Is it ok for ANYONE to use the "N" Word

[Vteckidd]

Im sure this has been talked about before, but i thought i would bring it up again.

Apparently on THE VIEW this morning , Whoopi Goldberg and Star Jones got into it with the Elizabeth Hasselbeck girl over the use of the "n" word.

Whoopi and Star were claiming that it was fine for blacks to use it because its "their" word and to them it has a totally different meaning than a white person using it.

Elizabeths view was that the "black community" complains about inequality and racism, yet they want to seperate themselves an be "UNEQUAL" and use a word that is inherently racist in itself. How can people move on and inprove race relations if they want to keep using words that promote such issues.

What are your thoughts?





My personal view is that the "N" word is derogatory and anyone that uses it is ignorant and an idiot. You cant complain that you get treated unequally if you are going to sit there and create ways to BE DIFFERENT.

that would be like saying wearing black shirts is wrong, but its ok if me and my friends where black shirts, just not you an your people.

Whoopi went on to say that she lives in a different world than other poeple and its racist etc. GIVE ME A BREAK. shes a MILLIONAIRE an its easy to play the race card when you are sitting in your mansion in the hills with your private tour bus and limo carting you around.

I really think that for people to encourage the use of the N word in pop culture, music, movies, tv, etc it just promotes division.

[mocha latte cupcake]

i don't see a problem with it unless their is hate in the use of it. i say it all the time with alot of my black friends, there is no cause for concern b/c they know that i'm not telling them something in a hurtful or racise manner, its just how we've become that its "no one's word" because if it was that big of a deal NO ONE should say it, yet if my friends tell me they are cool with it then why not. i don't use it around some people out of respect but more so b/c those are the people that i haven't either known and they would probably take offense OR the fact that they themselves are racist and i can see it being an issue (even though it would be a double standard) thats my 2 pennies worth

[redrumracer]

that word(any word really) is only a word that has power by the people that give it power and meaning.

[Buttons]

i'm not saying who, but a certain member laughed at me when i was telling him about the hurt that this word has caused. i even directed him to:

http://www.abolishthenword.com/

there is so much history behind the word and for someone to use it in manner to mean nothing, it's horrible. that's a very helpful and great site.

[RandomGuy]

does this thread have anything to do with my IM lmfao

[tron]

Im sure this has been talked about before, but i thought i would bring it up again.

Apparently on THE VIEW this morning , Whoopi Goldberg and Star Jones got into it with the Elizabeth Hasselbeck girl over the use of the "n" word.

Whoopi and Star were claiming that it was fine for blacks to use it because its "their" word and to them it has a totally different meaning than a white person using it.

Elizabeths view was that the "black community" complains about inequality and racism, yet they want to seperate themselves an be "UNEQUAL" and use a word that is inherently racist in itself. How can people move on and inprove race relations if they want to keep using words that promote such issues.

What are your thoughts?





My personal view is that the "N" word is derogatory and anyone that uses it is ignorant and an idiot. You cant complain that you get treated unequally if you are going to sit there and create ways to BE DIFFERENT.

that would be like saying wearing black shirts is wrong, but its ok if me and my friends where black shirts, just not you an your people.

Whoopi went on to say that she lives in a different world than other poeple and its racist etc. GIVE ME A BREAK. shes a MILLIONAIRE an its easy to play the race card when you are sitting in your mansion in the hills with your private tour bus and limo carting you around.

I really think that for people to encourage the use of the N word in pop culture, music, movies, tv, etc it just promotes division.

ok i agree with you 95% but what i dont agree with is being treated equally and being different are 2 completly seprate things. i mean im sure u dont want to look and be like everyone around if you do then your a tool.
and fyi i didnt read your entire post i just had to address the 1st sentence before i did

[tron]

that word(any word really) is only a word that has power by the people that give it power and meaning.

QFT

[tony]

I see both sides of the coin so its hard to have an opinion, it was something I used to do in high school and I'm sure when I see my childhood best friend next week I'll say it again.

Its really hard to explain and difficult to understand if you haven't been in that environment to see the term as something other than derogatory. What I cannot stand is being out in public and some ignorass is loud as hell spewing "***** this, ***** that." Its annoying..

