faggot "Faggot" is the classic anti-gay slur. Most people think it's a funny coincidence that the word also happens to mean "bundle of sticks." But there may be an ancient and awful connection between the two definitions: During the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th century, homosexual prisoners were forced to collect wood for the Inquisition's witch-burning fires--and their own bodies were then used to fuel the pyres when the flames died out. The word's journey from Latin to Modern English is hard to trace; along the way "faggot" was, among other things, a reprimand for boys who were "sissies" and a putdown for women. By the early 20th century, the term (by then usually shortened to "fag") had made it into American prison slang in reference to men who dressed in women's clothes. (And into British English to mean "cigarette"--possibly because cigarettes were considered effeminate by cigar- and pipe-smokers.) "Fag" has remained a criticism of men with stereotypical female traits--long hair in the 1960s, an earring on one side in the '80s--as much as of actual gay behavior. It has also spawned expressions like "artfag" (a name-dropping, wannabe artist who is not necessarily gay) that play on the stereotype of gay men being sensitive and artistic. "Fag" is still a direct insult when spoken with hostile intent to a homosexual man. But it has also morphed into a more generalized insult, to the point where kids and sometimes adults use it to refer to someone they find wimpy, not "manly" or just plain not good enough.

Comments

[Mariah]

Yes..."faggot" is not a kind word to be used,but I highly belive that homosexuality is inappropriate and is a choice us humans make. No one is perfect so this word may slip here and there(sometimes frequently)but don't be a fag and no one can look at you and become curious as to why you act the way you do!

[Christina]

i know this term is hurtful but my sis and i say it to each other if we think were bein dumb ill be stop bein a fag or somthin but i dont say it in public so i wont offend anyone

[j.holiday wifey]

I think that the word Faggot is like kind of funny but it is kind of offensive to GAY guts and I think that like its okay for a gay person(guy)to say that because like he is gay.But like for example,like you were a black person you would be offended if someone called you ghetto.Its a sterio type and like if someone called a black person a nigga(i'm black so)thats offensive and so is if you were white and someone called you a cracker.Thats offensive and you should'nt call someone something that they don't want to be called and that is offensive.SO DON'T SAY IT!!!

[ANTI-GAY]

i hate fags,
DIE FUCKING FAGGOTS

[Naoki]

Ok, I'm sorry but as a supporter of gay rights and a Lesbian I feel really offended when some of ya'll say this is all "post-modernism". It's not. It's the way I am, and I can't help it. It's not like some people just CHOOSE to be gay, it just happens!!! You can't blame someone for who they fall in love with, it's classic Romeo and Juliet shit exept everyoen hoped they'd stay toghther because they were a guy and a girl.
And Fag/Faggot is only ok if you're joking around with people who know you're joking around. I, personaly, don't even use it then because it's very easy for someone to get their feelings hurt if they misunderstand you.
This word goes right along with "gay" being used as a term for something stupid, it is being used WAY too much and it needs to stop.

[koko]

the term faggot is really used now-a-days and i think its a humorous term but its getting kinda old

[Dolce]

The term faggot was most likely adopted from the biblical term used to describe embers of fire falling from the skies during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra. It is likely that the term was later used as a pejorative in reference to homosexuals because of its usage in biblical text describing the destruction of the cities previously mentioned.

[u\wish]

i love the word but i dnt mean of course not i all my best friends fo\aggots its actually my favorite word bt i cnt help usin it its mor of a kind of umm tlk like when u tlk in txt like i am people shouldnt take it 2 heart

[Astrocom]

It may also be relevant to note that a bundle of metal rods to be smelted, cast, or refined is also properly called a faggot.

[suzz]

I Use This Word A Lot But Dnt Mean It 2 Be Offenceive xx

[Natasha]

I knew that faggot meant something bad but I didn't know that it was THAT bad! I only use faggot when I am joking around. and when I use it is when I want it to mean a bundle of sticks. But I found this page, and read it. I will stop using faggot because it is rude and hurtful.

[Kristen]

Faggot=nigger when it comes to seriousness, offensiveness, and hatefulness. It's a horrible word referring to a horrible time in history.

[waynebradyhater]

wyane brady is a faggot

[BlackCherry]

I agree with JAZ. True Christians should love everyone and respect everyone. Not saying that gay people are sinners. Being gay it's not a disease, it's not sin. I'm not gay but I defend gay rigths. And I'll stand up for them. People just discrimante others to feel superior. To say that they're better.

[jaz]

i find ashlyn's comments disgusting.
saying that the word 'faggot' is just a way of classifying someone's sexual orientation is like saying that 'nigger' is just a way of describing someone's race.
i don't see how it's a sin for me to love and care about someone of the same sex. being in love with a girl was the most beautiful, intense and fulfilling experience i've ever had, and nothing to do with "following the world", post modernism or just wanting to have fun.
the world would be a better place if all you conservative christian people would fight REAL sins like war and rape instead.

