Let’s say I’m quoting something to a friend and it includes the word “cunt”.
I may very well say “the C-word” if there are other people in earshot.
Why the tremendous hypersensitivity!?
Similarly, if I were a public figure and I said “cunt”, even in the context of “This is a very offensive word that someone else used…”, I still may need to apologise later about uttering the word.
So I don’t think your examples work, but nonetheless I think I agree with your general observation – that there is something special about that particular word. I guess it’s because race relations are still an emotive issue in western society, even if it’s not out in the open most of the time.
Black people don’t use the word “Nigger” to refer to the homies, the peeps, etc. The term is always nigga. It may be a distinction without a difference to most people but it really does matter. Even in anger nigga is just another curse word. Fuck you bitch would be worse than fuck you nigga coming from a black person. However fuck you nigger would be worse than fuck you bitch coming from a white person . It’s all in the context.
There was only one time I was called a nigga by a white person where the intent wasn’t to insult me. And even he said oops.
It seems to me that the egregiousness of it’s use (in context) is being used as an excuse to make another “swear word.” Carlin’s list would have to grow.
That being said, I’m constantly baffled by why the utterance of the word (whether it’s “fuck” or “shit” or “nigger”) has to be translated through euphemisms for thinking adults. If there’s a headline on CNN that reads, “U2’s Bono Says F-Word on Live TV”, is there anyone who thinks he said, “frankfurter?” Chrissakes, we’re grown-ups, we can handle hearing words that are used offensively.
If someone is quoting someone else, I don’t get why they should have to apologize for it. It’s ridiculous.
Is there really a difference between Nigga & Nigger, or is it just that Blacks say Nigga and whites say Nigger and it’s not as offensive coming from another black person?
FWIW, Al Sharpton apparently said, as he schemed the Tawana Brawley hoax, that if he and his associates successfully pulled it off “we will be the biggest niggers in New York”. So apparently it’s not necessarily insulting at all when used by blacks, at least in some circles.
(I’m not disputing the rationale for this, BTW. My point in this thread is that there are other circumstances when it also should not be considered insulting, e.g. Rep Maloney’s.)
Call me a nerd, but I think the real problem here is people not getting the use-mention distinction. If I say “It is very offensive to call someone a ‘nigger’”, then I am not using the word, I’m mentioning it. If, on the other hand, I say “Hey, nigger, get over here!”, then I am using it. Use of the word is offensive, and I’m not going to argue that it shouldn’t be considered offensive. But mere mention of the word should not be construed as offensive, by anyone who understands language.
Chronos, I agree, but my point is that the word “nigger” has now been given “fuck status”. You still can’t say, “‘Fuck’ is a dirty word” on the 6:00 news.
Have you listened to a rap album in the past 15 years? Its offensible to them when its convenient for it to be offensible.
I’m not a racist. I had tons of black friends in HS and we used to hang out all the time and they had NO problem with the word when they played their CD’s.
[announcer voice]Are you white? Feel like you’re being cheated out of something because of the color of your skin? Now there’s a solution: complain about black people using the word “nigger!” It’s hours of fun…[/av]
Thing is, not all black people do that, and I hear they don’t like being discussed as if they all act the same. Crazy, I know! And what exactly is your problem with the state of affairs on this word? Context is important in all forms of communication.
IME Black people use nigga because racists use nigger. You can argue that nigga is the lack of enunciation of the word nigger but to most black people there is a difference. I’ll take the Al Sharpton quote as proof of exceptions. Plus Dick Gregory’s autobiography is titled Nigger and Richard Pryor has an album titled That Nigger’s Crazy. But I’ll bet being called a nigger by a racist would piss off all three of them.
Personally, l’ve used it(nigga) but it’s never been a huge part of my vocabulary. I’ve listened to plenty of gangsta rap and def comedy jam but I still bristled when Steve Martin used it in The Jerk and Jaime Pressley in NATM.
ISTM that black people leave off the final R on a lot of words, e.g. mother, brother, sister. (It might be a Southern thing.)
I’m sure there is, but the question is whether it’s OK because it’s black guys saying it in the black pronunciation, or a genuine distinction. (If a black guy wants to be really really insulting, does he say “Nigger”?)
I wouldn’t be surprised if all three of them pronounced it “nigga” but just weren’t focused on the distinction. (In the case of Sharpton, it would be reporters who weren’t making the distinction.)
Just for everyone’s information, the linked video is not actually from Japanese television. It was made in America with American writers and directors and an Asian-American cast.
Are you insane? I’m not complaining about anything. I could care less what anyone calls anyone else. But what you dont hear is uproar from the black community about the word when used by other blacks.
If a black man got on national tv and called another black person a nigger, you wouldnt hear anything about it, but if a white person did it, they would be rioting in LA, NOLA, etc.
Why is it so hard for people like you to accept the truth?
nigger, nigger, nigger. I think that the context SHOULD matter. I have tons of black friends who toss it around; even in reference to me (i’m white) as a term of endearment. but they also use it negatively to describe people who they consider ghetto, unkempt, shady, skanky, or overall trashy. i also know white people who use the word in the same exact way, and don’t take offense to it. people should just be smart, if you’re around anyone who doesn’t know you or if you’re racist, then don’t use it. that goes for anyone of any race. as far as the PC BS goes, i say drop it. i’m sick of people apologizing for it if used in a joking context, everyone needs to lighten up. also, i realize america is a melting pot but common, how’s about a little bit of nationalism?
What a bunch of garbage. There was no rioting over Don Imus’ comments, there was no rioting over Michael Richards’ “bad joke.” There were complaints, but no riots. I like your assumption that black people riot whenever they get mad, though. Very subtle.
Are you trying to tell me that if a WHITE person got on National TV and called a prominent black person, or hell, ANY black person a nigger there wuddnt be an uproar??? Are you honestly saying that??? Gimme a break holmes.
If OJ had been convicted and walking out of the courtroom and some white person said, “I hope you die nigger” or some shit like that it would have been an all out riot.
Don Imus didnt call anyone a nigger that I know of.
Al Sharpton and whatshisname are two of, if not THE most racist people on the planet. ANYTHING those two clowns say should be discarded immediately.
Like I said before, I dont care about the subject, but this is a discussion board so I’m discussing.
Every American needs to read Hogg by Samuel R. Delany. There is no other book which so poignantly brings blacks and whites together in harmony, taking away all of the hatefulness of the “N-word” and reclaiming it as a symbol of brotherhood and honor.
