[DevilsDuck]

Dont you remember when this happened to Chris and a lot of gay people said that they didnt care...they get more pissed off by straight people fighting a fight on there behalf when they dont think it needs fighting.

[Latina]

It's very different. The humour is quite American & more light hearted (less awkward). I know what you mean though, shows like 'The Worst Week of My Life' are very funny - but end up stressing me out.

I've got mixed feeling towards Gervais - I think he's a deeply unlikable person on Twitter - coming across as an intelligent bigot, his stand up (after Animals) is self indulgent crap and his show with Karl Pilkington puts him across as a bully.

But I find his sitcom ideas & writing to be very good.

I agree completely with everything you say about Ricky. I actually remember, the first time I saw him on TV (when he had a talkshow thing on Ch4, before The Office) I thought to myself "wow, I actually hate this guy even more than Chris Moyles".

I loved The Office and it totally redeemed him for me as a writer, but (unlike with Moyles) I still don't like him as a person and find it hard to attribute much of the writing in The Office and Extras to the man himself. Although I guess the same can be said for a lot of writers.

With regards to cringe comedy, I don't mind at all as long as it's fictional. But when it comes to real wind-up stuff (such as Grimmy's Call or Delete) I actually have to switch off.

EDIT: Sorry Chrys/Yudster, no idea what happened to your posts there.

[Tunster]

Let me give you all a central figure of hate.

Stop using the word 'gay' to denote something that's not good.

*sigh*

Mr PC has stamped his authority...

I don't like that either. We have gay forum members here - do you think they like people using their sexuality as a synonym for 'rubbish'?

They might do? I'd rather refer to someone as homosexual rather than gay/lesbian which to me sound like a throwaway word. But everyone has their own opinion. The world has moved on a bit but I've never encountered anyone who's brought up my use for using "gay" as lame/rubbish. Generally acceptable now-a-days as young people pretty much abuse that word. I even did as a "youth".

[chrysostom]

Is it acceptable these days? 6-7 years ago it was, but I'd say today it's about as acceptable as 'retarded' or 'mong'.

Obviously some things are subjective, but there was quite a lot of the word gay being used to explicitly mean bad. Ah the things a useless degree in communications can provide you. A job is not one of them.

This is how teachers are taught to deal with children using the word 'gay' in a derogatory way:

Stop It:

Keep it simple with quick responses. You could say:
“Remember, we don’t use put-downs in this class.”
“It’s not OK to say ‘That’s so gay.’”
“It’s not OK to use that phrase.”
“What did you mean by that?”
“Do you know what ‘gay’ means?”
“You may not have meant to be hurtful, but when you use the word ‘gay’ to mean something is bad or stupid, it is hurtful.”
“Do you know why it is hurtful?”

If you have the time and opportunity to educate on the spot, do it. If you don’t, make time later.

Educate:

If you have been hearing the phrase “That’s so gay” used to mean that something is bad or stupid, take the time during a class meeting or group time to make sure that your students know what “gay” means and know why it is hurtful to use it as an insult.

Be clear with students that when they use the word “gay” in a negative way they are being disrespectful. Also be clear that using the phrase “That’s so gay” is hurtful to other students who may have parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends or other family members who are gay.

In lessons on respect, stereotypes or prejudice include information about discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Be Proactive:

Develop an environment of respect and caring for all students in your class and school.
Establish clear schoolwide and classroom policies against name-calling and hurtful teasing.
If you have been hearing the phrase “That’s so gay” in the school, be explicit that rules against name-calling include that phrase and other anti-gay put-downs.

Don’t Ignore It:

Ignoring name-calling and hurtful teasing allows it to continue and possibly get worse. If other students do not see action, they get the message that there is nothing wrong with it.
Harassment does not go away on its own.

Don’t Be Afraid of Making the Situation Worse:

Almost any response is better than ignoring the situation. You may not know exactly what to say, but you must stop the harassment.

Taking action reaffirms limits. Interrupting name-calling isn’t always easy. With experience you will become more comfortable in handling it.

Don’t Excuse the Behavior:

Saying “Josh doesn’t really know what it means,” or “Sarah was only joking,” excuses hurtful behavior.

Don’t Try to Judge How Upset the Target Is:

We have no way of knowing how a student is really feeling. Often, targets are embarrassed and pretend that they were not offended or hurt. Saying “Michael didn’t seem upset by Laura’s remark” trivializes the child’s feelings. It tells the harasser that it is OK to make hurtful comments. It teaches not only the child targeted but also anyone in hearing range that they will not be protected from harassment.

Don’t Be Immobilized by Fear:

Making a mistake is far less serious than not acting at all. You can always go back to the student and say or do something else if you feel you did not respond well.

[DevilsDuck]

Well...I didnt mean it as a slight on gay people...but I appologise to the gays for causing offence...but they aint staying in my B&B.

[Tunster]

Kids will still use the language behind adults/parents backs. Regardless of what schools teach kids to do. I'm not saying it's right (and I always believe in good manners, especially when growing up), but the use of the word gay is much less offensive in general language than it was years ago. But then again, it was a word to describe happiness a few decades ago! It all changes too quickly.

