Homophobic abuse?

When I was at school you were called names such as 'gay/poof' for being slightly effeminate, if you ran like a girl or couldn’t throw a cricket ball. It was a bit of name calling (extracting the urine), not bullying and not homophobic.

I was called worse than that being a 'black teenage lad' in school in the 70's! Were they racist? Not in my opinion, it was a bit of ribbing and I was never bullied. My nickname was ‘Midnight’!

Sticks and stones etc. However if violence is involved then it becomes a different matter. But just some name calling, please, get over yourself and grow up.

Fat kids, scruffy kids, kids with snotty noses, thin kids, lanky kids, ginger kids, kids with stupid hair, kids not good at sports etc, etc, etc (basically all kids) get the mick taken and get called names.

You don’t need the leader of the Lib Dems to get involved, and you certainly don’t need Stonewall to be involved. They will just want to ensure that everyone in a school is 'gay aware' rather than being concerned about the standard of education provided.

Like I said, sticks and stones.............

I think some people should find out what Homophobia is before trying to use the word. Ignorance is bliss though. Oh dear, I've just done the same as them.

Last Pint Of Holts's,another exellent post,I dont understand how its got this far,a whole nation has been brainwashed with political correctnes.

Thanks Dave, I just tell it like I see it.

Well said Holts. I was bullied at school for being ginger. Homophobic taunts such as 'gay' were thrown around on a daily basis when I was at school but were by no means the worse things that were said. Kids are horrible to eachother all the time. 'Faggot' seems to be a very popular insult with teenagers these days and they use it indiscriminately on everyone and anyone.

Get a grip!

What I was at school in the late eighties & early nineties everyone & everything you didn't like was 'gay'

Take That were 'gay', New Kids on the Block were 'gay', Liverpool FC were 'gay', the Tories were 'gay', etc etc etc.

We weren't homophobic, just that 'gay' was the preferred insult (we would have preferred to use other four-letter words but the risk of a good hiding from parents or teachers were too great should we be overheard).

Even now, I hear my 13 y.o nephew playing CoD4 online calling the his opponents 'gay'.

You 'aint gonna be able to get rid of it so get used to it.

Marc,children are horrible to each other and so are adults,if somebody calls somebody a faggot or whatever, its only name calling. This society needs to address the violence and unprovoked attacks on inoccent people rather than branwashing everybody to take offence at what somebody has called somebody else,afterall they will live, which isnt the case of somebody that has been batterd sensless for nothing.

David, I agree with you 100%. A friend of mine almost lost his brother a few years ago. The guy was almost battered to death for holding hands with his partner in the street. Calling someone a name can't compare to inflicting violence on someone.

Where have these people been for the last 40 years and beyond? "Puff" was a name for any lad who had girlish looks or hair, or who may have made a mess of a football kick. Of course it's rife in schools, and always has been. I agree that violence and sustained bullying is wrong, but kids will be kids, and they will name-call at any opportunity.

But Marc, being name-called for having ginger hair? I'd like to say you have my sympathies, but I think you deserved all you got? ;-) ;-)

That's meant with total humour Marc. But seriously, that is one petty prejudice I have never quite understood.

Never a true word Holt...ours is a world gone mad, they have even banned competitions in some schools...so that kids that aren't good at sports don't feel upset or not good enough.

I'd sack the people who make such decisions.

What a bunch of ignorant individuals.

'Name calling' has been a part of a school life, it doesn't mean it's acceptable .
Racist name calling isn't permitted in school so neither should homophobic ridicule be accepted, it's all a part of the majority bullying a minority.

The reason why some kids grow up to be violent against certain groups in society is because their name calling wasn't challenged at an early stage, and if it's not challenged, to the mind of a bully it becomes acceptable.

Believe it or not sexuality is a 'main ingredient' in life, if your sexuality is abused by ignorant half wits, and that abuse is condoned by society ( as it's been done by those that have posted on here ) then your life can become hell.

Take a look at the stats for suicide rates amongst young gay men.

The mentality on here is an absolute disgrace but typical of an ignorant society.

'it's all a part of the majority bullying a minority.'

Andy, as I said before teenagers these days call *everyone* a 'faggot', not just those peers who they suspect are gay. When a teenage boy is using this word on, say, a teenage girl of the same age, does it still count as homophobic bullying? Surely the word 'faggot' as a homophobic insult refers only to gay men?

Andy, interesting comments but I disagree to some extent.

Name calling will never cease amongst kids.

