Are You Listeneing to the Word, or the Meaning?

I know this is only slightly related to my topic, but I have been wanting to make this point for a very long time.

I don't like how people get offended by the word "gay". In my opinion, it is just a word. And not only is it jsut a word, but it has not always meant "homosexual" in fact, homosexual is the fourth entry for gay in the merrium-webster dictionary. Before homosexual, comes happily excited, bright in color, and given to social pleasures.

My point is, just by saying "that's so gay" you are not meaning whatever you are talking about is homosexual, nor are you meaning it is happy, or bright in color. Many words have changed thier meaning over the centuries, and it is not the word that makes the difference, it is the meaning.

Am I saying people should not get offended if someone calls them gay or a fag? No. I am saying look for what the person means. If they mean to insult you and are throwing words as weapons, you have every right to be angry. But if someone is in casual conversation with friends and mentions that something is "gay" they mean it is stupid, or booring or not a good idea. they are not trying to say gays are dumb, stupid, or booring, just as calling someone gay is not meaning they are neccesarily happy, colorful, or given to social pleasures.

In fact, that brings me to a whole, other rant.

Why are people ok with Gay being used to mean happy, but not for gay to be used as stupid? We are ok with stereotyping gays as being happy, but not with them being dumb?

Gay people are just that--people. Not always happy, not always stupid, not always colorful, or given to social pleasures.

They are just people, like everyone else.