The N-word, is it actually offensive?

[Bauke]

Imo it all depends on what society says is the "right and wrong" times to say it. If it's a black guy saying it in a rap song no one will get mad at all but if it is a white kid who tries to preach white power with that word then yes it's offensive.

 

Context. Preaching white power would be offensive with or without the N-word. Because that means one is actually arguing that his race is better than others.

 

 

 

I'm not arguing that soap offends me. I'm (attempting) to show you how ridiculous it is that blacks hate the word [bleep] so much. It wasn't us that used it. It wasn't them who were forced into hard labor. Saying a specific word offends you because it was used against your ancestors is a [cabbage] reason.

 

 

 

My point exactly.

[Albel]

Its one of thoses things that you can only say if your black in my opinion. Actaully, a few of my friends who are in my band decied to have a little social experment. I know this going off topic a little but I still think it can part of this thread. The experment is that, The "N-word" equalivalent for whites is 'Cracker' (It's used a lot were I live) Anyway, the band memebers are going to see if...

 

A.Whites find 'Cracker' racial to them and...

 

B.If blacks will start to call whites this...

 

(we have a small campus, so I'm sure it will spread very quciky)

 

 

 

Now on-topic, I feel that it is offensive, and dare not call any black man that word. They don't need another word to describe there color.

[Omar]

I'm not arguing that soap offends me. I'm (attempting) to show you how ridiculous it is that blacks hate the word [bleep] so much. It wasn't us that used it. It wasn't them who were forced into hard labor. Saying a specific word offends you because it was used against your ancestors is a [cabbage] reason.

 

Again, you don't get called a [racist term] because you were enslaved, you get called a [racist term] because you're black.

[warren211]

I live in a rather diverse high school. The black people call eachother the n-word, and even the brown people call eachother the n-word for some reason. It's been totally adapted by the Indo-Pak club and all the Middle Eastern kids in our school. And yes, we do refer to them collectively as brown people. I'm brown, I really don't care about being called brown because it can be very annoying to say "person of Indian and/or Middle Eastern heritage" every time you want to refer to someone from those countries. I call myself and my brown friends brown in front of my friends from every race, it's just a word used collectively and not derogatorily. And if a black guy is friends with someone from any other race, they consider it fine to be called the n-word by that friend.

[mlclm]

I'm not arguing that soap offends me. I'm (attempting) to show you how ridiculous it is that blacks hate the word [bleep] so much. It wasn't us that used it. It wasn't them who were forced into hard labor. Saying a specific word offends you because it was used against your ancestors is a [cabbage] reason.

 

Again, you don't get called a [bleep] because you were enslaved, you get called a [bleep] because you're black.

 

They also get called negros because they're black. And African-Americans. And black. Should we stop saying all those, too? As other people have said, [racist term] started as a way to demean their slaves. So, really the only context we shouldn't use it in is if we're yelling at our slaves.

[Omar]

Again, you don't get called a [bleep] because you were enslaved, you get called a [bleep] because you're black.

 

They also get called negros because they're black. And African-Americans. And black. Should we stop saying all those, too? As other people have said, [bleep] started as a way to demean their slaves. So, really the only context we shouldn't use it in is if we're yelling at our slaves.

 

 

 

A racist person, when trying to demean a black person, will call them a [racist term]. They won't say African-American or Black.

[mlclm]

Again, you don't get called a [bleep] because you were enslaved, you get called a [bleep] because you're black.

 

They also get called negros because they're black. And African-Americans. And black. Should we stop saying all those, too? As other people have said, [bleep] started as a way to demean their slaves. So, really the only context we shouldn't use it in is if we're yelling at our slaves.

 

 

 

A racist person, when trying to demean a black person, will call them a [bleep]. They won't say African-American or Black.

 

And an insane person, when fighting with a black person, might call them popcorn to demean them. Simply because a word can be used to hurt someone, doesn't mean the world should stop saying it. This girl at my school used to be made fun of because of her freckles. Kids would call her Freckles until she cried. Should we stop saying freckles because it can be used to demean someone?

