I'm a WHAT!?!

[Diva]

I hate the word 'fag hag'. It's rude. It's degrading. I'll never understand why people think of it as funny. It's like you're saying a straight person and gay person can't be friends without being something negative. Right now we are fighting for equality for gays to just enjoy the simple pleasure of marrying the one they love. Using negative statements such as these hurts that cause much in the same way that people who call themselves racial slurs hurt their cause. They give people the green light to use these terms 'as a joke'. I always enjoy seeing someone's reaction who is prone to making 'off colored' jokes when someone of that background shows up. You call someone gay as an insult. Someone else calls themselves gay as a statement of who they are.

I've been called many things in order to hurt me. Religion and gender slanders were a big hit when growing up. Maybe that's why I'm more sensitive to negative terms used in a mocking way. I know the real cuts they cause and the underlying meaning. Then again maybe I'm just a pussy.

News
º Google Earth heads seaward (http://cbs2.com/watercooler/google.earth.sea.2.925437.html).
º Man celebrates birthday with treadmill run (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20090203/4987dd60_3421_1334520090203-2126572459).
º Artist uses horse turds to make dung bunnies (http://www.greenmuze.com/nature/garden/776-dung-bunnies.html).
º Caller puts 911 on hold to buy drugs (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1017990&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20090203/4987dd60_3ca6_1552620090203-86469975).
º Man accused of allowing molesters access to kids (http://cbs2.com/watercooler/Child.Molestation.Pornorgraphy.2.926101.html).
º Cigar firm makes Obama cigars (http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKTRE51279J20090203).
º Man attempts robbery with screwdriver (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20090203/4987dd60_3421_1334520090203334235213).
º Drunk pilot removed from plane (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=nw20090203153056737C676186).
º Woman jailed over 24K euro parking fine (http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKTRE5124KF20090203).
º Man sentenced for taking 50 cents 24 years ago (http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKTRE5131XF20090204).
º Teen dies after falling from rope (http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=76721).
º Restaurant lets customers decide price (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=nw20090204064120628C673748).
º Burglar craps on stairs (http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2009/01/31/news/doc4983e57bd47e0568733858.txt).
º Man blown up by cellphone (http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=76753).

Levity
º YouTube: Best Computer Prank Ever (I'd kill them) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_nsyHakslg)
º Video: Jizz in my Pants (HAH!) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pXfHLUlZf4)
º Joe NtP macros (http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2009/01/14/subtle-political-commentary-wednesdays/)
º Video: Cuffed escapees' run in with pole (http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/it-was-less-than-a-great-escape/2009/01/29/1232818622434.html)
º Zombie Sex Guide (http://www.pumpkin-porn.com/zombies/)
º Exotic babe in fishnet clothing (http://www.babe-envy.com/w4b_anabell.html)

[Thaum1el]

I think this is the best prank ever.

J0omactAuFM

[Isotrip]

I had never even heard of the term before.... but yeah that is just fucked up!!!

[trekbugging]

i first heard the word fag and looked it up--it actually was a grouping of sticks before it became a slang for a homosexual male--because i never really heard it refered to for females-- once i had a friend that was gay and really got to know him -- i never used the word again--am ashamed to say i did use it before then--but who likes to be called any slang derogatory word--- whether it be about race, religion, sexual preference, intelligence level or whatever the case --I'm sure someone somewhere has used one of the hurtful words on you-- but it's the ones that learn from it and don't use hurtful words on others that are the better for it--the others that continue to use the words are no better than anyone else--they are trying to boost their ego or status in others eyes by doing so--and thats the real shame that others look up to them

[Teslus]

I think that the power we lend to words makes them hurt.

I use a lot of epithets. I do not use them in mixed company, and I make it clear with all parties beforehand that I'm only joking. That aside, I'd never make a joke about a particular group that someone is a part of to that person's face. There are clear boundaries here.

It's ridiculous that we give so much power to words. When I was younger, I tended to be bothered more by the things that people would say to me--I can't say how many variations of 'fat' that I heard. Others like bitch, fag hag, and then some followed.

I've been swamped with gay men for years. For -years-. My best friend is a gay guy. We've joked that I'm a 'fag hag'. I know that he's sensitive about being called a 'fag' even in a joking context, so I'd never say it to him.

What words we say only have as much power as we lend them. As with anything else, there is an appropriate time and an appropriate setting.

As for making fun of your own race...it's part of the "ingroup advantage", so to speak. Minorities do need to make it clear that there's a difference between them telling jokes about their race, and people who do not belong to that group making jokes. If another white person makes a joke about "crackers"--haha, we're both white! If a black person comes to me and makes a joke about crackers, I'm probably going to be offended.

Time, participants, place, context of the setting. All very important parts of what is or is not acceptable.

[Bones]

I'd never make a joke about a particular group that someone is a part of to that person's face.

I do it to people I know all the time. They just make fun of me right back. We know it's just a game.

[Diva]

I agree that we give the power to the words to make them hurt, but once the power is there I don't see how someone can take it away or marginalize it as a joke. To me it defeats the purpose. Instead of making it something you don't use it's used as a mainstream term. I've actually heard someone try to justify them using the "N" word (they were white) by saying "Blacks use it on themselves all the time". WTF!?! To me, it isn't okay to use at all. The only TRUE way to get past racism is to understand the fears and try and educate. Not use the terms as a joke.