I guess I still have it

[Nzinga_Seated]

@Spud

But I have LOTS of black friends

OK, I’ll take your word for it, but I still won’t ever feel comfortable saying it. I don’t think of it as a magic bullet that can instantly cut to the core, but it is something I’ve been told is wrong since I was very young and just doesn’t feel right to me.

I’m still pretty sure that if I posted a thread titled “Isn’t that just like a cracker.” and another titled “Isn’t that just like a nigger.” that I would get a much harsher response from the latter (likely even a warning).

Yeah, you would. A warning from a white mod. Which brings me back to my point, that the word seems to really bother some white people.

But, to fair, I’m probably overstating my case. I’m sure there are lots of black people who crumble at the word. The word doesn’t bother me, but if I were with white friends, and one called the someone a nigger in that situation, I would at least be like, “Dude, what’s up with you?” Even if I were with all black friends, and one called the OP a cracker, I would still be like, ‘dude, what’s up with you’. It just seems weird. The whole story seems weird to me.

[Glazer]

Well I here nigger used in anger all too often at work. There is an undercurrent of racial tension at our shop. Luckily as the only white guy I’m left out of it.

[madsircool]

@Phnord_Prephect

Perhaps. But my understanding is that, not only was this said after the child was ‘restrained’, but it wasn’t even said by that child. It was said by someone who just saw their friend attacked and injured, and was (foolishly, perhaps) attempting to intimidate the assailant into letting his victim go free.

So I was wrong… at least two people’s lives have probably been ruined here. I think. I remain unclear as to who mentioned cutting, and when. Perhaps the OP would like to clarify this.

The child? The effing child???

Was Alex from A Clockwork Orange ‘a child’?

I wish some of you would stop identifying with the criminal and try to understand how stressful and destructive this is for regular law-abiding peeps.

[Saint_Cad]

@diggerwam

See, I think that the punishment should fit the crime. I just think a felony on a 20 year old that could possibly affect the rest of his life is too big a punishment for tossing a drink at someone.

So how old do you need to be for assaulting someone and threatening to cut their throat to ruin your life because in this country I thought it was 18.

[Spud]

@Nzinga_Seated

Yeah, you would. A warning from a white mod. Which brings me back to my point, that the word seems to really bother some white people.

I think it is safe to say it really bothers some black people as well.

[Chimera]

Wow, all the tough and morally righteous people here who want to tell the OP how wrong he was. :rolleyes:

The dope is always good for this kind of crap.

[Nzinga_Seated]

@Spud

I think it is safe to say it really bothers some black people as well.

??? Did you even read my whole post, or…

ETA: Haha, I swear to god, I wonder sometimes about why this word effects white people the way it does? It’s like you even started blocking out parts of my post in your eagerness to make it clear that the word is hurtful to some black people. We believe you! I agree with you!

[Spud]

I understand you, but I think that just like I’m not authorized to speak for all white people maybe you aren’t authorized to speak for all black people. Do you really think that because you said on this message board it is now ok to call a random black person a nigger?

You aren’t offended by the word… I stated in another thread that my grandfather used it and didn’t mean disrespect… it was just the word he knew. Paula Dean however lost her career by admitting she had used it several years ago. So, I think I’m correct in saying it is offensive to some people regardless of the color of their skin.

[Nzinga_Seated]

@Spud

I understand you, but I think that just like I’m not authorized to speak for all white people maybe you aren’t authorized to speak for all black people. Do you really think that because you said on this message board it is now ok to call a random black person a nigger?

You aren’t offended by the word… I stated in another thread that my grandfather used it and didn’t mean disrespect… it was just the word he knew. Paula Dean however lost her career by admitting she had used it several years ago. So, I think I’m correct in saying it is offensive to some people regardless of the color of their skin.

I am perplexed. I just read my posts again, because I am totally perplexed as to how we got here, when I thought we were making great progress. I am going to slowly back away from this conversation, because, to be blunt, I feel that you have resorted to twisting my posts, or pretending that I spoke for all blacks, or said all black people feel one way or another. I also think you clipped the parts of my posts that conceded that many black people are probably offended by the word. It is one of my very few pet peeves, but people pretending I said things that I didn’t does kinda irritate me. So I’m going to make this the last post in this thread, but will repeat for the record that I do believe there are plenty of black people hurt by the word. I will always be suspicious of certain white people who seem to want to have a special word in their arsenal to sling, and are disappointed to find that many blacks aren’t really vulnerable to it.

**“But, to fair, I’m probably overstating my case. I’m sure there are lots of black people who crumble at the word.”
**
I mean, that was THE VERY NEXT LINE after the part you snipped. Forgive me if I’m suspicious that you didn’t see that there and would go on to imply that I am saying that black people aren’t ever hurt by the word.

