5 ms·

It's very interesting. It reminds me that here in Spain, we use 'f-words' constantly. We say "negro" (black) to our black friends and is nothing bad. Why would

by barredo 17y ago

It's very interesting. It reminds me that here in Spain, we use 'f-words' constantly. We say "negro" (black) to our black friends and is nothing bad. Why would I say the ultra-political-correct "african" or "afroamerican"? Same with gay, homosexual, etc. Doesn't mean anything bad. I'm quite surprised with all the videoclips/songs, tv shows and videogames that avoid f-words or are edited (with noises). People sometimes want to harm with words, words themselves mean nothing.

gcheong 17y ago
Reminds me of this: http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/09/12/louis-ck-hates-the-n-word/ http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/09/12/louis-ck-hates... As far as censorship goes, look what we can do now thanks to years of bleeping and blurring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Vh9_Hi1kY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Vh9_Hi1kY
- philwelch 17y ago
  And then there's this old classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXFz7vqbk1o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXFz7vqbk1o
qeorge 17y ago
I end up having an if-by-whiskey argument with myself about this, especially regarding the "n-word." If by saying the n-word casually, you mean removing the hatred and power behind a word which has divided our people for centuries by giving it a new and friendly connotation, then of course I am for it. If by saying the n-word casually, you mean flippantly dismissing decades of institutionalized enslavement and murder, and a constant reminder that for all our progress we are still very much two nations, then I despise it. Its clear to me though that the n-word still causes a great deal of pain to many of my brothers and sisters, and I want no part of that. So even though I hope that someday the n-word will lose this meaning, you're not going to hear it coming out of my mouth.
- axod 17y ago
  I don't think being offended by any word is rational. Be offended by actions and events. The list of outlawed words is growing by the day which is just ridiculous. Nigger is used in rap music all the time. You'd hear it come out of my mouth: 1. If singing along to R&B Rap etc 2. If quoting some comedy or trying to be funny Certainly wouldn't use it in an aggressive/hateful way, and that's what you have to always bear in mind - context.
  - philwelch 17y ago
    Watch out. White people saying the word "nigger" because they're trying to be funny end up being this guy: http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/ http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-o...
    - poppysan 17y ago
      I am offended at people using it even on this board. Yes, I am a rational person and words shouldn't affect me, but the fact of the matter is that there are deep seeded emotions behind the usage. Whats so wrong with saying n-word when referring to it?
      - there 17y ago
        Whats so wrong with saying n-word when referring to it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N6Phmale_Q#t=1m58s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N6Phmale_Q#t=1m58s (nsfw)
      - astrec 17y ago
        Whats so wrong with saying n-word when referring to it? Because to matter how much lipstick you slap on a pig, it's still a pig. (Apologies to my sus brethren.)((Oh, and just be clear, we're talking about the word and the word only.))
      - Devilboy 17y ago
        There's absolutely nothing wrong with saying 'n-word' instead of 'nigger'. You can call it anything you feel comfortable with. If you take offense to others saying 'nigger' then I apologize, that was not the intent. Do you also get offended when you hear some rapper saying 'nigger' in a song or interview?
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jff 17y ago
In the US, "negro" was once the accepted term; you'll hear it in old TV and radio or in literature, and all in the same tone as one might say "caucasian" or "asian". Eventually, we decided it wasn't so great and switched to "black". When you, in Spain, say "negro", it's the equivalent of us saying "black". I don't think any of us say "afroamerican", but we do use "African American" even when the person in question is not American--it's kind of silly. And yes, we say f*ck (censored because I don't remember the HN rules) constantly here too, but that's generally in a specific context: working on something with friends, out with other college students, etc. My friends and I, and most people I know, tend to not swear much around our elders or children; it's censored on TV because the audience is much wider than the couple friends you're hanging out with.
philwelch 17y ago
Spain is a bit further down the euphemism treadmill than we are--calling black people "negros" (btw, in America calling them "black" is acceptable) is okay because the actual racists still go to soccer matches and make monkey noises and throw bananas on the field whenever an African player has the ball[1]. In America, racism is taboo and that kind of nonsense will get you kicked out of the stadium (plus it makes no sense to heckle the majority of the athletes), so the actual racists can only act a little coy, forcing the rest of us to be extra polite, just so we don't seem racist. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Etoo#Racism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Etoo#Racism
narag 17y ago
barredo, I'm very surprised you say this. I don't use to watch TV, but every time I do, I find the politicians are noticeably more politically correct in their language than the previous time: "subsaharianos", "ciudadanos y ciudadanas" (even if Spanish, unlike English, doesn't ask for this kind of distinction), "discapacidad", "etnia"... IOW se la cogen con papel de fumar :-)

