All I was doing, relatively innocently, was substituting one word because I knew if we sing 'Gay your life must be' the kids will roll around the floor in fits of laughter," said Garry Martin, principal of Le Page Primary School.

Haha, it is kinda funny.

does anyone have an issue with this?

let me qualify: a rational issue?

Krikeys!

I do!

The Fun Caballero.

Me too!

Marvin Fun.

Makes my funny car too slow.

Don Fun

I am obviously missing out on something because as I read your post, NG, I get the feeling that you are slowly losing your mind.

Now I must Google the song to make sure you aren't over the brink.

He is taking situations where the word gay is used in its proper original context (not homosexual) and turning it into Fun instead, as the teach has a fear of using the word "gay" in its true context.

If anything this shows the destruction of previously meaningful and useful words for the sake of pet peeve causes.

The guy is wrong to give in to the linguistic takeover of the fine old word gay by non-heterosexual people because gay is a word that deserves to stay in circulation under its original meaning. We were not turned that way by all the times we heard the Flintstones song where we had "a gay old time," and though silly children may giggle they are just kids who need to learn.

"He is taking situations where the word gay is used in its proper original context (not homosexual) and turning it into Fun instead, as the teach has a fear of using the word "gay" in its true context."

You're right about what NG was up to, but...

1. The guy is a principal, not a teacher. Please don't lump us together. : )

2. "Original context" (or rather "original meaning") is sufficient. "Proper" suggests that the current usage is not proper. And sorry, pal, but you don't get to decide that. Language evolves. Nice doesn't mean what it meant in Shakespeare's time--I don't see you whinin' about that. But yes, the educator (not teacher) could as well have left it alone and used the moment to teach the kids. But this was not about his being sensitive to the homosexuals (God, but you're hung up on this one; talk about pet peeves!); it was about being able to use the song without having tons of tittering tots to deal with. Practical, not political.

The guy is wrong to give in to the linguistic takeover of the fine old word gay by non-heterosexual people because gay is a word that deserves to stay in circulation under its original meaning. We were not turned that way by all the times we heard the Flintstones song where we had "a gay old time," and though silly children may giggle they are just kids who need to learn.
#9 | Posted by grumpy_too at 2010-09-02 09:59 PM

"Gay" was originally imposed as a derogatory slur, not unlike "nigger". I'll bet you are terribly distraught over those uppity non-Whites linguistically "taking over" that original meaning, but I'm glad you find this teacher wrong for inventing homophobia in elementary school.

I don't know about the Kookaburra, but this Principal is totally fun.

Next stop:

Plain coffee is no longer "black". Remember that old, ignorant crow on The View that thought "in the black" was a racist expression? Better change that one too, just in case there are more people as stupid as that.

Basically prag stated that language has to evolve because people don't. Homosexuals are homosexuals. Gay was not descriptive of them when the term was switched. I would prefer things keep a standard meaning so that people are not always worried about who they will or will not offend. Its ridiculous.

change it to queer.

I am obviously missing out on something because as I read your post, NG, I get the feeling that you are slowly losing your mind.

#6 | Posted by butthole_surfer

Slowly? You are too kind.

If anything this shows the destruction of previously meaningful and useful words for the sake of pet peeve causes.

Of course. Because calling people "gay" when they are happy is so sacred that it must never be used by homosexuals.

Words change meaning all the time. It is silly to think you can put a finger in that dyke and stop it.

Are you speaking for yourself, RCade, or for a friend?

17 | Posted by rcade

"Bitch" used to be a horrible thing to say to a woman back in the 70's and 80's. Then they started the bumper sticker "Bitch on Board" and the lighters that said "Bitch", and it took the power out of the word.

That's why I'm here today, to offer you 2 new products that will change our vernacular for ever...For $19.95 you can purchase my very special "This cunt fucks niggers" bumper sticker, as well as a "Smoking Hot Cunt" lighter.

You, yes you, can help bring about change in a meaningful way.

"Plain coffee is no longer "black". "

Uh oh. Is there anything else I should know?

BTW RCADE, that was funny.

"It is silly to think you can put a finger in that dyke and stop it."

Oh man.

Words change meaning all the time. It is silly to think you can put a finger in that dyke and stop it.

A finger might be staunch the flow for a little while, though...

"Basically prag stated that language has to evolve because people don't. "

No, I didn't. I said language evolves, which it does. Look up the etymology of "nice." Its current meaning has nothing to do with its original meaning. I made a blanket statement. And yes, I asserted that you have a huge fucking peeve about this word. Most gays/homosexuals I know don't call themselves anything but people or their name. And none of them are offended if they are called homosexuals--not the label itself.

