Gay and Gay-friendly

[CRilliterate]

I just read about a beach that is fabulous getaway for gay and gay-friendly people. I am still laughing trying to figure out if it is what? New category? Gay-friendly people.
How many chances we will soon check Gay-friendly or Gay-unfriendly on applications? Is this funny or scary or stupid?

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I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[sleipnir214]

Is this funny or scary or stupid?

I vote "none of the above". The term "gay-friendly" is neither funny nore scary nor stupid.

I think the definition in Wikipedia for gay-friendly is pretty good (

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_friendly):

Gay friendly is applied to predominantly straight individuals, institutions, or media which support social dignity, acceptance, and possibly political rights for gay or GLBT people.

Sounds pretty straightforward to me.


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[CRilliterate]

I respect your opinion but it still sound strange to me.

________________________________________
I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[sleipnir214]

What's strange about it?

It's been around a while, and I think it's pretty useful in its place.


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[Stella740pl]

CRilliterate,

It's a great hint to those who consider vacationing there on what to expect. Depending on whethter you are planning a family vacation with your kids, with your significant other only, with friends, or alone, you can decide, if this is the right place for you to go. Makes sense?

 

[Trevoke]

Yes, but there shouldn't need to be such a distinction.

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[CRilliterate]

Stella...I am considering vacationing there but I have no idea what to expect. I do not know if I am gay-friendly. Does it mean I have to be able to tolerate public display of affection of gay people? If it is then I am not people friendly period because i am not tolerant to public display of affection of any people and if this is what it means then it should eliminate 'gay' and say "beaches where you can smooch all over the place" so do not bring kids...what difference does it make gay or not gay...I think I am just smootching not friendly...but it says family beach and for all ages. I am confused it is so close to my home so i want to be able to visit with a child!!!

________________________________________
I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[Stella740pl]

Yes, but there shouldn't need to be such a distinction.
That's a discussion of a completely different nature, having nothing to do with linguistics.

 

[SantaMufasa]

What would be the public reaction if a resort marketed themselves as "...fabulous getaway for heterosexual/straight and heterosexual/straight-friendly people"?

Something just doesn't seem appropriate in such a scenario. What type(s) of behaviour(s) do the promoters expect that would accompany/necessitate such marketing/warnings/disclaimers? Whatever the behaviour(s), shouldn't the marketers simply list "Behaviour to Expect While Here", without insinuating that Gay or Gay-friendly people behave differently in public from Non-Gay or Non-Gay-Friendly people?

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[jebenson]

without insinuating that Gay or Gay-friendly people behave differently in public from Non-Gay or Non-Gay-Friendly people?

I think that is the point...advertising the beach as "[a] fabulous getaway for gay and gay-friendly people" is letting gay people know that they can go there and not worry about being attacked. I have gay friends who have had violence directed against them just because they were holding hands in public. Advertising the beach as "gay" or "gay-friendly" is a way to let prospective visitors know that they can - hopefully - walk down the beach holding hands and not worry about ending up in the emergency room at the the local hospital because some idiot felt "threatened."


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[CRilliterate]

See, Stella it has much to do with linguistics because this nonsense displayed publicly and I think with regards to how society changing people in colleges should be tought modern advertising ethics.
Thanks

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I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[Stella740pl]

...people in colleges should be tought modern advertising ethics

Well, currently they are using modern advertising techniques.
Maybe they are taught ethics, too, but this is where they've got so far.
What has to do with linguistics in the whole thing is this: no matter who advertises what, and ethically or not, you should learn to read between the lines and from their lingo derive the information you may be interested in but they don't want to say openly. At first, it would take you to buy the thing/visit the place once in a while, etc., sometimes you may ask other people who did. Then you will crack the code.

For additional help, I may refer you to the thread1256-1182256. ;-)

 

[dgillz]

New? Give me a break!

I have have heard of the term "gay friendly" for nearly 20 years. I cannot believe this is a topic.

To me as a straight male, this term that the venue has some -- although not exclusively or even predominantly -- gay and/or lesbian clientele, and that all people who have a problem with that should take this into consideration before they visit that venue.

Having said all that, I more often see this term in relation to restaurants and bars than I do beaches. I will admit to being more wary around a beach that a dining establishment.

However regardless of all that, this ad is a public service to everyone who reads it, IMHO.

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[columb]

We all seem to be concentrating on the 'gay' part. The linguistic aspect seems to me the growth of -friendly as a postfix. I'm not sure if it's my profession which makes me think that this originates with 'user-friendly' computers - not that I've met any!

Personally I think it's an ugly but useful construction. When my son was small restaurants that were advertised as 'child-friendly' were chosen over those which weren't. If I were the sort who took a dog on holiday then pet-friendly accommodation would be essential.

As regards the 'gay' part. I live in Blackpool which is renown as one of the biggest gay centres in the UK - second only to Brighton. Tolerance aside, if you're out clubbing in the evening it's useful to know whether the clientele match your personal preferences. I keep out of the gay clubs because it's easier than saying a polite but firm 'no thanks' all night. Similarly my gay friends know they can meet strangers without embarrassing anyone.

Columb Healy

 

[strongm]

Of course, this beach being "a fabulous getaway for gays and gay-friendly people" means that it could alternatively be described as being gay-friendly and gay-friendly-friendly ...