Cleaned up post
Then be very clear. It’s not hard.
Then your experience is different than mine. Can you cite some examples of people being offended or warned for using the word “nigger” in a manner which is clearly not intended as an epithet?
The FCC standards ostensibly are based on public standards, and I still maintain that the use of the word “fuck” is still more socially explosive, regardless of intent, than when the word “nigger” is used (clearly and unambiguously) in an academic manner.
Earlier this year a teenager got on a Walmart PA system and said “Attention Walmart Customers: All Black People Leave The Store Now." For a few days this made a minor blip in the national news and every news story I read about it directly quoted exactly what was said. Since I had that information, I was able to make my own judgment on the issue. However, what if he had said ‘nigger’ instead of ‘black people’? No news source would actually quote him. Most probably wouldn’t even use ‘the n word’ or other euphemism, instead they would make a vague statement saying he used racial epithets. Since I couldn’t find out what, exactly, was said, my ability to properly judge the incident would have been limited.
Another example, several years ago was the macaca incident. A politician said, in part, “This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is…” That got reported because macaca is not interpreted to be as harmful as nigger. In fact, I actually had to look up macaca at the time because I never heard it before. Again, imagine if instead of macaca that he had said nigger. Would there have been factual and unbiased reporting of the incident? Could I easily find the exact quote even years later? Or would the media would have censored the content in one way or another, thus limiting the public’s ability to accurately form their opinion?
Or a third possibility. Imagine if in a few years I’m talking to someone and they go “Oh yeah, I remember reading this post by you discussing the use of the n word”. Anyone who overheard that would instantly assume I used it in a racist or insulting context, even though I believe it’s clear from reading this that I’m not using it that way. By using a euphemism, judgment is being implied and it’s automatically assumed that all uses of nigger are equal. This discussion here would be implied to be equal to standing in the streets yelling ‘All niggers should be burned on a cross’ or something. Just by refusing to recognize and use the word in non-offensive context where it is relevant to the discussion, a message is being sent out that anyone who does is automatically a David Duke.
These are just a few offhand hypotheticals, but I believe they show we’ve given the word too much power. The news won’t use the word, so our ability to gather unbiased reporting on a situation and make our own judgment is removed. Because some are unwilling to use the word ever, regardless of situation, it’s implied that anyone who does is automatically racist regardless of situation. I won’t go as far as the Lenny Bruce quote above, but I do agree with it. It’s such a hateful word precisely because it’s been suppressed to the point it can’t be used in a non-offensive context in a discussion about the word.
If either of those news stories had involved the use of the word, “nigger,” it would have been reported that they used that word. Don’t make up fictional examples of non-reporting that never happened. It was definitely reported when Kramer said it. Not only that, but the video was shown all over the media.
NPR played lengthy excerpts of Mel Gibson’s rants. I don’t see any evidence of your argument being true.
Ok, if the news media feels free to use the word nigger when it is relevant to the context of the story, show me the story published in Washington Post, NYT, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, or other major national level newspaper that did so. I’ll also accept video footage from NBC, CBS, ABC, or Fox’s national news programs using the word in a story. I’d love to be wrong on this, it would be nice to know the nation isn’t nearly as uptight about the word as I think we are. Prove me wrong.
As for NPR, I didn’t catch them playing Gibson’s use of it. I did quickly search their site and couldn’t find it. I did find aNPR story about the controversy when Michael Richards using the word nigger a few years ago. That story used ‘the n-word’ instead of actually quoting what was said.
Do your own research. You’re the one making the assertion.
Or as I would put it, we as a society have become such a bunch of fucking crybabies that adults have to spell out naughty words even when we’re talking about them.
I’m also of the opinion that people should just learn to let insults roll off their back, but realistically, I don’t expect everyone to do this always. I don’t always turn the other cheek. But damn people, if you and I are adults, and I’m talking about the word and not actually using it, stop acting like it’s so powerful that it could jump up and bite us both in the balls just because I uttered it. It’s not a magic spell that makes people start looking around for nooses.
Anyone who wants to say “nigger” is perfectly free to do so. I don’t get what the complaining is about.
Something relevant to this discussion is actually in the news http://www.newser.com/story/97988/dr-laura-spews-the-n-word-then-apologizes.html
As far as I can tell, she only mentioned “nigger” and never used it but of course people are freaking out anyway. Obviously it is not wise to say that word repeatedly on radio but was it wrong? From some of the other stuff she said, she seems like a total moron but the outrage is nuts. This is not a Mel Gibson or KKKramer style situation.
I just did. Linked to a NPR story that used ‘the n-word’ when the story was about a person saying ‘nigger’. Oddly, the article showing they will not report the word was in the exact unproven example you said was where they will do it.
She used it several times, and did so in an intentionally antogonistic manner to a black caller. She also said the word wasn’t racist. Dr. Laura is a fucking buffoon.
I don’t feel like doing any research for an argument I don’t consider very compelling, but I did remember reading this story (about Fred Phelps, not Mel Gibson):
I have a fear you’re going to say CNN isn’t good enough.
I suspect that you do indeed get it … and that you are being disingenuous by leaving unsaid … “so long as he is willing to face the consequences.”
The fact there are consequences is the silly part. The idea that the adult thing to do is to take the juvenile action of spelling out the bad word is kinda silly too.
What consequences? I’ve used the word several times in this thread. What have been the consequences?
Oh, yes. You’ve stayed nicely within the rules, talking about the word as opposed to using the word.
Ninja assassins are on their way.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/15/dr-lauras-rant-on-race-begs-the-question-just-who-needs-a-doc/ Dr. Laura is taking heat for being very stupid. She used nigger crudely and showed her distaste for whites not being allowed to use it. She though she was pretty special and the rule did not mean her. Perhaps she will learn it does.
My parents taught me not to use the n word, the s word, the f word, and all those other bad words. For the most part the lessons stayed with me.
Eh, it’s not like you pulled out some random blog or a podunk public access cable station. CNN is national and mainstream, that’s fine. If anything, the fact it is commonly considered a ‘liberal’ media source yet still used the word actually makes it more noteworthy.
It is rather interesting to note the difference between the NPR n-word and CNN’s nigger. The entire point of the NPR thing was a guy spewing racial terms to offend, while CNN actually uses nigger to portray someone in a good light (for those who didn’t click the link, lawyer defends black rights in the 60’s and gets called a nigger lover because of it). I don’t know if that’s the reason why one used the word and the other didn’t, but it’s interesting to note the difference.
Either way, ok. Clearly sometimes the news media will use the word, sometimes they’ll use an euphemism. Things aren’t as bad as I thought with the media. Equally clearly, sometimes it’s acceptable and relevant to a discussion to actually use the word ‘nigger’ instead of ‘the n-word’
Yes. Unfortunately, the poor souls are so repressed by society that they can’t just use it in any and every way they feel the need to. But have no fear! They shall overcome!
By the way, I don’t sense a lot of resentment in the black community at large regarding Lenny Bruce or Don Rickles as being racists. Wonder why?