Calling it "the N-Word" is silly. (1 Viewer)

[Concept Coop]

Not an important issue imo. There’s a lot more important things to discuss like why are their so many videos of the police abusing the rights of citizens? What kind of country do we really want?

I think it is. I think language shapes society. 

 

[Concept Coop]

Yes it is up to this board, chock full of middle aged white guys, to decide this issue. 

Why should age, race, and gender matter here? It either makes sense to treat a word as magical or it doesn’t. Ideas shouldn’t be more or less valid based on the identity group of the people putting them forward. 

 

[bostonfred]

Yes it is up to this board, chock full of middle aged white guys, to decide this issue. 

Who do you think is allowed to comment on this issue? Is it ok to discuss it if you're certain ages or races but not others? 

 

[top dog]

When I was playing WR in college, we had a QB named Naeger.  One game, I ran a fade route down my team's sideline and I caught the ball but was out of bounds.  I said out loud, "keep me inbounds, Naeger."  One of my coaches heard me and thought I was talking to the ref, who was black.  It took me a while to get his foot out of my backside to explain what it was I said.

Look at me, I played WR in college! 

 

[Concept Coop]

I'm honestly surprised this thread hasn't been locked and deleted. This is an extremely inappropriate question to post publicly with a shrug of one's shoulders as though it's an original thought that couldn't have been answered with five minutes of googling. It creates an unwelcoming climate and should really be subject to moderation. I'd rather not speak for anyone else, especially people of color with regards to a subject like this, but a bunch of white dudes really don't need to be weighing in on how a word that bears the weight of hundreds of years of violence and oppression should be used. I'm going to assume the OP isn't black, here, and I apologize if I'm assuming wrongly. But it's not your place to decide what the word should mean to people who are affected by it, what power it should have... even if your intentions are good you don't know how it feels to hear that word spoken casually by someone who never felt the force of it in their lives.

I'm just going to leave here an excerpt from a book I read recently -- "So You Want to Talk About Race," by Ijeoma Oluo. It's a very good book and I suggest anyone who feels like this question demands an answer just go read this instead.

I'd bet this is probably the response the OP was looking for, and I appreciate the efforts of others to avoid taking the bait. I'm not going to get further involved in a discussion, so don't bother. But in the absence of a mod just locking it up, I think it needs to be said.

I’m a “person of color”. Get over yourself.

I fully and personally understand the baggage the word carries. But treating it like we do only adds to it.

I know you mean well, but you’re not helping anyone with the attitude you’ve adopted. “Person of color” is a condescending term and black people are fully capable of understanding that words are just words. We don’t need to moderate any discussion on the matter because black people are too sensitive. We’re black, not children.

 

[Da Guru]

Rap music would not be the same...Kanye would have to redo Gold Digger

"I aint saying she a gold bird..but she aint messin with no broke n-word"

 

[top dog]

@Concept Coop - I'm a little confused on your message here.  How would you like to see society handle this? 

 

[northern exposure]

I had a student say “erotic fruits” instead of “exotic fruits”.  Dummy.

There were some erotic fruits in the movie 9 1/2 Weeks IIRC.

 

[Concept Coop]

@Concept Coop - I'm a little confused on your message here.  How would you like to see society handle this? 

Say the word if and when you are referring to it. I think the Louis C.K. bit posted above is spot on. 

We treat it as though saying the word, regardless of context, is either racist or will cause physical pain to people. That’s silly. It’s just a word.

 

[Capella]

Who do you think is allowed to comment on this issue? Is it ok to discuss it if you're certain ages or races but not others? 

Definitely you, a white man from Boston, Mass. The world has been waiting for that particular take on his matter. 

 

[Capella]

Why should age, race, and gender matter here? It either makes sense to treat a word as magical or it doesn’t. Ideas shouldn’t be more or less valid based on the identity group of the people putting them forward. 

You really don’t understand why race matters when discussing the validity of using the N word or a variation of? 

 

[E Street Brat]

Cause storing dead N words ain't my business

 

[Concept Coop]

You really don’t understand why race matters when discussing the validity of using the N word or a variation of? 

It shouldn’t matter at all. Ideas should be judged on merit, not the skin color of the messenger.

 

[drpill]

I’m a “person of color”. Get over yourself.

I fully and personally understand the baggage the word carries. But treating it like we do only adds to it.

I know you mean well, but you’re not helping anyone with the attitude you’ve adopted. “Person of color” is a condescending term and black people are fully capable of understanding that words are just words. We don’t need to moderate any discussion on the matter because black people are too sensitive. We’re black, not children.

Hey, I apologized already, but I'll do it again -- sorry for making an assumption. I stepped in it, for sure. Hopefully you can see how the lack of context in your original post could lead to a misunderstanding on a mostly anonymous message board.

But, for the record, it doesn't seem like your opinion is universal among black people, as per the quote I posted. If some people are still hurt by the word I don't think it's particularly wise to give permission to a bunch of white guys to go ahead and use it freely. If you disagree with what the author has to say about it, that's your prerogative, but your argument is with her, not me.

 

[Chaka]

Words are not magical.

Flags and songs however...

 

[Concept Coop]

Hey, I apologized already, but I'll do it again -- sorry for making an assumption. I stepped in it, for sure. Hopefully you can see how the lack of context in your original post could lead to a misunderstanding on a mostly anonymous message board.

But, for the record, it doesn't seem like your opinion is universal among black people, as per the quote I posted. If some people are still hurt by the word I don't think it's particularly wise to give permission to a bunch of white guys to go ahead and use it freely. If you disagree with what the author has to say about it, that's your prerogative, but your argument is with her, not me.