I don't cringe when I listen to Nas or Kanye use the term, its just interpreted different in the black community.. does that make it right? No it is hypocrticall, but it's just dialect to most that use it.. no different than you calling your friend a "dumb ass" yeah thats vulgar when used with someone you are not familiar but with that friend its just how you talk.

Don't feel like I'm making a great deal of sense here but I hope I got my point across.

[NewGen33]

This is how I see it...
You have black people then you have n1ggas and or ghetto black people.
You have whites then you have white trash and so fourth with every race. If you want to lable a person as a n1gga or whatever else. I'm in the younger bracket of the group on here and I can tell you for a fact white kids and other non black races are picking it up as a cool slang word as they do a lot of other things. For instance you can see one talk to another and be like hey n1g you never called me or Aight n1g later. I notice that in Washington state there is a big white gangster thug life trend going on. I saw one of my old friends recently who had been living there and he's all into that. Based on the origin of the word I don't think anyone should use it or would want to but it will never go away. Put any wrapper out there on mtv, myspace, or another mainstream network and it can become cool, acceptable and desired to use or act upon. 0.02

[Doppelgänger]

I think as long as people feel the need to discuss it rather than just let it go, it will be considered taboo.

[Vteckidd]

I was just curious how some other poeple see it being used.

I personally dont have a problem with other people using it, it doesnt infuriate me, but what bothers me is the use of it by CERTAIN people and then in the next sentence they complain about how bad our society is.

I mean how can Kanye criticize Imus when he uses the EXACT same hatefull racist words.

that is my problem.

Like i guess the issue i see is that a black person can tell me that im not allowed to use the word, its disrespectfull, racist, etc. Then they turn around and use the EXACT SAME WORD like it means nothing.

I think its just a hypocritical thing to do.

See white people dont go around calling each other whitey, or honkey, or white trash, or redneck. None that i know at least do that.

I really feel the blame falls with these ass hat celebrities (like Star Jones and Goldberg and others) that push this equal but seperate societys.

[thecrazyone]

IMO stupid topic, freedom of speech/

******

but really who cares, if no one took offense to the word it wouldnt mean a damn thing.

black people are the ones keeping the word alive.

[Alan®]

I see both sides of the coin so its hard to have an opinion, it was something I used to do in high school and I'm sure when I see my childhood best friend next week I'll say it again.

Its really hard to explain and difficult to understand if you haven't been in that environment to see the term as something other than derogatory. What I cannot stand is being out in public and some ignorass is loud as hell spewing "***** this, ***** that." Its annoying..

I don't cringe when I listen to Nas or Kanye use the term, its just interpreted different in the black community.. does that make it right? No it is hypocrticall, but it's just dialect to most that use it.. no different than you calling your friend a "dumb ass" yeah thats vulgar when used with someone you are not familiar but with that friend its just how you talk.

Don't feel like I'm making a great deal of sense here but I hope I got my point across.

Nah you made sense lol. I understand what you mean. I'm white actually believed the same thing as mike for a long time but my best friend growing up was black and he is the only person that when he calls I will actually pick up the phone and answer "what up n1gga". Like you I see both sides of the coin and find it annoying the same way you do when it's thrown around losely out in public like it's any other word in the english language. I can understand using it with friends but out in public show a little class and respect for yourself. I think ultimately though redrumracer has it right but at the same time i see where mike is coming from.

[Vteckidd]

it's just dialect to most that use it.. no different than you calling your friend a "dumb ass" yeah thats vulgar when used with someone you are not familiar but with that friend its just how you talk.

But my problem with that is you can call me a "dumb ass" and i can call you a "dumb ass" and its ok.

If you call me a ****** or a *****, and i call it to you back, ill end up on the 6o'clock news for a hate crime.

Make sense?

[RandomGuy]

that double standard has been around for the longest, its not going away lawl

[Blitanicle99]

In my opinion, if you are offended by the word N1GGER then you truely are one and are that derogatory racial term.

Flip the picture over. I am white, and I think the common word is "cracker" or "cracka" for white people.


And both words have history. N1GGER has the slave history, however as does the word "Cracker"... If you didn't catch on, slaves would call their white masters "Crackas" as in whip crackers.

