should people be insulted by racial slurs?

[Orko]

so me and my friend had that talk about racial slurs, and he said that someone-let's say a black person-shouldn't be insulted by the N word, because it describes something rather than a swearing or a curse.
so what do you think?

[Anarius]

Well, it would make things less complicated.

(1000th post!)

[Bovril]

My opposition to racial slurs is that they serve to back up power differentials and dehumanize groups. This allows for the continuation of oppresion and exploitation. It also makes it easier to kill, convict, evict, and dismiss the targetted minority.
Take for example the fact that soldiers allways come up with slurs for whoever they are fighting. Its a lot easier to kill a rag head than an Iraqi. Its a lot easier to kill a gook than a vietnamese. And its alot easier to linch a n***er than an American.

[Gunslinger-52]

My opposition to racial slurs is that they serve to back up power differentials and dehumanize groups. This allows for the continuation of oppresion and exploitation. It also makes it easier to kill, convict, evict, and dismiss the targetted minority.
Take for example the fact that soldiers allways come up with slurs for whoever they are fighting. Its a lot easier to kill a rag head than an Iraqi. Its a lot easier to kill a gook than a vietnamese. And its alot easier to linch a n***er than an American.

These are all excellent points + Rep

I went to a new england prep school whose administration was so politically correct that it was tempting to use slurs as a form of rebellion. hardly a week went by without someone( often me) getting hammered by the head of school for Intolerance. it was easy to shrug off at the time since i knew and everyone else knew that it was all just a game. a couple of years after graduating i was still basing my jokes off of slurs and racism. i finally realized one day that i was making so many of these jokes that it was starting to become a little ingrained in me. I stopped making light of racism and i feel that i have been the better for it. I would still find it hilarious that people judge others based on the melanin content of thier skin except that some people are willing to kill over it.

[Ciabhán]

No. Words have no power unless you give it to them. If no one responds to hateful words then they lose all their power to offend/dehumanise.

[Garbarsardar]

No. Words have no power unless you give it to them. If no one responds to hateful words then they lose all their power to offend/dehumanise.

The power of such words does not come from the manner of response but from the social and cultural context within which the word is "performed". That is what determines the probability and the manner of response.

Example: the power of N-word.

Have you heard of Article 1 section 2 of the US Constitution?

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.

[favre4ever]

The power of such words does not come from the manner of response but from the social and cultural context within which the word is "performed". That is what determines the probability and the manner of response.

Example: the power of N-word.

Have you heard of Article 1 section 2 of the US Constitution?

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.

I disagree. Yankee was a slur on americans, now we proudly proclaim it. Cheesehead was a slur against packers fans, now they wear them proudly. The N-word is used by black people all over to address each other, and some proudly proclaim it as well. Words should always be free to use by anyone, antwhere.

[Ciabhán]

The power of such words does not come from the manner of response but from the social and cultural context within which the word is "performed". That is what determines the probability and the manner of response.

Example: the power of N-word.

Have you heard of Article 1 section 2 of the US Constitution?

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.

Sorry I am not up on Constitutional passages, I am not American although I do reside in the States atm. The power does come from INDIVIDUAL response. If no one gave the reaction that the offending party was looking for, it would no longer be used. I am a croppie, mick, paddy, taig, fenian, etc......but I don't care at all if anyone calls me any of the above. Some people would be offended and in showing any indignation or reacting the way that the offending party was hoping for you then give power to the word. Laws that are or can be used to oppress or enslave a certain group of people are not put into place because of the slurs or slang used to reference those people.

Also in reference to the above passage I would like to point out that the condition of slavery is not linked to the slur used for the slave. A slave was a slave before he/she was a N-word.

[Shi Huangdi]

so me and my friend had that talk about racial slurs, and he said that someone-let's say a black person-shouldn't be insulted by the N word, because it describes something rather than a swearing or a curse.
so what do you think?

It is wrong to use racial slurs against anyone. However, people also have a fundamental right to freedom of speech--so using racial slurs should not be outlawed. But I think it is a good thing that Western culture, by custom, largely rejects such language.

[favre4ever]

You have every right to use any slur you want. And when a large group of those you intend to offend hear your sad attempt at slighting them, they have every right to kick, no beat your ass down.

[Shi Huangdi]

You have every right to use any slur you want. And when a large group of those you intend to offend hear your sad attempt at slighting them, they have every right to kick, no beat your ass down.

That's pretty much accurate, except that in most civilized societies assault and battery is illegal

[favre4ever]

A good ass-whoopin is the cure-all for many aspects of society. You steal millions of your own employees pensions and bankrupt your company, ass-whoopin. You get caught cheating on your wife, ass-whoopin. You play the Green Bay packers, Ass-whoopin. (the last one is a gaurantee)

[morteduzionism]

A good ass-whoopin is the cure-all for many aspects of society. You steal millions of your own employees pensions and bankrupt your company, ass-whoopin. You get caught cheating on your wife, ass-whoopin. You play the Green Bay packers, Ass-whoopin. (the last one is a gaurantee)

+1 Rep

Alot of things wouldn't happen if a good ass whoopin was the penalty.

EDIT: There're other racial slurs, you know. Since, IMO, African-Americans (I don't know if blacks are called that in other places) and blacks in general aren't really represented on the TWC couldn't you guys pick a different term?

What about "k**e" or something? It'd probably be a better conversation with people from the disparaged group able to offer their feelings/opinions.

[C-Rob]

but none of those people were held as slaves and reduced to being property. Well, in the last, eon, of course.

That's anti-N-word peoples' sayings anyway.

[favre4ever]

Colonials were treated as merely that, colonials, something less than a briton. I am not disagreeing that it has been worse for some, but the ability to shrug off, or better yet, turn the intended slur against its' user is where the power is.

[Strattios]

I've always wondered why "people of the darker skinned race" have called me "cracker". When I say "Yes please" they just look at me in a funny way and walk off. Is the term "cracker" really supposed to be an insult?

[Aetius]

If you laugh when someone calls you a cracker or a , then they are the ones who get angry.

Tells you something about insults dont it.


(Ok wtf is up with censoring the n-word, but not cracker)

[Strattios]

(Ok wtf is up with censoring the n-word, but not cracker)

The censor is racist, it doesn't mind if you insult us Whities.

[Exarch]

so me and my friend had that talk about racial slurs, and he said that someone-let's say a black person-shouldn't be insulted by the N word, because it describes something rather than a swearing or a curse.
so what do you think?

being what ameicans call 'a person of colour', i'm not offended by racial slurs; i'm more offended by the intentions of the person hurling the racial slur.

[Bongfu]

being what ameicans call 'a person of colour', i'm not offended by racial slurs; i'm more offended by the intentions of the person hurling the racial slur.

Im gonna butter you up, *insert racial slur*

like that?