Are you sure he meant it in the term you are thinking about? I've heard my kids say it and it has nothing to do with my interpretation of the word. Just a thought.

But, of course we have to watch what we say anywhere and everywhere, because we never know who is reading and it will come back to bite you. Even if Google is not listening. 

I have no idea how he meant it.  Maybe it is a commonly accepted nickname?  But I guess I would err on the side of how it might be perceived.  My perception of it was not good.

There is an article in the new REALTOR magazine about blogging and some of the things that they have run across that is being brought up as clear ethics violations.  One in particular that caught my eye was if you wrote something and a person commented on it and what they said was clearly against fair housing if you did not delete it you would be held liable. 

We have all sorts of people in our United States, we are free (to an extent) and no one should voice their opinion or use deroggatory remarks against any one group wether they are just cheering on a team or not. That was a very poor judgement call and we should all think before we hit send.

Well, I hate the N word, the C word and the F word. So I'm with you. Regardless of how it was meant!

I don't know all the free speech rules, and twitter is not necessarily  a business app, although many of us are using it to connect with other people in our profession.  So..legally- don't know. Practically, we have to think about what we say.  I saw a negative post about gays and politics on Active Rain a few days ago.  i was offended that someone would post about it.  I thought about commenting, I thought about turning them in, and in the end I just unsubscribed.

It goes against my value system on Twitter, off twitter, for business or for pleasure to use certian words the way they are used in the tweet.  The worst four letter word in the English language is Hate.

Missy, could you ask your kids what the other meaning of fag is for us older folks?  The only other meaning I know is cigarette.

Utopia = The day when all racial, ethnic, gender, lifestyles etc. etc. etc. are no longer used in a derogatory manner.

The divisive manner in which we preclude others from our vision of the world holds us all back.

As it has been said many times before " Can't we all just get along " ?

Not a very smart thing for him to put out there.  What if at some time in the future he were to be accused of violating fair housing and statements like that popped up?

Yes, it's a fine line between our personal values and feelings and our professional ones. But this happens all the time. I think he has the right like anyone else to have likes and dislikes about different groups but I would not think it wise to air them out while presenting yourself as a Realtor.

On the flip side, I think that PC can go to the point of forcing things upon people and not allowing them to have their own opinions. Like it or not not everyone has to be pro choice or pro homosexual or anything else. People have their biases and it's part of our freedoms to have opinions if they are not breaking the law or causing legitimate damage to others. In that I don't mean that you don't like someone else having the negative opinion about you, but actual targeted damage causing things directed at harming you.

Just look at the political mud slinging and these are the leaders, but in the end there are differences and peoples votes will decide. It's not realistic to take away opinions and it's not constitutional.

Linda -

Do you have a link to the Realtor Magazine article you cited?

The tasteless tweet was probably in reference to yesterday's Kansas-Kansas State game. KU's mascot is the Jayhawk. In any case, this is a great reminder of how wide-reaching online content can be and that the message may carry well beyond the intended audience.

It's unbelievable that a Realtor would forget the basics even for a sports game!

John's explaination makes a lot of sense so I will forgive the guy whomever he is.  Glad he removed it. 

thanks for the "lesson for all of us to think before we hit send. " 

I unfollowed someone on Twitter because of political tweets that went beyond good taste... or maybe the Tweets were OK but when I got to the blog in the links I realized his full agenda.  Not a Realtor ... it was hateful..  I just "moved along."

I want to read what Linda said is in Realtor Magazine too.  

Article 12 talks about on line communication...is twittering on line communication?  I sure think so. I'd feel uncomfortable going down that twittering road. JMHO

Hi Maureen~ I wouldn't be surprised if google still has it. My google alerts sometimes go off about twitters that were a couple of days earlier that I didn't catch.

I should probably post this as a New Topic, but your Blog got me....I am an ex-Realtor of 30+ years and have never had a grievene filed against me, however I have been called as a witness many times and worked with the Board.... I have seen a lot of bad Realtors over the years and also some very good Realtors, thus the saying 20% of the Realtor make 80% of the money...

