The clue is in the phrase 'self-depreceating', that means 'devalueing oneself'. It's bad enough that gay people do this to themselves, internalised homophobia, but abhorrent that Ofcom rules this acceptable. I know it's all contextual and there are worse things to call a gay man. Even worse was Ofcom's ruling that some fat DJ use of the word 'gay' to mean lame or crap is acceptable because of it's widespread usage among young people. It is not acceptable simply because it is widely used. it is homophobic. I presume that those Four Poofs and a Piano think they're being ironic or even funny, and don't intend to add to the culture of homophobia, they need to rethink. Perhas time for a rebrand ... Three Gay Men and a Pianist anyone?

Paul Kearns, Nuneaton, Warwickshire

I find this facinating, I was one of the people who sent a strong complaint to Ofcom and Big Brother regarding this issue. Yes i accused them of double standards and yes i am accusing them of double standards now. This is absolutely disgusting, Yes gay people somtimes call each other poof, this is a community taking a word and using it ourselves to attempt to lessen the hurt that the word causes when used. This word still causes great offence to gay people. As a child this word was thrown at me by bullies, and caused me great distress. Ofcoms attitude regarding the Big Brother, Chris Moyles and Jim Davidsons behaviour are all fine examples of intitutional homohpobia within our society. This is not acceptable

Clint, Birmingham, West Midlands

My heart honestly sinks when I read some of these remarks. A total lack of consideration, honestly it beggars belief. Take yourself out of the equation for one minute and put yourself in my shoes. As a gay man I DO find the word poof offensive. I find '4 poofs and a piano' offensive, I find all the crap that I have had to put up with through my life for being gay offensive. I'm not here to be laughed at. It presses a button with me because it is termed in a derogatory sense, be it 'weak', 'effeminate' or in some way 'lesser'. It's not the same as being called 'Four Eyes', 'Fat' 'Spotty' and alike, it runs much deeper than that. You don't get killed for the above remarks; you don't get discriminated by the legal system for such remarks either. To dismiss this as a 'one level deep' insult is completely missing the bigger picture. A lot of straight people find man-man sex abhorrent, that's what's at the core of all of this. Another excuse to have yet another dig.

Chris, London, UK

I think the only vaguely interesting thing about this story is how it offers further proof that ethnicity 'issues' now trump everything else, most especially those concerning gay rights and feminism. At what point did this become a consensus view?

R Clarke, London,

What makes these people so sensative, normal people take this sort of slang in their stride I can only think it's just another way of being noticed , why shouldn't we use words that have been in our vocabulary for years ,

Ron Sealey , Croydon , England

So the word "poof" is acceptable because gay people use it themselves, as with the band "Four poofs and a piano". This is ridiculous and floored logic. Ever heard of the american rap group "N****** ith Attitude"? Subscribing to offcom's logic you would have to say we are all allowed to say N***** because black people say it to each other.

Tom, Leipzig,

As a small footstool I am highly offended that my name has been changed to represent members of the homosexual community.

Paul, glasgow, Scotland

Oh Puhlease ... you can either have a free society with protected free speech, or you can have a society which protects everyone against being "insulted". Maybe we should institute an "insult" policy whereby the insulter could give the insultee a 20p piece. Then the poor crybaby could call thier Mum, or anyone else who might care, a phone call and cry to them. This is an insult to people's intelligence, it's patronising, it's fascist.

'Drew, Scotland,

Does it really take comittees many hours and thousands of people writing in about just one persons comment. This is a society of free speech. Everyone has their views and oppinions. Where are we going?

Craig, york,

Could we please have a definitive list of adjectives for homosexuals which are allowed so that we can be sure we are not causing offence?
Thank you.

DT, Kettering,

Sticks and Stones,
May Break your Bones
But Words Will
Never Harm You

I was brought up on this rhyme and I don't think it has lost any relevance today. You have to rise above words or you are just as weak as the person insulting you.

Will , Cobham,

Rather than the TV companies making arbitrary decisions on what are acceptable insults, I think we need a government regulator/quango type of organisation to determine these very very important issues. It could be called the Department of Protection from Insults (DOPI)...

chris, st awful, cornwall