queers

[hannoon]

what is meant by queers ?

[andy-hughes]

It is the group term for male homosexuals, often used as a slang, or insulting word.

In the same way as the word n*g+er has been reclaimed by black people, it can be used as a label of defiance, but beware. One person of the genre using it to another is seen as affection, someon outside the genre using it will be seen as hostile, with potentially unpleasant consequences!

[gary baldy]

It is the plural of queer!
Is it only me who thinks this (and the previous one) are odd questions and that it would take much less effort to look it up than post it here?

[BigMac]

Agree with you, gary baldy.

There is a huge number of online dictionaries available - including Chambers, I believe... which would be much quicker than using AB.

This is not the first post on these lines from hannoon, though. Last time I gave the answer and provided a link - shame s/he didn't read it. For the record it's:

http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/chref/chref.py/ main

[Clanad]

But... from the home page of Answer Bank it appears the reason for the site in the first place is for people to ask "genuine" questions and expect answers from knowledgeable participants. I've seen several people on here in the past, to whom English was, obviously a second language. They are asking "genuine" questions and why not assist them. Your answer concerning looking elsewhere could be applied to any question asked... in which case, what's the need of Answer Bank?

[Postdog]

well said Clanad

[Drusilla]

Queer was a derogatory term used for homosexuals, but like the n-word for African Americans has been reclaimed by the community for use within the community. Use by outsiders is frowned upon.

It's often heard at Gay Pride rallies in the humorous chant;
'We're here! We're queer! And we're not going shopping!'

[shaneystar2]

Hear hear Clanad.
We used to often get posts from a Korean chap....I think he was... who was learning English by reading books ..mostly pulp fiction stuff,but nevertheless trying to understand how words were used in context and what they meant in a sentence or expression.Everyone helped him out .
Perhaps hannoon is not English.Looking words up in an English Dictionary doesn't always help when your first language is Japanese for example. What is the point of Answerbank if people cannot ask a question only to be told.."Go and look it up somewhere."

[BigMac]

Yes, the purpose of AB is to provide answers to genuine questions... but for meanings of words a dictionary is irreplaceable. The question here asked what was "meant by 'queers'" - there is no context.

Therefore all the answers given, although of themselves 'correct', may not be applicable. The dictionary link provided offers a wider range of answers, including the slang term for homosexual but also including the verb.

The point about learning a new language, however, is well-made; I consider my wrists properly slapped.

[gary baldy]

I didnt mean to be critical - i just thought it was bit odd.
I believe that searching for an answer is much more beneficial for learning than just asking and being told.
I used to be a teacher and i found kids gained more from having to search out answers for themselves than just asking me what the answer was!
Hannoon's question might not have been so odd on its own but it was alongside a seemingly unconnected but similar question and it seemed they just wanted a definition and this seemed like an odd place to ask for simple definitions.
Thats all. Points taken.