OK, 3 pages in, it's time for a serious response:
Yes, I **** fags.
Anyone who knows my posting history knows that I am extremely vehement in my support for gay rights (which is exactly equal to civil rights), I support gay marriage and I support gays serving openly in the military.
And I **** fags.
Language evolves. We do not speak the same English that we did 200, 500 or 1000 years ago. The same applies to every other language that I know about.
Not too long ago, "Fag" was a perjorative applied exclusively to gay men. And it still is. But it is not how I apply it. To me a "Fag" is someone who is a whiny, bitchy little turd who either has nothing relevant to bitch about, bitches about it too much, or bitches about it to all the wrong people who couldn't care less and who can't or won't do anything to assist. A "Fag" is someone who is self-absorbed, self-centered and thinks the world owes him....anything.
Years ago, I was dealing Blackjack and one of the players was a more-or-less stereotypical gay man. He had the vo ice and mannerisms.....it was obvious that he was gay. He was also the most hilarious person I had met all year. One-liner after one-liner kept zinging out from this cheerful and intelligent guy and I was standing there, cracking up, counting to 21 and holding my kidneys in at the same time. As grampa would say, "A thoroughly likeable chap." This guy was not a "Fag". He was the farthest thing from it.
Conversely, in a few months, I will work my 4th World Series of Poker, a job that will last for a month and a half. I will be surrounded by "Fags". I will be up to my earlobes in "Fags". I will be surrounded for the entirety of each 48 hour week that I will endure, just to earn me daily bread, by "Fags". Fags to the left of me, fags to the right of me. I will get so sick and tired of fags that......well......if it pops up on the news that an enraged dealer walked in with a homemade flamethrower and barbequed the place with as many fags in it as possible......yup, that was me.
Ye Gods, how I **** Fags.