fairytale new york homophobia disguised christmas cheer

[Ontheboardwalk]

This is my Christmas song, Christmas starts when I hear this song. Kirsty MacColl sounds fabulous.

It’s all over the newspapers again about the outrage.

Shane MacGowan has explained a million times what the word faggot means in his life and this song. There’s no harm in the song

AIBU that outrage at this word finishes and everyone should all sing along together to a great tune

And maybe we should stop “having a fag” in case anyone is #triggered.

Gay isn’t a derogatory word though, Faggot is.

And still no, MiniGuinnes, Spastic started off meaning CP but was adapted to mean ‘any person with a disability’ or ‘anyone who said or did something stupid’. Same as Faggot, if you like, but we don’t play spastic on the radio at Christmas.

Sorry when did meatball become a homophobic slur pump?

Why does no one ever complain about 'the old slut on junk'?

Sorry when did meatball become a homophobic slur pump?

What?

because misogynistic language is ok apparently Sashh. Same as it ever was.

Gay isn’t a derogatory word though, Faggot is.

Gay was the go to insult when I was at school, that’s sooo gay. It appears to still be the go to insult in my sons reception class. Gay can most definitely be used in a derogatory way and is very commonly used as an insult.

totally agree op. Once you start down that road, there won't be much on the song left

It’s really horrible that being gay is seen as something negative, isn’t it? You’re right Simon, of course. And if someone called your son a Faggot? Or if you heard your son using the word Faggot? Would you assume they meant meatball?

If people want to get offended by lyrics may I sign post you to opera? Don Giovanni might not have called women sluts and hos but he certainly did not respect women.

As for Carmen, huge does of racism in act one.

In America in some states they use the word "spaz" to mean get over excited or be ott about something.
So many words get changed.
I have a DC with cerebral palsy and another with more severe disabilities the majority of my family are in the US.
Should I get offended by their language?
Retarded is still used commonly, even when I had to take DC2 to the ER at St. Louis children's hospital ( which is one of the best in the states) and the doctor asked us how profound his mental retardation was.
Did I ask for the smelling salts or start having a tantrum ? No I bloody didn't .
It's just their use of the word.
I let the very experienced Dr get on with treating my sick DC.
Doesn't mean I like it and none of my family would use it in relation to DC as I've informed them it's bloody offensive to the English and my H would have a fit.
Do they use it when he's not around ? I expect so but not in regard to my DC.

And just one thing , I've spent my life since the age of 4 and I was adopted by my American DF being called a septic, septic tank and tons of other anti American insults but I was taught not to get offended by words.
We mostly lived in the UK and attended British schools where my DF was stationed and the abuse myself and my Dsis got was awful at times but honestly we'd both be ok whatever and laugh at the fools.
The fact I had no mother, was adopted by an American of German decent, have a very southern US name and I'm of Irish / Swedish decent and my sister and all subsequent siblings all came from different biological parents made sure we heard plenty of shit insults.
Why are people so easily offended these days?
We just need to stop this culture of trying to erase the past and learn to be less offended by things like a word in a 30 year old song.

I’m not sure ‘I’m never offended by anything ever’ is such a great way to think either though. Plus, as you say yourself, words can cause upset - so you may be perfectly happy with turning a blind eye to derogatory words being used to describe your own child but that doesn’t make it ok to play songs on the radio with the word ‘spaz’ in.

Not turning a blind eye or saying I'm never offended but I do recognise the cultural use of different words because of my multi cultural family.
But let's get this straight.
The pogues are not talking about gay men!

So? It’s a derogatory term for gay people, why not just bleep it out?

So? It’s a derogatory term for gay people, why not just bleep it out?

Not in the context of Irish culture and this song. Don’t like the song, don’t listen to it. Stop forcing other cultures to change the meanings of their words. It comes across as xenophobic.

@T0tallyFuckedUpFamily exactly, people need to stop imposing their British views on other cultures.
If it was meant as a homophobic slur I'd be the first to say it shouldn't be used in song lyrics but it's not!
Also nobody will stop me calling my cat a bugger or sod ( maybe the DC or H now and again too haha ) because she's a little tyke.
Or is tyke banned too ? I can't keep up

Well, that’s exactly the point, isn’t it? It’s played all the time at Christmas, with people bending over backwards to justify it - it’s very, very hard to avoid it. Instead, as I said earlier, why not beep out the word so people don’t have to hear it, and anyone who delights in the word faggot can just buy that version? Why force everyone to hear it?

@Pumperthepumper they have a clean version already.
So the radio stations could use that but choose not too

Also nobody will stop me calling my cat a bugger or sod ( maybe the DC or H now and again too haha ) because she's a little tyke

Good for you! Take a stand! Get another cat and call it Faggot, but obviously not the homophobic version - I’m sure you won’t have to explain the context to your neighbours when you call it in for its dinner.

@Pumperthepumper no one has to justify playing the fairytale of New York, don't be ridiculous!

@Pumperthepumper your radio also has an off button, try using it?

I hate it , not because it’s “homophobic” but because I think it’s awful .

@breastfeeding what!! Brains Faggots are delicious!

@Pumperthepumper any reason why you're not complaining about those? Have you contacted the manufacturer?

@Pumperthepumper your radio also has an off button, try using it?

That’s a brilliant idea! Anyone who objects to homophobic language being used in mainstream media can switch it off!

Or they could just bleep over two words. Two little, loaded, horrible, derogatory words that you wouldn’t be happy with your children being called, or using.