[Nadril]

 

:wall:

 

 

 

I thought it was obvious that it would go both ways. If someone is deeply offended by something and you keep pushing it it's sort of a [bleep] thing to do. Stop being [developmentally delayed] and trying to read my post in a way to go against me.

 

Yeah, "would". I've seen no example of that.

 

 

 

But I see you've run out of arguments since you're starting to get personal.

 

 

 

You probably see it as not a nice thing to do. Well I don't care, since I've grown up in a place were I've been taught to see people with other skin colours as my peers, and therefore don't see why I can't use certain words while people from other races can. It's been a few hundred years ago. Nobody has witnessed it, nobody experienced.. we all just know because it's in the books. Get over yourself and stop playing the victim. Or, if you still blame whites for the enslavery of the blacks.. well, congratulations, you are now free to take the boat back to Africa.

 

 

 

I don't need examples of it. If something offends a person and you continually keep doing it, you are probably not a nice person to be around. That is really the end of the line and that is all I am trying to say.

 

 

 

I'm not getting personal, I really have no idea how you can't comprehend such a simple concept such as that. I mean, children in preschool are taught this! As far as the last part of your post, if you're trying to push racial inequalities aside why do you insist on calling someone a N***er? Doesn't that seem completely [wagon] backwards to you?

 

 

 

I mean, one can argue that, yes, a word is just a word. And in all honesty that holds some semblance of truth. However just like any other swear word there is a time and a place for it. I don't know about you but I'm not going to walk up to someone on the street and just start swearing up a storm. I mean, unless I know the person I'm going to be a bit respectful (which it seems like some people have just completely forgotten about).

 

 

 

OK, how about a bunch of whites band together and say that the world "bed" deeply offends us. If anyone says it, we can beat the hell out of them, because it reminded us of the troubles our ancestors had.

 

That's not the point. It's completely idiotic that the word is even deemed offensive today. If I was offended by the word "soap" and said that no one could say it, I'm sure someone would call me on my [cabbage]. That's all I'm doing.

 

 

 

Do you guys really think this makes any sense at all? Words grow up with certain contexts and meanings. The N word has historically been this way. "banding together" and deciding on a word that offends you is just completely stupid, because you're the one coming up with it. The word "bed" and "soap" have no negative conentations and you can't just all of the sudden switch that. Sure, some words over history have changed (such as the word "gay") but even then it takes time.

 

 

 

 

 

Riku hit it on the head. In the end, why are you evening debating about this. Just don't say the word. Simple.

 

 

 

Exactly what I am thinking. I don't know why someone is so deeply fighting for their "right" to say it. It's like fighting for your right to call your mother a [bleep] without her getting offended. Sure, the word "[bleep]" may just be a word, and she may very well not be a [bleep] or even have any roots to [bleep]. However it's still an offensive thing to say.

 

 

 

 

And an insane person, when fighting with a black person, might call them popcorn to demean them. Simply because a word can be used to hurt someone, doesn't mean the world should stop saying it. This girl at my school used to be made fun of because of her freckles. Kids would call her Freckles until she cried. Should we stop saying freckles because it can be used to demean someone?

 

 

 

Sigh. Again, freckles has not historically been a demeaning word. The difference between that and the N word is that there really is no other reason to use the N word for other than literature, insulting or "humor". Freckles is a word set to describe something, it is not inherently a demeaning word.

[Amaranth_GTO]

Back when slavery was legal, the term was used to dehumanize slaves. When slavery was abolished, the word lived on as a racial slur used against blacks. All through the periods of segregation in America, the word was used in a racially offensive manner. You guys know that racial segregation in America was not ruled unconstitutional until 1968 right? That means that anyone born in the 40's or 50's would have grown up in a time where everything was separated based on race. Everyone saying that the only people who were truly offended by it are long-dead are wrong. most people who are black and grew up in that time period will take true offense to the word, because when they were growing up the word was used to dehumanize them.

 

 

 

If you really want to be able to say the word, go ahead. It's not illegal. There will be negative consequences of your actions, but you are still free to do it.

