Why is it offensive?

[theOperaGhost]

Alright, so since I didn't want to hijack someone elses thread, I made a new one (this topic has probably been done before, but oh well...).

What is so offensive about the N-word? Why can't I even spell it out for you now without getting negative rep and being bitched at? It's just a word that means nothing...Am I offended if I get called a cracker? No...I don't find that offensive at all, so why is saying n***** so god damn offensive?

I will likely provide videos after a few more responses.

[The Batman]

It's the history behind that word that makes it offensive. What I don't understand is why people would want to say it anyway. To me the only people that use it are urban(or wannabe), low education, follows hip hop to the note, and idolize the negativity of it so by using that word to me you are in one of those categories.

[Ryhanna]

exactly. The "n word" is like a scar in history, you dont want to poke at it or it might hurt. Although, (as far a I know, mainly african americans) do use the word as like a greeting to each other. why is it that they can use the word so casually but when a white person says it it's racist? Sometimes I think the issue of racism is so sensitive because people are just offended too easily...

[The Batman]

I just did a bit of research and thought back at my school days and really though there are two words "nigger" and "nigga". "Nigger" is the racist term that you will most likely not hear an black person say and if a white person does say it then most of the time it is in a racist tone. However, at the High School I went to we heard black and white people say the word "nigga" and NO ONE took it offensively at all because it means a totally different thing. "Nigga" can mean any race or sex in a general term and isn't used in a racist way because it's not really seen that way, but there will be some people who will probably take offense to it due to their own stupidity.

If you are offended by anything I just said then report it or PM me and I'll gladly edit it out

[Perseus]

Ok, if you call someone a "nigger", then I, in my book, means you are calling them ignorant and or stupid. But, there is a difference between a racist person saying than someone who actually knows what the word means. People are just way too sensative and just need to let things go.. I think when people are calling each other "nigga" they're just calling themselves ignorant because they just say it because their friends say or they wanna be "gangsta." I find it annoying when, I'm gonna be honest here, black just call each other fucking all the time, it just sounds stupid.

Same as Thomas, if anyone is offeneded by what I said, I'll edit, or a mod can.

[nick]

Well like I said in the other thread (and btw I certainly didnt give anyone -rep over it) maybe its different in the US. Here in the UK, to me anyway, its just a racist term pure and simple. You could probably get arrested for calling anyone that in public. To me its a horrible word I just never want to hear.

Incidentally, don't know if you ever see the film "The Damn Busters", its a british war film gets shown on tv from time to time. But the flight commander in that film, Guy Gibson his name was in real life (not the actor) had a black labrador named with the n word, that causes the political correctness censors a lot of headaches these days!

[theOperaGhost]

I have a black friend (he's also my co-worker...he's an RA in my building) and he just thinks it's stupid that people can't say nigger. He says nigger..yes nigger, not nigga...does that make him racist against black people? No, because he is black. In fact, we have conversations about the word nigger all the time. He says it's a meaningless word and there's no reason to be offended by it. In my opinion, the word has was originally not used as a racist term...it was simply used as a word to describe black people (not in an offensive way). It simply derives from negro, which means black in many languages.

And like others have said, if I offend you, report it or ask me nicely to edit it. If you don't ask me nicely or if you negative rep me about it, don't expect me to change anything.

[Serenity]

In my opinion, the word has was originally not used as a racist term...it was simply used as a word to describe black people (not in an offensive way). It simply derives from negro, which means black in many languages.

Lol a) the origin of a word is not a matter of opinion. And b) it was completely offensive. It was a descriptive word, yes, but the description it implied was that black people were objects comparable to cattle. Tell me how, in any universe whatsoever, that's unoffensive. It was used purely in hatred to demean slaves and then "free" black people so that whites could uphold their feeling of superiority and power.

[quartermaster]

Lol a) the origin of a word is not a matter of opinion. And b) it was completely offensive. It was a descriptive word, yes, but the description it implied was that black people were objects comparable to cattle. Tell me how, in any universe whatsoever, that's unoffensive. It was used purely in hatred to demean slaves and then "free" black people so that whites could uphold their feeling of superiority and power.