[dimtimjim]

As ever, using a term like that in a derogatory way is entirely based on suitablilty for audience and nothing more... In my group of close friends I'd often use terminology I wouldn't use elsewhere, as they'd take it in the manor to which it was intended.

Personally, I'd be more offended being called a Man U fan than Gay.

[chrysostom]

There's still a direct link between the connotation of something being bad & referring that it's implicitly linked with homosexuality - which leads to a drip effect of persecution.

Anyway, I'm not overly bothered. Just wanted to get the boys off each other's backs and onto mine

[dimtimjim]

Oh, I knew exactly where DD was going... Someone was in playful mood and fancied stiring. The irony of 'gay' taunts from someone wadnering round with "Man Utd" (which is a subsidiary of the App 'Grinder'*) written on their chest wasn't wasted on me!


* Not 100% true.

[Nicola_Red]

Dont you remember when this happened to Chris and a lot of gay people said that they didnt care...they get more pissed off by straight people fighting a fight on there behalf when they dont think it needs fighting.

I'm not straight though. Being bisexual is an important part of my identity and I've been a victim of homophobic abuse online myself (not here I hasten to add). That's why that battle is important to me.

"Man Utd" (which is a subsidiary of the App 'Grinder'*)

Bloody straights. It's Grindr

[chrysostom]

I just like to stick my oar in where it's not wanted.

[MadTheEddos]

Is it acceptable these days? 6-7 years ago it was

I'm not sure it was even then. Remember the trouble Moyles got into after the show where he called a ringtone gay - I think that was about 7 years ago.
Personally I never say it in that context and when I hear/read it it reminds me of being at school.

[neilt0]

I just like to stick my oar in where it's not wanted.

That sounds homosexual.

[Yudster]

Ok, I won't use the word "gay" to describe the posturing diva-like behaviour of footballers - but I will use the word "camp" because it is absolutely accurate.

Footballers with their whining and diving and cry-babying are so CAMP.

No doubt someone will now carefully and thoroughly explain why that is wrong too - but I won't be taking any notice.

[chrysostom]

Footballers with their whining and diving and cry-babying are so CAMP

This is wrong simply because it's a very lazy idea and non-discriminately branding every footballer as whining, crying and diving.

In fact it's taking a very small proportion of footballers and using a technique they employ (usually detested by players) to belittle any other thing they've achieved in their profession, all because the UK media focuses on these incidents and blows them up so they're always at the forefront of the public's minds. Remember there are over 6,000 professional footballers in the UK alone).

Along with moaning about their wages it's a pet hate of mine, and usually used by people who champion other sports so that they can point to whatever sport it is that they like - without taking into account that if their team sport was as popular, and had as much financial backing and had as the players has as much scrutiny as football that their sport would probably be filled with some athletes who would be massive dicks.

Obviously there will be a load of people who disagree, but I don't care. If you want to believe something then you're free to.

[Yudster]

........ without taking into account that if their team sport was as popular, and had as much financial backing and had as the players has as much scrutiny as football that their sport would probably be filled with some athletes who would be massive dicks.

Which would imply that football IS filled - note the word "filled" - with massive dicks, which is pretty much what I said, and what you said was wrong, but then backed up in your own argument against what I said.

Ner nerny-ner ner.

[chrysostom]

Poor choice of language by me. Don't use that to try and win, you're better than that! To be fair I'm on mobile writing this and cooking dinner!

Lets go with a rewrite.

Media coverage of your athletes would be dominated by the minority of twats.

[Yudster]

Actually I fundamentally disagree that the majority of footballers - in the premiership at least - aren't prone to the kind of simulation/cheating that I am describing as "camp" behaviour. I think they absolutely are - almost all of them.

[chrysostom]

Then we will never be able to agree on this point. Statistics would probably be in my favour, but you'd argue that the mindset may still be there or may just e down to a lack of opportunity to convincingly dive.

[MadTheEddos]

Actually I fundamentally disagree that the majority of footballers - in the premiership at least - aren't prone to the kind of simulation/cheating that I am describing as "camp" behaviour. I think they absolutely are - almost all of them.

Which is the main reason why I can't stand footballers in general. While I'll definitely accept there are exceptions to the rule, the rule seems to be that they're total douchebags.

[chrysostom]

Meanwhile, F1 drivers are lovely guys.

[MadTheEddos]

Meanwhile, F1 drivers are lovely guys.

There aren't any F1 drivers I know about who act like Gazza, Stan Collymore or John Terry. And that's just off the top of my head.

[chrysostom]

Meanwhile, F1 drivers are lovely guys.

There aren't any F1 drivers I know about who act like Gazza, Stan Collymore or John Terry.

This shows the absurdity of claiming to know an 'athlete's' personal life to any further extent than how they're portrayed in the media.

[Yudster]

To be fair, you can see how these people behave in public, which is what I think MadTheEddos was alluding to, and isn't the same as assuming you understand a person's personality just because they are on the telly. And those people have behaved pretty bloody badly in public.

[chrysostom]

That doesn't preclude the notion of F1 drivers being horrible in their private lives - they're just better at concealing these things, which is easier when there isn't a culture of creating scandal around you sport's stars. Not to mention that all the F1 drivers are from privileged backgrounds which means they'll have been brought up knowing how to conceal their perversions and will naturally shy away from the great unwashed.