Why do teens like to say the word "gay"?

They need to be made to understand that the origins of 'that's so gay' are directly relation to homophobic name-calling and harassment. It is offensive to many of us, and it is objectifying and dehumanizing. And the people who say we should get over it and lighten up would never dream of making a similar remark denigrating a racial minority. It's exactly the same thing.

It's cheap shock value.

Accurately and briefly describing why something is undesirable takes time and imagination. It's so much easier to just pop out a premade shock-generating word to convey the same message.

Many aren't actually trying to insult gay people, and just pick up the habit.

On the other hand, a large number of them are trying to insult gay people. It's now mostly illegal in North America to openly harass gay people, or to deliberately make their life Hell. However, laws don't instantly change attitudes. It's an easy way to insult gay people, and it "absolves" you of responsibility because you can always claim "Oh! I didn't mean it that way! I was saying 'ghey'!"

i agree, that is such an annoying habit. what does gay have to do with anything except the obvious. Its just a put down a way for some kids to exert power over others. Bullies. thats what they are. I hate them all for it too. They are the gay ones . They are so gay

Gay means homosexual (for guys)

Gay also means happy back in the 20th century (That guy is so gay)

When you say "thats gay" gay means garbage, trash or stupid

So 3 meanings

It's a sad trend. Unfortunately, a lot of parents tend to raise their kids with the belief that homosexuality is wrong. Because of this, they feel that it's ok to say thing like "That's so gay".

It's really stupid and pointless. It's so discriminating that it's like saying "That's so black".

I think a lot of them are ignorant. Some are definitely homophobic. It's hard to say how many of them are ignorant vs. homophobic though.

If I really consider a friend and sie says something like "He looks so gay," I'll say something, since those kinds of remarks really bother me. But it really depends on who's saying it.

They know exactly what it means, that's why they use it that way. When they use that word, what they are referring to usually is "really gay".

Basically it means to us that if that person is gay then we really mean he's sad. Not upset sad more mentally fvcked up in that sense.

But if someone's actually gay we'll just call them their names really.

it goes along side with the word 'retarded', it's a stupid thing that catches on quick and some people dont even realize (or sometimes even care) that they are being homophobic.

they use it like it has another meaning, but i, a 14 year old lesbian, want to punch them out every time they say it. they are so ignorant! it drives me insane