# I may actually go insane with anger **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848 "2012-08-18T03:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/241 "2012-08-20T16:51:09Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > I actually used that word in a discussion with my wife about the situation, not that you have any right to know that. And I said it in anger, again, not that you have any right to know that. If I have no right to know any of it, why did you bring it up? You’re the one who volunteered to tell a story in which you used the N-word. I’m still trying to figure out why. > [@](#): > > Who the fuck are you, anyway? Why am I bothering to defend my behavior to some random internet crank? You’re the one setting forth some kind of justification for using racist epithets, but you’re failing to set forth that justification with any coherency. My questions are aimed at trying to get you explain clearly what you’re talking about. > [@](#): > > I am getting the feeling that you’ve never been attacked by someone who intended you serious harm. This does happen to cops on a semi-regular basis, and it does tend to change your perspective. Cops are routinely confronted with academics who try to intimidate them into falsely giving them credit for scientific research? Yeah, I guess that would change your perspective. But I suspect that cops are a lot more used to asking people to get their stories straight. I’m surprised the process is making you so uncomfortable. > [@](#): > > And it’s ridiculous to act like my friend is the bad guy in the situation. Let’s try to figure out what actually happened, and then we’ll see if there are any good guys or bad guys. All I know right now is that (apparently): 1. _A_ unethically tried to take credit for something done by _B_, and 2. In an effort to prevent _B_ from applying broad racial prejudice against\* A\*, _C_ used a racial epithet for _A_’s ethnicity when conversing with _D_. There’s something fishy about this story, but I suspect that the cause may be an unreliable witness. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/242 "2012-08-20T17:06:36Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > If I have no right to know any of it, why did you bring it up? You’re the one who volunteered to tell a story in which you used the N-word. I’m still trying to figure out why. > > You’re the one setting forth some kind of justification for using racist epithets, but you’re failing to set forth that justification with any coherency. My questions are aimed at trying to get you explain clearly what you’re talking about. > > Cops are routinely confronted with academics who try to intimidate them into falsely giving them credit for scientific research? Yeah, I guess that would change your perspective. > > But I suspect that cops are a lot more used to asking people to get their stories straight. I’m surprised the process is making you so uncomfortable. > > Let’s try to figure out what actually happened, and then we’ll see if there are any good guys or bad guys. All I know right now is that (apparently): > > 1. _A_ unethically tried to take credit for something done by _B_, and > > 2. In an effort to prevent _B_ from applying broad racial prejudice against\* A\*, _C_ used a racial epithet for _A_’s ethnicity when conversing with _D_. > > There’s something fishy about this story, but I suspect that the cause may be an unreliable witness. I’m done trying to defend myself to you. I have flaws, racism isn’t one of them. Let’s address your lack of reading comprehension. This goes beyond an ethics violation. My friend signed an intellectual property agreement, meaning any patents he was awarded as a direct result of his experiments were owned completely by the institution. He had to travel across the country to use equipment at this other university, and got no help or support or funding from his advisor. However, when it became clear that the work was patentable, his advisor asked him, as a condition of getting his doctorate, to agree to try to patent and sell his work. That would be a criminal act, and an extremely stupid one, because the university that _owned_ the IP has a large and extremely experienced IP legal department. They own thousands of patents in the area of materials science and EE, and probably have one of the best legal departments in the world in this area. You don’t fuck with these people. You DON’T. His advisor didn’t just plot a criminal action, he plotted a STUPID one. Yay advisor. See, here’s the deal. My friend thinks that this particular HBCU (and by extension, ALL of them) hands out doctorates like candy to unqualified Black students, and then hires those students as faculty. He believes that this university’s EE department, including his very untalented advisor, then tries to “ride the coattails” of talented foreign EE students into notoriety, and hopefully profit. As a result of this, he has come to believe that Black people have relatively less hard science ability and relatively worse ethics. It’s the lack of ethics that bothers him, not the assumed lack of ability. Yay advisor. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/243 "2012-08-20T17:21:49Z")
Which still neither justifies nor explains: > [@al27052](#): > > And yes, I used the N-word in response to this debacle. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/244 "2012-08-20T17:21:50Z")
