True, it makes reading some classic poetry a little awkward:
WB Yeats’ The Host of the Air “…And never was piping so sad, and never was piping so gay…”.RW Service’s Cremation of Sam McGee: “…The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee…”.
&BobarionTrue today if you compliment a female she’s insulted. I am a woman & like it when someone tells me it’s a nice outfit, or notices my hair is done…etc.
I’ve always resented when prurient interests have commandeered words to serve their interests, when there were already perfectly good words/terms to use.
Words take on other meanings, they are used by well meaning people who don’t want to offend – The word “gay” was much better to use in polite company than “homosexual”. Blame the well meaning people, not to object of thier focus.
Regarding the “most hateful Pluggers of the year” comment,I guarantee — as generator of the idea — that it merely was meant as a lighthearted commentary on the changing of words. In a newspaper editorial 19 years ago, I wrote, “We predict that 20 years hence, late 20th-century abuse of homosexuals and denial of their rights will seem as amazing as the earlier denigration of minorities and women.”
I may have been off on the “20 years” but not, I hope, by much.
LuvThemPluggers over 8 years ago
Beautiful! And so true!
Farside99 over 8 years ago
Take it in context and enjoy the true meaning of the words. A rose by any other name is still a rose.
flyertom over 8 years ago
On a more contemporary note: ♪♫ “Now we don our gay apparel…”♫♪Fa-la-la to alla youse on this New Year’s Eve.
pelican47 over 8 years ago
True, it makes reading some classic poetry a little awkward:
WB Yeats’ The Host of the Air “…And never was piping so sad, and never was piping so gay…”.RW Service’s Cremation of Sam McGee: “…The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee…”.
Plods with ...™ over 8 years ago
What? Young?
whiteheron over 8 years ago
And “gay” meant “happy”..But this cartoon of this Linda Ronstadt rendition:When I Grow Too Old to Dream
WDemBlk Premium Member over 8 years ago
&BobarionTrue today if you compliment a female she’s insulted. I am a woman & like it when someone tells me it’s a nice outfit, or notices my hair is done…etc.
Marko56 over 8 years ago
I’ve always resented when prurient interests have commandeered words to serve their interests, when there were already perfectly good words/terms to use.
route66paul over 8 years ago
Words take on other meanings, they are used by well meaning people who don’t want to offend – The word “gay” was much better to use in polite company than “homosexual”. Blame the well meaning people, not to object of thier focus.
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
I remember when this ‘#’ was a pound or number sign!
Actually for me it still is…
hippogriff over 8 years ago
FlyerTomAnita Bryant actually got Deck the Halls banned from radio broadcast.
Caldonia over 8 years ago
The most hateful “Pluggers” strip of the year was chosen #1? Just whose Great Grampa is Brookins humoring?
wiatr over 8 years ago
I imagine my sister, Gay, often wonders why her name got twisted to mean something else.
flipbook56 over 8 years ago
If I weren’t gay, I’d probably be laughing harder…
Jerry Elsea over 8 years ago
Regarding the “most hateful Pluggers of the year” comment,I guarantee — as generator of the idea — that it merely was meant as a lighthearted commentary on the changing of words. In a newspaper editorial 19 years ago, I wrote, “We predict that 20 years hence, late 20th-century abuse of homosexuals and denial of their rights will seem as amazing as the earlier denigration of minorities and women.”
I may have been off on the “20 years” but not, I hope, by much.