Do you use "gay" and "retarded" with a negative connotation?

I try not to say "that's so gay/retarded"/"you're so gay/retarded" although it slips out occasionally (i suppose because that's how people talk around me) because I think it's an insult to those who might actually be homosexual or mentally handicapped. One of the English teachers I had before told us how she has a cousin who is mentally handicapped and whenever she hears people use "retarded" in an incorrect way she gets really offended because the people who are saying that don't know the impact of their words.

Do you think it's okay to use "gay"/"retarded" with negative connotation?

 

yes. i use it all the time. most recently in one stupid religion thread.

i use gay and retard, because i dont use them to mean what you guys think it menas.

instead, i use homosexuals, or special needs persons.

 

Well, I am not so sure about "retarded"

But with "gay", while I see how homosexuals MAY get offended, they DIDN'T invent the word... "gay" existed without the homosexual connotation WAY before the new connotation kicks in... So I don't really think the whole offended thing is justified in that particular case.

And I kind of agree with dann, because I don't say homosexuals as "gays" or mentally handicapped people as "retards" or "morons"

 

I think the word gay is overused, mistakened, and overrated. Retarded, however is not; I use it to describe people with utterly no common sense or something like that.

 

I use those word to insult people or use it as a joke

 

In canada, the word "retard" is definitely a negative connotation. Canadians would use "mentally challenged" instead.

In the united states, the word "retard" is used commonly instead of "mentally challenged."

 

they're good replacement words..and easy words to think of lol

 

^^^Oops...well...i dunt say...
"OMG thats sooo gay"
or "Ur sooo retarded.."
i only say...
"That is Soooo Stupid"
and
"I am sooo idiotic"

and sometimes i do slip the word
RETARDED out...but i only use it
on myself..like
"Im soo retarded..."

 

yes, i use it all the time. I use it everywhere.

 

yes i do...i admit it -sweat but who does actually use the word 'gay' to mean a good connotation.....as i know gay can be used as happy.....but seriously who does...for example

'oh i went to the best gay party <_< yeh right

 

no, its definitely not okay and totally unpc and incredibly ignorant to use "gay" or "retarded" as a negative expression.

and yes, i use the former quite often. but im not proud. i need to, like, stop.

 

Well, just because we don't use it that way, doesn't mean that the connotation just fall off from the face of the earth.

Otherwise we wouldn't have "Pretty Happy and Gay", cue laughing to those who KNOW what I am talking about

 

^ hahaha -rotfl exactly

 

iv never used the word 'retard' with negative connotations, but i use 'gay' all the time

 

@bbear: sorry, i meant use it incorrectly. to my understanding the original meaning of "gay" is happy. but nowadays the general connotation of gay is "homosexual" but people use "gay" instead of perhaps saying lame.

 

i normally use "gay" as a way of jokin around with me mates n sistas at home..."retarded" i only use when me sistas are doin dumb things as a joke, not rely 2 offend homosexuals or mentally challeneged people like you lots sed...

 

i got out of using gay but need to work on retarded. Retarded was my replacement for gay. thats probably why.

 

Although I never use the term 'gay' in the negative connotation I do use 'retarded' to insult people who are saying, posting or doing really stupid things. If I want to refer to mentally handicapped persons I never use the word 'retard' as I do think that's offensive for them.

 

nope, never used those words.. guess those words never got into my "most used" words dictionary haha!

 

those words are very commonly used in my sentences ... cant help it .. cant really change