You keep forgetting to specify which part required you to use the N-word while speaking to your wife. And I’m curious about this apparent claim that only a person who has lived a real man’s life will understand the necessity to use racial epithets. ---
**Author:** ![emeraldia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@emeraldia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emeraldia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/245 "2012-08-20T17:39:15Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Yes, you’ve already explained that you think “nigger” and “faggot” are fine words with which to express anger as well. And the non-bigots in this thread have explained that you’re wrong. > > There’s really nothing more to be said here. Ultimately, it is just a matter of opinion. The civilized members of American society have collectively come the opinion that such terms are not acceptable, and the bigots have said they don’t care. You side with the bigots. We’ll make a note. I’m sure you’ve never used a disparaging term about another human being in your life- even when you are furious. What a splendid person you are. I bet you’ve never told a lie either. My main point is, in the grand scheme of things, who gives a crap. What they did was 100 times worse. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/246 "2012-08-20T17:43:11Z")
> [@emeraldia](#): > > I’m sure you’ve never used a disparaging term about another human being in your life- even when you are furious. What a splendid person you are. I bet you’ve never told a lie either. If someone is being an idiot, I have no problem telling them they are being an idiot. How does adding “nigger” or “faggot” enhance their idiocy?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/247 "2012-08-20T18:00:45Z")
> [@emeraldia](#): > > I’m sure you’ve never used a disparaging term about another human being in your life- even when you are furious. Never a bigoted or racist term. > [@](#): > > What a splendid person you are. Thanks! Really though, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s not that hard to not be a racist. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/248 "2012-08-20T18:24:02Z")
> [@emeraldia](#): > > I’m sure you’ve never used a disparaging term about another human being in your life- even when you are furious. Is it that outside your experience that somebody might not use words like “faggot” or “nigger” when they’re angry at someone who is a homosexual or black? I mean, “asshole,” “motherfucker,” or “jagoff,” sure. But “nigger” or “faggot” or “spic”? I grew up (and still live) in a neighborhood where these words were commonplace, and I never found it particularly difficult to avoid using these words in anger. Yes, I know, what an angel I must be. But, seriously. It’s not that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/249 "2012-08-20T18:36:17Z")
We’ve come a long way, baby, since a dachshund might have gotten run over by someone who might have meant it and the OP was maybe insane with anger. And since the participants in this thread seem determined to bludgeon one another over the various issues arising from this situation, I shall oblige them and move this thread to the BBQ Pit (from IMHO). Fare thee well, Ellen ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/250 "2012-08-20T18:37:15Z")
There are so many creative words that express anger and disgust, why would you want to use the boring racist ones. My recent addiction thanks I believe to this board is “fucking douche canoe”. Clear and yet with no links to others who may connect to the subject via racial, religious, family or legal entanglements. Judgement of a single person by their actions rather than a group of people due to one persons actions. Hmmm, how progressive I must be. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/251 "2012-08-20T18:44:14Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Which still neither justifies nor explains: Well, actually, my friend believes (and I actually agree) that the ease of getting a doctorate at this _particular_ HBCU is largely dependent on one’s race. He also believes this is widely accepted by the administration of the HBCU. Sadly, he also believes that ALL HBCUs have this issue. I have no evidence that this is true. There’s plenty of anti-white hatred at all levels of black society, just like there’s race hate in _most_ societies, but I’m not sure that it’s quite correct to generalize that every single HBCU has this tendency to award doctorates largely based on race. Granted ,the N-word isn’t perfectly descriptive there…but I imagine the advisor in question would rather get called that than lose his tenure and his job, and perhaps get the HBCU on probation with the SACS. I’ve seriously considered reporting them myself, but my friend has his doctorate now, an and feels like these people just aren’t worth his time any more, so I have let it go too. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/252 "2012-08-20T18:44:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is it that outside your experience that somebody might not use words like “faggot” or “nigger” when they’re angry at someone who is a homosexual or black? Yeah, I think it’s a fair assumption that if you find it necessary to use a racist epithet, then you’re a racist. