7 ms·
It's pretty coarse to use the full N word, even in quotes.
by honua 11y ago
It's pretty coarse to use the full N word, even in quotes.
- csihar 11y agoLife can be pretty coarse, my white friend.
- zhemao 11y agoWhat would be the purpose of censoring it out? Everyone would know what term was being used anyway.
- honua 11y agoThe point is that > it was used just about every time a Black person was whipped, chained, beaten, insulted, spat upon, raped, lynched, or otherwise humiliated and mistreated by White folks. Since everyone would know what term was being used anyway, why NOT censor it, given it's vile origins? Why continue to say it?
- function_seven 11y agoPrecisely because it is vile. Why did you have to use the word "rape" in your comment? Couldn't you have just said "sexually assaulted"? Or r-ped? I appreciate it when people don't nerf their language, personally. It's just more honest.
- honua 11y agoHonest at the what cost, though? White people continue to try and use the word with whichever excuse they can find. There is a vast difference between the word rape and the N word.
- function_seven 11y agoWhen quoting what someone else actually says, there's no word that should be censored in my opinion. If someone is coming up with excuses to say vile shit, then call them on it. But quoting what someone else actually said isn't trying to "use the word with whichever excuse they can find".
- khedoros 11y ago> Honest at the what cost, though? Good question. What is the cost that you're talking about? Speech has intent behind it. Peatmoss' comment doesn't seem intended to hurt anyone. It seems intended to drive home the unfairness that they (peatmoss) witnessed, and to remind us that racism is still a widespread problem. I don't think that a bowdlerized version of the comment would've had the same impact.
- zhemao 11y agoIf you're directly quoting someone, you should use the words they use. There's a vast difference between using a racial slur yourself and calling out someone who does. And why do you think white people look for excuses to use the word? I haven't heard a White person use it since middle school.
- dylanz 11y agoOne of my favorite joints as a kid: http://genius.com/A-tribe-called-quest-sucka-nigga-lyrics http://genius.com/A-tribe-called-quest-sucka-nigga-lyrics I said the word non-chalantly to my girlfriend in a sentence the other day (to see what her reaction would be), and she nearly fell out of her chair. We're both white. The word is, and I think will always be, extremely powerful.
- Ntrails 11y agoSinging along to rap whilst walking down the street remains an exercise in paying attention to who is around me. If I'm alone you can be damned sure I'm singing the whole thing. It's far from just that word which is completely inappropriate - but hell I'm having fun.
- peatmoss 11y agoI can understand where that word could be offensive even in this context. I don't feel particularly comfortable using the word in any context. I considered censoring, but in the end decided that "prairie n-word" was a bit too euphemistic compared to the actual usage. These are northerners who, in this century, understand the full context and ugliness of the term, and choose to use it anyway. Apologies to anyone offended by my quoting it.
- rybosome 11y agoHaving given it considerable thought, I have come to the conclusion that I will use words like that in academic or quotational contexts, but only if I'm with company who will understand my intentions and not be offended. Although I value clarity and the ability to have thoughtful, dispassionate discussion of sensitive topics, I do not want to be an asshole, nor do I want to give the impression that I think casual usage of these terms is acceptable. Some would say that I have no right to use these terms at all, but I don't feel this is reasonable (though I won't argue this point or attempt to use such words in front of those who hold this view). The primary reason not to use these words is to avoid inflicting pain and perpetuating intolerance, but if my wife and I are having a private discussion about, say, homophobia, and I recant a story that involves the quotation of a slur, I am hurting no one and perpetuating nothing. I would personally have elected not to use it in this case given the wide audience, but I understand that the context was not hateful and it was being used to illuminate a real situation and promote discussion. Just my opinion, not a permission slip obviously.