the word homophobia
Johan Olofsson
[ in case of followups: please be careful to edit the news-groups-line! ]
Dear readers,
in recent years the pace of word changing their meaning, or meanings changing
their words, seems to have accelerated in the US-English.
I'm not intending to _change_ someone's perception, but instead I would like to
know how this term is understood in different communities.
When reading (or listening) to some English speakers, I've begun to understand
that homophobia for many does mean little else than _prejudices_ against the
unknown homosexuals.
Others seem to use the word in a more distinct meaning, as for rejection or
fear, in connection with its Greek root, where "phobia" best could be
translated to "fear" in English, I think.
A parallel is the word xenophobia. Fear for foreigners or maybe more often used
as a synonym for prejudices against foreigners.
Until now, this more distinct meaning has been the one I have ascribed to the
word, and found it useful for instance to explain the fears individuals can
have for their own sexual feelings, explaining the difficulties many have to
acknowledge their attraction to people of the same sex. As a ground to
understand why many people who obviously engage in same-sex sex still don't
identify themselves as bisexual (or homosexual) with consequences for their
perception of the risks connected with their sexual behavior.
I would be grateful for e-mails as an answer on this query, and I will post a
summary to the news groups later. Before asking I searched some FAQ-files which
indicated the word not being necessary to explain or define at all. :->
Thanks in advance!
Johan Olofsson
--
e-mail: johan.o...@magnus.ct.se
s-mail: Majeldsvägen 8a, 582 63 Linköping
Nick Carter
It is widely claimed that english has a very wide selection of words that
although mean much the same thing, convey subtleties of meaning. This
would seem good, but we live in an age where a premium is placed on
simplification, brevity and the lowest common denominator. Therefore the
distinction between "prejudice" and "phobia" is becoming inconvenient.
NC
Johan Olofsson (johan.o...@magnus.ct.se) wrote:
: [ in case of followups: please be careful to edit the news-groups-line! ]
Solomon Taibi
Alwyn Thomas <al...@pia.bt.co.uk> wrote:
>As far as I knos, the first person to use the word "homophobia" was
>George Weinberg, an American psychologist; he considered an irrational
>fear of homosexuality to be a kind of neurosis requiring treatment.
As such, it would be covered (in the US) by the Americans
With Disabilities Act. This could lead to some *real* mischief.
--
S. Taibi
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks
into spears: Let the weak say 'I am strong'. (Joel 3:10)
John N. Doyle
In article <ftn_2.200.427.47_319...@magnus.ct.se> johan.o...@magnus.ct.se writes:
...
>When reading (or listening) to some English speakers, I've begun to understand
>that homophobia for many does mean little else than _prejudices_ against the
>unknown homosexuals.
>
>Others seem to use the word in a more distinct meaning, as for rejection or
>fear, in connection with its Greek root, where "phobia" best could be
>translated to "fear" in English, I think.
They are closely related, Johan. Most prejudice
is merely the superficial manifestation of fear.
Having said that, I should like to take this
opportunity to add that I detest the word
"homophobia." It's literal meaning, based
upon the roots, is something like "fear of
sameness" (corrections welcome). This has
little to do with it's common usage. Not
that this is new in English, but one would
hope for more in a recently-coined word.
--
John N. Doyle QMS, Inc.
41 E. Daggett Dr.
j...@qms.com San Jose, CA 95134-2109
408-922-2343
Simon Buck
Ysgrifennodd John N. Doyle (j...@imagen.com):
...
They are closely related, Johan. Most prejudice
is merely the superficial manifestation of fear.
Having said that, I should like to take this
opportunity to add that I detest the word
"homophobia." It's literal meaning, based
upon the roots, is something like "fear of
sameness" (corrections welcome). This has
little to do with it's common usage. Not
that this is new in English, but one would
hope for more in a recently-coined word.
It may be more appropriate than you appear to assume - there is a theory
that homophobic people are in fact `closet' homosexuals (and, therefore,
the same as those they are afraid of). Tee hee!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon.Buck @ Computing-Service.Cambridge.AC.UK
Gwasanaeth Cyfrifiadurol Prifysgol Caergrawnt, CB2 3QG, Y Deyrnas Unedig
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
In article <4o0cb7$n...@newsserver.qms.com>, j...@imagen.com (John N. Doyle)
writes:
> I detest the word "homophobia." Its literal meaning, based upon the roots,
> is something like "fear of sameness" (corrections welcome). This has little
> to do with it's common usage. Not that this is new in English, but one would
> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
Right, but I'm not quite sure what other term would have been likely to be
coined.
"homo-" makes sense in the word "homosexual", for sameness is at the heart of
the meaning of the word.
But I don't think "homosexualphobia", or even "homosexophobia" is likely to
become a popular word--it is too much of a mouthful. Even "homosexual" is a
little too long for other than technical usage; it is usually replaced, in
writing as well as in speech, by a pithier term, many of them pejorative, some
not. "Homo" as a short form of "homosexual" does exist.
So "homophobia" could be analyzed as "fear of homos", i.e. "homo" the short
form of "homosexual" rather than "homo" the Greek for sameness.
And as to a "phobia" word using one of the other words for "homosexual"--well,
beside not having a `scientific' ring to them, words like "fagophobia" or
"queerophobia" or "gayophobia" would be justly criticized for mixing greek and
non-greek roots.
Gary Williams
WILL...@AHECAS.AHEC.EDU
Tasos Kotaras
will...@ahecas.ahec.edu (Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting) writes:
>In article <4o0cb7$n...@newsserver.qms.com>, j...@imagen.com (John N. Doyle)
>writes:
>> I detest the word "homophobia." Its literal meaning, based upon the roots,
>> is something like "fear of sameness" (corrections welcome). This has little
>> to do with it's common usage. Not that this is new in English, but one would
>> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
>Right, but I'm not quite sure what other term would have been likely to be
>coined.
>"homo-" makes sense in the word "homosexual", for sameness is at the heart of
>the meaning of the word.
[...]
What about homo in the phrase "Homo Sapiens" ;-)
I think this is an example of Latin-Greek mixing.
Tasos
Alwyn Thomas
Nick Carter wrote:
> Therefore the
> distinction between "prejudice" and "phobia" is becoming inconvenient.
Does this imply that having agoraphobia or claustrophobia means that one
is prejudiced against open and closed spaces respectively?
As far as I knos, the first person to use the word "homophobia" was
George Weinberg, an American psychologist; he considered an irrational
fear of homosexuality to be a kind of neurosis requiring treatment.
Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
homophobia had to fit the bill.
