The evolution of a word

Words change their meaning over time. Some change a little, others really transform. Sometimes, not just the meaning changes, but the impact as well.

Take the word "extreme" for example. It gets used so often that it has lost its place as a word that really means something. Chevy put it on a piece of shit truck, for crying out loud. When someone tells me that they want something taken to the extreme, I think of that abomination of automotive engineering and marketing. The ad agency for GM should have put it truthfully:

Chevy Extreme: the same piece of shit we sold yesterday, but with more plastic on it. That's it people, we've reached the pinnacle. This is as good as it gets.

We had a debate around work about what the term "gay" really means anymore. It used to mean "lighthearted and carefree; characterized by cheerfulness or pleasure; brightly colored; showy; brilliant". Some time in the 20th Century, it changed to mean "homosexual", and loosely referred to lesbianism. Now it means, well, "gay". If someone says, "that shirt looks gay", I don't think they are saying it is "brightly colored, showy or brilliant". They don't like it. The shirt obviously isn't going to have inter-gender sex with another shirt, and they most certainly aren't telling me they like the shirt's cheerfulness.

The word "gay" has taken on a whole new transformation into something generic. Its versatility should make other words jealous. You can use it in place of "stupid", "ugly", "sloppy" or any number or words. Not only that, you can use it to convey an emotion, or fill in when you just can't find the right words.

Jane: "This pencil is not working."
Dick: "That is gay."

It really means nothing, but yet it is powerful enough to convey a message. Some years ago, I was blessed to receive an audio file that was an English lesson on the use of the word "fuck". The argument was that it was the most versatile word, and gave examples like:

"John fucked Shirley."
"Shirley fucks."
"I got fucked at the used car lot."
"Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself?"

Now, I wouldn't be so bold as to suggest that the word "gay" can trump the word "fuck". That would be ludicrous. There may come a day, however, that it will be argued amongst social etiquette artists and a new edict will emerge.

Gay is the new Fuck.