A Treatise On Calling People On Their Bullshit.

[Salty]

1. Pixie: FUCK YEAH. This is a subject near and dear to me and this was awesome.

2. This noob is very nice, if you know what I mean

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

1. Pixie: FUCK YEAH. This is a subject near and dear to me and this was awesome.

2. This noob is very nice, if you know what I mean

Told you guys the noob was special.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Yes, white people can use "nigga" or "nigger" without it being offensive, in the right context. I know several white people who use it regularly as part of their greeting between friends, and is it non-offensive.

For that matter, I have a friend who regularly addresses her friends as "bitches and homosexuals", and it is non-offensive.

Context is important. If you want to play amateur anthropologist, that's a pretty crucial thing to be aware of.

Yeah - even with context taken into account amongst speaker and intended audience, variances in just location can make or break offensiveness as well. There's the whole aspect of intended vs. unintented audience - passers-by, etc.

That is true of any use of language, anywhere, ever.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

The only context I feel even marginally okay dropping n-bombs in is "potato nigger." Or telling people that free speech includes the right to say "niggertits" even if it is terribly offensive.

I know several white people who regularly say "What is up, my nigger?" in a context that completely breaks it down to an inoffensive level. Consider this context: You are black. You telephone your close friend. Friend answers the phone with "What is up, my nigger?" in an American business patois. Offensive, or affectionate?

Another: White friend enters a room of mixed race. White friend says (addressing everyone) "HEY NIGGAS!"

Or, white person enters a room of white friends: "HEY NIGGAS!"

As a (legally, LOL) black person in America, these are generally perceived to be non-offensive.

Offensive, or affectionate? Context provides the answers. FFS, me and my friends have a game we call "That's how you know you're really gangster". We do shit like go to the hardware store for a new toilet flush system. Friend texts, "Yo, bitch, just at the hardware store for some home improvement; THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY GANGSTER".

Is that racist? Or is it just (provided by context) some funny riffing? We all grow up. A guy who was once really punk rock might be at the store buying milk for his kids. You say "MILK, FUCK YEAH! YOU'RE PAF!"

Does that mean you are displaying bigotry against punks?

[Pope Pixie Pickle]

nah, I don't want a thread split. I got het up and used a questionable word that an outsider to our board culture would definitely find offensive. Hyperbole  from frustration can be misconstrued, and outside of the context of this board, is something that irritates me. How about I promise to return to the insult of my father's land, eejit, to refer to those who JUST DON'T GET IT. 

In fairness to the n00b, my sister has acquired brain damage and if someone called her a retard I'd be hella pissed, and tear them a new one.  Same if someone played the "MENTAL" card on my older sister, who has a severe mental illness.

So I hold my hands up and say, yea, that was hypocritical when taken in the context of the rant, and thank the N00b for calling me out on my shit. All the people I have met with developmental disabilities have been wonderful, sweet people, who are positive and all kinds of awesome compared with the rest of the population of this planet, who SUCK.

Can we stop fighting now?

[Pope Pixie Pickle]

Eejit is a more flavourful word, anyhow.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Im fond of it myself.

[MMIX]

Eejit is a more flavourful word, anyhow.

Too Terry Wogan for my taste

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

The only context I feel even marginally okay dropping n-bombs in is "potato nigger." Or telling people that free speech includes the right to say "niggertits" even if it is terribly offensive.

I know several white people who regularly say "What is up, my nigger?" in a context that completely breaks it down to an inoffensive level. Consider this context: You are black. You telephone your close friend. Friend answers the phone with "What is up, my nigger?" in an American business patois. Offensive, or affectionate?

Another: White friend enters a room of mixed race. White friend says (addressing everyone) "HEY NIGGAS!"

Or, white person enters a room of white friends: "HEY NIGGAS!"

As a (legally, LOL) black person in America, these are generally perceived to be non-offensive.

Offensive, or affectionate? Context provides the answers. FFS, me and my friends have a game we call "That's how you know you're really gangster". We do shit like go to the hardware store for a new toilet flush system. Friend texts, "Yo, bitch, just at the hardware store for some home improvement; THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY GANGSTER".

Is that racist? Or is it just (provided by context) some funny riffing? We all grow up. A guy who was once really punk rock might be at the store buying milk for his kids. You say "MILK, FUCK YEAH! YOU'RE PAF!"

Does that mean you are displaying bigotry against punks?

Those all sound pretty inoffensive, but like someone said earlier it's all about the participants in the conversation. Since I can't say those words comfortably in most contexts (even objectively non-offensive ones) it comes off as offensive if I attempt it.

[LizKing531]

The only context I feel even marginally okay dropping n-bombs in is "potato nigger." Or telling people that free speech includes the right to say "niggertits" even if it is terribly offensive.

I know several white people who regularly say "What is up, my nigger?" in a context that completely breaks it down to an inoffensive level. Consider this context: You are black. You telephone your close friend. Friend answers the phone with "What is up, my nigger?" in an American business patois. Offensive, or affectionate?

Another: White friend enters a room of mixed race. White friend says (addressing everyone) "HEY NIGGAS!"

Or, white person enters a room of white friends: "HEY NIGGAS!"

