BS: Queer as Folk - explain

Subject: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 09:28 AM

Yesterday I saw a synchronized version of an episode of Queer as Folk. I spied a lot of queers, but didn't hear any folk.
Well, for a nonnnative speaker: Is there a hidden meaning in folk an ageing godfearing Mudcatter's philosophy never has dreamt of?
Explain, please.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From:
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 09:33 AM

Folk = people

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Peace
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 09:34 AM

There's nowt so queer as folk = There's nothing so strange as people.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 09:34 AM

From the expression Oop North in England, "there's nowt so queer as folk."

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 09:37 AM

Der ist nein so queer as Volkswagen.

Giok

Sensa schiuma

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 09:50 AM

In this instance, just the expression, I don't think it means "queer" as in homosexual/gay so much as "odd."

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 10:04 AM

The Showtime network TV show Queer as Folk IS about gays/lesbians. I've seen advertisments, but pay enough for cable without the premium channels.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 10:11 AM

To break the habit of a lifetime I will be serious for a moment.
When I was a child and knew no better homosexuals were called 'Queers', this has since become non PC and we are encouraged to be complicit in another bastardisation of the English language by calling homosexuals 'Gays' Ironocally homosexuals themselves have reintroduced the habit of calling themselves 'Queers', I wonder just how confused this makes the fanatics of the PC industry feel?
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 10:28 AM

'folk' - from 'fellow', like 'yolk' from 'yellow'?
maybe 'mellowness' should be 'molk'?

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Paul Burke
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 10:31 AM

holk?

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 01:10 PM

Up to about the Great War 'gay' was applied as an adjective to female prostitutes --- 'gay women'. The standard prostitute's invitation was 'Are you gay?', meaning 'Are you randy?' The question survived among homosexuals with an altered meaning --- 'Are you one of us?'.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Mr Red
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 01:58 PM

Gay has had straight randy meanings off and on for 300 years, and as fashions for the word moved, it devolved to a fairly harmless meaning. After which, factions could purloin it as code.

Plus ca change.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Micca
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 06:38 PM

If you are PC stop reading Now




The gay and lesbian society at a British University stuck a poster advertising a gay and Lesbian Ceilidh with a good band and calller, I was shown a poster that had neatly graffitoed across the bottom,
" theres Nowt so Folk as Queers" I was slightly amused at the skilful use of language,

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 10:23 PM

They don't know if they be men or womenz so they call themselves Folk.

Queer Folk

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:44 AM

Wilfred - the expression "Theer's nowt so queer as folk" is an old one used in Yorkshire (I don't know if anyone else in Northern England will also try to claim it). The phrase translates literally as - there is nothing as strange as the way people behave. It is one which has been used by well known public figures, and so has become known to the rest of the country.

The TV series using part of the saying was, quite frankly total crap and simply an excuse for gratuitous scenes. The story seemed to be only about homosexual blokes having casual sex at night clubs. Not a good image of the "gay" community to broadcast - no long term partners or stable relationships, just a set of totally iresponsible unpleasant people.

You will find nothing about folk music in it. It certainly is not about the old saying which has nothing to do with any form of sexuality.

Quack!
Geof the Duck.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Mo the caller
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 09:54 AM

"gratuitous scenes"
Wow. We can't have that.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Moses
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 11:07 AM

I remember the full saying as:- "There's nowt as queer as folk, except for thee and me, and even thou art a little touched"

I'd always assumed this to mean that 'people all have their odd peculiarities except for us two, although you are a wee bit strange'.

The above posts have added a new and interesting slant on the quotation!!

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 06:39 PM

Funny this topic came up since last evening was the first time I ever viewed a show Queer Eye For The Straight Guy(Kevin Bacon's brother--Michael (straight) was given a domicile make-over). I was asked to watch by someone I know---who is gay. This person only said to watch because said person knew some people in it--the Bacons---and had never seen the show either

I could stomach no more than 15 minutes of this ridiculous program--besides being (to me) an utter bore it just reinforces terrible stereotypes and those participating are just denigrating themselves some more---but for big bucks, I assume. A distasteful bunch they are.

Frankly, the reality shows are just way over the top---happily one network cancelled the latest fiasco prior to the first airing. A show where neighbors vote on who will get the house the network purchased in their neighborhood---they used a gay couple, a hispanic couple, and and asian coup and--perhaps other ethnicities. The gay couple were voted in---and, happily the network cancelled the whole show. Frankly, I think they were opening themselves up for a bias law suit in my opinion---would that there was a law against insensitivity and bad taste.

I realize I am talking about a different program, but good drama can be address many issues---then there are the programs mentioned that just reinforce stereotypes.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 06:49 PM

Giok,

   I think that's a community kind of thing....homosexuals...more the men I think...referring to themselves and one another as "Queers," kind of like African Americans who refer to one another as the "N" word (Sorry but I really dislike that word). I think that if you are a homosexual man, it would be fine to use that term but not otherwise. Same with the other term...it's for those that fit within the given community.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 07:23 PM

More walls to separate people IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: mooman
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 08:57 AM

I have heard some folk (as in music) that is a bit queer (as in odd). You are not alone my friend Wilfried!

Moses explanation ties in very close with the use and meaning of the expression by my dear South Yorkshire wife.

Richard

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: robinia
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 10:16 AM

The way I heard the saying (in reference, I think, to my VERY censorious granny) was "all the world is queer except for me and thee, dear, and even thee's a little queer, dear."

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Once Famous
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 11:39 PM

The show is complete crap. You have to be out of your mind to watch these flaming morons.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 27 Jan 06 - 10:06 AM

Oh dear, some of you people should get out more ... incidentally, see how language continually gets away from the meanings we place on it -I intended no pun on 'out' (as in 'out of the closet'), but it just happens along the way in human intercourse (there I go again). Appropriation of 'gay' or 'queer' shows that words are always changing in a living language, maybe some would prefer they were set in stone to be read about in nice old non-threatening songs, for instance.
Too many label as 'PC' what is in fact old-fashioned politeness IMO.
PS no axe to grind personally over this, just an observation.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 27 Jan 06 - 11:34 AM

Thanks to all friends trying to enlighten me in the use of colloquial English, especially Geoff, Moses, and Richard who succeded and gave the exact answer to my question which was not about "queer" but possible other meanings of "folk².
About the saying "there's nowt so queer ..." I should have asked my friend Skipjack K8 when he used it; so this my question would never have arisen.

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 06 - 07:46 PM

So you saw it, Martin?

Subject: RE: BS: Queer as Folk - explain
From: s&r
Date: 27 Jan 06 - 08:05 PM

I took it to be a crude play on 'folk' like 'Folk Hall' etc. It would then mean very queer.

Stu