Get over your concern over the word, Exps. The shift has happened.

And if you're going to respond to something I say, try understanding my point before opening yer trap. Again, this particular principal's decision was practical, not political.

If you want to stop the meaning of the word "gay" from changing, you need to start by building a fucking time machine because that ship sailed decades ago.

He uses the word "gay" very niggardly. Oh no, now what have I gone and done!

101, I think it would most properly be, "He is niggardly in his use of the word 'gay.'" But a fine effort, sir. (Btw, what's up with you engaging in serious argument with people this week. It's been very confusing for me. : ) )

It is silly to think you can put a finger in that dyke and stop it.

#17 | Posted by rcade

I use at least two fingers...sometimes it takes my whole hand to stop that flow in that dyke.

"Gay your life must be"

Sort of like a homo-phobic slam from Yoda.

This story is so gay and Hilary Duff can bite my hairy old butt

Words evolve.

Spud remembers being little and "rap" was wot you did on a door to announce you were entering.

A few years later it meant to talk earnestly.

A few years after that it was a new form of music.

It still means all three, of course.

"Gay" as in 'festive' or 'happy' became "homosexual" in that time period too.

Taking the word "Gay" out of a song in order to prevent middle schoolers sniggering at it strikes Spud as a common-sensical approach that harms exactly no one.

They might wanna think about doing the same fer the opening theme of the Flintstones and the "I Feel Pretty" song from West Side Story.

See also: Deck the Halls.

Be Well.

We were not turned that way by all the times we heard the Flintstones song where we had "a gay old time,"
#9 | Posted by grumpy_too

Except they changed that decades ago to "great old time".

Except they changed that decades ago to "great old time".

Admittedly, I could be decades out of date on that, but the last time I heard it it said gay.

What could be done about "don we now our gay apparel" in Deck the Halls? There are decades of recordings of that being used in muzak all over.

Isn't trying to re-write songs putting way too much emphasis on the word? Just let it have two or more meanings. Don't let gay take the rap for being a queer word.

LOL on that last line, Grumpy. Muzak has no words, so no fear there. And no, I don't think for a second--nor do I know any homosexuals who think--that we should go around changing the word "gay" wherever we see it. The gay folks I know seem perfectly content with the word having multiple meanings. It's not a conspiracy--words change. The word meant one thing, ended up with a new meaning, and grew into that new meaning such that the previous seemed less common. Funny enough, most teens I know (students) know the earlier meaning as well as the new one, but when they say "That's gay," they don't mean, "That's happy." They mean "That's stupid," or maybe "That's horrifying," and yes, that usage comes from the second (homosexual) meaning. And I correct it because it's imprecise and offensive (to me). If "That's white" or "That's Republican" started taking on the teen meaning noted herein, I would correct those usages, too. Granted, I have been known once in a while to mockingly say, "That is soooo hetero." It usually gets laughs, and levity in the classroom is generally a good thing.

Again, though, Grumpy, he wasn't rewriting the song (changing ONE word) as a political move, but as a practical concern. Sniggering kids are hard to manage. I think he was wrong, but anyone investing this with a political agenda has missed the point.

Words evolve.
Spud remembers being little and "rap" was wot you did on a door to announce you were entering.
A few years later it meant to talk earnestly.
A few years after that it was a new form of music.
It still means all three, of course.
"Gay" as in 'festive' or 'happy' became "homosexual" in that time period too.
Taking the word "Gay" out of a song in order to prevent middle schoolers sniggering at it strikes Spud as a common-sensical approach that harms exactly no one.
They might wanna think about doing the same fer the opening theme of the Flintstones and the "I Feel Pretty" song from West Side Story.
See also: Deck the Halls.
Be Well.
#29 | Posted by dethspud at 2010-09-03 05:55 PM

You are correct, naturally. I presumed these children have little concept of sexuality, but in fact slang terms are solidified quite early now. The principal probably has been saved from children's laughter and an opportunity for education on the comparative value of words, both generational and by their very intentional use. Playing nice apparently means non-provocational concepts only. Mustn't have recognition of the errors of the past for fear that children might learn from them, let alone have the opportunity for first-hand re-enactment. Well, done.

Until christians stop donning their gay apparel when they go singing carols, I think this is stupid.

I was disappointed that I never got to don any gay apparel but ended up wearing that clip-on tie again.

I was disappointed that I never got to don any gay apparel...