Here's a quick story that just happened: My Neighbor age 80 has Cancer & Diabetes who is renting from a "Property Manaement" company in AZ..... For two months I watched as he had numerous problems with plumming, heating,leaks,etc and more. Many people showed up from the PM company but they never did anything about correcting the issues of concern. ***** I got mad and visited the PM Co. and my first words were, Is the Broker available... Yes she is they replied, Great - I have a problem with one of your rentals I said, the receptionist stated, hold on I will get her, the Broker came out and said so there's a problem with one of our rentals-what's the address.... After I told her the address she stated " Oh Those Gay Guys"????? I got so mad I could hardly speak, for one they aren't gay (One is 80 and retired-the other is 50 and on the road as a truck driver).. I imediately said, that is blatant discrimination and I will make sure you are brought in front of the B.O.R. if you ever make such a comment again and you better start taking care of your renters properly like these people, perhaps you should even read the Landlord Tenant Act I said...

This is no threat I said, it's a promise I will file with the Board, it's extremely unethical for you to state what you just said and your properties also violate the law...

 The next day he had everything fixed and was told they would even move him(them) to a nicer rental...

Stick up for your Rights... Property Management companies have to abide by the same strict "Code of Ethics" that a Realtor or Broker has sworn to uphold....

The above statement was from me, Sean Mark...  I go by Snowbird Sean... Sorry for any confusion...

There are so many Realtors, that hoping that all of them have the sense to know what is derogatory, is probably a little too much to hope for.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of Racist, Bigoted, Close-minded people in this country that don't understand about the common decency of respecting their fellow man.....

Thank you for calling this guy on his unwarranted slang.

Regardless of how it was meant, or how it was used, or whether it is legally ok, it is a hate-filled word that should not be used -- Code of Ethics or not. This is the kind of thing that stirs up hate crimes and convinces our children that it's ok to bully kids who are different.  If anyone doubts the derogatory use of this word, I suggest you see the revealing, but entertaining, documentary "Celluloid Closet" which has a section talking about the use of the word in movies.

I think it shows very poor taste and low intellect to use such terms.  There's a whole lot more on the line here.  

Im in complete agreeance with Angela. 

I think it was in poor taste for you to use this word in your blog. It's like African Americans calling each other the "n" word, but not appreciating when someone else uses it.

 Regardless of your point, you shouldn't use it here.

It's ignorant to use any derogatory word as a human being. Racism/hate are usually learned

Greg, I have to tell you it gave me pause to use that word, but I was quoting someone else and it would have been quite challenging to make the point without stating specifically what bothered me. 

There are some gay Realtors on this site.  Maybe I should ask how they feel about me using the word fag in my post.

I am not gay, but good point.

No one should use that kind of language.  The meaning behind it is hateful.  Free speech or not, it's ugly. 

While we are sort of on the subject about mixing business w/ personal on the web.....how about the Real Estate Agents on Facebook & My Space who have profile pics of themselves drinking, partying, 1/2 dressed, etc.  I'm no prude, but I am embarrassed for our industry when I see it.

Thanks for the post. I agree with Ann Heitland. For me it is hate filled rhetoric. Whatever the use, it is unacceptable. Anyone with any appreciation for what pain that word or similar words have caused people, would refrain from using them.

Maureen & Dmitry  Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  I am gay, a Realtor, on ActiveRain obviously, and also on Twitter.  I am convinced that this guy's use of the word was completely derogatory and in poor taste.  As far as your post I agree that it would have been difficult for you to communicate the severity of the issue without quoting him.  I don't think using the word in the title was the best decision, however; some folks may not actually read your post and then get the wrong idea from the title.  I suppose you're setting yourself up as well by associating yourselves with the word (we know how easily things can be taken out of context).  Thanks again and hope all is well.

Anthony, thanks for your input.  I have changed the title and agree with your comment.

I think no matter where we are, what we are doing, we need to be above reproach. All it takes is one slip of the tongue (fingers, in his case) to get us in hot water. 

A Realtor is a Realtor 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  There is no time when the can say anything inappropriate ESP. in print.  Print is forever.  That comment on twitter will jump up again one day and hurt the poster.

Not only Realtors --- everyone should watch what they are saying and putting in print. Look at the emails and text messages that are coming back to bite the Mayor