laugh, yet also use the same term for another homosexual man they dislike.
as for gay:
first off this is a much broader term. it encompasses the whole homosexual population, whereas fag only refers to homosexual men (and more broadly, men lacking in masculine traits). the term lesbian has come to differentiate homosexual women, but a lesbian will still describe herself as gay. it too contains similar conotations of femininity, but has taken a much more generic usage. a guy could be called a fag or gay to insult him. however, inanimate objects and concepts are refered to as gay. for example, you'd more likely hear, "this class is gay" than "this class is a fag." the term has come to describe anything that is undesireable, regardless of what trait is making it so. this is probably due to overuse and overexposure thanks to frequent use of the term in the media.
Reply
Leave a comment