Let me again say, I know you mean well. You seem like a good guy. My apologies for the snark, it wasn’t needed.

You’re absolutely right that the black community, on average, doesn’t share my sentiments. That’s on them. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s what I believe. If you’re not emotionally capable of analyzing and weighing the context of the words usage, you should confront that. The white guilt crowd is hindering, not helping that progress.

Ijeoma’s quote is pretty sad, and sadly common. I understand and once shared her views, but I hope for her sake she grows out of her victim complex.

 

[drpill]

Let me again say, I know you mean well. You seem like a good guy. My apologies for the snark, it wasn’t needed.

You’re absolutely right that the black community, on average, doesn’t share my sentiments. That’s on them. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s what I believe. If you’re not emotionally capable of analyzing and weighing the context of the words usage, you should confront that. The white guilt crowd is hindering, not helping that progress.

Ijeoma’s quote is pretty sad, and sadly common. I understand and once shared her views, but I hope for her sake she grows out of her victim complex.

Apology accepted, but it's not necessary, I get where you're coming from. I knew I was coming across a little patronizing in my post and I took a bit of a risk putting it the way I did. I know black people don't need me to protect them and I know that obviously opinions on the matter are going to vary. In principle I probably mostly agree with you, but I'm always going to err on the side of not causing offence -- not because I feel guilt but because I don't want to be an ####### and make anyone's life worse through my own insensitivity. 

 

[Captain Cranks]

Say the word if and when you are referring to it. I think the Louis C.K. bit posted above is spot on. 

We treat it as though saying the word, regardless of context, is either racist or will cause physical pain to people. That’s silly. It’s just a word.

No.  It's not "just a word."  It is far more powerful than words like 'hamburger' or 'scrap'.  It's treated with delicacy because it's been used as a weapon and continues to cause pain.  I would cringe if I had to say the word in front of a black person.  Why?  Not because I have a problem saying the word, but because I am sensitive to how powerful it is and how it may affect someone who hears me.  It's not "silly" to be considerate of other's sensitivities.  You might not be sensitive to it, but others are.      

 

[Concept Coop]

No.  It's not "just a word."  It is far more powerful than words like 'hamburger' or 'scrap'.  It's treated with delicacy because it's been used as a weapon and continues to cause pain.  I would cringe if I had to say the word in front of a black person.  Why?  Not because I have a problem saying the word, but because I am sensitive to how powerful it is and how it may affect someone who hears me.  It's not "silly" to be considerate of other's sensitivities.  You might not be sensitive to it, but others are.      

It's no more or less a word than 'hamburger' or 'scrap'. 

You should be sensitive and understand that it carries a lot of baggage for some people. I'm not advocating irresponsible use of it. But if you're going to say it, say it. All you owe anyone is your intent, not the irrational practice of calling it "the N-word."

 

[Zow]

I had a student say “erotic fruits” instead of “exotic fruits”.  Dummy.

When I was in Cub scouts I said "condom" in lieu of condo."  Only like 2 kids laughed but I was so confused why the leaders (or whatever they're called; I was in scouts for like two weeks) quickly changed the subject. 

 

[Captain Cranks]

It's no more or less a word than 'hamburger' or 'scrap'. 

You should be sensitive and understand that it carries a lot of baggage for some people. I'm not advocating irresponsible use of it. But if you're going to say it, say it. All you owe anyone is your intent, not the irrational practice of calling it "the N-word."

On one hand you say we shouldn't be irresponsible with it.  On the other, you think we should just say it if that's what we're referencing.  Sure, you're not going to go around carelessly using the word, but I think it would also be irresponsible to say the word when certain situations would call for a more subtle conveyance. 

We all alter our words depending on the situation and out of respect for others.  When I'm around my sister's kids, I say 'crap' instead of 's---'.  Is it "silly" of me to do, or am I just changing the terms to comply with the sensitivities of my audience?

 

[Concept Coop]

On one hand you say we shouldn't be irresponsible with it.  On the other, you think we should just say it if that's what we're referencing.  Sure, you're not going to go around carelessly using the word, but I think it would also be irresponsible to say the word when certain situations would call for a more subtle conveyance. 

We all alter our words depending on the situation and out of respect for others.  When I'm around my sister's kids, I say 'crap' instead of 's---'.  Is it "silly" of me to do, or am I just changing the terms to comply with the sensitivities of my audience?

Fair enough. I still conform to societal norms that I find silly to keep the peace, so I can't fault you for doing the same here. But I still find the fact that we as a society have agreed that, depending on your race, some words can't be said, regardless of context or intent. Absolutely silly. 

 

[Captain Cranks]

Fair enough. I still conform to societal norms that I find silly to keep the peace, so I can't fault you for doing the same here. But I still find the fact that we as a society have agreed that, depending on your race, some words can't be said, regardless of context or intent. Absolutely silly. 

It's certainly not logical in many instances.  I can call my male friends a c---, but if I dropped that word on my wife I might be headed for divorce.  Words cause emotional responses and even though two things might mean the same thing, we can respond to them differently.    

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

how would that be pronounced?

“Sally called him a nasterisk.”

 

[Binky The Doormat]

When I was in Cub scouts I said "condom" in lieu of condo."  Only like 2 kids laughed but I was so confused why the leaders (or whatever they're called; I was in scouts for like two weeks) quickly changed the subject. 

It's well known that scout leaders do not like the use of condoms.