# White people: your use of the N word **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043 "2020-09-07T17:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/221 "2020-09-11T19:13:51Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > You misunderstand, why I am I not surprised. The message was that when individuals behavior despicably such as sexually harassing women they do more damage to the perception their people than any racial slur ever could. Right again! You are on fire today. Because black people need to be constantly reminded that every action and every mistake they make is a direct reflection on their entire ethnic group. And how better to remind them than to drop the n-bomb on 'em. Amarite? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/222 "2020-09-11T19:15:00Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > You misunderstand, why I am I not surprised. The message was that when individuals behavior despicably such as sexually harassing women they do more damage to the perception their people than any racial slur ever could. So now they were sexually harassing you? This is a new wrinkle. Originally you said they expressed sexual interest in you, which is a different thing than harassment. Perhaps the knowledge that you are assisting the cause of white supremacism has caused you to reevaluate the way you look at these circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/223 "2020-09-11T19:27:26Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > You misunderstand, why I am I not surprised. The message was that when individuals behavior despicably such as sexually harassing women they do more damage to the perception their people than any racial slur ever could. No, I’m not misunderstanding. You’ve just repeated, in different words, your claim that the bad behavior of one person can justifiably be considered as reflecting on everybody else who’s seen as part of their racial group. And I repeat: that’s a racist argument. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/224 "2020-09-11T19:29:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Perhaps the knowledge that you are assisting the cause of white supremacism has caused you to reevaluate the way you look at these circumstances? Hope springs eternal, I suppose, but I wouldn’t put money on it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/225 "2020-09-11T19:32:28Z")
ZPG thinks that a handshake is equivalent to rape. You aren’t going to get anything rational from her. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/226 "2020-09-11T19:39:25Z")
> First off, they weren’t expressing “romantic interest”. They were expressing the desire to have sex with me which is insulting as hell to anyone that believes considers sex only for a marriage relationship and a marriage is only possible for me with someone of my own culture and ethnicity. I’ve always been open about that (i.e., it usually comes up in conversation immediately when people ask about dating or family relationship). I wasn’t married in college, but I wore a wedding ring and used Mrs. for introductions in order to avoid men trying to flirt with me. If some guy can’t read those signs that I wasn’t to be bothered with, or let’s be realistic, choose to ignore them in order to suggest I engage in an immoral act, I’ll use whatever tools are available to get rid of him. And I am not light skinned enough to qualify as white. Your over-reaction is vile and reprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/227 "2020-09-11T19:44:55Z")
Yep. There’s a pathology at play so deep that racism is just a symptom. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/228 "2020-09-11T19:45:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > ZPG thinks that a handshake is equivalent to rape. > You aren’t going to get anything rational from her. But it’s amusing watching people try. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/229 "2020-09-11T19:47:43Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > You misunderstand, why I am I not surprised. The message was that when individuals behavior despicably such as sexually harassing women they do more damage to the perception their people than any racial slur ever could. Yet when you use such a racial slur you do damage to the perception of your people. This cuts both ways. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/230 "2020-09-11T20:32:20Z")
Lol at the “if a tree falls in the forest but there’s only one person there to hear it, then everyone got crushed by it” angle. Classic. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/231 "2020-09-11T20:49:27Z")
Using @ZPG_Zealot’s reasoning, hurling a racial slur at a Roma person for being an asswipe on an internet message board is perfectly justifiable, because they are making Roma people look bad. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/232 "2020-09-11T21:16:05Z")
**Moderator Note** Let’s drop the discussion of **ZPG\_Zealot** and get back to the original topic of this thread, please. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/233 "2020-09-11T22:08:02Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > > [@msmith537](#): > > > > “No thank you” would also be considered acceptable. > > Not to defend **ZPG\_Zealot’s** methods, but it’s long been established that this is **not** sufficient to get rid of unwanted male attention. > > > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > > > you chose to use the rhetorical tools of white supremacism > > And you needn’t be so holier-than-thou, you’ve said on this board that you welcome all rhetorical strategies in achieving your own (political) goals. “No thank you…dick head?” ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/234 "2020-09-12T00:41:09Z")
I grew up (Pennsylvania, 1960s and 1970s) using the term “colored”. It was just what we learned to say. One classmate interrupted me once and said “Black!”, and I don’t think I ever did it again. I doubt it was offensive as N\*\*\*\*r, which to my knowledge I have never used except when quoting Blazing Saddles or similar. I believe “person of color” is somewhat acceptable these days, if mention of racial background is required. There was a newscaster who was so well trained to use the term “African-American” that he was quoted as referring to someone as “English African-American” or some such! ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/235 "2020-09-12T00:48:21Z")
The N-word was just something I don’t believe I ever heard growing up. ‘Fag’, ‘queer’, or ‘gay’ on the other hand where used plenty around when I was younger, and I participated as school kids do, but it was never with direct hatred at homosexuals. We didn’t even consider sex in general. ---
**Author:** ![Raucous84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8dc957/32.png) [@Raucous84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raucous84)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/236 "2020-09-12T02:02:06Z")
If you’ve actually grown up in the hood or have been taken into the fold by members of the Black community, that could absolutely happen. Moreover, you’d get permission to use the word the same way, while listening to music and singing along or in discourse with your friends. In those contexts, everybody is a “ni’\*\*a”, just as one would say “dude”. That’s basically the equivalent. It’s not even derogatory until you’re a “bitch ass ni’\*\*a”, or the like. You also know which version you couldn’t use too. I think given your unique situation, you’d get a pass for purposes of socialization. The distinction between the two words doesn’t seem to compute for quite a few people. Nonetheless, Black people don’t call one another ni’\*\*ers. But I digress, as that’s not really the point of the OP’s poll. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/237 "2020-09-12T03:53:42Z")
I never had any cause to use the word; we didn’t encounter people of color very often until I turned 15 and we moved to a major metropolitan area. Any words to describe minorities weren’t really needed until then. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/238 "2020-09-12T16:31:34Z")
Jesus! What the hell is wrong using “stingy” or “miserly?” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/239 "2020-09-12T18:16:40Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > By the way, did anybody else ever “catch a pickle by the toe”? Yes, I realize that makes no sense, but it’s the way my mom taught me the rhyme and was how I said it all through childhood. And Brazil nuts were just Brazil nuts. Pickle? No. Piggy? Yep And the unacceptable term for Brazil nuts never entered my awareness until I was twelve, quite old enough to know better. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043/240 "2020-09-12T18:28:54Z")
I meant, "Jesus! What the hell is wrong with using “stingy” or “miserly?” Hello OP! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-your-use-of-the-n-word/920043.md?page=13)