Alwyn
Joseph C Fineman
will...@ahecas.ahec.edu (Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting) writes:
>And as to a "phobia" word using one of the other words for "homosexual"--well,
>beside not having a `scientific' ring to them, words like "fagophobia" or
>"queerophobia" or "gayophobia" would be justly criticized for mixing greek and
>non-greek roots.
Alas, "homosexual" already does that.
--
Joe Fineman j...@world.std.com
495 Pleasant St., #1 (617) 324-6899
Malden, MA 02148
Bob Shair
tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr (Tasos Kotaras) writes:
>will...@ahecas.ahec.edu (Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting) writes:
>
>>In article <4o0cb7$n...@newsserver.qms.com>, j...@imagen.com (John N. Doyle)
>>writes:
>
>>> I detest the word "homophobia." Its literal meaning, based upon the roots,
>>> is something like "fear of sameness" (corrections welcome). This has little
>>> to do with it's common usage. Not that this is new in English, but one would
>>> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
>
>>Right, but I'm not quite sure what other term would have been likely to be
>>coined.
suggest homosexophobia
--
Bob Shair Open Systems Consultant
1018 W. Springfield Avenue rms...@uiuc.edu
Champaign, IL 61821 217/356-2684
< Not representing the University of Illinois >
Greg Resch
In article <4o24ge$5...@phgasos.softlab.ece.ntua.gr>,
tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr (Tasos Kotaras) wrote:
> What about homo in the phrase "Homo Sapiens" ;-)
> I think this is an example of Latin-Greek mixing.
But where is the Greek? In the ;-) ?
--
Greg Resch
In article <31A4ABB8...@pia.bt.co.uk>,
Alwyn Thomas <al...@pia.bt.co.uk> wrote:
.
.
.
> George Weinberg, an American psychologist,...considered an irrational
> fear of homosexuality to be a kind of neurosis....
Then please take it to the thread on "Begging the question."
{If there isn't one now, just wait a couple of days--there will be.}
--
Herb Stahlke
In article <31A4ABB8...@pia.bt.co.uk>, Alwyn Thomas <al...@pia.bt.co.uk> writes:
> Nick Carter wrote:
>
>> Therefore the
>> distinction between "prejudice" and "phobia" is becoming inconvenient.
>
> Does this imply that having agoraphobia or claustrophobia means that one
> is prejudiced against open and closed spaces respectively?
>
I didn't read Nick's earlier comments that way. I tend to share his
concern over the use of the word "homophobia." It seems not to be a
phobia in the medical sense, that is, in the sense that agoraphobia or
claustrophobia are. It certainly does describe an "anti-homosexual
prejudice" that we should all find unacceptable. However, because it
sounds like a medical term, it takes on greater weight than it should.
As a prejudice, it requires education, not brain surgery! ( ;-) )
> As far as I knos, the first person to use the word "homophobia" was
> George Weinberg, an American psychologist; he considered an irrational
> fear of homosexuality to be a kind of neurosis requiring treatment.
>
> Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
> be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
> homophobia had to fit the bill.
>
It's a poor fit. The etymology renders it vague.
Herb Stahlke
Ball State University
Patrick C Flumignan
john,
i concur -- the literal meaning of "homophobia" has little to do with its
usage. i recall the time when i was assaulted by a group of young, male,
(presumably) non-homosexuals. after the incident, i addressed a crowd;
in my speech,i spoke of how our language reflects heterosexism. my point
was this: we have well established and specific words that means "hatred
of women" (misogyny) and "hatred of jews" (anti-semitism). but our lack
of word that precisely means "hatred of homosexuals" indicates the
position of the problem in the consiousness of our society. we haven't
even a word yet to discribe the sick hate in brewing in these people.
John N. Doyle wrote:
*snip snip snip*
> Having said that, I should like to take this
> opportunity to add that I detest the word
> "homophobia." It's literal meaning, based
> upon the roots, is something like "fear of
> sameness" (corrections welcome). This has
> little to do with it's common usage. Not
> that this is new in English, but one would
> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Patrick C Flumignan
MA Programme, Media Studies
Concordia University, Montreal
rat...@alcor.concordia.ca
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ratpick/spiral.html
"Merely to exist is not enough." -- Rabindranath Tagore
Arne D Halvorsen
j...@world.std.com (Joseph C Fineman) wrote:
>will...@ahecas.ahec.edu (Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting) writes:
>>And as to a "phobia" word using one of the other words for "homosexual"--well,
>>beside not having a `scientific' ring to them, words like "fagophobia" or
>>"queerophobia" or "gayophobia" would be justly criticized for mixing greek and
>>non-greek roots.
>Alas, "homosexual" already does that.
Nonononono.
Homo from the Greek = same, homo from Latin = man.
A bit confusing, but understandable.
(It's discussed in the novel Earthly Powers, by Anthony Burgess)
So homosexuality mixes roots, homophilia does not.
(homo = same, philia = love of, liking of, homophilia = love of the
same (sex, implied)).
Homophobia would be a a fear of the same (sex), applicable to men who
hate men and women who hate women.
Homomania might be an interesting concept, the working out of which I
will leave as an exercise to the reader.
In Norway a few months ago, there was a discussion regarding what the
Bible says about homosexuality. Apparently, Paul uses the word
'arsenokoites', which is a rare word meaning 'men who lay down with
men' .
So the concept we're groping for (if that's the word) would be
something like 'arsenokoit*phobia', where somebody skilled in Greek
might replace the * with the correct grammatical endings.
Please do not infer that I'm arsenokoitephobic, what interests me is
fooling about with words.
Arne 'But pedokoitephobic, that's a different matter' Halvorsen
Anno Siegel
In alt.usage.english article <4o1jig$l...@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk>,
Simon Buck <Simon...@Computing-Service.Cambridge.AC.UK> wrote:
>Ysgrifennodd John N. Doyle (j...@imagen.com):
> ...
> They are closely related, Johan. Most prejudice
> is merely the superficial manifestation of fear.
>
> opportunity to add that I detest the word
> "homophobia." It's literal meaning, based
> upon the roots, is something like "fear of
> sameness" (corrections welcome). This has
> little to do with it's common usage. Not
> that this is new in English, but one would
> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
>
>that homophobic people are in fact `closet' homosexuals (and, therefore,
>the same as those they are afraid of). Tee hee!
But a "closet homosexual" is a person who is aware of his (or her)
homosexuality and may practice it, but secretly without admitting
to it. The kind of homophobes you describe are in denial of their
homosexuality, the denial resulting in hatred and contempt for people
who practice what they secretly long for themselves. "Latent homosexual"
would be closer.