Im not offended by the word, actually theres not much you can say that I am offended by. I think its hilarious. I think racism should be taken much less serious, and just laugh a little about it.

Two Examples: First off, ever notice in europe that no one has to be politically correct? As in you can say "Retard" in public or "N1GGER" and no one gets offended?

Second, and lets be honest here... If you say N1GGER in a restaraunt and you are around black people, someone who is black will probably make a notion to it, say something you never know. However, again flip the situation around and a black person says "Cracka" or something similiar... Do you think anyone is gonna care? No. Because white people don't give a crap about insults unless they are from Alabama and you say something about F***ing their sister or talk **** about Nascar.

But when it all comes down to it, and when you really think about it, considering every angle, and this is not just my personal opinion, because contrary to what you believe, ITS A F*CKING WORD. GET OVER IT.


Did I make my point clear? lol

Please. People reply and don't hold back. And that means ALL RACES. That means you white people... and you black people... and hell mexican/latinos **** it come on post up.

[Vteckidd]

Again , the problem i have is not the word itself, but merely that attitude of the poeple that use it.

the double standard if you will

[Blitanicle99]

Again , the problem i have is not the word itself, but merely that attitude of the poeple that use it.

the double standard if you will

Oh I completely understand on the attitue issue. Its such a HUGE deal and the race card can be pulled at any time whenever need be. It gets old...

[JITB]

If you were raised to respect others... it will never be a issue in your life.

You wont ever hear me spittin racial **** to anyone regardless of waht they say to me. Because you don know who you might offend.

I will never try to tell anyone else what not to get offended by, So i cant understand how anyone can tell others what they should be mad at. I know people that will flip out if you call them "fools" or anything out their name. Just because somethign doesnt bother you doesnt mean that it shouldnt bother anyone else. That is my problem with the whole thing. everyone has something that will make them snap.. its true, its human nature. People dont know how to be respectful or considerate to other people anymore.

[BABY J]

If you were raised to respect others... it will never be a issue in your life.

You wont ever hear me spittin racial **** to anyone regardless of waht they say to me. Because you don know who you might offend.

I will never try to tell anyone else what not to get offended by, So i cant understand how anyone can tell others what they should be mad at. I know people that will flip out if you call them "fools" or anything out their name. Just because somethign doesnt bother you doesnt mean that it shouldnt bother anyone else. That is my problem with the whole thing. everyone has something that will make them snap.. its true, its human nature. People dont know how to be respectful or considerate to other people anymore.

You are the bomb. Wow. AMAZING. It's like... you have... like a BRAIN inside of your head.... and you're also like USING it and sh*t. That's crazy. How are you doing that thing that you're doing - that thing called "making sense"? I don't see that too often - please share that trick w/ every1.

[quickdodge®]

I would never use the word. I'm with black folks much more than I am with white. I have all my life. I've often been referred to as having been "accepted" into the black community. I've been to black churches many, many times. Not to mention having a black/mixed daughter. I can't tell you how many times I've been referred to as black and I call myself the "white guy that thinks he's black."

I think it's stupid as hail and ridiculous looking to see some stupid white "wannabes" calling each other ni66as. I don't even think they realize how stupid they look when they do it. Same when I see some "hardcore" white dude hanging around black folks and using the term. Still ridiculous looking.

Later, QD.

[JITB]

You are the bomb. Wow. AMAZING. It's like... you have... like a BRAIN inside of your head.... and you're also like USING it and sh*t. That's crazy. How are you doing that thing that you're doing - that thing called "making sense"? I don't see that too often - please share that trick w/ every1.

Some people like to justify everything, for something else. When it comes down to its wrong....and offensive, so let it go. Of all the words in the english language, people want to justify using words that we all know doesnt ever make anything better.

[Thighs]

the way i see it, it shouldnt be a problem as long as there is no hate or derogatory meaning in its usage. saying "fuk you n1gga?" and saying "fuk you n1gger" are two different things, even though i said the same word. see what im saying? its all about the meaning behind it.

for the record, im a skinny white kid and i hate hearing people make ignorant, racist statements towards any race in a serious manner. im tired of race making a difference in judgement of a person.

sounds like whoopi goldberg and star jones are a little racist themselves. whats so different about separate standards of things like this and separate bathrooms? yes, they may be on two totally different levels, but segregation is segregation. the end.

