Societally, you’re allowed and I’m not, 'cause I’m white. I even have to be careful in contexts where my intention is obvious, like making fun of Tea Party sign makers who can’t spell “nigger”.
However, the cops smile and wave at me, so there’s that. 
I’m white, and I refuse to use n-word too for several reasons. First, I don’t think n-word is any more polite than nigger; it’s not like everyone who hears it doesn’t know exactly what word you mean, so it implies that it’s not the concept that’s offensive, but the word itself when, akin to saying poo instead of shit, when it very much is the concept it implies in certain contexts. When used in certain contexts, it isn’t offensive at all, like when used in historical concepts or in some cases as a greeting (though, still innappropriate in many cases). However, calling someone a nigger as an attack on their raceis always unacceptable, and replacing the word nigger in that case still leaves the offensive concept. This can be done with other words, like replacing fuck with sex or sleep or really or whatever other concept can be done and it’s no longer offensive because the concept is generally not inherently offensive; but there’s no way to replace the word nigger in such a context because the concept is inherently offensive.
Second, if I’m discussing a topic that requires the word in a place where I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying it, how is saying n-word going to make it any better? Besides the fact that it’s exceedingly rare that I’d want to, as I can’t recall ever feeling the need to use it outside of talking about it’s very usage, as I said above, saying n-word doesn’t disguise what I’m saying at all. Further, if I’m afraid to say it in that setting, I’m probably talking about something that’s not really appropriate in that setting in the first place. For instance, discussing race relations in such a way that would make need to use the word nigger while on the subway… probably not a very bright idea, even if I don’t use nigger or n-word.
In short, I just don’t see how n-word is ever any less offensive than just saying nigger, unless the concept is already racist, at which point, it’s offensive no matter what language is used.
And this goes for any words like this. I remember seeing a bunch of hooha about some staffer for a senator calling someone a whore, and so many news outlets were using “rhymes with snore/bore” instead of just saying the word. Just use the word.
Use it if you want, but not “honky.” That’s our word, man.
FWIW, at a certain time, circa 1960, a bunch of my cousins and I were stuck on a camping trip where we were plagued by, among other things, chiggers.
One of us decided that sounded rude. So we started calling them “chegroes.”
Nasty little fuckers, whatever you call 'em.
Honest question, what is the “T-word”? Going by Carlin’s follow up to his seven words bit, is it twat? I have a hard time seeing that word as offensive because, well, it doesn’t have the same harsh sound as cunt or fuck or whatever, and I don’t see how it’s worse than dick or pussy or wuss or whatever which all also derive from references to genitals. I figure I know what the b-word is, but considering I’ve seen it used plenty on broadcast television, I have a hard time imagining anyone use b-word instead of just saying bitch. This just illustrates another problem, that you may now have no idea why someone was so offended when you can’t figure out what was actually said.
I disagree with use of n-word or f-word in the media too. The important part of someone saying nigger isn’t that the word itself, but that they were attacking someone because of their race, don’t say “he used the n-word” say “he used a racial slur” or “made racist remarks” or whatever. That way, you’re actually talking about the issue, rather than over-emphasizing the word itself, and de-emphasizing the racism underneath which is the real issue. Besides, it’s generally pretty obvious what was said based on the race of the person. Further, if you really want to know just how racist it is, whether you say “he used the n-word” or “he said a racial slur”, you still need to actually see or hear the phrase because it’s entirely possible, as you point out, to use the word nigger and not be saying anything remotely racist.
Tranny. If they said twat on Glee, I might start watching. (I’m lying.) This gets even worse when people start talking about “the f word.”
The National Lampoon album Radio Dinner has a song parodying Joan Baez called “Pull the Tregroes, Negroes”.
All I got to add to the OP is that hearing other folks use the terms, even black people (I am white) makes it a bit more difficult to avoid it as taboo, even unintentionally.
Not in the sense of “you do it, why can’t I”, but because people pick up slang by osmosis.
Regards,
Shodan
Ferro-magnetic?
