Amelioration or perjoration of words

[gilhooly]

One of the basic rules of language is that the meaning of words change over time.

Ameliorate means the word is more acceptable. For example words like crap or suck would have gotten me slapped as a kid. Crap was only used to denote excrement and was as unacceptable as shit. Suck was considered the same as cocksuck is today.

Words perjorate when the word is less acceptable. The word queen is considered objectionable to most gay guys and would not be used on TV to refer to us.

Currently the word gay is perjorating. I assume everyone has heard somesay that some movie was SO GAAAY. Some people don't like us to have any pride. Screw them.

If we ever were to pick a new word to denote homosexuality what word or expression would you like to offer.

Personally I decided MOSS sounded nice. It is an acronym meaning Masculine Organic Sex Specialist. I have always felt that homosexuality was more organic than heterosexuality. Our feelings arise within us and cause an empathic response on other males who are likewise becoming erect, Heterosexuals seem to go crazy looking at tits but sex researchers say all guys watching porn prefer to focus in on erections and ejaculations. Most straits could seldomly describe the girl but were 100% accurate when comparing the performers penis to their own. They always knew if it was longer or shorter. Researchers said that men like to watch men and women prefer to watch other women when viewing porn.

Guys since about 3% of guys don't masturbate at all and they may be completely heterosexual. For the 97% of guys who masturbate using their own male hands I find it doubtful at best if they are as strait as they claim to be,

Anyway I think being gay feels more organic and natural than hetero.

[LateBloomer]

I agree the word "gay" is being used more and more in a denigrating way. But I'm not sure that there's a need for a new word (with all due respect).



I mean, one thing that has really frustrated me as a middle aged American is the way the right wing (as an example) has co-opted the symbols of the Cross and the American flag while simultaneously pissing on everything they stand for.

I, for one, REFUSE to give up these two symbols to people who are guilty of malpractice. So I recommend a similar fight for the word "gay". After all, it was the so-called "homosexual" community who picked that word to describe themselves because they felt the word "homosexual" was too clinical and had connotations of mental illness--well, at least, that's my understanding.

Anyway, no, some things are worth fighting for even if you just keep speaking your truth quietly--which is what I believe Christ would have taught--until you REALLY pissed him off and then he'd start turning over money changing tables in the Temple.

[CellarDweller]

this topic reminds me of a conversation on another site that actually turned quite toxic.

It was started by a few gay men who had decided that they no longer wanted to be known as "gay", because that term reflected someone (in their minds) who was not what they were......loud, effeminate, showy, catty/bitchy.

They went on to declare themselves "androphilies" after reading the book "Androphilia - A Manifesto" by Jack Malebranche, an author who rejects gay culture, and feels that the word "gay" should be done away with.

I must admit, I've not read the book, so I can't give a review on it or the content.

[LateBloomer]

I think we have the right to describe ourSELVES as anything we'd like:

Gay.
Bi-.
Homosexual.
Ambisexual.
Pansexual.
Or just sexual.



But I think it's wrong to tell people THEIR culture needs a new word. That sounds fascist to me and I don't think it's a stretch to say so.

[marshlander]

Who's telling anyone new words are needed :confused: I thought this was a game or, at the most serious, a hypothetical discussion.

If I were to choose a new word I would prefer not to be limited to literal meanings. I think gay is a splendid word. Very upbeat. I'll stick for the moment.

[Inchante]

this topic reminds me of a conversation on another site that actually turned quite toxic.

It was started by a few gay men who had decided that they no longer wanted to be known as "gay", because that term reflected someone (in their minds) who was not what they were......loud, effeminate, showy, catty/bitchy.

They went on to declare themselves "androphilies" after reading the book "Androphilia - A Manifesto" by Jack Malebranche, an author who rejects gay culture, and feels that the word "gay" should be done away with.

I must admit, I've not read the book, so I can't give a review on it or the content.

It should be androphiles. And I have to disagree with words like homophile and androphile. Too much Latin/Greek is never good. It makes one sound like an animal or disease, neither of which are very good if we want to be viewed as what we are--human.

[colinmackay]

Too much Latin/Greek is never good. It makes one sound like an animal or disease, neither of which are very good if we want to be viewed as what we are--human.

Indeed, human... from the Latin, humanus :tongue:

Sorry, I just found the irony somewhat amusing.

[Inchante]

Indeed, human... from the Latin, humanus :tongue:

Sorry, I just found the irony somewhat amusing.

Hmmmm . . . sorry. That was clumsy of me. Though, I did think people could infer for themselves the difference between scientifically based compounds (e.g. homosexual/heterosexual) of Latin and/or Greek origin from the thousands of other Latinate words that we have in English. The words homophile and androphile are based on the same standard of scientific terminology as homosexual. That is what I was referring to. Thanks for pointing that out to me Collin, and I am sorry that it confused you. We should make a deal: We should both promise to more clearly delineate our points in the future. And as a part of the compact, I won't even stick out my tongue at you.