[JITB]

the way i see it, it shouldnt be a problem as long as there is no hate or derogatory meaning in its usage. saying "fuk you n1gga?" and saying "fuk you n1gger" are two different things, even though i said the same word. see what im saying? its all about the meaning behind it.

for the record, im a skinny white kid and i hate hearing people make ignorant, racist statements towards any race in a serious manner. im tired of race making a difference in judgement of a person.

sounds like whoopi goldberg and star jones are a little racist themselves. whats so different about separate standards of things like this and separate bathrooms? yes, they may be on two totally different levels, but segregation is segregation. the end.

lol OH it makes sense now..

so if i walk up to your mother and say "suck my ****" its bad

But if i say "suck my penis please"

its all good..

[Thighs]

lol OH it makes sense now..

so if i walk up to your mother and say "suck my ****" its bad

But if i say "suck my penis please"

its all good..

no. because the meaning behind both of those is negative. (well, i guess that depends on what end of the statement you're on, but you get my point.)

are you saying that if 2 friends are sitting around and one makes fun of the other (with good intentions) and the other replies with "fvck you n1gga", you would be offended the same as if some fat redneck walked up to a black guy on the street and said "fvck you n1gger"?

[JITB]

no. because the meaning behind both of those is negative. (well, i guess that depends on what end of the statement you're on, but you get my point.)

are you saying that if 2 friends are sitting around and one makes fun of the other (with good intentions) and the other replies with "fvck you n1gga", you would be offended the same as if some fat redneck walked up to a black guy on the street and said "fvck you n1gger"?

thats not what im going against, im going against.. the point when people justify it by saying.. well "they say it why cant i".

that scenario you wrote is amongst friends...and which it cannot be explained!

[81911SC]

Nobody here was a slave. Quit bitching about the past. You blacks keep it around and promote it but God forbid a white man does it.

[BABY J]

Why would a white man WANT to use it is a better question.

[JITB]

Nobody here was a slave. Quit bitching about the past. You blacks keep it around and promote it but God forbid a white man does it.

what is a "blacks"?

[81911SC]

Why would a white man WANT to use it is a better question.

Why would you? Lets use a degrading name whites call us and make it our own thing, but if they use it.
If you call us crackers, we don't care cause your well....LOL Will get bant for that one.

[MongolPup]

I don't really want to weigh in on this right now, I just wanted to congratulate the gentlemen on the first page and the start of the second for insightful, level headed reasoning, no matter what their conclusion was.

Good thread Mike.

[stephen]

Again , the problem i have is not the word itself, but merely that attitude of the poeple that use it.

the double standard if you will

"double-standard" exist everwhere man...it's human nature. i'm not sure if you have siblings or not, but i remember as a child, me and my little sister (she's 3yrs younger than me) would tease each other and fight all the time...but we'd never let anyone else tease or fight the other one. you're probably thinking "that's different, that's family" but sometimes black people tend to "relate" to other black people like family. think about it, a famous term for a black man is "a brother." i'm not saying it's right, i'm just saying...double standards are a part of life. none of us were alive in the 1800s, but we all LEARNED what it meant when a WHITE man stepped out on his porch and called to all "his ***.gers." that being the case, how can you not "understand" a black person's reaction now when a WHITE man steps out onto the streets, and tries to call to all "his ***.gers?"

and much like a lot of other black people out there, i can't stand to hear another black person just use it over and over and over again.

[ShooterMcGavin]

Im sure this has been talked about before, but i thought i would bring it up again.

Apparently on THE VIEW this morning , Whoopi Goldberg and Star Jones got into it with the Elizabeth Hasselbeck girl over the use of the "n" word.

Whoopi and Star were claiming that it was fine for blacks to use it because its "their" word and to them it has a totally different meaning than a white person using it.

Elizabeths view was that the "black community" complains about inequality and racism, yet they want to seperate themselves an be "UNEQUAL" and use a word that is inherently racist in itself. How can people move on and inprove race relations if they want to keep using words that promote such issues.

What are your thoughts?





