We have considered the input from the members. This is to let you know we are relaxing the position we posted, earlier.
The point of the post was that we want our members to consider that the careless, unthinking use of language can be hurtful to others, regardless of your intended meaning. Whether or not you know who they are, we have several gay members who are respected, contributors to these forums. You post with them. You laugh with them. You share your thoughts with them.
It is not negative or hostile when you use the word, "gay" to refer to someone who is homosexual. That is how they refer to themselves. Generalizing the word to mean something generally negative is different. It dehumanizes that group just because they are different from yourself. That is unfair to that group human beings. Think about how you would feel if some word that referred to you and your friends was used in that way.
Other than that, it has been a rough day with a lot of troll activity, so we probably overstated the point.
We will leave this thread open for discussion as long as it remains civil.
The point of the post was that we want our members to consider that the careless, unthinking use of language can be hurtful to others, regardless of your intended meaning. Whether or not you know who they are, we have several gay members who are respected, contributors to these forums. You post with them. You laugh with them. You share your thoughts with them.
It is not negative or hostile when you use the word, "gay" to refer to someone who is homosexual. That is how they refer to themselves. Generalizing the word to mean something generally negative is different. It dehumanizes that group just because they are different from yourself. That is unfair to that group human beings. Think about how you would feel if some word that referred to you and your friends was used in that way.
Other than that, it has been a rough day with a lot of troll activity, so we probably overstated the point.
We will leave this thread open for discussion as long as it remains civil.
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