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?

When was the cut off? I didn't get the memo.

You tell me, neither did I.

So what are you saying? That it didn't have one meaning, and then evolve to have a pejorative meaning?

Because the word itself isn't offensive.
I use the word coloured - "the picture has been coloured in".

If I were to use either of those words to describe people then that would be offensive.

Queer can mean 'strange', or can be a reference to sexuality

It was applied to the gay community as a slur about their sexuality because of its original meaning.

Jesus wept.

Bowing out now.

Do you also refer to other women as sluts and hussies, using their older meanings? Or do you hold back because language changes over time and those words now have a different meaning and you don't want to cause offence?

You really can't think of another word to replace queer? Or is it because you don't want to and don't care if you offend others. Lots of terms and sayings were ok years ago that are considered derogatory or offensive nowadays.

I still use it to mean what it has always meant until it was also adopted by the LGBTQ community.

Whilst there's nothing wrong at all with adopting a word to describe yourself, your friendship circle, your community etc, you can't just steal a common word and demand that others stop using it in its long-established sense.

This reminds me of the thread a while ago where a new mum was furious that somebody had 'stolen' her baby name, which she thought she was the first person to ever think up, simply because the other mum had also decided on the far-from-uncommon name of Farrah.

I also read an article some time ago about a lesbian woman who was grossly offended by a clothes company 'appropriating' her culture and selling jumpers with the word 'femme' on them. She chose to take offence and arrogantly assume it was an insult aimed squarely at her community when, in reality, the company had just designed a garment intended to be worn by a woman and printed an everyday French word meaning, erm, 'woman' on the front of it. Meanwhile, I'm guessing that a lot of much less highly-strung and better educated lesbians simply bought themselves one and wore it with a knowing smile.

It would be like me telling everybody that I've changed my name in common usage to 'One-Two' and then firing off angry demands for compensation for hurt feelings and cease-and-desist letters to every sound technician in the world

I mean originally 'gay' meant happy so meanings of words do change according to their use. I can't imagine using the word Queer as odd

Check your privilege

🙄 How trite.

How is a purposely made mocking doll comparable to a word that originally had no offence intended?

I'm sure you don't actually need that explained.

Straight people don't get to decide what words gay people should or should not find offensive. Just as white people don't get to decide whether golliwogs are offensive or not @Gallivespian

I think you must be confusing me with another poster, @Waxonwaxoff0. Or have misunderstood what I said.

I use it in it’s original meaning. I’m a lesbian and find it offensive when used about gays or lesbians. For some of us it was said as a threat of violence, or alongside violence.

I know certain sectors of the LGBTQWERTYWTF community have adopted it but most older homosexuals find it offensive when used to describe gay and lesbian people. Half the people who now call themselves queer now are heterosexual anyway.

At the very least, I'd think you were criminally thick and attention seeking if you used the word in its "original" context these days, @BowermansNose.

At the very least, I'd think you were criminally thick and attention seeking if you used the word in its "original" context these days

Wow, how narrow minded

Wow, how narrow minded

Hadn't thought of that one. I might think that too.

Straight people don't get to decide what words gay people should or should not find offensive.

True, but gay people (actually, people in general) also don't get to dictate that a normal word no longer be used in context when nobody is even remotely thinking about them when they use the word. Does it make me a racist if I go to the zoo and say "Look at the monkeys!" ? Do Polish people feel insulted if people talk about polecats or telegraph poles?

I always thought the ludicrous tales about schools being forced to refer to 'chalkboards' instead of blackboards and it having to be 'coffee with or without milk' instead of black or white coffee was just tabloids stirring up click-bait, but now I'm not so sure.

I still use it to mean what it has always meant until it was also adopted by the LGBTQ community.

And once again for the hard of comprehension at the back.....

It wasn't 'adopted' by the LGBTQ community. It was thrown at them as an insult.

And then some of them reclaimed it.

It was an insult first. Not adopted. Insult.

So why has "pansy" managed to survive as a flower name?

It was an insult first. Not adopted. Insult.

But during that period, it was still (and I would guess mainly) used as a normal, everyday word.

Straight people don't get to decide what words gay people should or should not find offensive. Just as white people don't get to decide whether golliwogs are offensive or not

Golliwog is the wrong example. A golliwog was always a caricature of black people. 'Queer' was not always a slur. Why not use the word 'coloured'? Black people don't want to be called 'coloured', it's outdated and wrong however, in the context of a painting or drawing- black/white or coloured it clearly has a different meaning. Black people or people of colour have never asked for the word 'coloured' to be erased.

Someone giving me a 'queer look' does not mean homosexual in these parts.

would it be ok to use the shortened version of Pakistani in its original non-offensive context?

The shortened version of Pakistani has always been offensive whereas queer is perfectly usable in place of odd · strange · unusual · funny · peculiar · curious · bizarre · weird · outlandish and always has been prior to it being used to mean homosexual.

I see no reason why anyone should not use it in its original context.

Apologies @Gallivespian !

What about slut? The original meaning refers to a scruffy/unusual looking woman. The only people who can decide if slut is a acceptable word is women as it is generally applied to them more.

What about the N word? It’s original meaning (with one g) simply refers to the colour black, are you going to change the word black for the N word? No black? Then don’t use the N word.

Retard means someone with a learning difficult, are you going to start calling people retards? Don’t have a learning difficulty? Then don’t use the word retard.

I’m Pakistani, originally Paki wasn’t offensive, so are you going to start calling people like me Paki’s? Not Pakistani? Then don’t use the word Paki.

Yes, queer meant odd, unusual, weird, peculiar, abnormal, freakish etc. But for a very longtime it has been used as a homophobic slur. Not gay, then don’t use the word queer.

We did not adopt the word queer for crying out loud. Straight people used it to call us weird and strange and show that we were different than others. That we were unnatural. Some of us reclaimed it to say fuck you to those who used it against us. But it's still a slur and it's too late to fix that now just because you like the word.

True, but gay people (actually, people in general) also don't get to dictate that a normal word no longer be used in context when nobody is even remotely thinking about them when they use the word. Does it make me a racist if I go to the zoo and say "Look at the monkeys!" ? Do Polish people feel insulted if people talk about polecats or telegraph poles?

Sure, because Polish people get called Telegraph Poles as an insult .
Nobody says you can't use whatever words you like. But if a group of people are saying they find it offensive, you should rethink and maybe try to find another word to use. handy link of Synonmyms for the word "strange"

I'll be honest, this is where I struggle with the ways that some people think. In the context of meaning odd, strange, peculiar, queer is a fairly normal word. I do understand, which is why I posted, the word does have a pejorative sense, but I would ever use it is a pejorative sense, and I think from the context in which I would use it, its meaning would be clear and appropriate.

Well, it depends.

Do you relish creating social misunderstandings and glory in being self-righteous about other people being "unnecessarily" offended? If so, crack on.

If you don't, perhaps pick one of the many English words that means odd and hasn't been used as an insult towards a particular vulnerable minority?

handy link of Synonyms for the word "strange"

Ironically, one of which is queer!

I don't think I would use it in a professional setting, but I think informally, in a social-setting I would still use it from time to time.