[mlclm]

OK, how about a bunch of whites band together and say that the world "bed" deeply offends us. If anyone says it, we can beat the hell out of them, because it reminded us of the troubles our ancestors had.

 

That's not the point. It's completely idiotic that the word is even deemed offensive today. If I was offended by the word "soap" and said that no one could say it, I'm sure someone would call me on my [cabbage]. That's all I'm doing.

 

 

 

Do you guys really think this makes any sense at all? Words grow up with certain contexts and meanings. The N word has historically been this way. "banding together" and deciding on a word that offends you is just completely stupid, because you're the one coming up with it. The word "bed" and "soap" have no negative conentations and you can't just all of the sudden switch that. Sure, some words over history have changed (such as the word "gay") but even then it takes time.

 

Just because something has been done a certain way historically doesn't mean we always have to do it that way. Obviously we don't use slaves to pick cotton, even though that's how it was historically done. I'm aware that [racist term] used to be a derogatory term, but I don't think it should be one now. And, yes, changing a word's meaning does take time; I think that it's "[racist term]"'s time.

 

 

 

And an insane person, when fighting with a black person, might call them popcorn to demean them. Simply because a word can be used to hurt someone, doesn't mean the world should stop saying it. This girl at my school used to be made fun of because of her freckles. Kids would call her Freckles until she cried. Should we stop saying freckles because it can be used to demean someone?

 

 

 

Sigh. Again, freckles has not historically been a demeaning word. The difference between that and the N word is that there really is no other reason to use the N word for other than literature, insulting or "humor". Freckles is a word set to describe something, it is not inherently a demeaning word.

 

Who's to say that [racist term] was always inherently demeaning? It might have started as a word to describe something, but it was taken on to demean blacks. Just because a word can be used to demean someone, doesn't mean we should remove it from our vocabulary. Besides, the only reason it's demeaning is because blacks allow it to be. Protestants (during the reformation) were called protesters as a way to insult them. Did they go ape-[cabbage] when they heard it? No, they said "[bleep] you" to those people and took it on as their name.

[Nadril]

 

Just because something has been done a certain way historically doesn't mean we always have to do it that way. Obviously we don't use slaves to pick cotton, even though that's how it was historically done. I'm aware that [bleep] used to be a derogatory term, but I don't think it should be one now. And, yes, changing a word's meaning does take time; I think that it's "[bleep]"'s time.

 

 

 

Ok, sure, but it also isn't going to change on a whim either nor should it. It makes no matter if the word is offensive or not now, you have no reason to say it.

 

 

 

 

 

Who's to say that [bleep] was always inherently demeaning? It might have started as a word to describe something, but it was taken on to demean blacks. Just because a word can be used to demean someone, doesn't mean we should remove it from our vocabulary. Besides, the only reason it's demeaning is because blacks allow it to be. Protestants (during the reformation) were called protesters as a way to insult them. Did they go ape-[cabbage] when they heard it? No, they said "[bleep] you" to those people and took it on as their name.

 

 

 

People can't exactly pick and choose what they are and are not offended by. Sure, they can turn the other way (like the Protestants did) but that doesn't mean that it wasn't offensive at all. You could say that by having black people calling themselves the N word they, too, are taking the sting out of the word by adapting it to something more friendly. However that takes time, and there are still a lot of people alive even today (or people who's parents were alive at the time) who endured through the 40's and 50's and had to endure all of the hate. Give it time.

 

 

 

You can't just change the meaning of a word overnight. And, again I reiterate, why are you so adamant against changing the meaning of this word?

[abbydog95]

It is used and meant to be degrading to African people. So yes it is offensive, but if its another black person saying it to another black person its a little diferent.

[mlclm]

I know the meaning won't change overnight, but (I think) discussions like this help. It only takes a small group of people to change the world.

[Wisp]

It's offensive to anyone who finds it offensive. So yes. A lot of girls I know joke around and call eachother [bleep]es(censored from female dogs)/[bleep]s, but it doesn't mean that you should call them that.