That is actually not wholly correct, the word "nigger" originated from the Spanish word, "negro," which of course, means dark or black. In history, even Arab Moors were described as "negro," though not being ethnically Negroid. Amongst different cultures, overtime, the word "negro" morphed into different forms due to different cultural influences (such as the variant, nègre, in French) which were, of course, adopted by the English (we cannot forget that the English got started rather late in the exploring and colonizing trades in comparison to many other European powers, thus in trade with Africa, the beginnings of the colonization of the Americas and the slave trade, the English simply took on other nation’s words to describe black people). Originally, there was no stigma behind the word "nigger" (note, the current word “nigger” has a different spelling than the Seventeenth Century English variant, but the pronunciation is quite similar), it was simply used to acknowledge race, not demean or insult.

Today, "nigger" has a stigma about it because it is associated with slavery, and thus during the age of abolitionism, took on a more negative connotation because of that association. However, the word was not a word of "hate," it was a descriptive term that denoted a black person (now, the word itself was no compliment for a white person because blacks were considered inferior, but it had no other meanings than its intrinsic meaning). To put it in perspective, it would be like a black person being called a "colored" today, though it is a term that simply denotes nothing more than a person of "color," more appropriately, a black person, the word gets its stigma because of the Civil Rights movement and the issues of a racist South, but its meaning is no less different.

To be sure, the word "nigger" has been used as a racial term, most especially to demean black people; however, this truly did not begin until after slavery was abolished. Moreover, the ignorance behind it is quite poignant, because given the word's true meaning, it would be like someone trying to demean me today, by yelling, "You damn African American!"

[Patchy]

Was used a lot in the south during segregation, "Staff required, No N*ggers"

Personally some racist words used I think are acceptable. I think p*ki shouldn't be seen to be racist. Scottish people are called Scots, P*ki is a shorter way of saying pakistani. However I know people find it offensive hence why I don't use it.

I think N*gger is not a nice word really to talk about someone, its not making black/coloured easier/shorter to say.

[The Batman]

Back during slavery times if you were to call a white man a "nigger" than I can guarantee you that they would have taken it offensive because back then black people weren't treated like regular people, we were nothing more than property. The word might have been just used to describe a race but that race wasn't treated equally and they weren't even seen as people. It's not ignorance that made the word offensive but it's ignorance that's keeping it that way.

[nick]

Tom, you'll have to forgive me, its late here and maybe I'm being obtuse. I've made it clear (as a white person, and that's an explanation/term I dont feel I should have to give) that I find the term offensive. But I'm really not sure from what you said whether you agree its offensive or not?

[The Batman]

Not as much as I use to and that's because I don't want to give words like that power. A word only has as much power as you give it.

[nick]

Was used a lot in the south during segregation, "Staff required, No N*ggers"

Personally some racist words used I think are acceptable. I think p*ki shouldn't be seen to be racist. Scottish people are called Scots, P*ki is a shorter way of saying pakistani. However I know people find it offensive hence why I don't use it.

I think N*gger is not a nice word really to talk about someone, its not making black/coloured easier/shorter to say.
I agree with most of this, but if you take the p*** word, most times it isnt used simply as an abbreviation, its used as a derogatory term. But, where I think we agree, the bottom line for me is that if some people find it offensive they why keep using it?

[theOperaGhost]

That is actually not wholly correct, the word "nigger" originated from the Spanish word, "negro," which of course, means dark or black. In history, even Arab Moors were described as "negro," though not being ethnically Negroid. Amongst different cultures, overtime, the word "negro" morphed into different forms due to different cultural influences (such as the variant, nègre, in French) which were, of course, adopted by the English (we cannot forget that the English got started rather late in the exploring and colonizing trades in comparison to many other European powers, thus in trade with Africa, the beginnings of the colonization of the Americas and the slave trade, the English simply took on other nation’s words to describe black people). Originally, there was no stigma behind the word "nigger" (note, the current word “nigger” has a different spelling than the Seventeenth Century English variant, but the pronunciation is quite similar), it was simply used to acknowledge race, not demean or insult.

Today, "nigger" has a stigma about it because it is associated with slavery, and thus during the age of abolitionism, took on a more negative connotation because of that association. However, the word was not a word of "hate," it was a descriptive term that denoted a black person (now, the word itself was no compliment for a white person because blacks were considered inferior, but it had no other meanings than its intrinsic meaning). To put it in perspective, it would be like a black person being called a "colored" today, though it is a term that simply denotes nothing more than a person of "color," more appropriately, a black person, the word gets its stigma because of the Civil Rights movement and the issues of a racist South, but its meaning is no less different.

