# I Steadfastly Reject This Sudden Rush to Redefine "Thug" as a Racial Slur **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 1, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959 "2015-05-01T03:04:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![Shin\_Ji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Shin\_Ji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shin_Ji)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959/741 "2015-05-14T08:25:20Z")
To clarify, I have not made any statement regarding the term’s appropriateness when used by a Black person. As I am not Black, that is none of my business. I am not here to tell Black people what to do. They have assuredly had quite enough of that from white folk. I am only saying that white people (or non-Blacks) can’t use the word. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959/742 "2015-05-14T11:39:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I happen to believe the N-word is equal in social stigma to the term Nazi. When the most popular sitcom on TV has a character called the Soup Nigger, you’d be right… ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959/743 "2015-05-14T17:54:48Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > When the most popular sitcom on TV has a character called the Soup Nigger, you’d be right… Congratulations. Employing the WWJSD (what would Jerry Seinfeld do) gambit. I certainly didn’t see that coming. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959/744 "2015-05-14T18:03:24Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > In the U.S., is the N-word unacceptable? Yes, or no? Yes, if you lack the [privileges](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NWordPrivileges), which I’m sure you do. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959/745 "2015-05-14T18:23:16Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > You are contradicting yourself. You note that the in-group/out-group distinction is valid, but then you claim that censure is racist if the out-group is white people. That makes no sense. > > Your explanation is still odd: > Why did you insert the word “only” into your paraphrase of **Shin Ji** ’s statement? He made no claim that it was only inappropriate for whites. There is no indication in his statement that it would be OK for any other non-white ethnic group to use the words. (And any review of the history of inner city conflicts involving non-European ethnic groups will demonstrate that anyone who is not black, (_i.e._, any out-group person), who employs nigger/nigga in conversation is liable to censure. I understand that the in-group/out-group distinction is considered valid by some, but not by all. A claim that only white people can’t use the N-word appears to be racist. I refer you to post 712. A grouped reference including an earlier **Shin Ji** post where he said, “No one really needed to prove to you that the slur was completely inappropriate for white people to use in nearly any situation”. I had responded, “You seem to believe that it’s only inappropriate if white people use the N-word? (question mark)” **Shin Ji** has since clarified his position. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959/746 "2015-05-14T18:25:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > When the most popular sitcom on TV has a character called the Soup Nigger, you’d be right… Kollard King was my series favorite. Wasn’t he the guy with the funny hat and walk? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-steadfastly-reject-this-sudden-rush-to-redefine-thug-as-a-racial-slur/718959.md?page=37)