 

 

 

Some people are deeply offended by it, some don't give a [cabbage]. Same with any other "swear"

[XxTearGodxX]

I'm going to go ahead and post with confidence and say that it's NOT offensive. A good amount of black people use it A LOT of the time, doesn't matter if it has an "A" or an "ER" at the end of it it's the same damn word and if they can throw it around with each other out in the open like it's no big deal, it's not any bit offensive.

[Wisp]

I'm going to go ahead and post with confidence and say that it's NOT offensive. A good amount of black people use it A LOT of the time, doesn't matter if it has an "A" or an "ER" at the end of it it's the same damn word and if they can throw it around with each other out in the open like it's no big deal, it's not any bit offensive.

 

It's used more affectionately in that sense. Like I could call my friend a [bleep], (as long as I wasn't serious) and they wouldn't care, but if it's used as an insult it can be offensive.

 

But then again, anything can be offensive.

[Zierro]

We should strive for equality. There is nothing equal about having black schools that don't allow whites, but if there was ever a white school that didn't allow blacks, that would be "wrong and racist". Not that I would want white schools. I think any school that excludes someone off the basis of their skin color is ludicrous.

 

 

 

The n-word is offensive, but so are derogatory words that are aimed at whites. I want exactly what Martin Luther King Jr. wanted. Equality. No one should belittle someone for the color of their skin, no matter who is saying it.

[Kenshinjapan]

I'm guessing about 100% of the posters of this thread iare white, and about 70% are by far the majority race in their schools, cities, whatever.

 

 

 

 

Lent, I thought you were white. If that's so and you live in Texas, your school should be atleast 60% mexican :-# .

 

 

 

Anyways, I don't find the word offensive and I use it selectively around friends. However, there's no point in using it in everyday life so I've never gotten in trouble for it.

 

 

 

Note: I don't use it to be racist, just jokingly.

[wild_goat_14]

Back when slavery was legal, the term was used to dehumanize slaves. When slavery was abolished, the word lived on as a racial slur used against blacks. All through the periods of segregation in America, the word was used in a racially offensive manner. You guys know that racial segregation in America was not ruled unconstitutional until 1968 right? That means that anyone born in the 40's or 50's would have grown up in a time where everything was separated based on race. Everyone saying that the only people who were truly offended by it are long-dead are wrong. most people who are black and grew up in that time period will take true offense to the word, because when they were growing up the word was used to dehumanize them.

 

 

 

If you really want to be able to say the word, go ahead. It's not illegal. There will be negative consequences of your actions, but you are still free to do it.

 

 

 

'64

[i_love_burritos]

Where's Riku ?

[champion]

Where's Riku ?

 

He already posted here a couple pages back, I believe.

[unknownmasterofnothing]

It is racist if it is towards Blacks. If blacks use it, I think it is really dumb. I get called the "n word" all the time and I'm asian.

[Makoto_the_Phoenix]

I don't like using the n-word. I don't say it to any of my friends, and they don't say it to me or around me. If it's bad for one group of people to say it, then it's bad for all groups to say it. If we're talking equality and stuff like that, let's keep it 'equal' and not say the 'n-word'.

 

 

 

Oh, and for those that didn't know - I'm black. Didn't see that comin', I'll bet.

[Will H]

Black people using the n-word is like kicking someone when they're down. It's offensive, yes, and most non-black people don't (and shouldn't) use the word because of its racist past, but if black people use it, it's cruel and unfair to anyone who rejects racism. It's just as bad as encouraging racism itself.

[warri0r45]

Of course it's offensive. To African Americans it's very offensive.

 

 

 

If you think about it rationally, it should be no worse than a black person calling a white person "cracker", but in the real world it's much worse. In a nutshell, the reason is because the "n word" has a historical precedent behind it. There's no history behind pejoratives against white people, but blacks in America were once widely seen as sub-human and used as slaves, hence why pejoratives directed at the colour of their skin still provoke such a heated response.

 

 

 

At the end of the day, it's just a word. I love how George Carlin used it in a comedy routine. It was so perfectly delivered and didn't come across as offensive at all. I think we could all learn something from that bit - it's not the word you have to worry about, it's the racist [wagon] using it that's the problem.