[ashlyn]

i am sorry if the last message sounded rude, i did not mean to hurt ne1s feelings by saying that will just have to evaporate from ur minds, the thing is though, true Christians will NOT stand for post-modermism. We cannot all follow the flow of where the world goes, cuz its like a current, a strong one, which takes u into the middle of the ocean and leaves u there. When u follow the flow like that as when standing for gays or being gay as well, that same thing will happen to u. Go ahead and have "fun" by doing watever u want. The more candy u eat, u become sick. I hope no1 wants to. Hope every1 understands, if not it is all up 2 u.

[ashlyn]

I do not feel it is that bad to classify ur orientation, it does not matter if u go to a Christian school or not. They just use those words to put the gays into a seprate group, really. The bad part is, though, as hurtful as it may be to homosexual people, they are gay. It might be hurtful but still, people don't have to use that word, I am a Christian and I understand between the lines of which homosexuals are still human beings, no matter what they do because all of our sins are at the same level to God. So, obviously, we should not be the judges, I feel bad that there are "Christians" that say that, gays do that, we'll try to let ya'll know that u guys are wrong. You guys know what you guys are doin wrong, if u think ur not, well, then it aint my problem, but really, its to classify. Even if it's still to classify, people don't have say that, but once again u guys r hurtin urselves n if u guys think that we are going to respect u guys- that thought will just have to evaporate from ur thinkings. I believe post-modermisim is bad, since if the world wants everyone to follow their lead, but as usual, the world is not right.

[Labels hurt but real Christians will try to help u instead of pushing u farther awayy]

I do not feel it is that bad to classify ur orientation, it does not matter if u go to a Christian school or not. They just use those words to put the gays into a seprate group, really. The bad part is, though, as hurtful as it may be to homosexual people, they are gay. It might be hurtful but still, people don't have to use that word, I am a Christian and I understand between the lines of which homosexuals are still human beings, no matter what they do because all of our sins are at the same level to God. So, obviously, we should not be the judges, I feel bad that there are "Christians" that say that, gays do that, we'll try to let ya'll know that u guys are wrong. You guys know what you guys are doin wrong, if u think ur not, well, then it aint my problem, but really, its to classify. Even if it's still to classify, people don't have say that, but once again u guys r hurtin urselves n if u guys think that we are going to respect u guys- that thought will just have to evaporate from ur thinkings. I believe post-modermisim is bad, since if the world wants everyone to follow their lead, but as usual, the world is not right.

[Roberta]

I got called a faggot and I'm gay, I found it quite hurtful even tho nobody had ever called me that before! :(

[ABRA]

i wish they were more creative insult words D:

[Bev]

Um, I'm a supporter of the LGBT movement, and I use the word loosely. I think that people need to stop investing so much value in syllables.

[karis]

"Faggot" (and fag, also) is a disgusting and hurtful word. Period.

[Kuri]

I think all labels are the stupidest things in the whole world. most of them are used to hurt people which makes it even worst. they're just rude names to try and bring people down. half the time the people don't even know what the word means, or what it stands for. stereotypes are stupid too. stereotypes, and labels should be used for something better... like naming scientific things. At least they're a lot easier to say.

[Eliza]

Some of my gay friends call themselves "fags" as a joke, and they let me call them that too .. its only acceptable if everyone knows your joking. A few days ago, an idiot at chool called my (gay) friend a fag, and he said "Hell yeah! Thats a compliment!"

[Rhianna]

I hate the word, but everyone at my school uses it wich is retarded cuz my school is a christian school

[tyeisha]

i dont use the word "faggot". i think its so disrespectful to people who r gay or anyone. everytime i hear the word i cringe. its such a strong word and now its used as a general insult to people,gay or not.

[rasheeda]

Faggot" is the classic anti-gay slur. Most people think it's a funny coincidence that the word also happens to mean "bundle of sticks." But there may be an ancient and awful connection between the two definitions: During the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th century, homosexual prisoners were forced to collect wood for the Inquisition's witch-burning fires--and their own bodies were then used to fuel the pyres when the flames died out.
The word's journey from Latin to Modern English is hard to trace; along the way "faggot" was, among other things, a reprimand for boys who were "sissies" and a putdown for women.

By the early 20th century, the term (by then usually shortened to "fag") had made it into American prison slang in reference to men who dressed in women's clothes. (And into British English to mean "cigarette"--possibly because cigarettes were considered effeminate by cigar- and pipe-smokers.)

"Fag" has remained a criticism of men with stereotypical female traits--long hair in the 1960s, an earring on one side in the '80s--as much as of actual gay behavior. It has also spawned expressions like "artfag" (a name-dropping, wannabe artist who is not necessarily gay) that play on the stereotype of gay men being sensitive and artistic.

"Fag" is still a direct insult when spoken with hostile intent to a homosexual man. But it has also morphed into a more generalized insult, to the point where kids and sometimes adults use it to refer to someone they find wimpy, not "manly" or just plain not good enough.