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

[Jewrean]

-Smart black people know it's an insult and never use it.
-DUMB black people still think it's an insult if whitey says it but think its okay to use it themselves.
-RETARDED people think it means anything other than a derogatory insult.

Well that settles it. The people on that forum are retarded.

As for me? That word is more of an American thing to say. But if I ever encounter a black person who says I can't say the word but they can well then I'll say it a million times because I hate hypocrites. Out of respect for decent human beings though I avoid using it.

 

[Joccaren]

Its only ok among coloured friends, and then only if they accept it. If it is said to someone you don't know, and you don't know if they accept it or not, then whoever said it is wrong.

However, on the flipside, if a coloured friend accepts it, and even encourages it, yet someone else tells you to stop saying it because it is racist, I have a problem with that. If they don't like it, don't listen. If they have to listen, fine, I'll refrain from saying it for a while until they are gone, but I won't stop saying it forever.

I believe that words like this shouldn't be taught as 'bad words', as that only encourages the use of them (For some reason a number of younger people are obsessed with doing things that are considered bad just because they are considered bad), but instead teach that they are ok if used at the right time in the right context. That way, they lose meaning, and will be used in a racist way less often, and those that do use them in a racist way should be punished, harshly, as intolerance of people based on their physical attributes is just stupid.
I say, if its among friends, and not in the company of those who find it offensive, go ahead and use it. No one is going to be offended, and you may learn that the word has no meaning, and that the meaning it is believed to have is that that people want it too have (Hence misunderstandings as better choices of words could have been used).

 

[BigDeadMushy]

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.

my sentiments exactly.


also worth checking out is the Tim Minchin song 'Taboo' ,handily linked to right here.by me.right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLLYO8Hd_sE

Political Correctness,despite being completely overblown to ridiculous proportions, has a funny side too.

 

[GeneWard]

What, so only black people can stop racism? More racism.

Being aware of race doesn't make one a racist. White folks coming from a place of privilege in our society using words that were used by white folks in the fairly recent past as a tool of oppression isn't going to destroy or take away the negative power of a word.[/quote]

Leave it alone...
'Tis a wild troll

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

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.

/thread

I can't add to this. This is what I feel.

 

[Zaik]

What, so only black people can stop racism? More racism.

Being aware of race doesn't make one a racist. White folks coming from a place of privilege in our society using words that were used by white folks in the fairly recent past as a tool of oppression isn't going to destroy or take away the negative power of a word.

Leave it alone...
'Tis a wild troll [/quote]


It's about damn time. I don't exactly try to hide it, you know.

Also lol racism.

 

[SillyBear]

On a similar note: what is it okay to call black people nowadays? 'cause obviously black's offensive, or so I've been told

I'm black and I know many black people and none of them find black offensive.

 

[BabyRaptor]

My roommate's dad (very white, very Conservative, so racist he can't refer to anyone that isn't white in a non-racist way) has his own definition of the word, and he uses it prolifically. He's not afraid to use it to a black person's face, either, if said black person happens to meet his chosen definition of the word.

He got a ticket for it once...We heard for months about how he was a victim of "reverse racism" and he was "being persecuted for being white." When his son pointed out that the term is considered racist by most intelligent folk, he responded (I kid you not) "What? N****** intelligent? They all sit around on welfare having anchor babies!"

People with an ounce of brains or self-respect don't use baited terms. That's the whole of my opinion on the matter.

 

[Gasaraki]

I frequently say 'SUP MAH NIGGAS' to my friends, jokingly of course. As far as I'm concerned all that matters is the intent behind the word, not the word itself.

 

[jedizero]

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.

Regardless of your race, creed, religion, or ethnicity.

This is one of the dumbest things I've read in a long time.

Now, back to OT.

Personally I think they need to make a decision. Which is it?

Is it a horrible insult that should never be uttered again?

Is it a casual greeting between good friends?

You can't have it both ways. Pick one or the other, then stick to it.

 

[yndsu]

-Smart black people know it's an insult and never use it.
-DUMB black people still think it's an insult if whitey says it but think its okay to use it themselves.
-RETARDED people think it means anything other than a derogatory insult.

That is is right there. NO matter witch way you put it, word n****r was an insult from the start and it still is. I am a white person and i find it very offensive. Even when my black friends use it while talking amongst themselves. And the same goes to the world colored. I find it to be as racist as the N-word.

And to those who were with Carlin on this one. I am with Richard Pryor.

 

[Ask a Bi Guy]

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.

Black or Black American, Person of color is good all around. I seriously do not know who started with the African American stuff. I blame Sharpton. I have no proof. I just don't like him.

Not "The Blacks" Sounds like we have a hive mind connection.

Oh and the difference between person of color and colored person is that colored person that white is the standard but we were augmented with a pigmentation device.