questions

[v_cat]

3 things in no particular order...

1) Does anyone have a labcoat in my size that I can borrow for Masks?

2)How many people know what the word "anneal" means and of those who do, is it an ok word to use when not talking about metalwork?

3)How many people out there still find the word "queer" jarring or even offensive?

Comments

[salmonpi]

1) It would probably fit you, I can send it home with one of your roommates tonight.
2) I don't think I've heard it outside of metalwork, but I'm really not sure.
3) Depends on the context, but it usually makes me a little uncomfortable.

[nevacaruso]

3. It depends on the context. If it's used in a derogatory manner, I get tetchy. If not, I'm usually okay with it.

(Heads up: my friend Nikki - Molly from The Phoenix Flap - is looking for Boston housing this winter, and I pointed her toward your journal just in case. No pressure. I hope it's ok.)

[catamethyst]

3) No, unless it is said explicitly derogatorily. At Oberlin at least, it's become so re-appropriated by the queer community (and friends and allies) that I sometimes forget that it has negative connotations. And I like that it doesn't commit someone to defining their sexuality narrowly: sometimes you need a word that just means "not totally straight" without going into a monologue about it (especially if neither "bi" nor "gay" nor "lesbian" fits quite right), and it fills in that slot nicely.