Wake up. TODAY, people don't use the N word unless it's hateful, but 50 years ago that wasn't the case. 50 years from now, I suspect the word faggot will not be used in the same way it is today. I think that's the whole point here, isn't it? That knowing what we know about what the word implies and the negative connotations associated with it, and the fact that it hurts a particular group of people, shouldn't we try to "do better"? You associate the N word with hate, but your grandfather probably didn't. It's just how he would've referred to a black person. So just because you don't associate the word faggot with hate, isn't it fair for you (and others) to try and be sensitive to the fact that others might? You're confusing timing differences as an argument as to why one is ok and the other isn't. 50 years from now it won't be acceptable to say either word.