My personal view is that the "N" word is derogatory and anyone that uses it is ignorant and an idiot. You cant complain that you get treated unequally if you are going to sit there and create ways to BE DIFFERENT.

that would be like saying wearing black shirts is wrong, but its ok if me and my friends where black shirts, just not you an your people.

Whoopi went on to say that she lives in a different world than other poeple and its racist etc. GIVE ME A BREAK. shes a MILLIONAIRE an its easy to play the race card when you are sitting in your mansion in the hills with your private tour bus and limo carting you around.

I really think that for people to encourage the use of the N word in pop culture, music, movies, tv, etc it just promotes division.

1) i hope you were watching a rerun bc i cannot otherwise believe they're still talking about this retarded ass bs

2) so long as black ppl hang on to the word n_gger and all other slang forms of it, and recognize ppl of their skin color as such, then EVERYONE will cling to it

[Ed]

Nobody here was a slave. Quit bitching about the past. You blacks keep it around and promote it but God forbid a white man does it.

qft.

black people sometimes are retarded.

i saw a video about obama the other day, and obama was giving an interview, and he was referring to a white woman and he said "a typical white woman," but if cain said was referring to a black person and said "a typical black person" his campain would be over. that's just ****ing retarded, you wanna be equal then be equal, dont go off on your own racism just because your great great grandfather was a slave.

speaking of slavery, reparations is another lazy way of using the govt for them.

ps. i dont hate black ppl. i have a lot of black friends.

[BABY J]

^^

PEOPLE are sometimes retarded. NOT just black people. And what other way is there to say "a typical white woman" when you are indeed referring to a "typical white woman"? LOL. Newcasters say it ALL the time when referring to who Hillary brought to the polls. Again - that's just b*tches being too sensitive.

I personally don't give a sh*t either way. But IMO, Imus HAD to know he was f*ckin w/ his meal ticket when he said what he said. PERIOD. And THAT'S why he said it b/c he's a sensationalist. So, the average Joe needs to ALSO know that he may be f*ckin w/ his dental insurance if he drops the N bomb in public.

White America just can't fathom the fact that there is SOMETHING on the planet that they don't have 100% access too and it f*cks them up - it's just that simple. "Oh look - the Indians have America, let's go 'discover' it and call it ours. OH SNAP - Africa is PACKED w/ diamonds, rubies, gold - let's go get it!!" LOL. I mean SH*T - you f*ckers created the word and it got "taken" from you and you can't adjust. No matter how stupid I think the word is (and I do)... it's one that the hip-hop community has taken and CHANGED THE MEANING TO when they use it. I can understand that --- you should too. Does Eminem use it in lyrics? No. So why the H*LL would you think Joe Q. Public could?

[willum14pb]

The real question is, why the **** were you watching the view?

[BABY J]

The real question is, why the **** were you watching the view?

DING DING DING!!! LOL

[Ed]

^^

PEOPLE are sometimes retarded. NOT just black people. And what other way is there to say "a typical white woman" when you are indeed referring to a "typical white woman"?

I agree, but is there a way to say something about a typical black person, without sounding racist? Because we all know if a white person said that, most black people would get all defensive and start calling them racist? my point is not that he said that, my point is that sometimes black peolpe wanna be treated equally but they themselves are sometimes even more racist.

I mean SH*T - you f*ckers created the word and it got "taken" from you and you can't adjust. No matter how stupid I think the word is (and I do)... it's one that the hip-hop community has taken and CHANGED THE MEANING TO when they use it. I can understand that --- you should too. Does Eminem use it in lyrics? No. So why the H*LL would you think Joe Q. Public could?

i didnt create the word, im not from america.

a word is a word, you cant change the meaning to it. you can all agree that it is not derogatory when said to each other, but deep deep down, everyone knows that that's what the word is.

eminem doesn't use it because he knows if he did, he would get raped. he'd get sued to hell, and probably get raped literally too. Joe Q. Public can use it because just as you said, he's not a media persona, he's just regular Joe Public.

[Ed]

DING DING DING!!! LOL

hahaha. i didn't even see that. that's a good question...

[BABY J]

^^ I think you are personalizing it - I am not talking directly to you Homey. LOL