Anno
Simon Buck
Ysgrifennodd Anno Siegel (anno...@lublin.zrz.TU-Berlin.DE):
But a "closet homosexual" is a person who is aware of his (or her)
homosexuality and may practice it, but secretly without admitting
to it. The kind of homophobes you describe are in denial of their
homosexuality, the denial resulting in hatred and contempt for people
who practice what they secretly long for themselves. "Latent homosexual"
would be closer.
Correct. Sorry. My brain slipped.
Daniel von Brighoff
In article <1996May23.091606.1@ahecas>,
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting <will...@ahecas.ahec.edu> wrote:
>In article <4o0cb7$n...@newsserver.qms.com>, j...@imagen.com (John N. Doyle)
>writes:
>
>> to do with it's common usage. Not that this is new in English, but one would
>> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
>
>coined.
>And as to a "phobia" word using one of the other words for "homosexual"--well,
>beside not having a `scientific' ring to them, words like "fagophobia" or
>"queerophobia" or "gayophobia" would be justly criticized for mixing greek and
>non-greek roots.
One of my favourite Greek words is 'erastos', which literally means
"lover" (cf. eros) but is specifically used for the active older partner
in Classical Greek homosexuality. Since it is the supposed predatory
nature of (older male) homosexuals that is the basis of most people's
irrational prejudice, it's not too much of an extension to use this root
as a cover term.
This yields 'erastophobia', a lovely word which will probably be mis-
interpreted as an irrational fear of dreadlocked reggae fans. At least
I tried.
On a similar note, "homophilia" and "homophile" are much nicer words
than "homosexuality" (or, worse, the little-used "homosexualism") and
"homosexual". Not only do they sound better, but also they emphasise
love instead of sex. Unfortunately, they just didn't catch on.
--
Daniel "Da" von Brighoff /\ Dilettanten
(de...@midway.uchicago.edu) /__\ erhebt Euch
/____\ gegen die Kunst!
Donnie Lee Waters
>I didn't read Nick's earlier comments that way. I tend to share his
>concern over the use of the word "homophobia." It seems not to be a
>phobia in the medical sense, that is, in the sense that agoraphobia or
>claustrophobia are. It certainly does describe an "anti-homosexual
>prejudice" that we should all find unacceptable. However, because it
>sounds like a medical term, it takes on greater weight than it should.
>As a prejudice, it requires education, not brain surgery! ( ;-) )
DLW
Keith_...@mindlink.bc.ca
The word homophobia is usually used as a perjorative directed at those
who simply do not to view homosexuality as healthy or natural (as in
"part of one's nature since birth"). The problem with trying to make
sense of the etymology is that in current usage the meaning of the
word does not fit the roots. Anyone who suggests that homosexuality is
unhealthy or worse, immoral, is generally assaulted with this strange
misnomer "homophobe". Every other use of the word "phobia" in English
is a form of fear. This unique use attempts to redefine "phobia" as
"objection", "prejudice" or possibly "hostility."
Fear, "phobia", is rarely the basis for the negative view that
many alleged homophobes take. Many people have no phobia/fear of
homosexual people, including good friends, relatives, co-workers etc.,
but have grave concerns for the welfare of these same people whom they
appreciate, enjoy and care for. Homosexuals can feel patronized and
offended by the notion that such concerns even exist in the minds of
heterosexuals. So the animosity and hurt feelings give rise to a new
vocabulary of hostility and insult on all sides.
Insensitive language, hatred or genuine ignorance should not be
confused with phobia. It seems like children fighting on the
schoolgrounds: "So what are ya? Chicken?' There are various opinions
which homosexual people will not like, and there are responses neither
they nor anyone else should ever be expected to put up with, but it's
simply not accurate or helpful to call this all "phobia".
The word homophobia seems to me to be designed as a verbal weapon,
in the same fashion as many insulting salng terms for homosexuals
invented by heterosexuals. That may be why sorting out its meaning and
origins is awkward. It assists neither understanding nor clear
communication.
Lars Eighner
In our last episode <4o5b7g$5...@fountain.mindlink.net>,
Broadcast on sci.lang,alt.usage.english
The lovely and talented Keith_...@mindlink.bc.ca wrote:
>The word homophobia is usually used as a perjorative directed at those
>who simply do not to view homosexuality as healthy or natural (as in
>"part of one's nature since birth"). The problem with trying to make
>sense of the etymology is that in current usage the meaning of the
>word does not fit the roots. Anyone who suggests that homosexuality is
>unhealthy or worse, immoral, is generally assaulted with this strange
>misnomer "homophobe". Every other use of the word "phobia" in English
>is a form of fear. This unique use attempts to redefine "phobia" as
>"objection", "prejudice" or possibly "hostility."
No, in fact it doesn't. Several standard dictionaries distinguish
the definitions of the word "phobia" and the combining form
"-phobia." If yours doesn't, I suggest you get a better dictionary.
If you are really very concerned that words in their present
meanings have a close relationship to the etymology of their
parts, I call your attention to a very large number of words
whose meanings have considerably less to do with their etymologies
than the one you have picked. Perhaps there is some reason that
you have singled out this word instead of any of the others.
It seems to me there is a word for that reason.
--
=Lars Eighner===4103 Ave D (512)459-6693==Pawn to Queen Four==QSFx2==BMOC==
=eig...@io.com=Austin TX 78751-4617 ==Travels with Lizbeth==Bayou Boy==
= http://www.io.com/~eighner/ =====American Prelude==Gay Cosmos==
="Yes, Lizbeth is well."=======Whispered in the Dark==Elements of Arousal==
Steve MacGregor
Jene tajpis lastatempe Tasos Kotaras:
| > What about homo in the phrase "Homo Sapiens" ;-)
| > I think this is an example of Latin-Greek mixing.
A few points here:
1) It can't be an example of Latin-Greek mixing, as there is no Greek
involved.
2) "Homo sapiens" (Capital H, small S) is not a phrase; it is a term or
name.
3) The Latin word "homo" means the same as Greek "anthropos", German
"Mensch", Chinese "jin": human being (often translated into English as
"Man" -- the species, not the individual).
--
==----= Steve MacGregor {GCS$(AT) -d+ !H s:++ g++ p2+
([.] [.]) Phoenix, AZ au a50 w+ v+* C+++ U P? !L N+++
-----oOOo--(_)--oOOo---------------- !W M? po+(++) Y+ t-(+) 5++ j+
R(-) %pbm++++$ G' tv++ b+++ !D B- e++ n+ h+ f+ r+>+++ n- %eo+++ y+++}
Steve MacGregor
At the beginning of this thread:
> Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
> be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
> homophobia had to fit the bill.