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/253 "2012-08-20T18:44:34Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > There are so many creative words that express anger and disgust, why would you want to use the boring racist ones. > > My recent addiction thanks I believe to this board is “fucking douche canoe”. Clear and yet with no links to others who may connect to the subject via racial, religious, family or legal entanglements. Judgement of a single person by their actions rather than a group of people due to one persons actions. Hmmm, how progressive I must be. As a canoehead, I take great offence to your term. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/254 "2012-08-20T18:47:17Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > There are so many creative words that express anger and disgust, why would you want to use the boring racist ones. > > My recent addiction thanks I believe to this board is “fucking douche canoe”. Clear and yet with no links to others who may connect to the subject via racial, religious, family or legal entanglements. Judgement of a single person by their actions rather than a group of people due to one persons actions. Hmmm, how progressive I must be. When a number of black people band together and give preferential treatment to other blacks, what word or phrase _should_ you use? I agree the N-word isn’t perfectly descriptive, but, to be honest, it’s noticeably MORE descriptive (and accurate) that most of the more generic epithets. What happened to my friend is _exactly_ the type of thing that would bring forth the use of the N-word. It’s not like these are a bunch of underprivileged kids from the hood. They have doctorates, tenure, and plenty of power in their little academic kingdoms. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/255 "2012-08-20T18:49:28Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, I think it’s a fair assumption that if you find it necessary to use a racist epithet, then you’re a racist. I’d say it’s better to be politically incorrect every once in a while than to close your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/256 "2012-08-20T18:49:54Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > When a number of black people band together and give preferential treatment to other blacks, what word or phrase _should_ you use? How about one that is descriptive of their _actions_ – prejudiced, racist, discriminatory – rather than their ethnicity. > [@](#): > > I agree the N-word isn’t perfectly descriptive, but, to be honest, it’s noticeably MORE descriptive that most of the more generic epithets. Racial epithets are descriptive of nothing more than their race. If your purpose is to impugn them on a racist basis, then, yes, you have picked the right word. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/257 "2012-08-20T18:53:45Z")
> [@emeraldia](#): > > I’m sure you’ve never used a disparaging term about another human being in your life- even when you are furious. What a splendid person you are. I bet you’ve never told a lie either. I’ve used all sorts of disparaging terms when I’m angry, just not racist or bigoted ones. I’ve told plenty of lies, but I try not to tell malicious ones. I’m not morally perfect, but I try to maintain _some_ standards for my behavior. Nice to see it appreciated for a change! > [@](#): > > My main point is, in the grand scheme of things, who gives a crap. What they did was 100 times worse. Non-racists generally give a crap. You’ve already made it clear that you don’t. You think racism and bigotry are fine in speech, at least as long as you’re angry. You are entitled to your opinion, but you can’t actually be surprised that most people disagree can you? [sigh] I suppose you can. When I lived in Arkansas, I worked with two people who made a point of saying “n-word” instead of “nigger” in front of me. They actually said something like, “They’re not all bad. [So-and-so] doesn’t act like a … you know … an n-word. She’s one of the good ones.” Not only that, I think that conversation was staged in front of me so I’d see how not racist they were! ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/258 "2012-08-20T18:58:28Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Racial epithets are descriptive of nothing more than their race. If your purpose is to impugn them on a racist basis, then, yes, you have picked the right word. Well, YES, actually, it WAS my purpose, since they, themselves, were being racists. Do two wrongs make a right? No. I get that. However, let’s not poison the minds of foreign visitors against us, shall we? Slavery is not a Hindu’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/259 "2012-08-20T19:01:06Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > Well, YES, actually, it WAS my purpose, since they, themselves, were being racists. > > Do two wrongs make a right? No. I get that. However, let’s not poison the minds of foreign visitors against us, shall we? Slavery is not a Hindu’s fault. I suspect you don’t really know what “however” means. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848/260 "2012-08-20T19:01:34Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > When a number of black people band together and give preferential treatment to other blacks, what word or phrase _should_ you use? Funny enough, “niggers” is not one that comes to mind. Profs wanting to take credit for student’s work, I thought, was a fairly common complaint. What do you call it when the white people band together and do the same thing? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-actually-go-insane-with-anger/631848.md?page=14)