4 ms·

To defend the PS3 ad, he didn't say the Nigerian scammers, he said Nigerian millionaires. He left it to the viewers to fill in the rest. I've met some Nigerian

by yardie 17y ago

To defend the PS3 ad, he didn't say the Nigerian scammers, he said Nigerian millionaires. He left it to the viewers to fill in the rest. I've met some Nigerian millionaires in my lifetime (oil men) and they didn't get that way from pulling 419s. It reminds of the South Park episode of Randy going on wheel of fortune; N_GGERS, "People who annoy you". He filled in the mental blanks and pulled the wrong trigger. Be honest, who really thought the answer was naggers at first glance. But the problem is that an entire country has become synonymous with a particular form of fraud and instead of trying to combat this negative aspect the people endorse it by celebrating it. "Yahoozee", should be a small-bit joke, not a national hit. And now that the negative connotation is out of the bag, everyone else feels it is safe to use. For example, the word "nigga" has lost its sting. Depending on where you are it may or may not be part of everyday slang. I was a bit shocked when I went to the basketball courts and a group of chinese kids were calling themselves niggas.

marcusbooster 17y ago
To defend the PS3 ad, he didn't say the Nigerian scammers, he said Nigerian millionaires. He left it to the viewers to fill in the rest. To defend the article, that's what it is about.
poppysan 17y ago
Your example is a bit off. The N word or its variations has not lost its sting when in the context of its original use. I have been called the N word by people who meant to degrade, and let me tell you, it causes some powerful feelings within me, even though I know its just a word. When a derogatory term or phrase is altered by the people it references, then that use is considered almost a different word. Weird, but true. For instance, women call each other the b-word jokingly when referring to themselves. homosexuals don't bat an eye when another gay person calls them queer or worse. This article brings up an altogether separate issue. When people make light of illegal/immoral activities, such as scamming, (or closer to home, marijuana use, unusual sexual behavior, or a host of others) then the community at large is effected, for better or worse. Praising the scammer in movies, conversation, and song is keeping the scammers going. Ostracizing participants in immoral/illegal acts, as a contrast, would kill this threat to the image of Nigeria as a whole. An example would be the crack epidemic of the late 70s and the 80s was as much killed by the perception of a "crackhead", as it was by any program or increased education. Now think of the image of a "weedhead". Its an almost positive image, and one of the reasons that the marijuana user community is growing.
huherto 17y ago
My friend who is a basketball player here in Mexico was telling me the other day that 'nigga' is the best compliment you can give when some body does a great move. IMHO, I think is kind of nice that it's changing its meaning.
- _pius 17y ago
  I'm so glad the meaning's changed. Now the next time someone calls me a nigger, I'll thank them because I know that's just their own special way of telling me they figure me for a good basketball player. Yes!

by yardie 17y ago

marcusbooster 17y ago

To defend the PS3 ad, he didn't say the Nigerian scammers, he said Nigerian millionaires. He left it to the viewers to fill in the rest. To defend the article, that's what it is about.

poppysan 17y ago

Your example is a bit off. The N word or its variations has not lost its sting when in the context of its original use. I have been called the N word by people who meant to degrade, and let me tell you, it causes some powerful feelings within me, even though I know its just a word. When a derogatory term or phrase is altered by the people it references, then that use is considered almost a different word. Weird, but true. For instance, women call each other the b-word jokingly when referring to themselves. homosexuals don't bat an eye when another gay person calls them queer or worse. This article brings up an altogether separate issue. When people make light of illegal/immoral activities, such as scamming, (or closer to home, marijuana use, unusual sexual behavior, or a host of others) then the community at large is effected, for better or worse. Praising the scammer in movies, conversation, and song is keeping the scammers going. Ostracizing participants in immoral/illegal acts, as a contrast, would kill this threat to the image of Nigeria as a whole. An example would be the crack epidemic of the late 70s and the 80s was as much killed by the perception of a "crackhead", as it was by any program or increased education. Now think of the image of a "weedhead". Its an almost positive image, and one of the reasons that the marijuana user community is growing.

huherto 17y ago

My friend who is a basketball player here in Mexico was telling me the other day that 'nigga' is the best compliment you can give when some body does a great move. IMHO, I think is kind of nice that it's changing its meaning.

_pius 17y ago
I'm so glad the meaning's changed. Now the next time someone calls me a nigger, I'll thank them because I know that's just their own special way of telling me they figure me for a good basketball player. Yes!