Well, =some= people seem to need such a word. I don't see any more need
for it than for a word that means "anti-drug-pusher prejudice" or
"anti-child-molester prejudice".
Jene tajpis lastatempe Herb Stahlke:
| It's a poor fit. The etymology renders it vague.
Right. If you need a word that means "hatred" or "prejudice", then use
one with "mis[o]-" in it, like the words "misogynist" and "misandrist". I
rather like the word "misocarp" to cover this meaning.
One dictionary I have defines "homophobia" as "fear of monotony".
--
---------------------
Reunite Gondwanaland!
---------------------
Michael Larson
In article <4o61r5$c...@globe.indirect.com>, stev...@indirect.com (Steve
MacGregor) wrote:
>At the beginning of this thread:
>> Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
>> be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
>> homophobia had to fit the bill.
>
> Well, =some= people seem to need such a word. I don't see any more need
>for it than for a word that means "anti-drug-pusher prejudice" or
>"anti-child-molester prejudice".
Do you really want to lump _your_ homosexual child or grandchild (chances
are _you_ will eventually have one) into this group? It is your
homo(sexual)phobia that allows you to make such a category mistake.
_Your_ homophobia is going to stand in the way of someone you love living
a fullfiling life.
If we can step away from being jesuitical about the word for a minute, we
will see that the attitudes and behavior that people take toward gay
people in the United States are hurtful and sometimes murderous. As much
as some may deny that they even know a gay person let alone have one in
their own family, it is just not the case. Furthermore, gay people are
not hurtful of others the way Steve MacGregor would like to make people
think they are with his category mistake.
Michael Larson
mi...@uclink.berkeley.edu
Daniel von Brighoff
In article <4o61r5$c...@globe.indirect.com>,
Steve MacGregor <stev...@indirect.com> wrote:
>At the beginning of this thread:
>> Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
>> be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
>> homophobia had to fit the bill.
>
> Well, =some= people seem to need such a word. I don't see any more need
>for it than for a word that means "anti-drug-pusher prejudice" or
>"anti-child-molester prejudice".
Thank you, Mr. MacGregor, for a perfect illustration of why the
word *is* in fact useful. As long as law-abiding homosexuals are lumped
together--even just rhetorically--with drug-pushers, child-molesters, and
other criminals, there will be a need to indentify this kind of irrational
prejudice. I do agree with other posters that the word is overused; it
should be saved for the kind of extreme opinions that prompt ministers'
sons to shoot up gay bars and parents to withdraw their children from
elementary schools because of the rumoured homosexuality of one of the
students or faculty.
Any nominations for words to describe the opinions that prompt
people to say things like "I just feel so sorry for all the poor homo-
sexuals because they're going to burn in hell" and "Nice couple. Keep
their lawn neat. Just don't think they should be adopting children."?
Maybe "heterosexism" (another word that's probably going to drive the
purists batty) fits the bill?
>Jene tajpis lastatempe Herb Stahlke:
>| It's a poor fit. The etymology renders it vague.
>
> Right. If you need a word that means "hatred" or "prejudice", then use
>one with "mis[o]-" in it, like the words "misogynist" and "misandrist". I
>rather like the word "misocarp" to cover this meaning.
When the Academie Americaine is formed, I'll make sure they get
the tip. Until then, I'll continue to make the best use I can of such
words as are in popular use.
> One dictionary I have defines "homophobia" as "fear of monotony".
Sounds like time to head to the bookstore...
Joe Chmura
a...@cx.dnv.no (Arne D Halvorsen) wrote:
>Homophobia would be a a fear of the same (sex), applicable to men who
>hate men and women who hate women.
I think what you're forgetting is that the average speaker doesn't do
etymology (and when they do it, they do it badly). I'd say the derivation
here is (1) Someone who knew the roots coined the word _homosexual_; (2)
Speakers picked it up as single lexical item not transparently composed of
its parts; (3) They clipped _homosexual_ to _homo_, meaning not "the same"
but "homosexual" (surely everyone is familiar with that usage); (4) They
used this clipped form to create a new word with the suffix _-phobia_.
Thus _homophobic_ parallels _pizzaburger_ and _helipad_, which make no
sense if viewed as simple compositions.
David Johns
Waycross College
Waycross, GA
david shobe
Keith_...@mindlink.bc.ca wrote:
: The word homophobia is usually used as a perjorative directed at those
: who simply do not to view homosexuality as healthy or natural (as in
: "part of one's nature since birth"). The problem with trying to make
: sense of the etymology is that in current usage the meaning of the
: word does not fit the roots. Anyone who suggests that homosexuality is
: unhealthy or worse, immoral, is generally assaulted with this strange
: misnomer "homophobe". Every other use of the word "phobia" in English
: is a form of fear. This unique use attempts to redefine "phobia" as
: "objection", "prejudice" or possibly "hostility."
FWIW:
A substance which is immiscible with water (e.g. oil) or which does
not wet easily (e.g. plastic) is said to be *hydrophobic*. Surely oil
is not capable of fear. Although the noun form is _hydrophobicity_,
not *_hydrophobia_.
--David Shobe
Matthew Rabuzzi
Many have now expressed logomisia (dislike or hatred of a word) for the word
'homophobia', partly because the 'phobia' part suggests fear rather than hate
(and also because that seems to dignify it as a psychiatric condition).
Taking a parallel from the word 'logomisia', then, one could propose
'homomisia' (or 'homophilomisia', rather unwieldy). However, like
DvBrighoff's coinage 'erastophobia', it'll never catch on in the real world.
...........................................................
The mane thing is to be jubate
Matthew Rabuzzi
obscurity
In article <4o61r5$c...@globe.indirect.com>, Steve MacGregor wrote:
> At the beginning of this thread:
> > Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
> > be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
> > homophobia had to fit the bill.
> Well, =some= people seem to need such a word. I don't see any more need
> for it than for a word that means "anti-drug-pusher prejudice" or
> "anti-child-molester prejudice".
Well, to repeat a suggestion I made in the last long-running 'homophobia'
debate on demon.local (to which I've crossposted this for the sole reason
that I would hate to see Iolo left out of a homophobia thread...), I would
suggest "Sexualityism", on a par with "racism" and "Ageism" etc...
--
Obscurity. Selling ruin to the ruined.
"Only the great masters of style ever succeed in being obscure." - Oscar Wilde.
