There’s currently a thread in CS titled Rap song consisting of almost nothing but the n-word. The thread is not controversial at all but that one, and the speculation I’ve read in other threads about how dirty the upcoming U.S. election will be got me thinking.
If I’m refering to someone who uses the word nigger/nigga, should I use the euphemism n-word when I’m quoting/refering what that person said? I mean, everyone knows what n-word, n-bomb and so one mean. Is using the euphemism in that context less offensive?
I’m trying to phrase this as to not be offensive, of course I’d never call a black person that, or refer to a black person like that, but if Ann Coulter were to call Obama a nigger, should I write “Ann Coulter just called Obama the n-word.”
Just trying to find out what is most polite, even though I doubt there is a concensus among all black Dopers.
No I don’t have any black friends, blacks are kinda scarce in Sweden. I do have some black students, but it’s summer vacation or I would’ve asked them.
As far as I am concerned, “nigger” is only offensive when used actively. I am wounded by its use as an epithet, and I am annoyed by its casual use in most other contexts. But if you are reporting what someone else said, not only would I not take offense at you, I prefer the actual word to the euphemism.
<-- White. I generally use “n-word” even when talking about someone else’s gaffe, mostly because I don’t want someone to take what I said out of context, or overhear what I said without knowing that I’m only reporting what person X said.
I agree with this. I wrote here a few months ago that as long as we dance around the word “nigger” when we are ostensibly reporting on and discussing the problems its use represents, we waste time and we don’t actually talk about what we’re really there to talk about.
I think being direct about it and discussing it, along with the circumstances surrounding whatever issue has been raised, is what will help it lose it’s allure and power, and enable us to move on and progress to other urgent issues as a (world) society.
You can’t appeal to black people with an issue like this as if they are an authority on how other black people feel. If what you’re saying is not hateful in your heart, then it’s not racist. That comes across phenomenally well in person.
Plus, for a non-American to understand American race relations would be damn near impossible without a pretty big time investment and probably some time living here, and even then you’d only get an opinion that was only valid to you.
I have spent about a year in Chicago and I realize that there can be no lean answer that covers every single black person, or even a majority. I just find it weird, as 5-4-Fighting hinted, that (white) people are oh so careful not to use the word, when taking about a rap lyric or a politician fucking up.
So I’m asking fellow black dopers what they think would be proper manner here at the SDMB.
I hate when people say the “n-word”. It just sounds juvenile to me. As long as you’re not actually calling someone a nigger or throwing around the word to show how un-PC you are, I can’t imagine anyone would care. And if you happen to run into the minority who would care, they’re probably not worth losing sleep over.
There are certain words that I simply will not say, and that is one of them. It’s too emtionally charged, and it doesn’t have any use beyond being applied to a person.
Yes, I say “the n-word.” And also “the c-word.” I rarely use “the b-word” applying it directly to a woman (the one time I did that in the office, someone was totally speechless for about a minute).
Certain words are better not said.
Someone once pointed out that something is wrong with a culture that, when you say “fing n*r,” they beep out the first word and allow the second.