You also say racist name calling isn’t accepted anymore, I can tell you that whilst it may not be permitted in schools it still happens!

But the crux is the word ‘name’ calling. Direct violence and hate against another is a definite issue that needs to be address, but kids name calling, get real………………..

It never ends, in my place of work we have banter, name calling and nick names some ‘sensitive souls’ may be offended at. However, to legislate, against words is preposterous.

Reference the suicide rates of young gay men, whilst this is indeed very sad (as when ever anyone takes their own life not just young gay men) this cannot be attributed to a few kids using ‘gay’ as a micky take! How about parents of gay people not accepting the fact and turning their backs? Can the divisive gay society be an influence on this because it is based on looks, clothes and acceptance in their own social circles (according to my friend who is openly gay)? As proof a few weeks back a number of lesbians clashed with transgendered over a protest regarding a ‘hack’ who works for the Guardian? Where is the unity there?

Its name calling from kids, rise above it and don’t lay the issues of the gay community at the feet of youths taking the mick!

The mentality on here is not a disgrace and if violence was reported then I am positive there would be support and outrage. But many ‘grown ups’ see this for what it is, ‘name calling’, that’s all………

Last Pint of Holts...
No, name calling amongst kids will probably never stop but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be challenged. Have you done much research to come to the conclusion that the young gay people who do attempt suicide aren't affected by the names they are called by their peers? Do you not remember how merciless some bullying can be at school?
And yes, the gay scene isn't perfect, just as any group in society isn't perfect. It is a diverse group of people from all parts of society so you do get the shallow idiots, racists etc as well as those who do give a monkeys and don't judge people on their clothes and looks. There are numerous groups helping young people deal with their sexuality - perhaps you should speak to them before declaring that name calling doesn't impact on young people.

Andy, its ok for you to insult people (but not others)by refering to them as "ignorant individuals" and refering to "the mentality on this site" is it because they dont have the same views as you?we are all entitled to have opinions and say what we like,including you, Im just pointing the fact out.

The word 'gay' is used as a derogatory word for a number things (as started in South Park)

The word is also used in the homosexual community but it's not ONE word we are talking about here.

There are a number of words that are used by the gay community that are frequently used as a derogatory term and are used to hurt and abuse.

How many school kids are able to open about their sexuality in school without fear of verbal and physical abuse ? , hardly any.

How many premiership footballers are 'out' , virtually none because they also fear the consequences.

The adage "sticks and stones will .......... " is NOT true , it's especially not true when homophobic linked hate verbal abuse in schools in not challenged.

Kids should be taught to be tolerant and accepting , not only of those with a different sexuality .... but of those kids that are poor, dress differently, are overweight, ......

Attitudes have to change in schools, when kids are forced to hide their own sexuality through fear ... the system needs to change.

Oh Come on Andy, get yourself down from cloud cuckoo land. I was called Fatty at school in the 70s, my mum was called specky four eyes in the 40s, and on and on and on. It's called growing up ! Kids name call as part of growing up and depending on their colour, size, physical appearance etc will depend on what they get called - clever kids 'swot' not so clever kids 'thicko' and on and on. However, I do think that a lack of respect is touched on in the article when it refers to teachers being abused - but that's a completely different matter IMHO.

Blame the Humanists for our disorganized, disrespectful, and rowdy youth.

The humanists have had their way for the last 40 years. They've slowly watered down nationalism and christianity and turned us all into atheists without even knowing it. No more learning our morals from parables or the teachings of Jesus, instead teachers have been ordered to step back and let children learn the rights and wrongs on their own by listening to their conscience. There free to do as they please, no boundaries, no discipline, anything goes.

I'm afraid all children, no matter what background, have a nasty side to them. This needs to be ironed out by using a bit of carrot and a bit of stick. Sadly, they've been wrapped in cotton wool and are now running riot.

They're using tools like health and safety and PC to impose their veiw onto the people. Can't fly the flag, mass immigration, same sex weddings, et cetera - et cetera.

It's more of the same ideology that's infested the judicial system ... and we all know about that. Depressingly, they think their actions will change the mindset of a generation so it's more of the same for the next few decades.

Once upon a time, it is believed, schools were places of education. You know? the type of places you went to as a child to learn maths, reading, geography, history and lots of stuff like that. Children played in the schoolyard, got into fights and called each other names. All good rough and tumble stuff that prepared children for negotiating their way through life.

That, of course, was before education was politicised. It now seems that is the job of teachers to dish out the acceptable values of the elites. Like the re-education programmes of the old communist regimes schools must indoctrinated children with the approved moral codes.