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
In article <mikel-25059...@mikel.hip.berkeley.edu>,
mi...@uclink.berkeley.edu (Michael Larson) writes:
> In article <4o61r5$c...@globe.indirect.com>, stev...@indirect.com (Steve
> MacGregor) wrote:
>> Well, =some= people seem to need such a word. I don't see any more need
>>for it than for a word that means "anti-drug-pusher prejudice" or
>>"anti-child-molester prejudice".
> It is your homo(sexual)phobia that allows you to make such a category
> mistake.
Mr. McGregor may or may not have revealed his homo(sexual)phobia by choosing as
analogies two quite pejorative categories. So let's try his question in a
different way: is there more need for a word for prejudice against homosexuals
than for, say a word for prejudice against fundamentalists, against obsese
people, against short people, against Andorrans?
Gary Williams
WILL...@AHECAS.AHEC.EDU
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
In article <4o8hh2$e...@crcnis3.unl.edu>, dsh...@unlinfo.unl.edu (david shobe)
writes:
> A substance which is immiscible with water (e.g. oil) or which does
> not wet easily (e.g. plastic) is said to be *hydrophobic*. Surely oil
> is not capable of fear. Although the noun form is _hydrophobicity_,
> not *_hydrophobia_.
Interesting word, interesting point. But I assume oil is also not capable of
hatred. I expect the coiner of this word was anthropomorphizing a bit; but
perhaps you are suggesting that the true use of -phobic is something like
"aversion", however motivated.
Gary Williams
WILL...@AHECAS.AHEC.EDU
Solomon Taibi
Richard Carr <rc...@iso.vilspa.esa.es> wrote:
>Hasn't 'anti-semitism' also taken on a meaning not entirely
>justified by its roots?
A slight difference here: "homophobia" was coined by gays to
describe their enemies.
"Antisemite" was coined, *not* by Jews, but by antisemites.
The idea was to come up with a "respectable" term for
Jew-haters.
Before World War 2, the Nazis described *themselves* as
antisemites.
--
S. Taibi
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks
into spears: Let the weak say 'I am strong'. (Joel 3:10)
Richard Carr
Patrick C Flumignan wrote:
>
> john,
>
> i concur -- the literal meaning of "homophobia" has little to do with its
> usage. i recall the time when i was assaulted by a group of young, male,
> (presumably) non-homosexuals. after the incident, i addressed a crowd;
> in my speech,i spoke of how our language reflects heterosexism. my point
> was this: we have well established and specific words that means "hatred
> of women" (misogyny) and "hatred of jews" (anti-semitism). but our lack
> of word that precisely means "hatred of homosexuals" indicates the
> position of the problem in the consiousness of our society. we haven't
> even a word yet to discribe the sick hate in brewing in these people.
>
Hasn't 'anti-semitism' also taken on a meaning not entirely
justified by its roots?
I'm remined of a television interview with some prominent Arab
figure where he pointed out the irony of some accusation against
him of anti-semitism, Arabs too being semites.
Rich.
Steve MacGregor
Jene tajpis lastatempe Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting:
| Mr. McGregor may or may not have revealed his homo(sexual)phobia by choosing
| as analogies two quite pejorative categories. So let's try his question in
| a different way: is there more need for a word for prejudice against
| homosexuals than for, say a word for prejudice against fundamentalists,
| against obsese people, against short people, against Andorrans?
Yeah! Let's hear it for the steatophobes, bradyphobes, and
andorraphobes! They deserve at least as much invective as the
pederastophobes, and whatever you'd call those who believe that
drug-pushing is not a good thing.
--
---------------------------------------------------------
Whom are you going to call? GRAMMAR BUSTERS!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Scharle
david shobe (dsh...@unlinfo.unl.edu) wrote:
: Keith_...@mindlink.bc.ca wrote:
: : The word homophobia is usually used as a perjorative directed at those
: : who simply do not to view homosexuality as healthy or natural (as in
: : "part of one's nature since birth"). The problem with trying to make
: : sense of the etymology is that in current usage the meaning of the
: : word does not fit the roots. Anyone who suggests that homosexuality is
: : unhealthy or worse, immoral, is generally assaulted with this strange
: : misnomer "homophobe". Every other use of the word "phobia" in English
: : is a form of fear. This unique use attempts to redefine "phobia" as
: : "objection", "prejudice" or possibly "hostility."
: FWIW:
: A substance which is immiscible with water (e.g. oil) or which does
: not wet easily (e.g. plastic) is said to be *hydrophobic*. Surely oil
: is not capable of fear. Although the noun form is _hydrophobicity_,
: not *_hydrophobia_.
"Xenophobia"?
--
Tom Scharle scha...@nd.edu "standard disclaimer"
Michael Ozanne
In article <4o8kql$f...@burnout.demon.co.uk>
o...@burnout.demon.co.uk "obscurity" writes:
*Well, to repeat a suggestion I made in the last long-running 'homophobia'
*debate on demon.local (to which I've crossposted this for the sole reason
*that I would hate to see Iolo left out of a homophobia thread...), I would
*suggest "Sexualityism", on a par with "racism" and "Ageism" etc...
I've just sat through 2, month long "homophobia" flamewars on
rec.martial-arts could we pretty please not have another one
here ?
(one grew out of a discussion of HIV risks, the other from
a poster who suggested that the use of certain insults was
a good way of motivating his students. Given that r.m.a is
largly populated from US academic institutions. It at least
indicated that the posters study of MA had not improved his
tactical intuition)
--
Michael Ozanne
Mark Rosenfelder
In article <1996May26.151145.1@ahecas>,
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting <will...@ahecas.ahec.edu> wrote:
>Mr. McGregor may or may not have revealed his homo(sexual)phobia by choosing as
>analogies two quite pejorative categories. So let's try his question in a
>different way: is there more need for a word for prejudice against homosexuals
>than for, say a word for prejudice against fundamentalists, against obsese
>people, against short people, against Andorrans?
This seems a bit disingenuous: are you suggesting that prejudice against
gays and lesbians is no more widespread than prejudice against Andorrans?
How many incidents of non-Andorrans beating up Andorrans are you aware of?
Are there communities which have passed laws restricting the civil rights of
Andorrans (or short or obese people), or forbidden them to marry or adopt
children, or outlawed their sex lives, or had them fired when they were
discovered working in their schools, or picketed their funerals with
anti-Andorran slogans?
As for fundamentalists, if you know any you'll be aware that they are
extremely conscious of prejudice against them. There are fundamentalist
groups which go so far as to count appearances of Christians on TV and
tally how many are positive. I don't think they have a single word
meaning "prejudice against fundamentalists", but they certainly talk
(and sometimes obsess) about it.
