[split] The word 'Nigger' and other slurs

[Napoléon]

I just thought the guy made a good point about WHY the word is offensive, and though I didn't agree with everything he said he's right on about wanting use terms you KNOW will offend people not being okay.

That's fair enough. For what it's worth I agreed with the video right until he started the distinction between white people and black people using the term. He's right in the sense it shouldn't matter to white people whether they are allowed to say it, as any self respecting person wouldn't want to say it. However it is still massively hypocritical to use all that reasoning justifying why it's such an abhorrent word and how it's so offensive, yet make out like there's some exception and that black people can use it 'lovingly'. Whaaat? How does that make any sense if you take into context what he was previously saying about the history of the word.

IMO black people who constantly use the term 'nigger' with reference to themselves and their peers are just as idiotic as white people who use the term in a similar and derogatory manner.

[EgoRaptor]

On the topic that Ivy brought up, about anti-hispanicism; anti-hispanicism is currently plagues the US. I'm pretty sure it is driven by nothing more than crude racism. The Mexicans are perfect immigrants, they learn our ways, try to speak our language & are friendly as fuck. I've met a lot of Mexicans, & only once have I met one I'd consider an asshole. Mexicans do the jobs Americans don't want to, yet they never complain, never whine, they just work hard & hope to rise up in the world. The Mexican people also have a long revolutionary history & a friendly culture, they are the perfect immigrants. If only the Arabs were more like the Mexicans...

[Godscreated]

As someone from the same generation I personally think the white kid to do that are stupid. like I said if you can't understand where words come from what they mean and how they used you shouldn't use them. And that's my final say on the subject if you know that a word(s) will hurt someone you shouldn't use it.

I disagree. Again we are talking about context here. They are not saying the word with racial or malicious intent, or to parody or satirize black people. They are using it in the same exact tone and context as if they had instead said, "What's up man."

And I also disagree that I should not say words simply because people find it offensive. Do you know how many offensive words there are and have been? Is it every person's responsibility to keep an encyclopedia of offensive remarks that they shouldn't repeat? Should I refrain from saying "God dammit!" or "Jesus Christ" in exclamation because a Christian is offended that I took the Lord's name in vain? Have you ever bought something that immediately broke and cry out, "I got gyped!"? Originally a slant against gypsies. Ever use the word hooligan? Used to mean a drunken Irish man. Or is it maybe easier to not take offense so quickly.

If we cannot say things that offend other people, then what if you telling me that I shouldn't say offensive things, offends me? What do you do now?

This is not directly at you but, to everyone here that's to young to remember when black people were treated wrongly... no, badly, disrespected, something less than human, well I do remember and understand what the word meant.
I would get on a bus and the sign said blacks must sit in the back, I would go to a water fountain the sign said whites only, I would go to the restroom and the sign would say whites only, I would set down at the counter of a diner and the sign would say blacks not served, signs every where whites only or blacks can't this or that. I remember asking my mom what was wrong with black people that they weren't allowed to be a part of society. During WWII a group of black soldiers were not served in a diner, while a group of nazi prisoners were served meals, yes these very men we asked to defend this country were treated worse than the soldiers that eventually were part of a people that not only permitted racism but practiced it to the extreme. Black people were treated worse as a people after they became free than before. That word so many believe is okay to use, represented the lowest ideas of one human against another. So use it if you like, but I hope you will remember the word represents the worst in humanities treatment of it's self.

GC

[KichigaiNeko]

For me, I let a lot of verbiage slide. I learnt to do this by continuous racial slurs regarding myself.

You see, I have been called; nigga, nigga shit brown, jappo, chink, wog, abo, glick, pommie bastard, craut, nazi, jew, and everything else under the sun. My skin is tan/very brown (when I get a suntan) my eyes are dark and almond shaped.

Why I am telling you this Miss Quill, is that ... Yeah the words can hurt but they say more about the person using them, indicating a limited vocabulary and worldly experience.

I don't get offended, I have been called a "fucking psyco-bitch" which was rather novel. I think what I would also like to say is that I am inclined to agree with Mr Fry.

[Autumnlicious]

Doesn't change the fact that the origin of this thread was because some jackass had to waltz into a thread posted by a self identified black woman and talk about "niggers"

Talk about bad taste.

You're free to be abrasive, but something tells me those who say "nigger" offensively aren't doing it in the same context as calling another "douche".

[là bạn điên]

Interesting the comments about Hispanics. There is a big racial conflict at the moment but don't expect the race lobby to get involved because it doesn't involve white people at all (and the race lobby is only interested in anti white actions).

In South Central Los Angeles African American people are being slowly driven , street by street, out of their own neighbourhoods as hispanic gangs outnumber and defeat African American ones and harrass ordinary black people out of their homes. Anywhere else it would be called ethnic cleansing but because white people are no involved at all then you won't see Al Sharpton or any others of his crew turn up.

[KichigaiNeko]

Ah Belac. In this instance it would agree with you Moros. There was no need for that type of trolling.

I am advocating a tactic used with bullies, take away the insult/ offense reaction and what do they have?

Zot.

[Cinjin]

In South Central Los Angeles African American people are being slowly driven , street by street, out of their own neighbourhoods as hispanic gangs outnumber and defeat African American ones and harrass ordinary black people out of their homes. Anywhere else it would be called ethnic cleansing but because white people are no involved at all then you won't see Al Sharpton or any others of his crew turn up.

Can you please provide some documentation of this. I would very much like to read more about this.

[là bạn điên]

In South Central Los Angeles African American people are being slowly driven , street by street, out of their own neighbourhoods as hispanic gangs outnumber and defeat African American ones and harrass ordinary black people out of their homes. Anywhere else it would be called ethnic cleansing but because white people are no involved at all then you won't see Al Sharpton or any others of his crew turn up.

Can you please provide some documentation of this. I would very much like to read more about this.

Certainly

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2013/01/15...-campaign/

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/in...a-blackout

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/25/...n-20130126

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/07...72623.html

[jots]

*Kay helicopters in for some comic relief*

The whole ixnay on the word nigger took a most fantastic turn, when a really famous candy, now called "Kisses", had to take the word nigger out. (The candy was of course called "Nigger Kisses" before.) Well, when our largest department stores had a Christmas sale on these and when the register scanned the product, the name that popped up on the receipt was "neekeri" instead of "pusu". Whoops..!

Aah, negerkyssar, jag kommer ihåg att jag åt sådana när jag var liten. Kallas numera "mintkyssar", tror jag



Anyway, as some people have already pointed out, it´s the intent behind using a word that is the most important. If someone I know takes offense with me using a specific word and asks me to stop, I would of course stop using it. At least when he/she is around.

It´s another thing entirely to try and forbid me from using it. That´s called censorship and has no place in any modern society.