Social Remember when 'Gay' meant 'Happy'?

[wwkirk]

I do. But I don't think I ever use it with that meaning anymore. How about you?

Anyway, the semantic evolution of gay is old hat. What inspired me to make this thread is the realization that some other words are beginning to subtly metamorphose. At least in my own mind. I was inspired to create this thread upon spotting a Sherdog headline:

Robelis Despaigne Details His Transition from Olympic Medalist to UFC Fighter​

I'm pretty sure you know what word I'm alluding to...
Is this particular word starting to change for you as well?

 

[DarthChen731]

******?

 

[Pliny Pete]

Are you talking about Olympic or fighter?

 

[Your Account]

 

[jeff7b9]

Are you talking about Olympic or fighter?

 

[Bobby00]

Im not ancient so no.

 

[syct23]

Anyone got a lighter for a ?

Wow (cigarette) was not allowed?

 

[TribalDrumz]

lol at the French fries avy

 

[BlankaPresident]

Nope. Maybe because I use that word at work all the time.

Or maybe because the trans moral panic is mostly an american phenomenon.

 

[wwkirk]

lol at the French fries avy

He ain't no potato!

 

[Crawler89]

I'm 34.

Only time it really was used as happy in my life time was either in older books, or when kids wanted to be a smart ass and say "it means happy!"

I'm going to guess it hasn't been part of the pop culture lexicon for a long time
And no one really cares.

Remember box socials?

 

[wwkirk]

Remember box socials?

No. Never heard of them. Were they a regional thing?

 

[AngryWeasel]

I think it was a generation before, the word was half ruined by my time.

Still my black wannabe rapstars youth buddies called eachother negro all the time. In the end I called them negro and they called me negro. I'm white as shit. It was funny.

It's not the word but the intention behind it. No words should be forbidden, it's PC stuff for bundle of sticks.

 

[Crawler89]

No. Never heard of them. Were they a regional thing?

They were an old timely social event. The simpsons even made fun of them.



Probably from around the time gay was used to mean happy.

Language and its uses evolve.

 

[PaddyO'malley]

I hear that in the West, you can no longer purchase Tranny Fluid.

You must ask for gender-neutral-fluid.

 

[Fedorgasm]

We should try to make gay mean happy again.

So you can say things like, "You got a promotion! Congratulations! I'm so gay for you!"

 

[PaddyO'malley]

We should try to make gay mean happy again.

So you can say things like, "You got a promotion! Congratulations! I'm so gay for you!"

Time for a gay pizza party to celebrate! This revision of the meaning of this great word makes me very gay and I gayly support this.

 

[AngryWeasel]

They were an old timely social event. The simpsons even made fun of them.

View attachment 1016622

Probably from around the time gay was used to mean happy.

Language and its uses evolve.

I'd say it's better when language, words and meanings and slang evolve naturally and by themselves outdate or twist terms and expressions.

Words are vocalised ideas. Bad ideas aren't to be banned, just argued against.

 

[wwkirk]

Still my black wannabe rapstars youth buddies called eachother negro all the time. In the end I called them negro and they called me negro.

Interesting you bring this up. For a long time "Negro" was the preferred nomenclature. It's still part of the names of several famous organizations. Eventually, Negro acquired either a negative or perhaps a wry usage. The latter seems to be how your friends were using it. More recently, a few writers have complained that too much negativity has developed towards the word on the part of critics looking at older literature.

 

[Wetarmpits]

Nope. I only found out while checking the dictionary back then.