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 peopl

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.