I see this phrase used a lot on blahaj lemmy. I’m actually bi but I don’t really like using the word ‘folk’ over ‘people’… it just kinda sounds pretentious, I don’t want to be described like a mythical creature
It stems from an old proverb: “there is naught so queer as folk”, essentially meaning “people are strange”. The meaning of “queer” has shifted and narrowed over time to refer to sexuality, but kept its ties to this idiom, resulting in the TV show “queer as folk” and the generic phrase “queer folk”.
There is nothing especially pretentious or mythical about the word. It may just be your own assumptions/interpretations of it. Far more people have an issue with the word “queer” than they do “folk”. If you don’t like it, don’t use it, but you should also aim to shake the stigma from it, as it’s not what 99.9% of people mean when they use it.
I think in more recent times it has to do with using folks as an easy gender neutral address instead of saying you guys etc, and then it spread out everywhere because it is, well, easier and people don’t want to think too much.
I have mostly positive vibes with “folk”, like folk music, folk art, common folk, etc. But I understand where you are coming from with this. It kind of smacks of “other” in this particular context.
So folk songs are fairy songs?
A total guess on my part, but it’s just been in the lexicon for so long, including a title of a TV show, that its just set in at this point.
I use the term folks to refer to my parents but that may be regional or generational.
I just want to say I get where you’re coming from. It sounds similar to the way people say “fairy folk” which I assume is why you mention mythical creatures. I guess a lot of people in this thread are less familiar with that usage.
I dont know, but did anyone else giggle like an idiot because they always liked to say to myself, Queer ass Folk instead of Queer as Folk.
And im like mostly sure thats what the show runners wanted, but im okay pretending they didnt and im just amusing myself
And for the record i just like the wordplay in spite of it not being particularly clever and very obvious.
Yes i do like terrible puns as well. Not sorry
Idk, but I had a CD by Queer as Folk given to me by a gay friend, and that music kicked ass. Maybe it has to do with that music? I think the music was the soundtrack to a TV show. Maybe it has to do with that TV show?
