Thinking B4 We Speak
Posted on : 18-08-2009 | By : Alex Shaw | In : Articles
8
I’ve just encountered the Think B4 You Speak campaign after having it flagged by Penny arcade and I have found myself torn in two.
The basic gist, if you’ve not heard of this is that it’s an effort to stop people using the term “Gay” in a derogatory sense, as in “That movie is so gay!“, in this case meaning “crappy“.
The ads are actually kind of patronizing and heavy-handed. “It’s like saying ‘That is so gamer with more video games than friends’.” And yes, that’s a neat and hurtful equivalent that any young and naive ‘gamer‘ can grasp. But the message is delivered with such a rap on the knuckles that I almost feel sorry for the teenagers on the other end of my 360 headset spouting casual bigotry. By its very nature the term in this context is not meant to hurt or offend, but is simply a foolish, trendy phrase that’s found its way into the lexicon on the back of South Park and a couple of other shows. The way in which it’s being countered however is a calculated exercise in singling individuals out, by people who should know better.
So like I say. I’m torn between complete agreement that offhand offensive terms inadvertently insulting minorities should be ironed out of our culture and standing up for the rights of dumb kids everywhere to be offensive little gobshites.
It brings me to mind of the comedy routine of my favorite dead comedian Bill Hicks, talking about the pedestrian right-of-way law instituted around the time of the L.A. riots (anybody stepping into the road must be allowed to cross the street by oncoming traffic)
“Yes, cos only in America does common courtesy have to be legislated.”
I wonder what kind of people would even think investing in a ad campaign like this is a good idea. Its impossible to change the entire population, especially teenagers who for one probably wont see this and 2, if they did would say “thats pretty gay”.
Using “gay” as a insult is the same as saying “retarded” or “idiot”. Unless your using the word to insult a person who fits that description its not a discriminatory word.
And while were quoting comedians
George Carlin: “There are no bad words, just bad intentions”
What surprises me most about the total misuse of the word in this way is that it’s still actually in use given it was wide spread back when I was in school in the 80s. And I admit I have used it in this way back then, however not for a long time now. Though I probably misuse it just as much now when I actually mean to say ‘that’s so camp’ which whilst not quite as bad is still an offensive misuse. Frankly it almost needs to be treated in the same way as the ‘N’ word, save for using it in it’s very purist sense to describe someone’s actual sexuality. Any use of a word that encompasses a minority to describe something in a negative way is basically unacceptable.
totally agree….also,when did anything damaging actually happen when you became offended. Bill Hicks is a good example, but to quote Steve Hughes……’being offended is a subjective emotional response….I’m offended by boybands’:)
Surely a bigger issue here has to be the fact that whilst denouncing the misuse of a word, they are actively encouraging, even by proxy the use of ‘Text speach’ Think B4 you speak is a sentence screaming from the humiliation of having itself forced into slavish servitude of those trying to appeal to the ‘yoof’ of today.
Gay of course in itself was never intended as an insulting term, rather it was a positive term (between the 16th and 19th century it was almost universally positive) until it was used to describe a group of people (Generally accepted that it was taken to refer to Homosexuals after WW2). The fact it was then a label was the only reason it became an insult for small minded people who feel threatened by homosexuality.
This follows the pattern of the ‘n’ word – Still a social suicide note among white people. It started off as a mild epithet used to describe a race, before quickly becoming an insult. This only really lost its popularity among the racists when the community it was attempting to be derogetory towards began ‘owning’ it. It became their word, and as such lost a lot of its offensive qualities.
A final note after a lot of long windedness – ‘gay’ as a term meaning not good or lame has actuallly been accepted into the english language as a mild swear word – It is very rarely used as a homosexual slur – indeed, a reputable dictionary includes the phrase ‘The word has ceased to be slang and is not used disparagingly.’ For that people seem more inclined to use fag, queer, and any number of other inventive terms.
On one hand it will reach the biggest target audience for whom homophobic slurs are the more popular choice of insult: teenage boys. Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand the point of the advert until I looked at it more closely, so I don’t think it’s particularly effective in delivering its message.
The trouble is that most of the slangs for homosexuals have dual meanings.
For example Queer means Odd and saying sometign is queer would be an appropriate use of the word in many situations.
In the US the use of the word Fag has a completely different meaning than it does for an Englishman. (especially when he first comes to the states looking for a “fag machine).
Of course the full term “faggot” literally means a bundle of sticks, so I have no clue how those became intertwined anyway.
People really need to just learn to ignore the bullies, accept that they are going to be offended sometimes, and move along. I think I learned in Kindergarten that life isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.
I don’t know about anyone else, but the essence of the campaign seems to be “guys, be nice to each other, eh?” Now my mother taught me to “think before I speak” (and how to spell “before”) when I was a kid – if teenagers really need ad campaigns to tell them not to make comments that might offend someone in their group (since let’s face it, they’re NEVER going to care about the casual eavesdropper), shouldn’t it be their parents who are targeted for not raisin’ ‘em right.
At the end of the day, bigotry stems from influence, be that in the media, such as the aforementioned south park or through peers or idols.
In the 70s and 80s the parents of the current youth used gay as a deregrotary term that was widely accepted. thus if they hear their child use it, one of two possible reactions can occur- a) They dissuade the child from using the term or b) Allow the term to be used. In a perfect world , every parent , like mine, would choose a). However they are a lot of bad parents out there who could not give a damn.
this ad campaign, while well intentioned, will have little effect as it doesn’t get to the root of the problem- bad parenting.