An unfortunate choice of words, to be certain.
If for no other reason than someone who willingly appears on Charlie Rose’s program has no right to accuse anyone else of fagging out.
And big up to the intensely charismatic Jimmy Kimmel, whose staff must’ve labored for at least an hour before coming up with the obligatory Fudge Packer line.
Far be it from me to defend the odious Billy Packer, but it may be worth noting that Webster’s defines “fagged out” as “tired, worn out”. This meaning predates any denotations of sexual orientation that the word “fag” has since acquired. Since this definition clearly fits the context of Rose and Packer’s banter, Packer may wind up weaseling out of this one after all.
“tired, worn out”.
Charlie Rose.
thank you.
GC
This is all crap. It’s people telling other people what they can say and what they can’t. It’s fascism. Being “fagged” or “fagging out” is and has always been associated with losing the means to carry on, either through loss of strength or of will. Now, because a “group” claims exclusive ownership of the term “fag,” they can claim any and all proper words that may derive from it.
The English language operates outside the realm of what any “group” demands that it ought to. If anyone misconstues what Mr. Packer meant by saying someone “fagged out,” it is not the fault of BP, but rather it’s the ignorance of the listener. If upon knowing the context of Packer’s comments they continue to demand that he be apologetic, the listener becomes despotic.
I’m so sick about about this “PC” garbage that I could scream until my lungs collapse. This what we can say and what we can’t garbage is destroying this country. It’s destroying our very language. Billy Packer should be appauded for standing his ground, because he is right.