Is 'queer' an acceptable term again then?

It's unacceptable.
Enid Blyton should have known better!

 

I often go down to Arbroath to watch their games at Gayfield Park.
But recently started to get some right queer looks.

 

Well, considering Nudge used to litter his "questions" with thinly veiled racially charged statements I think it's fair that people were all over him.

 

Simple rule.

If you personally dont feeling comfortable saying it then dont.

 

" There's nowt as queer as folk."
Offensive. ?
"My arse"
It's all in the context. If folk want to see it differently that's an issue for them. Not most.
Only in a derogative way as to someone else's sexuality can it be deemed offensive. Gay has been deemed more acceptable. No doubt one day. used widely as a disparaging remark. That will become unacceptable. ( eg Black. Coloured.) It will be derided by some circles.

 

I wouldn’t because I’m not gay. Some gay friends do and some don’t. Neither faction would feels comfortable with straights using it.

 

It's obviously not offensive in that context, as the usage has nothing to do with sexuality. Whole different kettle of fish when used instead of gay.

 

Edited to provide more context as I see things.

 

I was once at work and said to a colleague. " I could eat a scabby donkey" He saw the funny side and said "Hey" even though I hadn't picked up on it. Straight away.
Yep. He broke the strike.

 

Because they would be discussing a TV show that has the word in its title, not a specific group of people. If someone said they hated watching queer eye cos it’s full of queers then that’s different.

I’m gay. I would never refer to myself as queer because it’s a word that has negative connotations to me. Do I accept that the word has been reclaimed and is now used positively? Absolutely!

 

I didn't say discuss the show in a negative way, I meant in any way. All I'm asking is if Queer is an offensive term to all but a very specific group of people, how come a mainstream show (which is hosted by LGBTQ people) has the word in its title and how can anyone from outside that specific groups of people (who have reclaimed that word) discuss that show in any way without being offensive?

I'm not being deliberately obtuse, I'm just confused how a word can be both offensive and used in mainstream media aimed at all people?

 

‘Queer’ is an umbrella word for a wide variety of people across a spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. The word is often used in mainstream media - usually when discussing ‘queer culture’. Some people identify as ‘queer’ - I don’t. I’m a gay man. When I said some still find it offensive I was simply pointing out that it’s probably not a wise move for heterosexual men to go around thinking the term is suddenly acceptable and start calling a group of people queers. It’s widely accepted among the LGBTQ+ community that the word has been reclaimed, but some aren’t comfortable using the word to describe their sexuality or lifestyle.

The show you’re referring to actually first started in the early 00’s and was called ‘Queer Eye For The Straight Guy’. It’s an early example of the word being used in a positive way, but certainly played on very typical stereotypes of gay men - especially fashion and grooming. What makes you think people couldn’t talk about the show without being offensive? If the show is called ‘Queer Eye’ then saying you love or hate the show, or discussing the show in general is being no less offensive than saying you like/don’t like Eastenders.

 

Would spoil a good game of scrabble though. 10 points. Get it on a triple letter score.

 

A couple of friends refer to themselves as Fag1 and Fag2. On their rare social trips North, that is what we (their close friends) refer to them as too. We do so because they are comfortable with it. But if a stranger called them it, or the full F word, they would be understandably disgruntled.

The group of gay lads who I socialised with when working in Southampton regularly referred to each other as she / her ......... but were offended if a stranger referred to them the same way.

 

I think it’s due to the fact the original dictionary meaning of the word queer is something strange or unusual, so to refer to someone as queer because of their sexual orientation implies they are strange or unusual. (Probably why it was chosen in the first place by certain people?)

Hence I wouldn’t use that terminology, if people want to reclaim the word then fair enough that’s their choice.

 

I think we're at cross purposes, or maybe I'm not articulating myself very well.

Whether people like or hate the show is irrelevant, I'm asking why, if some people find that word offensive is there a mainstream TV show that has the offensive word in the title?

The N word wouldn't be used in a programme title as even though some people use it, it's still an offensive word. So where's the difference with the Q word?

As I said, I really not trying to be difficult, I genuinely want to understand where the difference lies. My son is currently asking himself some pretty sizeable questions at the moment and we've had some great conversations about these kinds of subjects. I see myself as a progressive, forward thinking person, but I can't for the life of me get my head round why if a word is offensive it would be used in a TV shows title?

 

"I'll take 'the kind of trivial identity politics b0lll0cks only Guardian readers witter on about' for $500 Alex."

 

Probably trivial to you as you've never questioned yours.

 

The term "queer", has always been in constant use in the gay community. It fell out of common use in society in the latter part of the 20th Century, due to its pejorative use as an insult. It is coming back into usage again by younger gays,as they see it as powerful to own it and turn it against those who harass and discriminate. It's still might be considered impolite and discriminatory to use it in public or at work,even if you are gay yourself. If you spend time with gay people or are gay yourself, you will be familiar with when to use the word queer.

 

But worth losing at Scrabble if we can rid ourselves of Queens Park Rangers.