Why is it now acceptable to say something is "gay" if you don't like it?

[jamesy boy]

I know that some gay groups have "retaken" the word "queer" and now use it about themselves with pride.But for some years now, I have noticed many (presumably straight) people using the word "gay" to mean "bad".I can understand it coming from sniiggering schoolchildren, but what about adults? Did it emerge with the throbbingly heterosexual "New Lad" movement?

[spudqueen]

I have only ever noticed this with school children, but it does mean that the English language is evolving again. When I was young (!) gay meant happy.

[littleoldme]

It won't be long before people start moaning "ah, do you remember the good old innocent days, when gay just meant homosexual?" :-)

[flashpig]

I say it, and I started saying it as a fond memory of childhood, but I see nothing particularly wrong with saying it.

I see it as merely sharing the word with homosexuals, because it isn't really a civil rights thing or any of that stuff, it's linguistic freedom. They've reclaimed the word but don't want only be used in a positive way, or worse, only by them. It's snobbery. Its meanings have evolved. 'Gay' is just an exclamation or an insult, with homophobic undertones that can be taken from it

[flashpig]

sorry pressed return by accident...

but that I don't think should be, because (when I say it at least) they aren't actually intended. Same with saying 'damn', having some 'dutch courage' or calling someone a '****', people don't really mean any religious or racist things or feel any hatred towards ladybits.

In conclusion, don't be such a tatchell, they're here, they're queer, I'm calling my tab key gay because it has fallen off, get used to it.

[flashpig]

By 'they' in my previous posts I am referring to the whiney "why are people using -- insert whatever ex-taboo, newly-reclaimed-word -- as an insult, this is OUR WORD?" posse you come across sometimes. I'm not referring to you jamesy boy, fear not.

P.S. I forgot to delete the word 'don't' and forgot to add 'it' to one of my paragraphs because of my premature returning. I hope this will make it better.

[Peter Pedant]

Blimey three flashes from the Pig,

well here oop t'North, we dont bother with gay for bad we just say, a load of sh***e or c++p.

This allows gay to be used for its proper meaning, which is of course the pre-second world war sense, of jolly

[shabby]

Here where I live the mountain folk use the word Queer to mean something strange.  It's pronounced Quare.  Like if a door opens on it's own you would say well ain't that queer..