Semantic Iconography, Political Correctness and Insults

Swear words are generally not used in their literal way. But they always have a nasty literal meaning.

1) "This fucking moron cut me off in traffic!"
2) "I hate the damn drivers around here"
3) "That guy in the van is an asshole"
4) "People in large trucks are always dicks"
5) "That woman driving the SUV is a cunt"

One hundred years ago, "gay" had no association with sodomy. In the past sixty (or so) years, it began to mean "sodomite". Suddenly, the term "gay" becomes an insult. From what I've gathered, it is usually used as a synonym of "pathetic" or "perversely effeminate".

6) "That car is so gay"

Why? Well, people use these words because they have nasty associations. If a person is a "asshole", that means they are repulsive. If a person is a "damn ____", then you are wishing that they go to hell.

Regardless of how much brainwashing we undergo, sodomy will still be repulsive, especially to men. So "gay" will remain an insult in the popular language.

Sometimes it's quite funny.

When a Progressive says that "homophobes are gay", is it a compliment, insult, or neither? They seem to say it in an insulting fashion.