The point of an insult is to push someone from the ingroup to the outgroup. They are quick and easy ways of saying, "You are not one of us. You don't matter as much as I do." There's no better way to establish that dynamic than by exploiting prejudice. And the strongest prejudices are about race, gender, and sexuality.

Why do you think the word "fag" is such a potent insult? Because it's connected to the word "gay". Conservatives at best frown upon gays and at worst hate them outright. Many moderates and liberals also harbor prejudices they don't like to think about. By calling someone a fag you are exploiting these prejudices (perhaps subconsciously) to give your insult more of a punch.

Fag means gay. I use the both words to insult. Sometimes I'm actually calling them fag/gay, sometimes I'm just using it as a cuss word. Same as all them other things you're talking about. I feel insulted cause you left Paki out.. but ok. ;).

I think it depends on the crowd. Everybody I'm with doesn't give a shit about political correctness, except for a couple of those annoying black people and a few white people.

So you will say "fag" but not "nigger"? Why is that?

Because fag has meant many things, instead of just it's one most recent and most negative definition?

Yes, words are constantly being redefined and reapplied. But there are many people who still use the word in the same way many people still use the word "nigger" negatively towards African Americans.

Given time, the word "fag" may grow to mean something other than a negative slur for gay, but as of now, it still carries that meaning.

Unless you live in the cartoon town of South Park, Colorado.

This one is Iffy for me. I still use it as a homosexual term, but mainly towards people who aren't homosexual. Like I'm not gay, and it REALLY pisses me off when I'm called a Fag. So when I use it, it's not that I'm calling the person gay, but more like putting them into that Taboo group where they don't want to be included. It's the same as calling a white person a Nigger, or even a black person a Cracker. Nigger and Cracker still mean what they mean, but has the same effect when you use it on a different race.

Actually, fag ain't that bad. Now call somebody a queer and you've got a fight on your hands ;)

Fag is derived from faggot-gatherer, a pejorative term used to describe a worthless person that collected faggots (a bundle of sticks used to kindle a fire) faggot-gatherers would sell the kindling to people gathered to witness a burning at the stake.

A FAG IS A CIGARETTE. BUT REALLY IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU APPLY THE WORD AS TO WETHER OR NOT YOU OFFEND A PERSON. IVE HEARD PLENTY OF GAY PERSONS USING THE WORD THEMSELVES.MAYBE IT COULD BE AN ABREVIATION FOR FREE-AGE-GUY. but yes it is commonly applied to gay persons in a derogatory manner and can be taken offensively.

It's just a pack of cigarettes in Britain so there it means nothing holds no value.