Re[3]: Speaking of Improper Terminology

[Melissa Hunter-Kilmer <mhunterk -at- BNA -dot- COM>]

In article <9708198746 -dot- AA874695166 -at- smtpgate -dot- bna -dot- com>,
  Melissa Hunter-Kilmer <mhunterk -at- bna -dot- com> wrote:

>> "Gang" is apparently one of those words to which people can react
very > strongly.  So are "abort," "slave," and "gay."  The one negative
meaning
> of these words can override all other meanings.

Avi Jacobson <Avi -dot- Jacobson -at- pbdir -dot- com> wrote:

> The "one NEGATIVE [sic!] meaning" of the word "gay"?  So homosexuality
is ipso facto negative?  It's true: we often offend more in our attempts
to avoid offense.  No doubt Melissa wanted to make a positive point
here, but she seems to have shot herself in the foot.

You're right, I wrote it stupidly.  Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima
culpa.  Insert foot, twist, and chew.

I wasn't intending to say that "gay" has a negative meaning, just that
its usual meaning these days is not the one that means joyous, lively,
brightly-colored, etc., and that it is difficult to use the older
meaning these days because the newer meaning has pretty much taken
over.

I thank those who wrote me privately, especially those who did so
without stomping hard.

Melissa Hunter-Kilmer
mhunterk -at- bna -dot- com
(standard disclaimer)

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