To be sure, the word "nigger" has been used as a racial term, most especially to demean black people; however, this truly did not begin until after slavery was abolished. Moreover, the ignorance behind it is quite poignant, because given the word's true meaning, it would be like someone trying to demean me today, by yelling, "You damn African American!"

Great post!!

I don't see why the word itself is offensive. The context of how it is used can make it offensive obviously, but that can be said about every word. I don't see saying "you damn nigger" as being any different than saying "you pussy little white-boy," yet the latter doesn't get you charged with a hate crime. Maybe I am just ignorant, but that's not how I see it and I know there are people, both black and white who agree. I feel the problem is over-sensitivity and not ignorance. The word nigger just keeps getting a more racist connotation because it just becomes more forbidden to use. Saying the word nigger doesn't make a person racist...it's the context of how it's said...not the word itself.

[Maverick]

Do you believe offensive words exist at all, Jared?

[Tiberius]

Souhtern Americans back in the 18th and 19th Centuries adopted the Latin word for black wich just happens to be the word "Niger." It's the same exact word in English, we only added the extra "g" to have the hard pronounciation of the letter whereas in Latin, that is always the case. It originally had NO racist meaning and was simply used as a shoterned form of "black man(person)" since as we all know, Americans(especially Southern Americans) are lazy when it comes to their speech. It is only in recent times has it become a "racist" word when in all actuallity, IT'S NOT. By the original definition, it means BLACK not an offensive remark. It's only the black movement groups and a few racist fucks who have given us such an opinion on that word.

[liveyoungdiefast]

I don't find the word 'nigger' or 'nigga' offensive. But I also very much dislike it. Now I'm a white guy and I've heard every opinion across the board from white, black and everyone in between. There is no consensus and not really a race bias. I'd say a quite equal proportion of whites and blacks use it (and every other race) and a quite equal proportion of whites and blacks are offended by it.

So I don't scream "OMFG RACIST" I don't like it though. Really, I don't. Why? Because almost every stupid person I've ever known in my life makes plentiful use of it. Especially amongst teens and young people. It's a staple word of the idiotic manner of communicating.


"Ya nigga u shuda seen how FUCKIN STONED we got last nite ya nigga. And us niggas saw some bitchas and we was like, ya we FUCKIN do these bitches. Even the fat ones, nigga."

I am not racist, sexist, homophobic, nationalistic, or even ageist. I am though the type of person who hates stupid people with a fiery passion. I read books on philosophy and study world events from the alternative media and communicate with intelligent people online from all over the world trying to gain a multicultural perspective. And meanwhile almost everyone else my age save for a few unique individuals, is off smoking pot and collecting STD's, or almost as bad, claiming to, all while saying 'nigga, nigga, nigga'. All day.

[Maverick]

When it comes to dealing with language how it is meant in the past has really no relevance to the present. Language and words evolve and meanings change over time. Words by themselves are not offensive but it is when people give them meaning is how they get their definition.

This whole debate is pretty simple really. When someone uses the word to cause offense, then it can be taken as offensive. When you ask, why is the word offensive... its usually because the person using it is trying to offend.

Words are powerful but not everyone feels the same universally about them.

[Serenity]

By the original definition, it means BLACK not an offensive remark. It's only the black movement groups and a few racist fucks who have given us such an opinion on that word.

Faggot by definition means "a bundle of sticks." I know this because that was the excuse all the homophobic fucks used in my high school. But everyone knows what they mean.

Like Ant said, the context the word is used in gives the word the meaning. Nigger might literally mean a black person and faggot might mean a bundle of sticks but they're both used in a specifically demeaning way towards a specific group of people.

[Modus Operandi]

Faggot by definition means "a bundle of sticks." I know this because that was the excuse all the homophobic fucks used in my high school. But everyone knows what they mean.

Like Ant said, the context the word is used in gives the word the meaning. Nigger might literally mean a black person and faggot might mean a bundle of sticks but they're both used in a specifically demeaning way towards a specific group of people.

That's pretty much my opinion in a nutshell.

No matter what a word means in a "dictionary" sense, it can still take on different meanings in the "culture" sense.

[tripolar]

I don't really care when people say it just causally. But when someone uses it to offend a black person like directly calling them a nigger just to be rude then its completely offensive.

[The Joker]

It's simple. I'm very good friends with a black family, if they were called that by me they would be insulted and hurt. If it's offensive to someone I know, I won't use it at all.

