# Annie-Xmas, I can think of a word that fits **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000 "2017-07-11T14:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/21 "2017-07-11T16:56:19Z")
If these people were horrible in exactly the same (unspecified) ways, but their ancestors were all northern European, what would you call them in that case? And is there any reason you couldn’t use that same word, whatever it is, for these people? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/22 "2017-07-11T16:59:52Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Interesting thought. I will say that these two people are the only ones I ever think that word about, but maybe I am using it incorrectly. And I’m sure we’ve all heard inappropriate thoughts about people acting like stereotypes in our life. > > Remember, I grew up in a time and place (New England in the 1950’s - 1960’s) where that word, while not considered “nice” was used. Long before people vs. Simpson. There’s no “correct” usage of ethnic and racial slurs – their entire purpose is to dehumanize big groups to relegate them into the category of vermin, and therefore make it easier to treat them like vermin. There’s no way to use a slur individually – no matter your intention, in our culture that racial slur is always about the dehumanization of black people. And I’ll note that this is different than the related term (but not a slur) used in AAVE (African American Vernacular English) slang, which is often used as another version of “brother” or “buddy”. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/23 "2017-07-11T17:00:49Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Interesting thought. I will say that these two people are the only ones I ever think that word about, but maybe I am using it incorrectly. And I’m sure we’ve all heard inappropriate thoughts about people acting like stereotypes in our life. > > Remember, I grew up in a time and place (New England in the 1950’s - 1960’s) where that word, while not considered “nice” was used. Long before people vs. Simpson. Funny, my husband’s family grew up in the1950s and 60s in New England and I never heard his parents or siblings even hint that it was acceptable. They moved to SC when my husband was young, a place where it was truly commonplace, and still never was inclined to use or think that word about any people. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/24 "2017-07-11T17:08:05Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Of course I don’t know your Uncle, but I would bet a small amount that if he was in a situation where saying racial slurs would have serious consequences–like losing a job or getting booted from a social group important to him–he would immediately practice restraint. Well, he would be very out of time these days. In the 70s he showed no restraint though. I doubt it would have got him fired back then, but he wouldn’t have cared and then made hundreds of more very bigotted complaints about the “people” that shafted him and got him fired. He was a terrible bigot. I’ll give Annie the benefit of the doubt though that she is trying to overcome her upbringing. Restraint is a good step. People getting raised with bogotry was pretty common. We that were; need to work on overcoming it. My father was a mild bigot for the time, my grandfather was bigoted but not even as much as Archie Bunker. My Uncle was far worse than Archie. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/25 "2017-07-11T17:13:09Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’ll give Annie the benefit of the doubt though that she is trying to overcome her upbringing. Restraint is a good step. You’ve repeated that several times in this thread. But as has been pointed out to you several times, she is not making these statements apologetically. She has said, repeatedly, that that’s just how she thinks of these people, and that she’s used to the term. She’s had ample opportunity to suggest she wishes otherwise, but makes no such expression (and again, I’d point out that she stated the opposite in the original thread). So why do you continue to provide the benefit of the doubt to someone who isn’t actually seeking it? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/26 "2017-07-11T17:18:57Z")
[Relevant Louis CK](https://youtu.be/zuLrBLxbLxw?t=2m4s). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/27 "2017-07-11T17:22:16Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > You’ve repeated that several times in this thread. But as has been pointed out to you several times, she is not making these statements apologetically. She has said, repeatedly, that that’s just how she thinks of these people, and that she’s used to the term. She’s had ample opportunity to suggest she wishes otherwise, but makes no such expression (and again, I’d point out that she stated the opposite in the original thread). > > So why do you continue to provide the benefit of the doubt to someone who isn’t actually seeking it? From the start my only objection was to this line: _“Mentally calling someone a nigger doesn’t somehow make you better than if you say it out loud.”_ I believe it does make her better. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/28 "2017-07-11T17:24:47Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > From the start my only objection was to this line: _“Mentally calling someone a nigger doesn’t somehow make you better than if you say it out loud.”_ > > I believe it does make her better. And a few of us have agreed with you on that point. But then you keep ascribing a motivation for her not saying it out loud that _she_ is actually refuting. That’s the part I don’t understand from you. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/29 "2017-07-11T17:27:11Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > From the start my only objection was to this line: _“Mentally calling someone a nigger doesn’t somehow make you better than if you say it out loud.”_ > > I believe it does make her better. She doesn’t want us to think she’s a racist, though she’s a racist. I’m not sure why I’m supposed to give her credit for that. And to be very VERY clear, this is what she is saying: “I’m not going to call them niggers, though they are niggers.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/30 "2017-07-11T17:32:17Z")
