Urban Warfare

[poliphilo]

There are kids out the back throwing stones at other kids- some of which land in our back yard- so Aliz and I go out and sort of stand there and quietly object (no shouting) and that defuses things. A small boy (reaching to my elbow, maybe a little higher) aims a final verbal insult at his foes- who happen to be girls, "I have only one thing to say to you:- YOU FAGGOTS!"

Comments

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Back in the dark ages, when I was 12 or so (1950's) kids called other kids "fags" when they did not conform to the rules of "cool" (only I think they called "cool" "hep" back then). I got the label when I was the first, but not the last, kid in the neighborhood to wear Bermuda shorts.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

In 1950s British usage(as Wemyss points out) a faggot was a silly, dried up old person and a fag (completely unrelated) was a cigarette. Actually, "fag" meaning cigarette is still current.