[quartermaster]

Back during slavery times if you were to call a white man a "nigger" than I can guarantee you that they would have taken it offensive because back then black people weren't treated like regular people


Most certainly, if you call a racist person "black" today, I'm sure they will be less than thrilled; racism is racism and ignorance breeds ignorance.

[MykeSoBe]

In my opinion, no one should use "nigger" or "nigga", no matter what nationality or ethnicity. We are all equal before the eyes of the Lord. At least that's what Martin Luther King said about it ...

[Sage]

Words have no power until given power. Simple solution: Indifference.

[INFERNO]

I think that looking at the past of how a word was used and what it meant is useful only if it has a similar or the same meaning. If it has a completely different meaning, then I see no point in using it in a debate.

I think that the term "nigger" is meant to be a descriptive word and is usually deemed offensive because of its close connection to how blacks were treated way back when. The part I don't understand though is why "nigga" is used because it sounds quite similar, has similar meaning but is not offensive. Despite this, if a white person calls a black person a "nigga", then they'll usually be deemed racist, showing its close association with the more offensive term, "nigger". Even if there is a black-black confrontation, "nigga" may be used but it's used in a way to be offensive. Overall, I'm not understanding why it's used, both "nigger" and "nigga".

However, the problem seems to be somewhat circular; society seems determined to remove racism so "nigga" is used more and more, however, depending who says it even in the same circumstances, it's deemed offensive and racist. It becomes circular in that it's used so frequently and generally, many of those who use it want to remove racism. The crux of the problem is that the more it's used in the way it is, the more its meaning(s) are reinforced and the more significance it gets. In other words, in our attempts to remove racism, we essentially increase the offensitivity of the word we're trying to abolish. Also seems somewhat paradoxical.

In my view though, I think it depends on the context of the use, just like other words do. For example, for the word "crazy", one can say it in a joking manner, "man, you're crazy" and not have it be offensive whereas if used in another manner, "you need to get back to the loony bin, you're crazy" it can be more offensive. Thus, I don't think we can rely exclusively on the dictionary definition of the word simply because a dictionary is meant to be objective whereas the cultural and societal views are subjective, and those views heavily influence our interpretations.

[theOperaGhost]

Do you believe offensive words exist at all, Jared?

When it comes to dealing with language how it is meant in the past has really no relevance to the present. Language and words evolve and meanings change over time. Words by themselves are not offensive but it is when people give them meaning is how they get their definition.

This whole debate is pretty simple really. When someone uses the word to cause offense, then it can be taken as offensive. When you ask, why is the word offensive... its usually because the person using it is trying to offend.

Words are powerful but not everyone feels the same universally about them.

You answered your question to me with a very similar answer to what I would have given.

My answer is this. No, I don't believe offensive words exist. I believe it is all in the context of how the word is used and how it is said. Have I heard nigger used in a hateful way? Of course I have, but it is a huge generalization to say that any time a white person says nigger it is in a hateful way.

Now what I say next may be a bit hypocritical and quite likely offensive. In my opinion (yes, in my opinion) there is a difference between a nigger and a black person (you all know that difference, don't deny it). To me, a nigger is equivalent to white trash and a black person is equivalent to a white person. Nobody seems to have a problem when someone is described as white trash....why is that? In this way, I DO use the word with an offensive connotation.

[Patchy]

I agree with most of this, but if you take the p*** word, most times it isnt used simply as an abbreviation, its used as a derogatory term. But, where I think we agree, the bottom line for me is that if some people find it offensive they why keep using it?

Yes thats a very good point.

However interesting court case (can't find the correct quote so I'll do it how I remember it)

Sanjay's corner shop was robbed at 4pm this was part of the court case transcript.

Judge "First witness, where were you when the incident occurred"

first witness "I was shopping at the P*ki shop on Queensferry road"

Judge flagged him up "you can't say that, you were shopping at a Asian Shop"

Second witness says the same thing

Third person is called up judge asked him the same question

"I'm Mr Sanjay I own the P*ki shop on Queensferry Road"


Point I'm making is a lot of people (espesh the older generation in the UK) say P*ki in a non racist way, but I know a lot of people to use it as a racist term.

However I think if someone called someone took offensive to the word n*gger and flagged it up with the person that said it I think its fair the person that said it stops saying it.

Its like calling someone a fat face fucktard....its offensive to you.

[Whisper]

Just to clarify are you guys trying to say paki?