[Spud]

Ok, I see that you did say that some black people don’t agree with you. I apologize that I didn’t pick up on that before.

Us crackers can be kind of slow sometimes.

[Nzinga_Seated]

NEVER! And I mean NEVER! Use that ugly, awful C word in my presence again Spud. Never.

[Nzinga_Seated]

I should have qualified my statements more. I come off to overly broad and blunt about these things, but it is out of frustration that I sometimes feel misunderstood about how things really are in my own social circles and community. My fault, there.

Sorry for the hijack to the OP. Ultimately, I think the OP’s story is a bit fantastical, but I will say to all of those who are trying to justify the drink throwing, your really can’t. One shouldn’t toss a drink if one doesn’t want trouble.

[Spud]

@Nzinga_Seated

Sorry for the hijack to the OP. .

Hijack? What hijack… isn’t this all about… ummm… eating at Steak 'n Shake? I love their double cheese burgers. Oh, and something about punks.

[even_sven]

@Chimera

Wow, all the tough and morally righteous people here who want to tell the OP how wrong he was. :rolleyes:

The dope is always good for this kind of crap.

Well, when you come in wanting a cookie for your daring exploits as an amateur mall cop, you can expect some roll eyes.

[VinylTurnip]

@madsircool

The child? The effing child???

Was Alex from A Clockwork Orange ‘a child’?

There was me, that is Blackie, and my two droogs, that is Whiteboy and Cracker, and we sat in the Atlanta Shakebar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Atlanta Shakebar sold shakes-plus… shakes plus chocolate or vanilla or banana, which is what we were drinking. This would loosen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-annoyance.

[Nzinga_Seated]

Dead. I am crying. Laughing. Ultra annoyance. I’m done. I just can’t.

[TonySinclair]

Wait, you did this with your kids with you? Where the humiliated punks could see them?

[Tamerlane]

@VinylTurnip

There was me, that is Blackie, and my two droogs, that is Whiteboy and Cracker, and we sat in the Atlanta Shakebar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Atlanta Shakebar sold shakes-plus… shakes plus chocolate or vanilla or banana, which is what we were drinking. This would loosen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-annoyance.

Awesome. I don’t lol much, but that one did the trick.

[rowrrbazzle]

@TriPolar

I have a lot of problems with the OP’s actions here. First in selecting Steak 'n Shake to eat at. Then selecting the out of the way booth which was probably near the kitchen or bathroom doors. And kids were crying already, who eats at a place like that? He also failed to accidently spill a drink on his assailant as part of his resolution of the problem.

@GusNSpot

The kids acted the way they did because we have taught them that it is OK to do those things as there will be no consequences.

QFT

@BigT

Perhaps not, but he was wrong to do what he did. His reaction was not proportionate to the situation, and, as you point out, it put him and his family at risk. Those are things that make his action wrong. Somewhat understandable, but still wrong.

What I don’t get is the need to brag about such things. Maybe it’s because, deep down, people know they messed up, and are seeking vindication?

What I don’t get is the need to opine that other people are messed up deep down.

@even_sven

Well, when you come in wanting a cookie for your daring exploits as an amateur mall cop, you can expect some roll eyes.

:rolleyes:

[Phnord_Prephect]

@VinylTurnip

There was me, that is Blackie, and my two droogs, that is Whiteboy and Cracker, and we sat in the Atlanta Shakebar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Atlanta Shakebar sold shakes-plus… shakes plus chocolate or vanilla or banana, which is what we were drinking. This would loosen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-annoyance.

Hahaha! Yeah… I was a bit annoyed by the tangent this thread went off on, but this alone made it all worthwhile!

And to clarify, yes, the punk and his droogs were well over the line, and did start the fight… but even the OP should realize that if he hadn’t bothered them (directly and with malice), they wouldn’t have bothered him. Not counting the [del]ultra-[/del]mild annoyance of using “strong” language in public, of course. One’s right to free speech is not and should not be limited by another’s right to not be annoyed.

I’d like to know if there was a single word spoken that the OPs family didn’t already know and use themselves, when out of daddy’s earshot.

It’s my firm opinion that, while things did escalate and eventually reach the point where the police should be involved, it was ultimately the fault of the OP for butting in where he wasn’t welcome. They’re not your children; you shouldn’t be telling them what language is or is not acceptable in public.

And if the argument is that they’re not children at all… even more so!

The OP picked a fight, it got out of hand, and he won. And now the justice system has to deal with it. I’m sorry but I just can’t approve of any of this; everyone involved was wrong at some point, and if the OP hadn’t brought any there wouldn’t have been any.