No, what I’m thinking is “I won’t call them that word, even they they act like a stereotype of that word.” ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/31 "2017-07-11T17:34:34Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I would never say that word about a group of individuals. I’m talking about two very specific people who are just horrible, horrible people. Total stereotypes. And I don’t use it about them. > > BUT everyone who knows this couple agrees with me that this is what they are. If you don’t use that word out loud, how do you know that everyone who knows this couple agree with you that this is what they are? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/32 "2017-07-11T17:34:56Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > No, what I’m thinking is “I won’t call them that word, even they they act like a stereotype of that word.” You’re seeing a distinction that I don’t believe exists. “Joe is a nigger.” “Joe acts like a stereotypical nigger.” These are not qualitatively different statements. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/33 "2017-07-11T17:36:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > No, what I’m thinking is “I won’t call them that word, even they they act like a stereotype of that word.” There is no stereotype of that word other than being black. That’s what you are missing. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/34 "2017-07-11T17:42:22Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > No, what I’m thinking is “I won’t call them that word, even they they act like a stereotype of that word.” If you think it’s possible for someone to “act like a stereotype of a nigger” then you are accepting the use and value of “nigger” as a descriptor. You are trying to gain points by both embracing the word and some racist meaning of it while keeping your lips pure of saying it. But it doesn’t work that way. You can’t “that word” your way out of it. You think people can be niggers. You think a couple of people you know are niggers. You’re just too cowardly to say it. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/35 "2017-07-11T17:43:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > There is no stereotype of that word other than being black. That’s what you are missing. Yes, exactly. That word has been used to describe the President of the United States. What is the stereotype? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/36 "2017-07-11T17:51:41Z")
So basically you’re thinking: “You’re not this horrible, historically charged _word_ that was used to deny people their humanity… but you only _act like it_, and I’m nice enough to not say it out loud” ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/37 "2017-07-11T18:17:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > No, what I’m thinking is “I won’t call them that word, even they they act like a stereotype of that word.” > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > That doesn’t help. > Exactly what _are_ niggers? > Please share. > [@outlierrn](#): > > Annie, are you saying that there are a subset of black people who are/behave like n\*\*\*\*\*\*? I’m genuinely curious as to what that would be. > [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Yes, exactly. That word has been used to describe the President of the United States. **What is the stereotype?** bolding mine. I’ve no dog in the fight, but I do want to know the answer to that question. I’m not being hostile; I think we can all learn something from your answer. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/38 "2017-07-11T18:30:43Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I can think of a lot of good adjectives for “horrible, horrible people” that don’t involve racial slurs. I don’t think I’m any kind of saint, but I don’t think I’ve ever even mentally used a racial slur in connection to people who are horrible. Don’t you run into horrible people from all ethnic and racial groups? Yup. I do. I think of such people as “assclowns,” “bozos,” or some other non-racially charged word. I don’t slur an entire group of people with a racially insensitive word. It’s not that hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/39 "2017-07-11T18:52:36Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > There is no stereotype of that word other than being black. If it held no stereotype other than being black, it wouldn’t be offensive. Come on, you know perfectly well there’s a stereotype. I refer to you to Chris Rock’s [famous monologue.](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiV5Zzh8oHVAhWNZiYKHS70BAQQFghFMAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rollingstone.com%2Fculture%2Flists%2Fchris-rocks-10-best-stand-up-routines-20141204%2Fblack-people-vs-n----s-20141204&usg=AFQjCNHglCh3k1anPGNL31d_YoORZxATzg) Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000/40 "2017-07-11T18:57:40Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If it held no stereotype other than being black, it wouldn’t be offensive. Come on, you know perfectly well there’s a stereotype. > > I refer to you to Chris Rock’s [famous monologue.](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiV5Zzh8oHVAhWNZiYKHS70BAQQFghFMAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rollingstone.com%2Fculture%2Flists%2Fchris-rocks-10-best-stand-up-routines-20141204%2Fblack-people-vs-n----s-20141204&usg=AFQjCNHglCh3k1anPGNL31d_YoORZxATzg) > > Regards, > Shodan Just ftr, Chris Rock is embarrassed by that monologue and has disowned it, largely because it gave a lot of assholes cover calling black people niggers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-xmas-i-can-think-of-a-word-that-fits/791000.md?page=3)