The Word Snigger

[Rellik San]

So snigger, a pretty innocuous word, people say it all the time, it's fairly common parlance and is the cultural de facto for a laugh at a smutty joke.

Yet oddly enough, this word, this word that is literally a type of laugh, nearly got me banned from a Live Stream the other night. Why you may ask?

Because someone assumed I was trying to get the "N" word past them, so after hastily defending it, giving links to dictionary and even the host of the stream tell his mods not to be such jack asses and that it's fine and a real word, I wasn't banned for it.

But still, have we become so paranoid of accidentally causing offence (and to be clear, I have no intention of ever causing offence to anyone occidentally or on purpose) that words with genuine meanings, because they almost sound like another word is something we should be wary of?

The channel mods sent me a message after saying in future I should use the word "snicker" instead, despite that not being my cultural defacto term for the same meaning.

So what are your thoughts on the word snigger and other similar words, accidental offence caused by seemingly innocuous words and the general feel of some people that certain words be edited out of cultural vernacular because of possible accidental offence caused by people unfamiliar with the word?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I thought it was snicker.

I've never seen that spelling of the word. You sure you haven't fallen into some kind of accidental racist injoke?

 

[Rellik San]

Nope it's here in the Oxford English Dictionary, aka The Classy Dictionary.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/snigger

No racist etymology behind it as far as I can tell, it's just the culturally prevalent version of "snicker" where I'm from, (north west, UK).

 

[Casual Shinji]

I must say I've never heard the word 'snicker' referred to as 'snigger', unless the person in question had a cold or something.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Yeah, I've always used snigger. I just assumed snicker was an Americanism, used for pretty much the exact reason in the OP. It wouldn't even cross my mind to change it.

 

[shootthebandit]

This is really stupid. Snigger is a genuine word. Its like avoiding referring to a cigarette as a "fag" because americans use the word as a homophobic slur

 

[Foolery]

Hey, OP. Maybe you should eat one of these. I think you must get a little British when you're hungry. XD

In all seriousness, I have heard snigger before, but most people here in Canada just use snicker.

 

[Rellik San]

Hey, OP. Maybe you should eat one of these. I think you must get a little British when you're hungry. XD

Thanks there pal, I feel like a Hot Blooded American now, COLOR! HONOR! SNICKER!

 

[madwarper]

There's also the word "niggardly" (adj. stingy/miserly) that has also caused a number of controversies [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22] because of people (incorrectly) assume that it's in reference to the racial epithet.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

There's also the word "niggardly" (adj. stingy/miserly) that has also caused a number of controversies [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22] because of people (incorrectly) assume that it's in reference to the racial epithet.

Indeed! I am outraged, outraged I say, at the unconscionable censorship of the word "niggardly".

I've also employed "snigger" in the past.

Damn racists are ruining good words.

 

[Eamar]

Huh, oddly enough the confusion between "snigger" and the N-word was the basis for a joke on Have I Got News For You (British topical comedy/satire show) the other week. Until then it had never even occurred to me that people might make that assumption.

OT: There's nothing wrong with the word. It's a legit word in British English with no connection to the N-word at all, and it's used pretty commonly. I'm all for avoiding offence (I've been called an SJW in the past), but I draw the line at this sort of thing.

 

[shootthebandit]

I've been called an SJW in the past

Whats an SJW? (PM me if you dont want to say it) im just curious

This is what happens when people use phrases like the N-word. Without actually referring to it its not clear you could mean "nipple" or "nincompoop".

You are either in the 90% of people that know what it means so whats the difference between saying "******" or "the N-word" when it means the same thing. Then theres the 10% who dont have a clue what the "the N-word" implies so they read an article saying "the N-word" and dont have a clue which word beginning with N it could be

Its like me saying X=3 then saying I bought X apples. We all know that I mean 3 and the X simply replaces the 3. It still means exactly the same thing only the small amount of people who havent been told that X=3 dont know what im on about

 

[Eamar]

I've been called an SJW in the past

Whats an SJW? (PM me if you dont want to say it) im just curious

Oh, it's not that bad - it stands for Social Justice Warrior. People use it as an insult to imply that you're on the-darkest-depths-of-tumblr levels of political correctness and whatnot. Mostly it's just an attempt to dismiss more liberal/feminist/whatever views.

As for the N-word thing, I guess it's just that a lot of people, myself included, don't feel comfortable saying it, even in a purely explanatory context. It may not be logical, but it just feels wrong.

 

[shootthebandit]

I've been called an SJW in the past

Whats an SJW? (PM me if you dont want to say it) im just curious

Oh, it's not that bad - it stands for Social Justice Warrior. People use it as an insult to imply that you're on the-darkest-depths-of-tumblr levels of political correctness and whatnot. Mostly it's just an attempt to dismiss more liberal/feminist/whatever views.

As for the N-word thing, I guess it's just that a lot of people, myself included, don't feel comfortable saying it, even in a purely explanatory context. It may not be logical, but it just feels wrong.

I wouldnt say you are an SJW (based on your posts). You always have something to say about these issues but I wouldnt say you are irrational or militant

I can see why you wont say certain words but I think that if you are going to explain something or quote someone you should make it clear. If it means using a swear word then so be it.

Context is everything. Context can change the meaning/power of any word and granted there arent many reasons this word isnt offensive (outside of an explanatory context) but people just hear the word and assume its offensive without first understanding the context

 

[Jacco]

This just goes to show how ridiculous our society has gotten with regard to political correctness. Everyone is so ready and eager to be offended at something all the time that we can't even use legitimate (albeit outdated) words like "snigger" and "niggardly" without everyone grabbing the goddamned pitch forks.

As others have said, "snigger" is the British word or "snicker" just like "color" and "colour"are spelled and pronounced differently.

 

[mecegirl]

Where are you from OP? And where were the people in your livestream from if you know? (If you don't mind me asking that is.) I'm from the U.S. and I have honestly never heard someone use the word. The same with niggardly. Like no one even uses those words unless they are a literary chracter in the States(and even then it's a period piece). And I doubt that folks stopped using them because they sound/spelled similar to a slur. They are just antiquated terms in the U.S. And since they are no longer used it makes sense that folks would make incorrect assumptions.

 

[Alakaizer]

Snigger is fine as would be names like Mike Hunt and...Gods and demons, I love that show. Can't wait for the movie if it's still being made.

 

[Kotaro]

I'm from the US, and until now, I have only ever seen the word "snigger" used once. I do think it's ridiculous that people jump to conclusions without caring whether or not something is a real word, though.