Language/Subject Manner

Language/Subject Manner [+ favourites]

Today, the word "nigger" can be debated as being an insult or just a sub-standard title. Odd, it's politically incorrect to refer to someone as being "black", but in rap people only focus on words like "bitches" or "hoes" instead of people calling eachother niggers.
Now, in school I heard a white guy say "nigger" and the people around him just completely went off. The thing is, none of the people who were angry at him were angry at him because of the reason you would be. The reason a(n) black/African American would find the word to be so offensive isn't because a slave master was whipping black people and calling them that, the primary refrence to the insult behind the word "nigger" is the civil rights movement. History classes teach us more about the emancipation proclomation than they do about Martin Luther King Jr. and his lessons. They were just mad at him because it's what white people called slaves.
But think of this, if they don't really know WHY the word is an insult when they say it, if they don't fully understand how that words was a factor of segregation, is it still an insult when they say it?

Now, I titled this thread "Language" because I think that people don't focus on it enough. I know of some Jewish people who find the word "Jew" to be offensive. Now, aside from the certain words that imprint a negative title to a certain group of people, what about the words that are considered politically correct/incorrect?

And by no means should the thread stop at words, it's also about subject manner. Is it appropriate to bring up certain subjects at times? Who's to say a certain time is an innappropriate time? There're obvious reasons why you wouldn't, for example, bring up the concept of birth to a woman who just had a miscarraige, but what about other situations? Can you bring up a conversation about Nazis if you're white in a group of varying races and religions?

Take the ideas of this thread to the furthest ends of your mind and bring up whatever you can think of that relates to the subject.

""Scared is not the right word...I'm frightened of it..."---Love & Death"

Using a "forbidden" word is still an insult, regardless of whether you meant it or not. (If you did mean it, and look liked you meant it, it's far worse.)

Can you bring up any topic any time? It's possible, but each culture has its own norms and each person has their own character. You should be able to bring up any topic at any time, but an intelligent person would keep the audience in mind if they want to make a point with a sensitive topic.

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

Well put, Attola. Different cultures do have different standards.

""Scared is not the right word...I'm frightened of it..."---Love & Death"

I firmly, logically believe that people who get offended in situations like these are completely wrong.

Most people nowadays who say nigger (without racist intentions) use the word cracker, hoe, bitch, paki, jew, and chinaman all inclusively, depending on where the stereotype applies.

How can you criticize someone for being racist at everyone (including themselves)? Especially when it's generally done using somewhat accurate stereotypes.

Chinese people are cheap fucking bastards and odn't know how to wait in lines. Niggers steal. Pakis cannot be trusted. And crackers have no culture.

Most people get angry at such stereotypes because they are insecure about their own position. If I were a nigger, I'd accept that most niggers are criminals, just like I'd accept that most chicks are insecure posers and most guys are directionless morons.

The offence begins where you think I'm talking about YOU. And if you think that, I probably am.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

quote:

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How can you criticize someone for being racist at everyone (including themselves)?

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"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

Whether you want it associated to it or not, that's not relevent.

By stating a stereotype I (and most people) are stating this:

"I am not saying all of <a particular group> are like that, but most of the ones I have encountered are, and rather than hide the natural prejudices that grow in me as they do all people, I would like to respect you and be up front about them."

Chinks don't know how to wait in line. Is there anyone on the site who lives in north america who will dispute that stereotype? And by chink I am being derogatory... but not really racist. I'm merging "idiot" and "respectable chinese person" into one word, "chink".

Just like "slutty permiscuous" and "respectable woman" merge into the word "hoe".

It's more efficient, and honest.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

Calling a blakck kid a nigger is being honest about your perceptions (or misperceptions.) But that also shows that you're a jerk, inconsiderate of the meanings of those words in the social plain.

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

But tell me, does the frequency with which people use the word Nigger still give it the meaning of combining two different things, which, in the sixties, was a normal black person and something less than human, like a rat.

Chink isn't something used as frequently as nigger, but it's up there, probably second of all racial slurs. But I see what your saying. But lets say, Attolia, that you had Decius' belief in the use of these words. Now, lets also assume that everyone you know knows of your belief, would that give you the right to refer to any black guy as a nigger, asian as a chink, jewish person as a kyke?

""Scared is not the right word...I'm frightened of it..."---Love & Death"

Meanings and connotations of words change all the time (though VERY slowly.) Knight used to mean servant/slave. Virginity used to be a good thing.

And to answer your question, I have the right to say anything and do anything, but I also have the responsibility of accepting the consequences of my words and actions. Also, others also have to right of reacting against what I say and do.

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

Yes, but others hold more as much responsibility towards trying to understand my use of language as it does for me to worry about how they will be offended.

I use the word nigger, jew, chink and cracker with my friends all the time and there is absolutely nothing derogatory about it because some of them are chinks, some crackers, and all fucking jews.

See? that was funny.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

The responsibility to understand....try to teach that to others. Until that happens, most, if not all, people are going to be offended. So in this case, do you act according to your ideals or change depending on reality?

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

quote:

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Yes, but others hold more as much responsibility towards trying to understand my use of language as it does for me to worry about how they will be offended.

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"Speak out, even if what you have to say is unpopular"
[  Edited by etherealmeekle at   ]

you can say more or less whatever you want, as long as you are considerate of your audience. a great example of this is the cartoons of muhamed. while not said, they are something that would have been best kept a private joke, sent round the internet to those who wouldnt mind it. whatever fuckwit printed it in a national newspaper should be handed to the raving muslim crowd to get whats coming to him.

stereotypes are largely wrong, they are based in truth, but end up overexaggerated to the point that any actual truth is purely coincidental. if you have no intention of insulting and are just using it in general conversation, don't, unless the person doesnt mind, eg decius' friends. i must admit however im at a loss to see how anyone could find the word jew offensive. it is a description like muslim or christian, though there are i suppose some connatations of sleazy money-lenders mixed, though not to any great extent.

"I tried coding in cocoa but it ran between the keys and shorted my pc"

There's always someone out there to get offended by anything you say. Logically, it makes far more sense for individuals to notify of themselves being offended so that clarification can occur rather than have the person speaking ask if anyone will be offended before he opens his mouth.

(ethereal, you truly are a dolt. Please help me sleep better at night by admitting that you're only acting this stupid to fuck with my head)

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

But if you wish to cut down on the number of offences then you would be wise to watch what you say and to whom you are saying it. To just suggest that everyone should adapt is really not effective. If we all expect everyone to adapt but are unwilling to change ourselves then nothing will ever happen. Someone must make the first move.

"Speak out, even if what you have to say is unpopular"