Changes

Does homophobia refer to fear of offending homosexuals?

Does homophobia refer to fear of offending homosexuals?

:One realizes that it is description, rather than prescription primarily at issue.  In defining a word it is more scientific to merely observe how the word is used and report on it instead of saying "how it should be used" or "how it must be used."  Of course part of the description is observing the emotive connotations and the polemical aspect, if there is one.  Nonetheless, persons who have agendas may start using and declaring what a word means in hopes that their usage will spread to the point that lexicographers will write the definition their way.  Research would be needed establish that the word "homophobia" is more properly defined as fear of offending homosexuals and suffering a counter attack from them. ([[User:Thunkful|Thunkful]] 17:53, 16 June 2010 (EDT))

:One realizes that it is description, rather than prescription primarily at issue.  In defining a word it is more scientific to merely observe how the word is used and report on it instead of saying "how it should be used" or "how it must be used."  Of course part of the description is observing the emotive connotations and the polemical aspect, if there is one.  Nonetheless, persons who have agendas may start using and declaring what a word means in hopes that their usage will spread to the point that lexicographers will write the definition their way.  Research would be needed to establish that the word "homophobia" is more properly defined as fear of offending homosexuals and suffering a counter attack from them. ([[User:Thunkful|Thunkful]] 17:53, 16 June 2010 (EDT))