by barredo 17y ago

gcheong 17y ago

Reminds me of this: http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/09/12/louis-ck-hates-the-n-word/ http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/09/12/louis-ck-hates... As far as censorship goes, look what we can do now thanks to years of bleeping and blurring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Vh9_Hi1kY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Vh9_Hi1kY

philwelch 17y ago
And then there's this old classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXFz7vqbk1o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXFz7vqbk1o

qeorge 17y ago

I end up having an if-by-whiskey argument with myself about this, especially regarding the "n-word." If by saying the n-word casually, you mean removing the hatred and power behind a word which has divided our people for centuries by giving it a new and friendly connotation, then of course I am for it. If by saying the n-word casually, you mean flippantly dismissing decades of institutionalized enslavement and murder, and a constant reminder that for all our progress we are still very much two nations, then I despise it. Its clear to me though that the n-word still causes a great deal of pain to many of my brothers and sisters, and I want no part of that. So even though I hope that someday the n-word will lose this meaning, you're not going to hear it coming out of my mouth.

axod 17y ago
I don't think being offended by any word is rational. Be offended by actions and events. The list of outlawed words is growing by the day which is just ridiculous. Nigger is used in rap music all the time. You'd hear it come out of my mouth: 1. If singing along to R&B Rap etc 2. If quoting some comedy or trying to be funny Certainly wouldn't use it in an aggressive/hateful way, and that's what you have to always bear in mind - context.
- philwelch 17y ago
  Watch out. White people saying the word "nigger" because they're trying to be funny end up being this guy: http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/ http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-o...
  - poppysan 17y ago
    I am offended at people using it even on this board. Yes, I am a rational person and words shouldn't affect me, but the fact of the matter is that there are deep seeded emotions behind the usage. Whats so wrong with saying n-word when referring to it?
    - there 17y ago
      Whats so wrong with saying n-word when referring to it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N6Phmale_Q#t=1m58s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N6Phmale_Q#t=1m58s (nsfw)
    - astrec 17y ago
      Whats so wrong with saying n-word when referring to it? Because to matter how much lipstick you slap on a pig, it's still a pig. (Apologies to my sus brethren.)((Oh, and just be clear, we're talking about the word and the word only.))
    - Devilboy 17y ago
      There's absolutely nothing wrong with saying 'n-word' instead of 'nigger'. You can call it anything you feel comfortable with. If you take offense to others saying 'nigger' then I apologize, that was not the intent. Do you also get offended when you hear some rapper saying 'nigger' in a song or interview?

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jff 17y ago

In the US, "negro" was once the accepted term; you'll hear it in old TV and radio or in literature, and all in the same tone as one might say "caucasian" or "asian". Eventually, we decided it wasn't so great and switched to "black". When you, in Spain, say "negro", it's the equivalent of us saying "black". I don't think any of us say "afroamerican", but we do use "African American" even when the person in question is not American--it's kind of silly. And yes, we say f*ck (censored because I don't remember the HN rules) constantly here too, but that's generally in a specific context: working on something with friends, out with other college students, etc. My friends and I, and most people I know, tend to not swear much around our elders or children; it's censored on TV because the audience is much wider than the couple friends you're hanging out with.

philwelch 17y ago

Spain is a bit further down the euphemism treadmill than we are--calling black people "negros" (btw, in America calling them "black" is acceptable) is okay because the actual racists still go to soccer matches and make monkey noises and throw bananas on the field whenever an African player has the ball[1]. In America, racism is taboo and that kind of nonsense will get you kicked out of the stadium (plus it makes no sense to heckle the majority of the athletes), so the actual racists can only act a little coy, forcing the rest of us to be extra polite, just so we don't seem racist. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Etoo#Racism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Etoo#Racism

narag 17y ago

barredo, I'm very surprised you say this. I don't use to watch TV, but every time I do, I find the politicians are noticeably more politically correct in their language than the previous time: "subsaharianos", "ciudadanos y ciudadanas" (even if Spanish, unlike English, doesn't ask for this kind of distinction), "discapacidad", "etnia"... IOW se la cogen con papel de fumar :-)