Confused about a word (WARNING: Possible un-intended racism, i'm really shocked)

[ELD3RGoD]

Okay, so I was just on facebook looking around as you do when I saw a group I could relate to. I liked it and they started making posts about people and what people thought of them.

I was reading a few comments and someone posted how one of them was, and I quote, "A LIL N***A, 7," and people were liking it. Someone else commented saying how it was racist to say the 'N' word about/to someone and then everyone was proper having a go at the person who said it was racist instead of the racist themself.

And then they made a post about how it is fine to say it in this modern day and it just means hello universaly and that some people need to understand the modern age.

I myself find it racist. I have several coloured friends and i'll only EVER say it in a jokingly manner (Example: They called me whitebread, so I reply in a similar manner, again only between friends.)

What do you guys think? Is it okay to say it now or something? I'd never, EVER use it around anyone I do not know, I respect others. Can someone enlighten me?

 

[Jedamethis]

What? Means hello? The fuck are they on about?

I don't like it. People have names, it only takes a second to find out what it is instead of just calling them Black.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

I don't use it. Not even to my best friend. It doesn't matter if everyone else is, I was raised to find it vulgar and reserved only for use by white trash. If that changes in my lifetime, then it changes. It's not like there aren't dozens of ways to say pretty much anything.

 

[Tasachan]

It definitely doesn't mean hello. It's always offensive to me, but in varying degrees depending on context. Either way, I don't feel comfortable saying it to anyone, so I never use it.

 

[KittensTiger]

It's one of these silly words in modern vocabulary that supposedly is only ok if people of a certain group say it but if anyone else says it then it's evil and terrible.

You know, I side with George Carlin on this. Words aren't evil or bad or terrible, it's the prejudiced asshole behind them that is bad. If the word isn't said with the intention of hate behind it then I don't see any harm.

 

[Radeonx]

This reminds me quite a bit of Clerks 2.
They are simply trying to bring it back!

 

[Forum_Name]

"A LIL N***A, 7,"

Personally I have no issue with people using asterisks. I guess it's desensitization. After seeing them used often enough in a derisive or hurtful manner, you just get used to it.

Wingdings on the other hand I still find offensive.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

On a similar note: what is it okay to call black people nowadays? 'cause obviously black's offensive, or so I've been told, African-American doesn't apply here in europe (and not all black people are from africa). Negro, which is Spanish for black, doesn't seem to be accepted, and we all know how '******' is received. Colored person sounds, to me, more offensive than any of the above. So, as a guy whiter than a snowman with a bukkake fetish, I ask you to educate me.

 

[.No.]

I don't use it, but my friends do. They say it as a reflex to thing now, like if one of them thinks they may trip. One of them (who will be known as Y) said it in front of a black guy as a joke (the joke wasn't to say it in front of the black guy, who will be known as R). He got offended, and they argued about until one of my friends (who was in his group of friends, now known as T, and isn't black) essentially told Y to piss off, and leave her friend alone. That's not where it ends though. Y keeps insisting on "trolling" R and tries to get my other friends involved, who arbitralily agree to participate, or say no. I just stand outside of both groups when that happens.

 

[ELD3RGoD]

On a similar note: what is it okay to call black people nowadays? 'cause obviously black's offensive, or so I've been told, African-American doesn't apply here in europe (and not all black people are from africa). Negro, which is Spanish for black, doesn't seem to be accepted, and we all know how '******' is received. Colored person sounds, to me, more offensive than any of the above. So, as a guy whiter than a snowman with a bukkake fetish, I ask you to educate me.

Ebony Skinned apparently

 

[Winthrop]

On a similar note: what is it okay to call black people nowadays? 'cause obviously black's offensive, or so I've been told, African-American doesn't apply here in europe (and not all black people are from africa). Negro, which is Spanish for black, doesn't seem to be accepted, and we all know how '******' is received. Colored person sounds, to me, more offensive than any of the above. So, as a guy whiter than a snowman with a bukkake fetish, I ask you to educate me.

Every black person I know likes to be called black more than anything else. I had a white friend tell me it was racist but a number of black friends asked to be called black. Their families have been in America longer than mine so saying "African American" for them and not "Hungarian/Canadian American" for me seems strange as they are more American than me and I don't preface mine with anything. It could just be the group I'm with but Ive never met any black people who had a problem with it.

OT: The N-word seems pretty racist. I wouldn't start calling anyone that.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I say it occasionally in situations where I'm clearly joking. As in, approaching two of my mates, one of them is black and the other white, slapping the white guy on the shoulder and saying 'SUP N*GGA?' into his face. Of course, I wouldn't do that around people who I don't know well enough.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

Odd... When I want to say "hello" to my black friends I say "hello". Just like I do with my white friends. And my Asian friends.If I knew any Hispanic people I'd greet them the same way.

 

[Zaik]

A few people try to take away the power the word has, and you've got to drag them down and try to tell them that they're wrong for it.

Pretty pathetic in my opinion. Why are you so racist, OP?

 

[ELD3RGoD]

A few people try to take away the power the word has, and you've got to drag them down and try to tell them that they're wrong for it.

Pretty pathetic in my opinion. Why are you so racist, OP?

I'm not racist dude... bit random of you to say I am?

 

[Debatra]

What you have to remember is that this is the internet we're talking about.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

It's one of these silly words in modern vocabulary that supposedly is only ok if people of a certain group say it but if anyone else says it then it's evil and terrible.

You know, I side with George Carlin on this. Words aren't evil or bad or terrible, it's the prejudiced asshole behind them that is bad. If the word isn't said with the intention of hate behind it then I don't see any harm.

I completely agree but sadly if any person except for a black guy says it they are racist no matter how they try it. Luckily for me growing up in a very mix race city and it isnt too big. I can actual say this word with out anyone getting upset, because I say it with out any negative attitude. But I doubt I'll ever use the word ****** or nigga out side of my home town. And while we're on the subject why do people block out ****** on the internet . No other word is blocked on the internet. Spic, beano, honkey, *****. Those are fine but ****** isnt? I really want to know why we care only for one word and its usage.

 

[Scabadus]

I generally have no problem with swearing and usually have a mouth that would make an angry sailor cringe, but that's the one word I refuse to use. If somebody does something stupid and you call them a fucking idiot it's because of somethign they've done; a poor decision they've made or something similar. Nobody has control over the colour of their skin (extreme surgery not included) so it's just not fair to call them out on it.

Though having said that I have been known to use incredibly sexist insults when angry, despite being a determined feminist (in the true sense of the word, not the warped one so often used) when I'm not 'seeing red,' so I guess I'm a massive hippocrite.

 

[lolmynamewastaken]

i'm with a friend of mine on this one, she said while referring to the word **** "not using the word just gives it more power. ******"
referring to a person in any derogatory way regardless of their background is not a good thing to do, however avoiding words just makes them more offensive, i think who ever posted that don't see it as a offensive unless its used to attack a person and im sort of with them on it.
its like the whole voldermort thing.

 

[Zaik]

A few people try to take away the power the word has, and you've got to drag them down and try to tell them that they're wrong for it.

Pretty pathetic in my opinion. Why are you so racist, OP?

I'm not racist dude... bit random of you to say I am?

Not really.

You are complaining about a few people who are trying to take the power that the word has away, making it useless. As if it was a bad thing to try to move past something that happened over 120 years ago.

That's about as racist as it gets without wearing a pillow case yourself.