Obviously, using the word ‘gay’ as an all-purpose derogatory adjective offends the sensibilities of many people on a variety of levels. However, even if being polite isn’t exactly on your priority list, you should still nix the phrase ‘that’s gay’ from your vocabulary. The reason is purely pragmatic.

If you take the trouble to tell someone something, it is assumed it is because you feel you have some insight to share, or at least an emotion to express. The phrase ‘that’s gay’ does neither. By referring to, say, a textbook as ‘gay’, a student has robbed himself of the opportunity to critique. As an instructor, this writer does recommend books to students and am also able to give input regarding textbook adoption.

If this writer were to hear several students complain that a particular text is ‘overly formal’ or ‘doesn’t have enough worked examples’, then she could repeat those opinions to a text selection committee. Perhaps those comments would tip the scales in favor of another text. At the very least, this writer might be able to warn students of the dearth of examples and recommend they seek additional study materials. In short, by making an intelligent critique, you give yourself a chance, however small, to change the world. At the very least, you have succeeded in your goal of expressing an opinion.

If, on the other hand, you simply call the text ‘gay’, this writer has no inkling of the nature of your criticism. Did it bore you? Frustrate you? Mislead you? If this writer has no idea what you found lacking, she really can’t make any helpful suggestions to you, and she certainly can’t pass along your meaningless comment to anyone else. You may as well have kept your mouth shut and this writers opinion of your intelligence in tact.

To most people, ‘gay’ means homosexual, and using it as an all-purpose pejorative modifier creates confusion. Many people refer to music, movies, or books they dislike as ‘gay’. However, if you’re talking about “Brokeback Mountain”, you could legitimately describe it as having gay content, and doing so would help others make up their mind about whether or not to see it. Referring to a movie that has no homosexual content as ‘gay’ could very well disappoint or offend (as the case may be) someone who rented it based on your description.

People who commonly abuse the word ‘gay’ would (were this writer able to hold their attention for the duration of this essay) undoubtedly argue that, “I don’t really care if anybody knows what I mean.” This begs the question of why such people bother to speak. It also leads one to ponder how a benign creator could endow such creatures with vocal cords, or how such an unpleasant combination of traits could possibly endure the process of natural selection. This writer will leave that for the theologians and biologists to sort out, as it appears to call both evolution and intelligent design into question.