http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS0GVOQPs0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVicCD8FmMs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEpBYKOs3ys

I truly hope that phrase eventually stops getting used.

I haven't seen these commercials on TV yet, but I hope I do.

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Political Buddies

Those commercials make a great point, especially the last one. That being said, that phrase will never stop being used. Never. It's ingrained pretty deep. I've used that phrase my whole life, and only after having a kid have I tried to stop using it. It's hard to do. And I have a good reason for trying to stop. A lot of people don't care as much and will use that phrase until they get fired for an EEO violation. And then they'll keep using it.

The thing that gets me is this; How come a word that meant "happy" got it's meaning stolen and now can't even be used properly? Let's see a commercial like these where the word is incorrectly used to identify homosexuality instead of happiness, and someone points that out. Just for fun though, not to belittle the actual issue presented in these commercials.

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Frrrrrt!

I think what would make people think about it as well is if there was a commercial that had people saying "That's so black"...

But, you're right about it not originally being a word that meant homosexuality.

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Political Buddies

Well, as Hackfest points out, the only way that phrase is going to leave the lexicon is on its own. I'm not trying to generalize, but the kinds of people who use that phrase as a matter of course aren't going to be swayed by an ad campaign, especially one that attempts to be assertive. The reasons are mainly two-fold: one, because as Hackfest mentioned, it's so ingrained in the user's vernacular that any conscious effort to expunge it is going to fail. Two, the typical spouter of "That's so gay" is a naturally confrontational sort, and they see criticism of their mannerisms as an attack, whereupon they retaliate by becoming even more vulgar.

I don't use that phrase, not because I'm consciously avoiding it to spare someone's feelings, but because it never became a saying I ever really became accustomed to use. If I go anywhere near that pattern of speech, I usually go with the non-deferential version "That's so sad" or the more direct "That's dumb as fuck."

I do know a few individuals that do use "That's so gay" ad nausem, and they run the gamut from social followers to borderline homophobes. As much as it sucks, people are going to hate other people for irrational reasons. People are also going to adopt ways of speaking that arguably may not reflect their worldview, but they will use for the simple reason that it causes them to feel like a part of some group they perceive as being worthy to belong to.

That's dumb as fuck. I know.

My personal belief is that the only way to eradicate intolerance is the viral way. Through close personal contact. I'll provide an example. My uncle is one of the most stalwart racists I've ever known. He was raised in an environment of hate and intolerance, so was my mom, but she was afforded the opportunity to become a part of a larger social network, that included people she would have normally hated. As my mother has grown older (and dealt with some of my...exotic friends), she has grown more tolerant, and in keeping in close contact with my uncle, has passed on that knowledge. A few weeks ago, my mom called me and told me my uncle had had a small breakthrough. As they talked on the phone, my uncle reportedly paused, and said "Y'know, I think maybe those niggers aren't as bad as I thought...not all of 'em at least." I know it sounds both funny and terrible at the same time, but to know my uncle, such a statement is going against 60 years of solid bigotry. I only bring up this personal example to demonstrate the possibility that there may be hope for the human race after all.

I don't usually refer to internet comic satire to drive home one of my points, but I think Penny Arcade actually nailed the core thesis of the problem with this Think b4 You Speak campaign. http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/8/17/

I'm not saying it's hopeless to try, or that trying to elevate some dimwitted motherfuckers is an ignoble aim, I'm just saying that thanks to the fact English is a living language, trying to kill one head invariably results in three more appearing in its place. Also, and I believe this wholeheartedly, that freedom of speech should prevail, even if it's something ugly or disliked. Getting someone to change their views on the world and forcing someone to not say something you don't like are two completely different animals.

I'll leave this with a quote that I believe I've posted here in the past.

"Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
-George Orwell

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http://www.gamesnbeer.com/

I agree with you wholeheartedly on this, that was well stated.

I still think it can't really hurt to make an attempt.

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Political Buddies

I think these ads are noble. But having ads say it isn't cool I think will be about as effective as ads saying not to smoke pot. There will have to be a cultural shift for things to really change. There needs to be more outrage, from outside of Hollywood. But honestly, I see us heading in that direction. Being gay is getting more accepted by the mainstream all the time.

I sure hope it's headed in that direction

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Political Buddies

Honestly, that phrase has never bothered me much.

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Political Buddies

It still bothers me a lot.

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Political Buddies

I knew there was a thread for this already. I almost posted my own. BTW, just try searching for "that's so gay" on the forum. It's gay. lol.



This.

I admit I still use it sometimes, but only with other people who understand my intent. I wouldn't use it in front of a stranger or kids as a general rule. I have used it around my kid and his friends, though, just to fuck with them.

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Political Buddies