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
In article <4ofm47$4...@netsrv2.spss.com>, mark...@spss.com (Mark Rosenfelder)
writes:
> ...are you suggesting that prejudice against gays and lesbians is no more
> widespread than prejudice against Andorrans?
OK. I'll give you the Andorrans.
And I see your point, too.
> As for fundamentalists, if you know any you'll be aware that they are
> extremely conscious of prejudice against them....I don't think they have a
> single word meaning "prejudice against fundamentalists", but they certainly
> talk (and sometimes obsess) about it.
That's all I had in mind before my brain locked up; that the word for
prejudice against homosexuals ought to fall into a pattern which could be
applied to prejudice against any group.
Gary Williams
WILL...@AHECAS.AHEC.EDU
John Ramsay
Might I suggest 'homophilophobia' for gay bashers and 'heterophilophobia'
for the reverse?
Daniel von Brighoff (de...@ellis.uchicago.edu) wrote:
: In article <4o61r5$c...@globe.indirect.com>,
: Steve MacGregor <stev...@indirect.com> wrote:
: >At the beginning of this thread:
: >> Strictly speaking, homophobia means "fear of the same". There seems to
: >> be a need for a single word to denote "anti-homosexual prejudice", and
: >> homophobia had to fit the bill.
: >
: > Well, =some= people seem to need such a word. I don't see any more need
: >for it than for a word that means "anti-drug-pusher prejudice" or
: >"anti-child-molester prejudice".
: Thank you, Mr. MacGregor, for a perfect illustration of why the
Joe Talanoa
What's wrong with antihomoeroticism? Actually, if we can break away from
our (?) Greco-Roman roots, what's wrong with good old anti-gay? It
shouldn't matter if those who are (anti-gay) have a big problem with gay.
They don't have to describe themselves, do they?
Joe Talanoa
Tasos Kotaras
re...@cpcug.org (Greg Resch) writes:
>In article <4o24ge$5...@phgasos.softlab.ece.ntua.gr>,
>tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr (Tasos Kotaras) wrote:
>> What about homo in the phrase "Homo Sapiens" ;-)
>> I think this is an example of Latin-Greek mixing.
>But where is the Greek? In the ;-) ?
>--
I meant "homophobia" is a Greco-Latin mixture ;-)
"Homo" here is used as in the above mentioned phrase and it means "man"
in Latin.
Tasos
Daniel von Brighoff
In article <1996May28.215420.1@ahecas>,
>> As for fundamentalists, if you know any you'll be aware that they are
>> extremely conscious of prejudice against them....I don't think they have a
>> single word meaning "prejudice against fundamentalists", but they certainly
>> talk (and sometimes obsess) about it.
>
>That's all I had in mind before my brain locked up; that the word for
>prejudice against homosexuals ought to fall into a pattern which could be
>applied to prejudice against any group.
How about "anti-gay prejudice"? This formulation is also commonly used
and doesn't connote an objective disorder in the way that "homophobia"
can. Extension is easy--anti-Andorran prejudice, anti-fundamentalist
prejudice, anti-drug-pusher prejudice--and nobody seems to get a chigger
on their bum about combining "anti" with non-Greek roots.
The meaning is slightly different, though, as "gay" carries connotations
of maleness, outness, and activity (that is, describing someone as "gay"
implies that they engage in homosexual behaviour more clearly than
describing them as "homosexual" does). "anti-queer" is even stronger
in connoting the last two and is no longer homosexual-specific.
Daniel von Brighoff
In article <31A9D27C...@iso.vilspa.esa.es>,
Richard Carr <rc...@iso.vilspa.esa.es> wrote:
>Hasn't 'anti-semitism' also taken on a meaning not entirely
>justified by its roots?
>
>I'm remined of a television interview with some prominent Arab
>figure where he pointed out the irony of some accusation against
>him of anti-semitism, Arabs too being semites.
There's nothing particularly ironic about that, as Jews can also
be anti-Semites. No law of logic or nature says you can't hate or
disparage a group of which you yourself are a member.
Matthew Brooks
Tasos Kotaras (tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr) wrote:
: I meant "homophobia" is a Greco-Latin mixture ;-)
: "Homo" here is used as in the above mentioned phrase and it means "man"
: in Latin.
Isn't this argument going round in circles?
"Homo" = "Homoios" = Greek for "same" . . . -NOT- Latin for "man"!
"Phobos" = Greek for "fear" --------> no Latin here!
Donald Fisk
gs0...@panther.Gsu.EDU (Matthew Brooks) wrote:
>Tasos Kotaras (tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr) wrote:
So homophobia should really mean fear of sameness. Homosexual is a
Graeco-Latin mixture, Greek homoios + Latin sexus. So is television.
Le Hibou (hi...@enterprise.net)
There are a number of mechanical devices which increase sexual
arousal, particularly in women. Chief among them is the
Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible. -- PJ O'Rourke.
Thomas Scharle
In article <4oqqtn$1...@news.enterprise.net>, hi...@enterprise.net (Donald Fisk) writes:
|> gs0...@panther.Gsu.EDU (Matthew Brooks) wrote:
|>
|> >Tasos Kotaras (tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr) wrote:
|>
|> >: I meant "homophobia" is a Greco-Latin mixture ;-)
|> >: "Homo" here is used as in the above mentioned phrase and it means "man"
|> >: in Latin.
|>
|> >Isn't this argument going round in circles?
|> >"Homo" = "Homoios" = Greek for "same" . . . -NOT- Latin for "man"!
|> >"Phobos" = Greek for "fear" --------> no Latin here!
|>
|> So homophobia should really mean fear of sameness. Homosexual is a
|> Graeco-Latin mixture, Greek homoios + Latin sexus. So is television.
"Homo" in Latin refers both to males and females. The Latin word
"vir" refers only to males. Apparently, a number of people think that
"homosexuality" means only eroticism towards males (by males).
When I first heard the expression "homophobia", I assumed that what
was meant that people were afraid of their own erotic attraction to the
same sex.
Steve MacGregor
Jene tajpis lastatempe Tasos Kotaras:
| "Homo" here is used as in the above mentioned phrase and it means "man"
| in Latin.
The fact that "homo" means "man" in Latin is irrelevant, since this is
a Greco-Greco compound:
* homo = "same"
* phobia = "fear"
Either way, however, putting forth the word "homophobia" to mean
"someone who points out that homosexuality is wrong" is silly. Why not
come up with a word that doesn't, on the face of it, appear to mean "fear
of monotony"? I suggest this word be replaced in the future with
"flygsnax", which has =no= apparent meaning at all, so one can be
assigned to it arbitrarily.
