Is it acceptable you to use the word 'dyke' to refer to a homosexual female?

I consider it a vulgar term yet it has appeared in these forums several times.

Perhaps it is a regional thing such as it being acceptable to use the word 'fag' when referring to a tobacco cigarette.

A good barometer for unacceptable words is if they get asterisked.

I definitely would not use that term. I find it derogatory, as well!

Political correctness and slang remarks change day by day. You can't outlaw every word that has been used in an insulting way. The term "faggot" was meant to be a burning piece of wood, the stick of wood, or a bundle of sticks. For popular culture to change the meaning of a word to the point where it's use is "illegal" is a shame.

When a word becomes an insult, perhaps it is better to just not use it in an insulting fashion.

Yes, there any number of words that have been hijacked.

different people use different terminology

I think 'homo' SOUNDS offensive but then it is actually shortened version of the actual word homosexual


I usually call homosexuals , homosexual, and female homosexuals lesbian,,, I haven't offended anyone yet

The problem is that certain groups claim disenfranchisement, some legitimately and others not, who have hijacked the language. Oddly enough, those who are "insulted" by certain words and insist that they shouldn't be used are often the ones who use those words to describe themselves. Why don't we all just quit being oversensitive about who uses which words. If it's acceptable for a lesbian to call herself a dyke, or a gay guy to call himself a faggot, or a black person to call himself a n***er, or a white person to call himself a cracker, those terms aren't really offensive. This is completely disingenuous manipulation of who can use what language because of this alleged "right to not be offended." That "right" needs to be killed now because it is completely incompatible with free speech.

in the English language words often have many meanings based upon 'context'

nothing wrong with learning about context and when a word may be offensive or when it is appropriate,,

I agree with this. But if I can call myself a Mick, it's out of line for me to say you can't use that same word.

Hmmm...How about person, people, human...etc
The sooner we stop identifying individuals by their differences whatever, they may be, the sooner we can all live in peace.

Op... your shirt is soooo gay..



... brightly colored that is..lol

.. its not gay at all..
.. it's got more of a Brady Bunch look to it..lol...

I imagine dyke is pretty much the look they are going for.. Ellen is making that look, famous.. You can't refer to all homosexual women as dykes though, because some of em like to look like women.. Call it like you see it, and to hell with all the political correctness..

not just singling you out msharmony, but try calling them by their name

i guarantee i guarantee that labels are for cans so that you can know what is in them without having to open the can to find out

(bulldog double guarantee - patent pending)

This is something everyone is guilty of to one degree or another. And we don't just label other people. We label ourselves. There is a much larger discussion here, but that would take this thread off topic.

"Acceptable terms for homosexuals"


ohhh i don't know...how about 'people'?

Ironically, the word "homo" actually means 'the same'.

"Terms for homosexuals", we have a gay guy at work we call him by his name Ron.Problem solved.