As a (legally, LOL) black person in America, these are generally perceived to be non-offensive.

Offensive, or affectionate? Context provides the answers. FFS, me and my friends have a game we call "That's how you know you're really gangster". We do shit like go to the hardware store for a new toilet flush system. Friend texts, "Yo, bitch, just at the hardware store for some home improvement; THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY GANGSTER".

Is that racist? Or is it just (provided by context) some funny riffing? We all grow up. A guy who was once really punk rock might be at the store buying milk for his kids. You say "MILK, FUCK YEAH! YOU'RE PAF!"

Does that mean you are displaying bigotry against punks?

Those all sound pretty inoffensive, but like someone said earlier it's all about the participants in the conversation. Since I can't say those words comfortably in most contexts (even objectively non-offensive ones) it comes off as offensive if I attempt it.

It seems to be a somewhat regional thing as well - not going for the whole deep south thing, more like just a difference in cultures. As you move around the country, just as if you move around the world- different words hold different values for different people. For instance "niggerrig" - I grew up hearing it & never really thought it to be derogatory until later in life & a subsequent move to a different area.

Like what I mentioned about intended vs unintended audience, its a gray area - there's no defined line. Especially when you're out in a public setting - like for instance a sporting event, joking around "you're retarded" in jest. Say there's a special needs kid or parent behind you...

as far as any fighting goes, the assertions of pedantry in this case call for counter assertions of myopia -
http://www.specialolympics.org/coalition.aspx
http://r-word.org/


Is this some sort of, for lack of better term, an ownership issue?

I don't know if I can word that correctly, but it seems like certain words lose there bite when the groups that are attached to the pejorative usage basically say it's OK.

[AFK]

In the end, it becomes a question of manners and respect, and just being aware of your surroundings.  And I think it is a two way street.  That is, as much as the person saying the words has a responsibility for how their conduct may affect others, those that are offended too have a responsibility to voice their offense.  Because that is the only way things can possibly change.  But it should also be recognized as a learning opportunity for both ends.  That can be difficult, to be sure, in the heat of the moment, but will be a net positive overall. 

[Pope Pixie Pickle]

Im fond of it myself.

best prefixed by Fecking , and said quickly.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Yup. Sometimes feckinyooslisseejit too.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

In the end, it becomes a question of manners and respect, and just being aware of your surroundings.  And I think it is a two way street.  That is, as much as the person saying the words has a responsibility for how their conduct may affect others, those that are offended too have a responsibility to voice their offense.  Because that is the only way things can possibly change.  But it should also be recognized as a learning opportunity for both ends.  That can be difficult, to be sure, in the heat of the moment, but will be a net positive overall.

Also, bringing it up makes it immediately clear if someone was legitimately attempting to use the term in question in a non-offensive manner and just didn't pull it off, or if they're just a douchenozzle.

[Pope Pixie Pickle]

The only context I feel even marginally okay dropping n-bombs in is "potato nigger." Or telling people that free speech includes the right to say "niggertits" even if it is terribly offensive.

I know several white people who regularly say "What is up, my nigger?" in a context that completely breaks it down to an inoffensive level. Consider this context: You are black. You telephone your close friend. Friend answers the phone with "What is up, my nigger?" in an American business patois. Offensive, or affectionate?

Another: White friend enters a room of mixed race. White friend says (addressing everyone) "HEY NIGGAS!"

Or, white person enters a room of white friends: "HEY NIGGAS!"

As a (legally, LOL) black person in America, these are generally perceived to be non-offensive.

Offensive, or affectionate? Context provides the answers. FFS, me and my friends have a game we call "That's how you know you're really gangster". We do shit like go to the hardware store for a new toilet flush system. Friend texts, "Yo, bitch, just at the hardware store for some home improvement; THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY GANGSTER".

Is that racist? Or is it just (provided by context) some funny riffing? We all grow up. A guy who was once really punk rock might be at the store buying milk for his kids. You say "MILK, FUCK YEAH! YOU'RE PAF!"

Does that mean you are displaying bigotry against punks?

Those all sound pretty inoffensive, but like someone said earlier it's all about the participants in the conversation. Since I can't say those words comfortably in most contexts (even objectively non-offensive ones) it comes off as offensive if I attempt it.

It seems to be a somewhat regional thing as well - not going for the whole deep south thing, more like just a difference in cultures. As you move around the country, just as if you move around the world- different words hold different values for different people. For instance "niggerrig" - I grew up hearing it & never really thought it to be derogatory until later in life & a subsequent move to a different area.

Like what I mentioned about intended vs unintended audience, its a gray area - there's no defined line. Especially when you're out in a public setting - like for instance a sporting event, joking around "you're retarded" in jest. Say there's a special needs kid or parent behind you...

as far as any fighting goes, the assertions of pedantry in this case call for counter assertions of myopia -
http://www.specialolympics.org/coalition.aspx
http://r-word.org/


Is this some sort of, for lack of better term, an ownership issue?

I don't know if I can word that correctly, but it seems like certain words lose there bite when the groups that are attached to the pejorative usage basically say it's OK.

Retard was never used as a pejorative, as far as I am aware, in the UK for people with learning disabilities.