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
This incredibly unbelievable insight has been brought to you by
Steve MacGregor, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
---------------------------------------------------------------
Anthony John Xenos
I would suspect that the word homophobia was coined to make sense to the
average literate, rather than the etymological elite. While I am sure the
creator knew that she was being untrue to the classical languages in omitting
the -sexual- for brevity, she was also keen in realizing most would understand
the word as the fear of homos. Hopefully none of you are out of touch enough
not to have heard homo as slang for homosexual. The shortening is justified by
modern usage. Nobody ever confuses the word homo for man OR same.
Craig
--
--
Tony Xenos Craig A. Butz
10 Hocking Street 2498 Mineral Road
Athens, Ohio 45701 New Marshfield, Ohio 45766-9747
D Gary Grady
>| I meant "homophobia" is a Greco-Latin mixture ;-)
>| "Homo" here is used as in the above mentioned phrase and it means "man"
>| in Latin.
If I recall corectly, homo means "man" in the sense of "human being."
The Latin for "man" in the sense of "male human being" is vir (whence
inter alia "virile.")
D Gary Grady
Durham NC USA
73513...@compuserve.com / dg...@nando.net
Gian Carlo Macchi
In article <31b725f7...@news.nando.net>, dg...@nando.net says...
Yes Gary. homo means "human being"in Latin. But in the word
homophobia, as in homophone etc, I think that homo comes from Greek and
means "the same" (I dont't know Greek, but there are many words compound
with homo with this meaning). However, also if I speak very little
English, I think that homo in homofobia is short for homosexual (where
homo comes from Greek yet), so the entire word should mean "fear of
homosexual people".
Ciao. Gian Carlo
Thorsten Franz
In article <4p20kk$9...@globe.indirect.com>
stev...@indirect.com (Steve MacGregor) writes:
> The fact that "homo" means "man" in Latin is irrelevant, since this is
>a Greco-Greco compound:
>
> * homo = "same"
> * phobia = "fear"
same (gender)" and "homophobia" as "fear from the same (gender in a sexual
context)".
Females who love males are not homosexual; females who love females are.
Likewise, homophobic females are not afraid of homosexual males, but of
females approaching them sexually.
Thorsten Franz
--
uzs...@uni-bonn.de
Daniel von Brighoff
In article <177A0B41D...@ibm.rhrz.uni-bonn.de>,
NEWS FLASH: Anita Bryant was not homophobic!
Sorry, but this just isn't the way that the word is currently under-
stood. A man who rapes a lesbian because her rejection of male attentions
threatens his machismo is manifesting "homophobia" as surely as a man
who murders a gay man because his revelation of having a secret crush
on him threatens his masculinity. I, too, think the word should be viewed
as a contraction of *homosexualophobia.
On a similar note, the derived word "homophobe" is often shortened to
"phobe" in colloquial speech. I imagine this is possible because terms
for persons suffering from other phobias are derived from the adjectival
form. I.e., a sufferer from agorophobia is an agorophobic, not an
*agorophobe. I have heard "xenophobe" used before, further proof of
an opposition between the denotations of -phobia in combination with
xeno- and homo- and in combination with all other components (e.g. agoro-,
claustro-, hydro-, etc.).
Thorsten Franz
In article <Dsp6B...@midway.uchicago.edu>
de...@midway.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff) writes:
>>I see no problem in understanding "homosexual" as "sexually attracted to the
>>same (gender)" and "homophobia" as "fear from the same (gender in a sexual
>>context)".
>Sorry, but this just isn't the way that the word is currently under-
>stood. A man who rapes a lesbian because her rejection of male attentions
>threatens his machismo is manifesting "homophobia" as surely as a man
>who murders a gay man because his revelation of having a secret crush
>on him threatens his masculinity. I, too, think the word should be viewed
>as a contraction of *homosexualophobia.
are afraid of, such as in your example of a male murdering a lesbian: He
may as well have projected his fear from males approaching him sexually onto
her. Thus, we can imagine homophobia as contractions of
*homosexualphobia (fear from homosexuality, with a stress on homosexual
activities and the homophobics's perspective)
*homophilicphobia (fear from homophilics, as the result of an unexpected
abstraction ;-)).
Still, a homophobic male with strong underlying homosexual tendencies might
be afraid of males (who to him are all homosexuals) and of homosexual females
[who a) remind him of his unadmitted homosexuality and b) threaten his
masculinity by not being potentially available or interested]. This homophobic
would indeed fear everybody of the same sex in the first place, then every
homosexual of the same sex, then every homosexual of the opposite sex, so
more a homophobic than a *homosexualphobic, not?
>On a similar note, the derived word "homophobe" is often shortened to
>"phobe" in colloquial speech. I imagine this is possible because terms
>for persons suffering from other phobias are derived from the adjectival
>form. I.e., a sufferer from agorophobia is an agorophobic, not an
>*agorophobe. I have heard "xenophobe" used before, further proof of
>an opposition between the denotations of -phobia in combination with
>xeno- and homo- and in combination with all other components (e.g. agoro-,
>claustro-, hydro-, etc.).
Kind regards,
Thorsten Franz
--
uzs...@uni-bonn.de
David Nigel Monteith-Hodge
REPLY-TO: da...@monteith.win-uk.net
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>In article <177A0B41D...@ibm.rhrz.uni-bonn.de>,
>Thorsten Franz <UZS...@ibm.rhrz.uni-bonn.de> wrote:
>>In article <4p20kk$9...@globe.indirect.com>
>>stev...@indirect.com (Steve MacGregor) writes:
>>
>>> The fact that "homo" means "man" in Latin is irrelevant, since this is
>>>a Greco-Greco compound:
>>>
>>> * homo = "same"
>>> * phobia = "fear"
snip
>>Females who love males are not homosexual; females who love females are.
>>Likewise, homophobic females are not afraid of homosexual males, but of
>>females approaching them sexually.
>
snip
>
Surely the word which should be used in this is "heterophobia"?
This implies a fear of that which is different, thus satisfying
both the linguists and the homosexual community in one go.
What is important here is that words and language are actually the
main means by which human beings exercise power. The moment that a
group is allowed to *hijack* a part of the language and impose its
own meaning upon words and upon the rest of the population using
that language, they acquire a certain extra lever which they did not
formerly have. All successful political minority groups throughout
history have understood this - viz. the current connotations of
*racist* as a term applicable only to white people - and the
honosexual lobby is only treading a well-worn path.
--
David Monteith-Hodge
Veni translation -> : I came,
Vidi : I saw,
Validi : I validated, corrected, fixed,
: fudged, bodged, kludged, made work etc.
Programmers Motto (c)1994 David Monteith-Hodge and Mike Wilding.
