Sweetheart as in African American, I don't find the N word offensive, as long as it's with an a, instead of an er. I don't represent the entire demographic but I find it to be harmless if used in the right context.
But Steven that does nothing to the word. It was always offensive when one demo. used it against the other demo. What changed? They could say it to eachother? Cool. But they're still gonna be offended by that word. Anyone can call their friend a racial slur that applies to them both. It doesn't need to go through a process.
er...yea? im not understanding your point. i didnt say it went through a process, i said queer is a slur and unless you're reclaiming it for yourself as an LGBT person, you shouldn't be using it
I think they're talking about how they claimed "gay" now that originally meant happy, then it was offensive to them, but it isn't if they use it amongst themselves.
I only use the word gay for two reasons. 1. When someone is homosexual 2. When something is lame/dumb 1. "That guy's gay" 2. "This movie is gay"
It's very simple. Kefo is asking what constitutes reclamation. With the word gay it used to be offensive. It was widely accepted that you cant call homosexuals gay because it was derogatory. Homosexuals then embraced the word and it is now an acceptable term for a homosexual. Where as with the N word and the Q word (do we say Q word now?) both are still considered slurs so how can you say they've been "reclaimed"?
Gay was never offensive, it originally meant happy, joyful, positive things. People pick and choose which words they want to be offended by and everyone else has to adjust their way of speaking to not hurt the feelings of a couple others. If not they get called -phobic and -cist words and they're in the wrong somehow.