To use the word “queer”?

[BowermansNose]

A few times recently I’ve found myself wanting to use the word “queer” to describe something odd or unusual (in the original sense of the word). I don’t know if I’m being influenced by some novels I’ve read of whatever. My parents also have an expression “up Queer Street”.

However, I’m obviously aware of the other meaning that relates to sexuality, and it has had pejorative connotations.

AIBU to use “queer” in the original sense?

I suggest you stop being sly and disingenuous about the whole situation

This comment is both wrong and offensive. There is absolutely no side to anything I’ve posted on this thread. I suggest you actually try to justify your views rather than simply disparaging me without any evidence whatsoever.

That phrase about retarding fire wouldn't be used, would it. Why pretend otherwise?

That's a verb, not a noun? So not the same word. I also don't personally see what's friendly about it, either.

I have only ever supported the use of retard as a verb - read my earlier posts. Your wish for a “friendly” use of the verb retard is, frankly, bizarre.

Gadzooks is indeed short for god's hooks, but as far as I'm aware, there is limited support for the idea that bloody was definitely a shortening of "by Our Lady".

I always thought that Catholics didn't like 'bloody' because 'Bloody Mary' slaughtered a load of Protestants.

Apologies, Jamie, you obviously were aware!

This just goes further to show that different meanings, understandings and interpretations of words and phrases - whether modern or ancient - differ and can't be universally defined by one single interpretation.

We currently have two (possibly of several) different understandings of 'bloody' - both of them considered offensive to certain people for differing reasons. At the same time, a diner in a restaurant may order a bloody steak as a purely neutral descriptive term, with no intention to offend anybody. Then again, even with that, I doubt any vegetarians and vegans overhearing would like the idea....

This took me a couple of seconds to locate.

Bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in plastics ... has been found to retard the growth of follicles of adult mice and hinder their production of steroid hormones, researchers report.

Is that an academic piece or an old one, passing?

And anyway, under which circumstances would you need to use that word?

Your wish for a “friendly” use of the verb retard is, frankly, bizarre.

Wow. I think you've really badly misread me.

I don't remotely 'want' a friendly use of the word. I'm actually quite disgusted you think that.

I don't care if anyone orders a bloody steak as long as they don't try and make me eat the bloody thing
Bloody is a currently used word with several meanings, there are many more.

And to cause further consternation when my Mum died I cleared out all her sewing stuff, including dozens of reels of Sylco cotton.

One of them was a dark brown. Labelled "N*** Brown". I assume she would have bought it in the 1950s. Hardly seems feasible now, does it?

I use it quite often, as in 'I'm feeling a bit queer', or 'what a queer thread'.

If a word has multiple meanings, I think it's fine to use in a non-perjorative manner. Bent is another example.

And now we're bringing vegans into the thread! Vegans at any neighbouring table don't care how you order your steak. Honest!

This comment is both wrong and offensive. There is absolutely no side to anything I’ve posted on this thread. I suggest you actually try to justify your views rather than simply disparaging me without any evidence whatsoever

It's the way you keep quoting a couple of sentences, without the ones that followed, and sidestep the point that context matters. Seems a bit sly.

No-one is seeking to destroy every scientific paper that ever featured a conjugate of it. There is no need to keep dredging up legitimate usages of it in a scientific context and pointing to them. We know!

“One of them was a dark brown. Labelled "N* Brown". I assume she would have bought it in the 1950s. Hardly seems feasible now, does it?”

Don’t see the problem- it’s just a descriptive word, surely?

That was always a perjorative term though Bertrand, used about people, without an alternative meaning. Very different from something like queer.

I must admit that I had no idea until the recent Eamonn Holmes outcry that that was an offensive word, with racial connotations. I'm from the same part of the world as Eamonn and since so much of your language is ingrained in childhood I would find it very plausible that maybe he didn't know either. Although I've only ever heard it used to describe women so I had (obviously incorrectly) thought it to be a misogynistic insult. But anyway, I know now, so a lesson has been learned.

You might not mean it to be offensive, but if an LGBT is around and hears you they might be offended. And you could easily prevent that by just not saying it

I'm more offended* at being referred to as 'an LGBT' than I would be about someone using the word queer in its original sense. How it's being used should be obvious from the context, but I am not an LGBT as three of those letters don't apply to me, I don't even feel particularly part of the LGBT community. I am a person who happens to be Bi.

*And frankly, I'm only very mildly offended.

Don’t see the problem- it’s just a descriptive word, surely?

I have never felt comfortable with the n word. That's how slaves were listed on slave boats and at slave sales. It appeared i will as well.

It's the way you keep quoting a couple of sentences, without the ones that followed, and sidestep the point that context matters. Seems a bit sly. No-one is seeking to destroy every scientific paper that ever featured a conjugate of it. There is no need to keep dredging up legitimate usages of it in a scientific context and pointing to them. We know!

This is an utter travesty of everything I’ve posted on this thread. I have not used partial quotation to twist meanings, have sidestepped absolutely nothing and acknowledged throughout that context is everything. You have called me sly without any justification. I don’t believe you are actually reading my contributions, preferring instead to cast me as an enemy who must be defeated at all costs.

I don't remotely 'want' a friendly use of the word. I'm actually quite disgusted you think that.

Are you for real?! You specifically requested a “friendly sounding” use of the word retard. I gave one and you rejected it on the grounds that I’d used it as a verb - something I’d done throughout - and also that you didn’t “personally see what's friendly about it, either”.

Is that an academic piece or an old one?

Google the phrase, “this chemical retards” and you will find plenty of contemporary hits.

And anyway, under which circumstances would you need to use that word?

When the word retard (vb), retardant or retardation happen to be the most apposite for the context.

No, I didn't.

What on earth are you on about?

You quote where I have requested any such thing.

I specifically said I cannot think of such a usage. I don't believe you can either, which is why I disagreed with you the second time you used it.

So you're scientist, then, passing? Can't think of any other context in which you would need to use the word unless describing some material or other which acts as a fire deterrent.

So you're scientist, then, passing? Can't think of any other context in which you would need to use the word unless describing some material or other which acts as a fire deterrent.

I quoted something from a non-fiction book earlier.

Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson (2012). "This theory needs to delineate both the factors that create and retard prosperity".

That's academic language. Again.

That's academic language. Again.

Which is kind of the point. In a different context (a technical, academic or professional setting), retard is a normal word.

No, I’m not a scientist but I can think of plenty of apposite uses of the words I’ve given. And, no, I’m not going to offer them up one-by-one for your approval. Instead, let me ask you what should become of the words retard (vb), retardant and retardation? Should they be used at all? If so, by whom?