Alex Tran
10-02-2011
English Comp 1
Annoying Harley Riders
A very well known slang word that is widely used today is the word “fag.” This word can be considered as a slang word because it is not necessarily used in everyday language. There are multiple definitions for the word "fag" and questions about the origin of how it came to have the meaning it has today. Many words, like fag, could have several different meanings depending on different situations. Some people may define the word "fag" in a completely different way compared to my definition of it. I will prove to everyone that the correct and current definition for the term "fag" is a human being who is emotionally irritating, with little to no regards for the rights or feelings of other human beings and it should not be used to degrade homosexuals because of their sexuality.
There are many definitions of the word fag, which is the shortened version of the words faggot/fagot. Faggot and fagot are the same, they are only different variations of each other and they are both correct; they just have different spellings due to the originality of the word and when it was used. The British used the spelling "fagot" according to The New Oxford American Dictionary. The only time faggot was used in the English language was the basic dictionary meanings of "fag," which are a bundle of sticks, a cigarette, or the degrading of homosexuals (Nichols 692).
Fag's origin is still debatable, but one of the theories is it began as a bundle of sticks, and sticks were used as fire wood. So then the definition changed to the burning of sticks, which also implies burning cigarette sticks. Soon after that, the younger classmen at Harvard did an older classmen's dirty work, like keep the fires burning. Later a new definition developed and became one that meant a "shrewish-woman" because they did the same chores as the younger Harvard classmen's . Though this word was used throughout history, it was hardly ever published to have a single definition. "The first known published use of the word faggot or fag to refer to a male homosexual appeared in 1914 in the U.S. It referred to a homosexual ball where the men were dressed in drag and called them "fagots (sissies)" (Samclem). This publication could have been the start of the known definition to insult a homosexual. This theory makes the most sense, but the facts are not a hundred percent. That's just a possibility of how the word fag became the derogatory term for homosexuals.
One of the many definitions of "fag," is, "a slang word for a homosexual or also used in wrong terms when person is disliked" (Nichols), but this definition of the term is rarely used anymore because gay marriage is becoming legal and it is now more like a social norm. Due to the acceptance of gay marriage, using “fag” to insult a homosexual person may not be as common anymore, therefore the known definition should not be a word degrading homosexual. According to Jennifer Te, a student at Colorado University of Boulder, the term "fag" is a degrading word towards homosexuals and to also call someone annoying, with emphasis on a person being annoying. In addition, Sandy Tat, a student at Metro State College said that she uses the word "fag" towards those who bother her. Based on the point that gay marriage is now legal, people have started to use the word to call others annoying rather than to degrade them by sexuality.
The definition of "fag" as an annoying person is the best one because a world known show uses it. According to the famous show South Park, "The F Word" season 13 episode 12, one of the many definitions of "fag" is a loud and annoying Harley-Davidson motorcycle rider. This proves that a world famous show uses the word "fag" mainly towards annoying people, which implies that there are many people out in the world that also knows about the term fag as annoying. With South Park's popularity, they are influencing the word to be directed towards an annoying person rather than degrading homosexual person. South Park doesn't even mention the gay community in that episode, which shows how much the word has strayed from degrading homosexuals and through that same episode, they inform those that watch the show of the updated definition.
Many people believe that the definition of "fag" as annoying is correct. According to Urbandictionary.com, one of the many definitions of "fag" is, "an extremely annoying, inconsiderate person most commonly associated with Harley riders". This shows that society is beginning to agree that the updated definition is correct because urbandictionary.com has many slang definitions of words, and slang words are words which originate from the common use of the people and are a huge part of the American culture. Urbandictionary.com can be considered a big influence on current definitions of slang words because many people who do not understand or know the meaning of a word can easily look it up on that website.
Everyone should learn and understand the meaning of "fag" as an annoying person. Not knowing it as that and thinking it means a derogatory term will cause major misunderstandings between one another. For example, Kobe Bryant called a referee a "fucking fag" after a technical foul he received from referee, Bennie Adam's (Nowpublic.com). Kobe was most likely irritated with the calls the referee made, annoying him for making that call against him. It would not make sense for Kobe to vent his anger towards the referee by disrespecting the entire gay community, so why would he say such a thing? It is possible that he does not like the gay community, but it is also possible that he was annoyed. After a long night of having fouls called upon him and forcing him to sit out, chances are he was very annoyed and used the word "fag" towards the referee who annoyed him.
The word fag's definition has been forever changing, and will most likely continue to chang, but for now the definition that is most up to date and commonly used is to describe a human being who is extremely annoying, with little to no regards for the rights or feelings of other human beings and it is not used to degrade homosexuals because of their sexuality. This definition is proven through the needless use of a degrading word towards gay after it has become more of a normality, and also the socially common use of the word as an annoying person has caused the word to shift its course away from degrading homosexuals.
Citation
"Kobe Bryant Gay Slur Video: What Did He Say at Spurs Game 2011? | NowPublic
News Coverage." NowPublic.com | The News Is NowPublic. 13 Apr. 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/kobe-bryant-gay-slur-video
-what-did-he-say-spurs-game-2011-2776867.html>.
McKean, Erin. The New Oxford American Dictionary. New York, NY: Oxford UP, 2005. Print.
Nichols, Wendalyn R. Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. New York: Random House, 2001. Print.
Samclem. "The Straight Dope: How Did "faggot" Get to Mean "male Homosexual"?" The Straight Dope - Fighting Ignorance Since 1973. 29 July 2003. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2112/how-did-faggot-get-to- mean-m ale- homosexual>.
"Urban Dictionary: Fag." Urban Dictionary, October 16: Sounds like My First Time. Web.
10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fag>.
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I liked how you used South Park as one of your sources because it is a show that everyone heard of and can relate to so it helped your paper effectively. Also, how you correlated the two together that South Park is a popular tv show and if it is that popular and they refer the word fag as annoying then a lot of people must agree that it does mean annoying too, since lots of people do watch South Park.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lot of great information in your paper. Some parts were a little difficult to follow, but you brought it back together with common social references that everyone has heard of or can relate to. You did not really bring in opposing arguments to your essay, but it was apparent that you were arguing against them, even if you did not necessarily state them in your paper. I thought it was a very interesting and difficult topic. Good job finding all those facts!
ReplyDeleteYour paper was very informative! You used examples of things that everyone could relate to: South Park, Harley riders, etc. which strenghtened your definition. I was surprised that you were able to find so many sources for this topic--great job! This was well-written, and I thought your arguments were solid.
ReplyDeleteAmazed by your sources for such a unique topic. I wish you were more direct in your definition, saying a fag is this.. and it is this because... instead it seemed like you were somewhat questioning or over thinking your definition and it showed. Still overall a successful paper where you got your point across.
ReplyDeleteI personally enjoyed this topic because there is nothing more annoying to me than the sound of a motorcycle! I did not understand your photo with the two men and the chair situation. I think the paper was supposed to be in the third person and I noticed you used the first in some parts. Your qualifiers were strong and fitting. You had a very interesting and well written background of the word fag. One sentence that popped out to me in your paper was when you said most people believe that fag is used to describe annoying people is correct. This sentence worked rhetorically because it could be considered a bandwagon fallacy.
ReplyDelete