Hi Matthew.

I think you should set the forums to change the word "homophobic" to "I'm gay!". There are two reasons for this:

1. It is incorrect English. A homophobic person would be afraid of anything without variety (homogeneous) and/or anything that has the 'homo' suffix. In fact, to assert that 'homophobic' is correct English implies that 'homo' is a correct synonym for 'homosexual'; it is actually a derogatory synonym. The person that coined this phrase surely should have known that. It would be like saying 'poofterphobic' or 'faggotphobic'. The suffix 'phobic' is incorrectly applied, as it represents an extreme. It's like cracking a walnut open with a sledgehammer.

2. It is a pseudo-intellectual piece of tripe, used by feminazis, stunt-journalists, stunt-lecturers and anyone trying to score points with those tossers.

EDIT: Ok, there's another reason.
3. It would be funny to see the homophobic reaction of people that use the word 'homophobic' when they see "I'm gay!".

SSC, you've already made your point in another thread. No need to cross-post.

Then you should have put up an argument in the other post.

I started the other thread so I will hijack it as I see fit. Please abstain from hijacking this one.

Why William, are you homophobicphobicphobic??

X-G: What the crap is that? It's funny, but I don't quite get it (other than irony and making fun of Linkin Park?)

*English

Seriously though: In a strict sense, he's correct. In a more modern sense, where the meanings of words change, he's not.

But, SSC, if we're going to bust out dictionaries:

So it's either offensive, using offensive slang; or just flat out wrong.

Unless, again, you go by the modern "it means whatever the hell I say it means." In which case, I will add mine: Fruit loops. Impling that someone eats fruitloops means they're gay. Fruit loops being fruity, fruity implying gay. Thank you. I expect to hear it on CNN tomorrow.

Homo, meaning man, is Latin.
Homo, as in `homosexual', is Greek, meaning `same' or `identical.'
Refering to a homosexual as a homo is just shortening the longish word. So I don't see how that is insulting in any way.
`Homo' also happens to be the normal Dutch word for refering to homosexuals, just to mention that as well.

So, what is this thread about anyway?

The real argument is how does one define a word. Obviously languages evolve over time and the meanings of words change but it's rather interesting when you see words changing/being invented before your eyes.

I entriely agree that the word 'homophobic' does not make any sense if you take it apart, but I think it's safe to say that mostly anyone will know what you mean if you say it because of it's common use. But is it good enough to call it a word just because it's commonly used? I would say yes, however much I may dislike it.

There are a lot of words that are commonly used in ways contrary to their actual meaning. For example: the common misunderstanding of the meaning of the word irony. If enough English speakers think a word means something how long does it take for the word to actually mean that? since afterall language is just a means to express ideas to each other.

Keeping in the theme of the thread, for example the word gay used to mean mainly happy, but now most peoples' initial definition would be homosexual. I would expect some people would have disliked how that word slowly changed meaning.

It's not the word, it's your intended meaning behind it. Homophobic can be used in a good way, or a bad way. It is entirely up to you.

So, you guys wanna go shower and towel off and play some volley ball?

Steve++, its called a misnomer, there are plenty of them in the English language. I could break down many of the words you use everyday to their Latin roots to show that you are completely incorrect in using them and then provide a more logical alternative every few paragraphs, but I won't because it is a waste of time to try and make the English language make sense to people who have been for thousands of years. Besides, it is just a language, as long as the message clearly gets through, the choice of words should be of no concern.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

http://www.loserzcomic.com/comics/20020201.gif