In the English speaking world, it is a slur regardless of whether or not you use it as slang for a cigarette. Do you really believe that using a word is more important than making sure others don’t feel marginalized? Emotional intelligence is partly about empathy and using that to recognize harmful behavior. A sign of maturity and positive personal growth is realizing that your behavior causes others to feel unwelcome and correcting that behavior. It’s fortuitous that, in a thread about signs of poor education, we are having this discussion. Criticisms are learning experiences, not made with malice; malice is purposefully saying something harmful and celebrating it. Will your life truly be ruined by substituting that word so you don’t accidentally hurt someone?
In England it is literally the word for a cigarette. I don’t know what to tell you, most people call it that here. It has no relation to the slur and has different origins. Next you’re going to tell me I can’t have faggots and mash for dinner tonight because you might cry.
Also how inconsiderate of the bbc for using the word faggot on one of their own YouTube channels https://youtu.be/pVHbWHGVYaU