[deadpie]

Don't read this post if you hate cuss words- and note i'm not trying to be racist or sexist in anyway from my posts.

I think all "curse words" are equal. Saying the word slut is pretty much the same as saying nigger, because they're both offensive terms against someone-and it's the same as calling someone a piece of shit.
Of course some people might take offense to the word, some people use it when they walk to friends.
I don't really know if i believe in a such thing as cuss words because i mean you could say "man that guy looks like chocolate", and even though i didn't say the "N" word, it can still be taken offensivly. Profanity is nothing different than insulting someone.

[INFERNO]

I think all "curse words" are equal. Saying the word slut is pretty much the same as saying nigger, because they're both offensive terms against someone-and it's the same as calling someone a piece of shit.

Not exactly. The word "nigger" has a deep-routed history of suppression and discrimination, whereas "slut" or "piece of shit" don't have any historical significance to them. They're not necessarily a word to represent and refer back to the historical significance, they're just a plain old insult. Although their definitions may have not changed all that much, there's nothing significant about them.


Of course some people might take offense to the word, some people use it when they walk to friends.
I don't really know if i believe in a such thing as cuss words because i mean you could say "man that guy looks like chocolate", and even though i didn't say the "N" word, it can still be taken offensivly.

True, that sentence could still be taken as being offensive, however, it's more of a descriptive term and depending on the context, it could lead to discrimination whereas "nigger" historically represented the suffering and oppression, while "chocolate" had no such thing.


Profanity is nothing different than insulting someone.

Profanity though doesn't always equate to insulting someone. For example, I could swear away, "shit in hell, this piece of shit I fucked it up royally". It's full of profanity but it's not insulting anyone.

[deadpie]

Not exactly
Profanity though doesn't always equate to insulting someone. For example, I could swear away, "shit in hell, this piece of shit I fucked it up royally". It's full of profanity but it's not insulting anyone.
Well i meant as in using profanity to anger someone :P

I think the word "nigger" falls under a different text than a "curse word", because yes, the word was used as racial tendency a not so long time ago. But as in saying other words like shit and fuck, it's pretty much just like any other man made flaw.

[The Joker]

I don`t get why Paki is offensive. Actually, I wouldn`t have known if it weren`t for this thread.

[Church]

If African Americans want people to stop saying the N-word, then they should stop saying. (Refering to the gangsta screw whitey african americans.)

[The Batman]

"Gangsta screw whitey" no comment :rolleyes:

Saying, "If they don't want us to say it then they shouldn't say it" is pointless because what comes out of someone else's mouth doesn't have to come out of yours too.

[theOperaGhost]

"Gangsta screw whitey" no comment :rolleyes:

Saying, "If they don't want us to say it then they shouldn't say it" is pointless because what comes out of someone else's mouth doesn't have to come out of yours too.

Not necessarily, Thomas. People are always told it's wrong to say 'nigger,' but then they grow up hearing it in music, comedy, etc all the time....they are going to end up saying it too. It's just like swearing....your parents get mad at you if you swear but you've grown up hearing swear words all over, so you're going to say them. It's called observational learning. This is why kids who are exposed to video game violence are actually more violent. They observe the behavior, but don't see the consequences, so they consider it to be acceptable.

[The Batman]

Yea but there is always a choice I grew up around curse words heard it everywhere but I never said one out loud until i was 17 years old and then it was only, "Hell" because I was told it was wrong to curse so I never really wanted to. Really though I just think it's stupid for people to get upset because of a word(if someone is saying it and they don't like it or if they think it's unfair that they can't say it). Words are just words they only have as much power as you give them.

[Patchy]

Just to clarify are you guys trying to say paki?

Yes

I don`t get why Paki is offensive. Actually, I wouldn`t have known if it weren`t for this thread.

It is in the UK. I just see it as shortening pakistani

[The Joker]

Oh, OK. I do think people are a bit too sensitive, to me it's just a (non-offensive) slang word for them.

[MykeSoBe]

I also want to add, if nigger (note -er, not -a) is used synonymously to mean an ignorant person, people should just describe that person as being ignorant or possessing ignorance. And nigga should not be used with anyone, whether black or white, or whether they're addressing each other or racially remarking someone else. You'll never hear either of the variations of that word come outta my mouth.

If we all love another we will cease to use both words. These words are not necessary. If we show no signs of racist feelings then we will not question why these words are offensive. Just don't use them, for Christ's sake! Is that not so hard to do!?