Is it still offensive or has it become so ingrained into popular culture that it's only racist depending on the context?

I hear it all it the on the radio, on tv, in movies, out of mouths black and white. It seems to me that the context matters more than the word itself in our culture. Opinions?

 

Nowadays I think it's mostly a generational gap/geographic thing. My own generation in my area finds no problem with it, mostly because it's become so overused that it has no offensive meaning anymore, from blacks, whites, or any other race who uses it.

In order for it to become offensive again, it only has to come out of the mouth of someone who wants it to be offensive, and spoken to someone who takes offense. It takes two to tango, so to speak.

To see a good display of how silly it is to take offense at words like nigger, and how race is arbitrary and how silly it is that some races are allowed to say one word while another can't, I'm quite fond of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ns-kXeQCMk (less than two minutes long)

 

I should probably have mentioned that I am a black man. Personally I don't find the word offensive unlesss it is being used in a hostile way, but it's really the same as somebody calling me 'asshole' or any other rude name.

 

Depends on who is saying it. Not a recommended word for whites without the perception of being considered racist.

 

I hate that word. I've never used it nor do I ever intend to utter it no matter if it's socially acceptable.

 

Another good video, the song "Prejudice" by Tim Minchin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVN_0qvuhhw

Also gives a great undercutting of the power of words.

By this point, racism has been ridiculed so much that racist jokes are funny only in their ridiculousness.

 

See the "60 Minutes" segment on the censorship of the word "nigger" in the classic book "Huckleberry Finn".

It's a bad word for a white person to use, probably more than ever, now.

I never really used the word much. Instead I have used negro, black, or African American.

 

African American, now theres a joke. if you asked 90% of blacks to tell you two things about Africa they could not even come close so give me a fucking break.:*/

 

If its good enough for them to use it's good enough for me to use. I would not want them to think I'm racist by not speaking like they do now would I.

 

I do not use the word. I grew up in a generation where it was not acceptable, in any way. What is funny is that the other day I asked my daughter if she "jewed" someone down on a price. I thought she was going to rip me a new one. Jew was perfectly acceptable and my Jewish friends don't have a problem with it. My daughter uses the word nigger, though. I guess it's all in how it's used.

 

nigger, jew,spick,gringo,wasp,mick, chinc in the words of the great orator JUST WORDS.

 

Still offensive

Too bad we just can't hit the delete button
and remove it.

 

Ted I would agree with you, but I believe if it is good for the goose it is good for the gander.

 

LOL, if you call them a "negro" you will get the same response as if you would have said nigger....

If you don't believe me, try it....

 

hey Thikdik, if you were in a bar and all the patrons were black and the barman was black...would you lean over the bar and say.."Hey nigger, I want a drink"
Yes?
No?

 

1) No cuz then I would have to pay for to many drinks.
2) If I'm the only white guy in the bar chances are I'm the owner.:excited:
3) I'm not even white, at least not by liberal definition.(they call me latino)
4) I have enough manners to say( excuse me nigger how about a drink)
5) In a bar the propper term is (hey boy hit me up)

 

Well, I can't speak for Thikdik. But if it were me, it would depend on how thirsty I was....

 

LOL, that's good man!:excited:

 

Um... I don't have an opinion on this. I don't like the word being used by anyone but freedom of speech. I can't tell people what to say...

...but a woman can whisper 'nigger' in my ear anytime I'm fucking her.

 

Dunno if I agree....

Dunno if I agree with No.4..I mean its his job, would I have to say excuse me?