--
David Monteith-Hodge
Veni translation -> : I came,
Vidi : I saw,
Validi : I validated, corrected, fixed,
: fudged, bodged, kludged, made work etc.
Programmers Motto (c)1994 David Monteith-Hodge and Mike Wilding.
Norman Roberts
Someone is missing the point here. Whoever coined the term 'homophobia"
obviously thought that "homo" meant "gay." The people who have picked up and use the term
obviously think so, too. Now that the term has gained some currency,
it's very unlikely than anyone is going effect a change or introduce
a new term that will catch on.
D Gary Grady
mac...@marina.scn.de (Gian Carlo Macchi) wrote:
>Yes Gary. homo means "human being"in Latin. But in the word
>homophobia, as in homophone etc, I think that homo comes from Greek and
>means "the same" (I dont't know Greek, but there are many words compound
>with homo with this meaning).
Quite correct, and indeed part of the point I was hinting at. For the
record:
I was responding to a message from someone who was evidently laboring
under the misapprehension that "homo" in "homosexual" comes from the
Latin root "homo" meaning "man". Hence "homosexual" would presumably
mean something like "oriented toward having sex with men".
This notion is doubly erroneous. First, this "homo-" comes not from
Latin but from Greek, as is clear from the antonym "heterosexual"
("hetero-" from Greek for "other"). Second, "homo" in Latin means not
"(male) man" but "human" (or "man" used in that inclusive sense).
Some object to "homophobia" on the theory that it implies a "fear of
the same" or some such. (And not necessarily fear -- "-phobia" often
refers to an aversion, such as "hydrophobia.") This is technically
sensible but fails to account for a tendency in English and other
languages to collapse longer words into short ones by simply elliding
bits from the start, end, or middle. Thus "homophobia" is in effect an
abbreviation for "homosexuality-phobia."
However one justifies in linguistically, it's a useful word to
describe the hatred direced by certain religious and political
extremists against those whose sexuality is unconventional.
Kevin Daly
sj...@cus.cam.ac.uk (Simon Buck) wrote:
> Having said that, I should like to take this
> opportunity to add that I detest the word
> "homophobia." It's literal meaning, based
> upon the roots, is something like "fear of
> sameness" (corrections welcome). This has
> little to do with it's common usage. Not
> that this is new in English, but one would
> hope for more in a recently-coined word.
>
>It may be more appropriate than you appear to assume - there is a theory
>that homophobic people are in fact `closet' homosexuals (and, therefore,
>the same as those they are afraid of). Tee hee!
>
Which is a good example of the intellectual level of those who come up with
words like "homophobia". Good old-fassshioned words like bigotry or
intolerance would suffice, but a nonsensical non-word is a more useful tool
for dismissing anybody that says anything homosexuals don't like.
Kevin Daly
Kevin Daly
will...@ahecas.ahec.edu (Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting)
wrote:
>So "homophobia" could be analyzed as "fear of homos", i.e. "homo" the short
>form of "homosexual" rather than "homo" the Greek for sameness.
>
>And as to a "phobia" word using one of the other words for
"homosexual"--well,
>beside not having a `scientific' ring to them, words like "fagophobia" or
>"queerophobia" or "gayophobia" would be justly criticized for mixing greek
and
>non-greek roots.
>
That's precisely the point: it has a false scientific ring to it (thereby
legitimising the idea it seeks to express) because neither element is
transparently English, but when broken down into its constituent parts it
doesn't mean anything. So as a word with a "scientific ring" it's a fraud.
Kevin Daly
Kevin Daly
tk...@softlab.ece.ntua.gr (Tasos Kotaras) wrote:
>
>>"homo-" makes sense in the word "homosexual", for sameness is at the heart
of
>>the meaning of the word.
>[...]
>
>What about homo in the phrase "Homo Sapiens" ;-)
>I think this is an example of Latin-Greek mixing.
>
Valid in the sense that it's the result of linguistic ignorance on the part of
those who coined it.
alan auerbach F
I regret to inform you that you're all so wrong.
Homophobia derives from Homosthenes the Younger.
We know of Homosthenes mainly from his likeness
found on a coin stamped "827 BC."
Legend has it that Homosthenes was the first to
measure the distance from earth to moon, whereupon
he commissioned a ramp to make the trip -- making
him the original moon walker.
We know that he was married to Vexatia the Virtuous, so scholars
have long pondered why he didn't become Homosthenes the Elder.
It seems the marriage failed because she wanted children.
As did he; his motto was The Younger the Better.
--
Al.
Kevin Daly
I walked into that one. Bad editing there.
Before I get any more emails the ignorance I was referring to was on the part
of those who coined "homophobia". I'm perfectly aware of the origin and
validity of "homo sapiens" (although of course, how well it works as a
description for our species is another matter).
Mea maxima culpa.
Kevin Daly
Anne Cheilek
>Oops...As has been drawn to my attention - I walked into that
>one. Bad editing there. Before I get any more emails the ignorance I
>was referring to was on the part of those who coined "homophobia". I'm
>perfectly aware of the origin and validity of "homo sapiens" (although
>of course, how well it works as a description for our species is
>another matter).
Please come very much off it.
Over your last three posts, you have said that "homophobia" is a bad
term because 1) when broken down into its constituent parts, it means
nothing, 2) those who coined the term were ignorant AND sophmoric,
3) there is no such animal to be described, and 4) it's "mis"-used to
cover anything homosexuals do not like.
I'm reminded of the Turkish government's ridiculous but longstanding
refutation of the Armenian massacre: "It didn't happen. We didn't do
it. Anyway, they deserved it."
"Homophobia" may not be a linguistically pure term, but hey! It's
short, sour, and easily recognized.
-Anne
haye...@alpha.unisa.ac.za
In article <4r70f5$k...@elaine39.Stanford.EDU> ski...@leland.Stanford.EDU (Anne Cheilek) writes:
>From: ski...@leland.Stanford.EDU (Anne Cheilek)
>Subject: Re: the word homophobia
>Date: 30 Jun 1996 15:52:21 -0700
>Over your last three posts, you have said that "homophobia" is a bad
>term because 1) when broken down into its constituent parts, it means
>nothing, 2) those who coined the term were ignorant AND sophmoric,
>3) there is no such animal to be described, and 4) it's "mis"-used to
>cover anything homosexuals do not like.
>I'm reminded of the Turkish government's ridiculous but longstanding
>refutation of the Armenian massacre: "It didn't happen. We didn't do
>it. Anyway, they deserved it."
Is homophobia the oposite of xenophobia then?
Just kidding...