FTR, I was expressing that the whole song from Hair makes me cringe. All those disturbing terms. 
I’m willing to believe the OP had no idea.
On the face of it, I would be quite inclined to agree with you. But any relatively educated person is aware of phrases and words that have been ( more or less ) recognized as highly inflammatory. Sadly we are not running short on terms to express hatred- and just so we are clear, I was not implying that he was expressing raw racial hatred okay?
I was saying that he should know better and I find it almost incredible to believe that he did not know better. It cannot be proven. An educated person would be able to glean from context and know if the word were perhaps used in more than one way and the way it was being used was in fact not derogatory.
He could have said, " what a bunch of faggots " and I suspect he’d have had his ass handed to him here. What if he’d said, " I was reading this 15th century old English story of a blacksmith and his manly assistant came back from a day in the woods gathering fuel and remarked upon the huge pile of kindling, " Ah, what a bunch of faggots". Now then. Unless the phrase was being used in a backhanded manner, the word itself has valid useage and is well-defined as something other than a derogatory term. Yes?
Dictionar dot com provides four results for the word that poster used. They are all valid cites. Not one of them is a useage other than the derogatory useage that distressed me. So, we have put that to bed.
So, what- ignorance is a fine excuse? Sorry. That word wasn’t in vogue in the 1500’s. It was in use 50 years ago and you know what? That is recently enough so as to demand some understanding of what the word means.
You clearly disagree, as you chose 1957 as a benchmark. I say that is from an era whose vocabulary is still very much in use. You claim it is ancient enough that if the poster is of a certain age, they should get a pass on it.
I do not agree with your timeline of what is acceptable in terms of language ignorance. You may not like that, but I don’t.
You bet I can, pal. This is a Message Board. You are ticked off that I actually expected the person who used the word in a written medium to be responsible for the use of the word? Do you have ANY clue how insane your statement here is? Okay. So. You are saying that the author of a post is never to be held responsible for the words they use in a post. The words may be outrageous, but the poster? Nah. We can be upset about words, but the person using the words is not held responsible for the impact those words have?
This is news to every member of The Straigh Dope Message Boards.
As for your statement of pointing out when posters are being jerks, I don’t see the word Moderator or Administrator under your name, so put your little police badge and notepad away and stop impersonating. I posted angrily because something in this thread made my angry. Tough titty on you for finding it irksome.
Before you remind me what it says about my posts, you might want to read the Rules of this board really very carefully to see what it says about your posting habits and behaviors here that you have just posted that you take it upon yourself to let Dopers know when you feel they are being a jerk.
In short, please stop doing that with me. You have a problem with the fact that I was outraged over the word " jigaboo" ? Do what every other Doper is supposed to do. Click that little exclamation point and let finer minds than yours decide if the word “jigaboo” is worth being a bit outraged over. 
You weren’t? So you were calling him a shitstain because his vocabulary isn’t as large as yours?
This is reasonable behavior, to you?
No one has a perfect education. We all of us have gaps where we’re unaware of perfectly common facts. The OP was unlucky that one of his gaps happened to concern a racial slur, but this isn’t a moral failing. It’s an honest mistake, and attacking someone over it is ridiculous.
What the fuck are you babbling about, you fucking freak? What does this have to do with anything said in this thread?
I’m not saying it’s okay to use the word “jigaboo” if you were born after some particular date. I’m saying that it is not surprising that someone born in the '80s wouldn’t be aware of what the word means. That doesn’t mean they should get to use it whenever they want. It means that if they do use it out of ignorance, you politely correct them so they don’t use it again.
Well, I say “you,” but I’m not talking about you personally, because as we all know, your approach is to immediately attack him, personally insult him, not correct his misunderstanding (so much for fighting ignorance, you fucking hypocrite) and then start desperatly trying to justify your assholish behavior. So when I say “you” in the above paragraph, I suppose I really mean “one.”
Great. Cartooniverse is going to tell me how to act rationally. Next, Shodan is going to tell me how to a liberal, and matt_mcl is going to give me tips on picking up women.
He thought it was another word for “pimp!” What the fuck do you want from him? He should memorize the fucking dictionary, so he doesn’t ever accidentally misuse a term and damage your oh-so-delicate sensibilities?
Oh, please don’t come over like you’ve got your finger on the pulse of the message boards. You’re an idiot who routinely embarasses himself by throwing hissy fits over inconsequential or wholly imaginary offences. Do you really think anyone takes you seriously on this board? You’re a joke.
Holy shit, you’re actually accusing me of junior modding for calling you a jerk! That’s fucking hilarious! How did you get this stupid? Did you work at it? Spend a lot of hours in the gym, smacking yourself in the head with the freeweights, or something?
Jesus, the things you need to have explained to you…
I’m not going to report your ports. You’re a self-righteous douche and a half-wit, but that’s not against the rules here. When I call you a jerk, I’m not saying your violating the user agreement. I’m just saying that you’re an asshole.
On the other hand, hate speech is against the rules here, even in the pit. Since you seem convinced that any use of the word “jigaboo” is unacceptable, even if it’s out of genuine ignorance of the word’s definition, why haven’t you reported the OP? Give that a shot, and see how far it gets you, you goddamned reject.
On the topic of your concerned parents - I don’t think “Fathers always know best.” I think parents - 20 some years from a few hundred bucks being an incredible lot of money - often forget how much money a few hundred bucks is.
I was your age 20 years ago. Back then I figured if I could run a car (without gas and insurance) for $50 a month I was doing great. That was the cost of the car and the repairs. Because I was buying shitty cars because that’s what I could afford. This car will cost you $300 after you sell your other one, I think if you can drive it for three months without needing to pay a mechanic, you’ll have broken even on the car.
The difference between buying a ten year old POS and leasing a new little matchbox car back then (something like a Ford Escort) was about $20 a month - $20 I didn’t have. And I’ve never been a leasing fan.
Oh, on the more general topic of concerned parents. My parents treat me like a grown up now (mostly) and even ask me or Brainiac4 for advice on occasion. Its taken 20+ years of “adulthood,” two children, and some personal and financial success. Brainiac4’s mother has been treating him like an adult since he was twelve (IMO, he may feel differently), but his father still has a hard time seeing him as any older than 16. Your parents may let you grow up in their own minds eventually, but you may have to prove you are worthy of having the ‘grown up’ title by having a ‘grown up’ life (matching furniture seems to help) - they won’t stop being worried about you ever.
198K on a Chevy means it’s on its way to Car Heaven, but if it lasts you long enough to save up a little more for a better car, it’s worth the $300. It certainly sounds better than what you’re driving now.
Also, ignore your parents. Unless and until they’re paying for something, they get no say. “Thanks for your concern, love you, but I’m all grown up now. I’m getting the Chevy.” Easy as pie. 
I’m really bamboozled by this thread. So much confusion!