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CHAT: [CONLANG] [OT] Re: Fruitcakes was Re: Kentum/satem

From:And Rosta <a-rosta@...>
Date:Wednesday, May 1, 2002, 23:24
Peter Clark:
> On Tuesday 30 April 2002 21:01, Jake X wrote: > > Um... I'm sorry... but being gay I am sensitive about these things. If > > you're gonna use some term to dismiss someone is wacko (and in this case I > > agree), try not to use words that offend "x" minority, like the use of the > > word "n-----" to quote one. > > I don't know on what part of the globe you are, but here > (Minnesota), "fruitcake" definitely refers to one's mental stability (or > lack thereof) and has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation.
In Britain too, I think. I'm not sure whether Jake was objecting to the practise of trying to insult someone by claiming that they are homosexual -- which unfortunately happens in Britain, albeit only among the proletariat, teenagers and players of rugby [-- though when looked at objectively, the traits that generally incur this insult -- intelligence, gentleness, sensitivity, an appreciation of art, not being working class, a disinclination to drink alcohol to excess -- are scarcely ones that one should object to being accused of] -- but if it was specifically an objection to the word _fruitcake_, I would point out that in my perceptions, _fruit_, which, though not commonly heard in this sense, actually does mean 'gay', actually means 'somebody who is homosexual with a certain flamboyant panache' -- a meaning that, to my mind at least, is rather complimentary. --And.