# Isn't "raghead" an ethnic slur? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 10, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812 "2014-12-10T02:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/41 "2014-12-12T14:00:03Z")
“Repiglickin” is a slur against members of a political party, which is allowed. Modifying that with “black” doesn’t make it a racial slur. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/42 "2014-12-12T14:21:23Z")
So an insult against any specific black, or sub-group of blacks, is not a racial slur? Even when it contains a specific reference to race? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/43 "2014-12-12T14:33:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So an insult against any specific black, or sub-group of blacks, is not a racial slur? Even when it contains a specific reference to race? > > Regards, > Shodan Black was the modifier but not the target of the disparaging remark. They are being insulted due to their Republican-ness, not their blackness. The word “black” tells the reader what kind of Republican they are, and it’s the Republican aspect that’s being insulted. That’s my read. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/44 "2014-12-12T14:34:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So an insult against any specific black, or sub-group of blacks, is not a racial slur? Even when it contains a specific reference to race? > > Regards, > Shodan It is hard to think it is so hard to understand that an insult against a group that happens to have blacks but that the insult has no reference to a supposed racial aspect is not a racial slur. I think you try to manufacture offense for the political point scoring reason, not for any care about racial slurs in reality. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/45 "2014-12-12T15:30:24Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > It is hard to think it is so hard to understand that an insult against a group that happens to have blacks but that the insult has no reference to a supposed racial aspect is not a racial slur. > > I think you try to manufacture offense for the political point scoring reason, not for any care about racial slurs in reality. I’m sure I speak for everyone here when I say that I’m shocked (SHOCKED! :eek:) that anyone could read **Shodan** ’s posts and come to that conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/46 "2014-12-12T15:59:39Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So an insult against any specific black, or sub-group of blacks, is not a racial slur? Even when it contains a specific reference to race? > > Regards, > Shodan Still not buying the attempt. I think you blew it when you the instant you tried to change the quoted phrase from “Repiglickin” to “pig-lickin’”, hoping no one would notice the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/47 "2014-12-12T16:38:04Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > By that reasoning “raghead” is a slur on anyone living in the desert, of which there are many different groups, not all of the same ethnicity. Pretty much anyone living there winds up dressing that particular way, just because it helps beat the heat, stave off sunstroke, etc, not because they worship a particular way or have a certain skin color. IME the term “raghead” is used interchangably to describe anyone who appears to be of Middle Eastern descent, regardless of where they were born or what their religious and/or ethnic background might actually be. Bigots aren’t that discerning; all that really matters to them is that someone is “not like me”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/48 "2014-12-12T16:42:26Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > “Repiglickin” is a slur against members of a political party, which is allowed. Modifying that with “black” doesn’t make it a racial slur. Not allowed in GD. At least not anymore. It does nothing to advance reasoned debate, and doesn’t belong there. I wouldn’t expect anyone to get a warning for a single use, but repeated use after being asked not to? I would hope so. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/49 "2014-12-12T17:14:10Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > IME the term “raghead” is used interchangably to describe anyone who appears to be of Middle Eastern descent, regardless of where they were born or what their religious and/or ethnic background might actually be. Bigots aren’t that discerning; all that really matters to them is that someone is “not like me”. Yeah, it sucks that idiots conflate Sikhs with muslims. Sikhs have a truly awesome culture and religion. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/50 "2014-12-12T17:20:00Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Not allowed in GD. At least not anymore. It does nothing to advance reasoned debate, and doesn’t belong there. I wouldn’t expect anyone to get a warning for a single use, but repeated use after being asked not to? I would hope so. I didn’t know that was true, but it makes me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/51 "2014-12-12T17:58:30Z")
> [@DJ\_Motorbike](#): > > Yeah, it sucks that idiots conflate Sikhs with muslims. > > Sikhs have a truly awesome culture and religion. True that. ---
**Author:** ![callander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@callander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callander)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/52 "2014-12-14T04:54:38Z")
If cunt is good to go, everything seems fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/53 "2014-12-14T05:15:04Z")
> [@DJ\_Motorbike](#): > > Yeah, it sucks that idiots conflate Sikhs with muslims. > > Sikhs have a truly awesome culture and religion. Muslims don’t? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/54 "2014-12-14T06:26:43Z")
> [@callander](#): > > If cunt is good to go, everything seems fair game. Ethnic slurs have a different weight in a thread than mere coarseness or even obscenity. Do not muddle those issues in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![callander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@callander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callander)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/55 "2014-12-14T16:33:30Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Ethnic slurs have a different weight in a thread than mere coarseness or even obscenity. > Do not muddle those issues in this thread. Thanks for clarifying. I don’t use either word, so I think I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/56 "2014-12-14T17:33:53Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Muslims don’t? Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812/57 "2014-12-16T07:36:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. First time I thought it was a joke. I don’t think that’s what he means at all. He means it’s a shame that the Sikhs are getting lumped in with Muslims and their own culture is not being appreciated. It’s a shame the Sikhs are being ignored, when they have a rich religious and cultural history. Middle Eastern Muslims are not being ignored. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-raghead-an-ethnic-slur/706812.md?page=2)