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<cross-posted to .off-topic.debate, follow-up set there, too>
In lugnet.admin.general, Simon Denscombe writes:
> Mike Stanley wrote:
> > Mmmmmmm.... dunno that I "fell" for anything. I'm pretty sure I
> > understood what the poster meant.
>
> Well that was the usual mis-meaning for the word homophobic you see.
>
> > I'm not sure I was going for sarcasm, exactly. More like light humor
> > for me. I've never fully understood or accepted the popular meaning
> > of the term versus what I see as the literal meaning.
>
> Well I go by dictionary definition always the safest bet - I think mine
> was para-phrased a lot but I couldn't think of any other way of putting
> it.
The dictionary isn't alway the safest bet - given that dictionaries will often
include slang words and phrases.
> > For my part, when I see "homo" I first think "man", not homosexual,
> > but that's the Latinist in me. I can't remember a time when I've
> > actually said the word homo and meant anything other than the Latin
> > word for man (homo, hominis). I've heard the word used as a slur
> > against homosexuals before, but it always sounded wrong, as most slurs
> > do, but also metrically.
>
> Well when I think of the word homo - first I think homosexual then I
> think 'single' - homogeneous (single phase - Chemistry-based). I think
> my order of thinking will change as I get older.
>
> > Homophobic never quite worked for me to describe people who fit the
> > definition you give. Bigoted seems much more accurate and,
> > deservedly, derogatory.
Homophobic is a slang term, which derives from another slang term 'homo'
(homosexual), and has no basis as a scientific term. It's unfortuate, and I
do my best to never use it, and attempt to gently correct friends when they
use it, because, as is often the case, a scientific-sounding term is being
used to provide an opinion with a sense of legitimacy.
What I always found particularly ironic is that, going by the way the various
"phobias" are structured (from the greek), homophobia means 'fear of same'
Think about that, next time someone describes themself as homophobic. ;-)
> Bigot - Obstinate and intolerant adherent of a creed or view.
> Homophobic - isn't in my dictionary! :-)
> Checking on the web: homophobia n : prejudice against (hate or dislike
> of) homosexual people and homosexuality.
>
> The problem with bigoted is that trying to stop any point of view now
> matter how wild or evil will get you called bigoted - you can't win.
Bigot has become a hot-buton word, that gets thrown at people to escalate
debates away from real issues. I try to never use it unless I really mean
it. I also try and honestly reconsider whenever someone calls me bigoted.
(hasn't happened in a long time)
> > Wonder if this is fading into .off-topic.debate?
>
> Wouldn't have thought so, I could easily make it so but I don't want to
> get a bad name around here.
It is. (the conversation moving to debate, not your name getting bad)
James
http://www.shades-of-night.com/lego/
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Terms and Conditions Question
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| (...) Oh dear... (...) Well they are words too but not in this case. (...) Well homophobia is in regular use everywhere - I wouldn't call that slang. (...) I know that - homo also means man according to Mr Stanley - so it could be fear of men. This (...) (25 years ago, 9-May-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Terms and Conditions Question
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| (...) Well that was the usual mis-meaning for the word homophobic you see. (...) Well I go by dictionary definition always the safest bet - I think mine was para-phrased a lot but I couldn't think of any other way of putting it. (...) Well when I (...) (25 years ago, 5-May-99, to lugnet.admin.general)
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