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Is the term 'gaydar' too politically incorrect nowadays?

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ironpony
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05 Jan 2020, 1:59 am

Basically I want to write about someone who is really good at telling peoples sexual orientations based on various signs.

However, I want to use a term for that skill. But the only term I ever knew it to be called was 'gaydar', but if that is too politically incorrect correct, is there another term for this type of skill?



enz
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05 Jan 2020, 2:50 am

interested in the LGBT opinion on this.



Fireblossom
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06 Jan 2020, 9:42 am

I've seen homo- and bisexual people use the term so I highly doubt it's a complete taboo, but it might depend on the context and who uses the word, too.
Here's a list of some synonyms for the word, though I have no idea how many people would actually know the meaning of these words.



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06 Jan 2020, 10:30 am

ironpony wrote:
Basically I want to write about someone who is really good at telling peoples sexual orientations based on various signs.
Ahh ... so you want to write science-fiction -- great! The genre could use some fresh blood these days!
ironpony wrote:
However, I want to use a term for that skill. But the only term I ever knew it to be called was 'gaydar', but if that is too politically incorrect correct, is there another term for this type of skill?
Try "Psychic Reading" or "Extra-Sensory Perception" (ESP); both of these terms describe fictional activities that are the mainstay of many science-fiction stories. Good luck!


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shlaifu
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06 Jan 2020, 7:39 pm

based on what signs? particular behaviours? that would be very problematic.
the whole "gaydar" idea is that it is a sixth sense, not some sherlock holmes thing.


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thewrll
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07 Jan 2020, 1:23 am

Whether or not it's politically incorrect, I find it very questionable, I have no idea why this would even be a story idea.


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docgeorge
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09 Jan 2020, 11:24 pm

My take as a 70 y.o. gay man is that "gaydar" is used somewhat humorously and not too literally. If used in that spirit I don't see it as a problem.



Ferrous
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10 Jan 2020, 8:07 am

The word is antiquated but basically fine. What I do take issue with is people who aren't LGBT claiming they're amazing at telling when people are; I have never encountered such a person who iisn't just relying entirely on stereotypes, and a few bragged about this skill while having no idea I'm gay.



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10 Jan 2020, 6:28 pm

Ferrous wrote:
The word is antiquated but basically fine.

What is the current word?


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naturalplastic
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10 Jan 2020, 6:33 pm

docgeorge wrote:
My take as a 70 y.o. gay man is that "gaydar" is used somewhat humorously and not too literally. If used in that spirit I don't see it as a problem.


This.



thewrll
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10 Jan 2020, 9:47 pm

Ferrous wrote:
The word is antiquated but basically fine. What I do take issue with is people who aren't LGBT claiming they're amazing at telling when people are; I have never encountered such a person who iisn't just relying entirely on stereotypes, and a few bragged about this skill while having no idea I'm gay.


Yep, this is totally true. Also what benefit is there even to this supposed skill?


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