Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hey guys I'm hoping you all can help.
I just got an assignment to create a poster about a social issue that we can take a stand on.

I picked gays in the military. I'm in the Army and with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy I figured this would be a perfect subject. Now I'm running ideas though my head and would like to know if a poster like this would offend anyone.



However the word f** I find offensive myself. I don't know why but it has that negative connotation attached. But I do feel that it would shock the viewer into playing attention to my poster.

However I do not want to offend anyone.
Would the word upset the gay/lesbian community to the point that they won't focus on the positive message of the poster? Do you find it offensive?

I have 3 weeks to work on the project and have time to change it since I'm in the initial idea phase. So any feedback would be appreciated. 3nodding

I should mention I'm in America so it does not mean cigarette here. xd

edit: Just a heads up in case you don't read the rest of the post on this page.
I am not planning on using that word and going with another idea. Same subject just different concept. wink

I don't find it offensive, but I'm not easily offended to begin with, particularly by language. Other people probably will be, though.

It'll get your point across, but you'll probably be able to hear the resulting hissy-fits from the international space station. razz

If this is a school assignment, your instructor might also take issue with your word choice, too. Considering the intended audience, you're probably better off choosing a word that's a little less loaded.

I would use a weaker word on the poster... maybe "gay" or "homosexual". That's just me though. I don't like to get people upset. Not everyone will be offended, but some will. So I'd use a weeker word just to be safe.

I'm trying to think of other words I can use to replace it. "can you spot the homosexual" does not roll off the tongue and "Can you point out the gay" just does not sound right.

So I'll be playing around with this for a while I think and most likely revise the whole thing.

i heard on the news a few weeks ago that the dont ask dont tell thing is over.... and it just doesnt matter anymore...

It is but its still a very touchy subject and that is being worked out.
Like how showers and barrack arrangements should be worked out, and a lot of people are not accepting it. The last few months have tons of powerpoint presentations about the policy causing many debates among us.

So still a controversial issue.

@ Atrum and Taeryyn - thanks for the suggestions you two.
I'm defiantly am going to change the wording.
... and as I'm was doing more thumbnails I changing it even more.

Personally I don't get offended, but I know a lot of people get offended and it's normal, there are a lot of people afraid to come out and if they hear someone using that word, they might be offended.
so just don't use it, unless you know everyone is ok with it.

normally someone would become offensive about it or a bunch of people would be influenced on that word to say it more often. Also the fact that it could brainwash people to say it aganist those who are offensive. personally, i'm not offended by it, i've gotten use to it and just think of it as a simple man-made word.