4 ms·
I think if you are white, you can engage with this entirely as an intellectual debate, or think of it as not a big deal. It's easier then to forget that it's a
by lsiebert 6y ago
I think if you are white, you can engage with this entirely as an intellectual debate, or think of it as not a big deal.
It's easier then to forget that it's a word still used regularly by people committing violent hate crimes against Black folks, and those cheering them on.
- BobbyJo 6y agoI think as a society we should always strive to be objective, especially when accusing someone of wrong-doing and, subsequently damaging their lively-hood. Yes, Black Americans have life experiences that tie extreme emotion to this word, but I think we can recognize that without losing sight of objectivity. There is a reason we don't allow police officers with personal involvement to investigate crimes, and why it's generally frowned upon for employers to date their employees. It's the same reason why we shouldn't let the most subjectively affected decide intent in this instance.
- lsiebert 6y agointent may be a mitigating factor for some, but the harm should be judged by those harmed, should it not? If they can't speak to the harm, who can?
- BobbyJo 6y agoAs a society, we have decided intent matters, and as a result, enshrined it in law. We consider intent in situations where people are killed, I think we can do the same when some feelings are hurt.
- lsiebert 6y agoI think that's basically what I said? I'm not sure I'm getting your point.
- selimthegrim 6y agoMy cousin (immigrant from Pakistan) was trying to set up a housing arrangement with tiny houses for homeless people in New Orleans East. At one of the planning meetings in the local library, a (Black) resident stood up and said "What it feels like is you're trying to dump them all on the n****s in New Orleans East". I was appalled that my cousin would be framed that way, and quite frankly I'm more appalled that I'm not allowed to criticize this framing because repeating the language that was used even to criticize it starts this whole other fire. (At a later meeting that was set up by the local councilman to use him as a punching bag he was told to "take his tiny houses back to Pakistan" with him and that "Donald Trump was President now" by a bunch of people I really doubt voted for Trump if they did vote). I've never been so happy to see someone lose an election in my life.
- pseudalopex 6y agoYou just criticized the framing without repeating the language.
- selimthegrim 6y agoYes, but in written form as opposed to verbally it doesn't have the negative pressure I felt was being applied upon my cousin.
- pseudalopex 6y ago"The N word" is the verbal equivalent of asterisks.
- fallingknife 6y agoIn my experience black people are way more rational about this stuff than white people.
- mensetmanusman 6y agoPew research has also confirmed this, it is mostly very wealthy progressives who are the most offended.
- jkhdigital 6y agoI suspect that it is used 1000x more often by black “folks” committing crimes against other black “folks”. Also, black is not a proper noun.