I think as in all things, context is king. If you’re talking about racial issues and are using the word in a critical discussion, then it’s silly to tiptoe around it for the sake of delicate sensibilities. I think this is especially so if it would only be to spare the feelings of people who probably have never had the word hurled at them in an effort to dehumanize them.
I don’t shy away from saying “nigger” especially when I need to relay just how great an impact the word can have when used as a slur. I think the constant usage of the euphemism “n-word” and the ridiculousness of “nigga” in common parlance have blunted just how much effect the word can has when used with a violent intent.
Hey Skald,
I’ve got a question (actually I could ask the same of every Black American here, but Skald started the subject, so maybe he has some thoughts about this too), does the term “wigger” offend you? I mean if you hear people use it at someone near you, do you think that’s offensive (you can think any number of options on that, but the first example for me would be of course white youths using it on one of their own in your vicinity)?
Sorry if I offend anyone in any way, it deals both with slang and how the term nigger is used in the States, being across an ocean, I may be missing a lot of "oh oh dont go there, dude "signs.
Personally I’d rather be caught dead than say nigger because I prefer that the word disappear off the planet and if I don’t say it then it is one tiny increment toward its complete eradication.
On the other hand, there are people who insist on using it, who obsess over the tiny difference between n-word and nigger and who would actually form an opinion about me or my mentality if I use one like-meaning term over another.
Since my overall preference is to communicate I will use the word nigger in conversation so that dorks who would actually form an opinion of me over using the n-word don’t lose themselves in fits of thought about what a child I am instead of missing the point of whatever I happen to be talking about.
When it comes down to it, I can think of a lot fo things that denote maturity and this issue is certainly not one of them.
I love these two words and I’ve heard blacks endow them with more meaning and expression than I would have thought possible. I wish I could be allowed to use them with my black friends.
Assuming that wigger is short for white nigger – i.e., a young white person who adopts urban black culture – neither the term nor the custom is common enough hereabouts for me to have formed feelings about it. My thought (which could easily be wrong) is that wiggers are mainly a West Coast (and really, LA) phenomenon. Am I wrong?
Ha!
When my daughter was about 5 years old, out of the clear blue she says to me:
“I know what the F_word is!”
All proud of herself.
I said: “Really? What is the F_word?”
She answered: “Fart.”
I told her that she was correct. Fart is indeed, THE F_word.
Sorry … back to your regular programming.
By making this word taboo we give it more power than it deserves.
To be clear, are we talking about use of the word, or mention of it? I would never use the word “nigger”, but I have no objection to mentioning it (as, of course, I just did). Examples of use of the word would be “We have to take our country back from the niggers”, or “My friend Skald is a nigger”. Examples of mention of the word would be “Senator so-and-so called President Obama a ‘nigger’ yesterday”, or most of the current thread.
Now, it’s possible that, in my lifetime, the usage of the word “nigger” will shift enough that it is no longer inherently offensive to use it. I would in fact welcome such a turn of events. But I still probably wouldn’t use it myself, just because I’ve developed my patterns of speech to not use it.
I’m not convinced that ever really works. Gay-haters still say “queer,” and some gay people are still hurt by it coming from both gay-haters and gays. And the word still means “queer.” No matter who is saying it, it still reinforces the idea that homosexuality is queer, not normal.
The latter.
So what? Gay has undergone a reverse process, where it was adopted as a neutral or positive alternative to hateful terms, and has been used by ignorant or hateful persons as an insult. The problem is the prejudice, not the word.
If the word nigger is necessary for conversation, then I’ll use it. Unlike niggardly, depending on the things you talk about there are actually a lot of situations where using nigger makes more sense.
If you’re talking about race relations, if you’re relating an incident in which you saw the word used. If you’re quoting someone, for any of those reasons it’s ridiculous to intentionally mask the word.
As an insult yelled at a black person? Not ethical or acceptable. As an insult to a black person not present? Still just as bad, and makes you look probably worse because it makes you seem like a hardcore closet racist.