A lot comes from ignorance and a lack fo self reflection.
I know I used it for far too long despite having no ill will towards LGBQT+ people and it took someone explaining their pain for me to realise how bad it was. I hope our kids grow up more informed and this shark dies with our generation.
I agree with this wholeheartedly.
I know there are all sorts of extremely problematic things I have said in my life. 'Boys will be boys' type shark in the school yard - while that certainly not good nor desirable wasn't intended to offend in that way. The key thing is whether you continue using such language and humour and ways of thinking once you know better. Ignorance is only an excuse till you know better (and even then still not a great one).
We thankfully live in an age where we are less and less ignorant as a society and as individuals and we can choose to be better as we move forward rather than clinging to what might have been an old norm.
There are many, many, MANY ways I'm not perfect but bigoted language is a thing I choose to leave in my past. And as you say I hope those biases die with us.
EDIT - also big ups to you John for tackling this topic. It's not an easy one and I know you mulled it long and hard. You've broached it well and I commend that.
