Is "hetero" a slur or something?

This is going to sound stupid, but one day I was talking with my ex-friend "Carol". While we were friends, someone said the word "heterozygous". Carol mentioned that she was straight, so I jokingly said "hetero, like you, Carol!'

She acted as if I called her a slur and got very offended, saying "How dare you call me 'hetero'?!" so I apologized.

(We are ex-friends because of drama [not this], which is kind of a long story, but I guess not the point of the post.)

I have heard many straight people call themselves "hetero", though, including myself when I thought I was straight.

26 points · 18 comments · view on lemmy.world

18 Comments

jaennaet@sopuli.xyz · 50 pts · 325d (1 reply)
[ removed ]
SereneSadie@lemmy.myserv.one · 5 pts · 324d

I still get a twinge from cis, but I put that down to unfortunately spending too much time around people who actively used it with the connotation of a slur.

I'm still trying to get over that twinge.

blackwitch@lemmings.world · 26 pts · 325d (2 replies)

your ex friend was overreacting. Hetero is not offensive as far as I know.

blackwitch@lemmings.world · 6 pts · 325d (1 reply)

In Portuguese, "hétero" just means straight

Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 325d

Same in English, it's short for heterosexual.

cosmicrose@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 21 pts · 325d

It absolutely isn’t but that doesn’t stop certain idiots from pretending like it is. Same with cis people who don’t like being called “cis” because they want to believe they’re the default and any language that identifies them as otherwise is offensive to them.

jjjalljs@ttrpg.network · 13 pts · 325d

No. Person sounds like an idiot

protist@mander.xyz · 11 pts · 324d

(We are ex-friends because of drama [not this], which is kind of a long story, but I guess not the point of the post.)

This actually is the point of your post. Your ex-friend is dramatic and contrarian, and was going to find somethimg to beef with you about.

ultranaut@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 325d

That is weird shit. To me it sounds like someone looking for an excuse to be angry. Her reaction is a non sequitur.

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 8 pts · 325d (2 replies)

I mean... It could be if the person you called hetero is actually gay. Are you sure this person is straight?

anthony@lemmings.world · 6 pts · 325d

She said she only liked men and has called herself straight multiple times.

anthony@lemmings.world · 5 pts · 325d

Fair enough, though

the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 325d

Some folks are just looking for excuses to be offended, you shouldn't worry about those sort of folks because they will be mad no matter what.

NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone · 7 pts · 324d

No.

Capricorn_Geriatric@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 325d

It is, but only in the eyes of people who think anything else doesn't exist.

They get offended because they equate hetero with homo. One was used as a slur. Still often is. "Bringing the other to the same level" won't make hetero as big of a slur - it'll merely normailze the original.

And normalization of the other is the real reason thise types get upset.

Drusas@fedia.io · 3 pts · 325d (1 reply)

It's not a slur, but I think the way you worded your joke might have come off in a way that made her feel like you were using it as a slur.

anthony@lemmings.world · 4 pts · 325d

Oops... Makes sensde

DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · 2 pts · 325d (1 reply)

No, and not even the people pretending that cis is a slur act like it is.

Either she's just a garden variety bitch or you didn't pick up on her own joke...

And also your own attempt at a joke or whatever sucked.

anthony@lemmings.world · 3 pts · 325d

Fair enough