Geography now becomes an opportunity to lecture children about the evils of humanity and the impact of mankind on ‘Global Warming’. Other ‘in vogue’ messages compete for time in the curriculum. Students are as likely to have instruction on sex and relationships, healthy eating, drugs and any amount of “phobias” (from Islam to Homo) as they are to get to grips with Pythagoras’ Theorem. Emotional literacy now replaces actual literacy.

Children are now to be regarded as timid, emotionally vulnerable little tykes that cannot cope without constant adult supervision and intervention. I even heard 16 to 19 year olds being described as children on the Today programme this morning.

It is time that schools got back to educating students rather that turning the whole education system into one giant ‘Room 101’ where students must be imbued with the 'correct' or 'approved' way to think and act.

Andy, you are living in one of the most tolerant countries in the world, you say that the system needs to change, regarding kids hidding their sexuality,what do you have in mind ?,for example, lets take an islamic country,do you think that they deal with the subject of being gay etc in a more positive way ?

'Kids should be taught to be tolerant and accepting'

easier said than done! my 14 year old stepdaughter is a straight A student, never gets into trouble and has quite a mature head on her shoulders. despite this i still have to tell her off occasionally for using casually racist language. how do you teach kids to be tolerant and accepting, even the good ones?

Fran M: Quite a post, superb..............

Fran M and last pint of Holts have got this one 100% right.

It is part of growing up and life, there is a big difference between abuse and harmless banter.

An example. In our office, two blokes used to work with me and we were all mates, we used to casually call each other "gay" and "puff" in a mickey taking way, none of us were, by the way.

On another section a man who was gay worked, he was a decent bloke and we got on well with him, he knew we did'nt attach any malice to it and used to join in, "I'll try and convert you" etc. One of the lads had a girlie calendar as well and the gay guy used to sometimes have a look,

"mmm I'd consider turning straight for her!" he once said

A bit later someone else started who was a homophobic bigot and would sometimes start attacking gays. We told him off for it. He was being malicious, we were'nt

The point is that education and the public sector has been overrun with Guardian reading, chattering class, hand wringing, liberal PC obsessed idiots, the kind of people who are so fixated with procedures and box ticking bureaucracy that they could not see that poor child baby P suffering

David said "..you are living in one of the most tolerant countries in the world".

I agree - and look where it's got us!

I feel that there's a lot of harping on about how people loved a bit of name calling in school.

In my opinion taunting and name calling is a form of harrassment, this is bullying, it affects lots of children and young adults causing a loss of confidence.

Name calling is often centred on 'difference', if you accept name calling and taunts because somebody is different in some way, be it through creed, ethnicity, sexuality etc then you are accepting bigotry, you are breeding intolerance.

'Mr Angry' you are keen to point your conspiratorial finger of blame:
"The point is that education and the public sector has been overrun with Guardian reading, chattering class, hand wringing, liberal PC obsessed idiots, the kind of people who are so fixated with procedures and box ticking bureaucracy that they could not see that poor child baby P suffering "

You move to the emotive issue of Baby P rather than add any depth to your argument. There are obviously issues with legislation, but at the end of the day what kind of conditions creates monsters like the mother of Baby P, her partner and their lodger? They are the people who I feel angry at.

Fran M "It now seems that is the job of teachers to dish out the acceptable values of the elites. Like the re-education programmes of the old communist regimes schools must indoctrinated children with the approved moral codes."

Acceptable values of the elites? what are you talking about? Surely the 'elite' you talk about are the old money upper classes (hardly 'communist' or whatever paranoia you subscribe to) Who are these elites?

David: 'if somebody calls somebody a faggot or whatever, its only name calling'

Theoretically it's 'only' name calling but in reality what it does is dehumanise the person, making it acceptable to ridicule, taunt, harass them and progress towards physical bullying.

When I drop my son off at his primary school I sometimes hear parents using homophobic or racist terms, sometimes even calling their children homophobic names if they cry or are upset about something.

The issue is not with education being 'liberal' it's with parents breeding intolerance and ignorance. Peer pressure, intolerance and fear of difference also contribute to name calling.

Also, Did some of you not read the article about GMTV presenter Jamie Rickers? or the fact that it's 'anti-bullying' week?

Jamie said: "I was bullied from 10 to 13. I felt isolated and scared. I was relieved when the physical bullying turned to taunts - but it's not good enough to have to put up with that."

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