If you haven't guessed by now, I'm back

[X_marks_the_ed]

And I find it offensive because it's a racial slur meant to speak ill of black people. And while it may be freedom of speech, it's also been said that freedom of speech is not applicable when speech is found offensive to someone for one reason or another.

Care to tell me who the target of that word is?

[zuhane]

You don't understand the context behind it. It was a long discussion of a book with a racist front cover.

[DedlellyDeth]

You don't understand the context behind it. It was a long discussion of a book with a racist front cover.

N*gger wasn't considered a racist word at the time, actually.

[Prpl_Mage]

But really. No one should get offended by anything. It's like getting offended for being called a n00b, or American.
As cynical as it may sound. I bet 100% that your girlfriend is not a slave. So she shouldn't be offended.
Discussing the front cover of a book and quoting the post shouldn't be seen in an offensive way.

I'd agree if it was something like "Damn them niggers on my property" or "Hang them niggers". But that wuote have pretty little to do with black people. Really.

It's like asking me to censor "fag" in my sig. It's not about a homosexual person after all.

[Dragonium]

Hang them niggers

Anyone in need of a sig quote?

[DedlellyDeth]

I don't believe the word "n*gger* is racist. It's a slur, but it just refers to them being black. The book that I started the discussion for in question was "Ten Little Niggers," which refers to the ten African tribal figurines that disappear throughout the story.

[Prpl_Mage]

Anyone in need of a sig quote?

Drats.

And I guess n*gger is seen as a bit racist for some.

The word for referring poeple as black was (and still is I guess) Negro, which is Spanish for black or something.

[Razor]

Well it's viewed as a racist word since racists have been the people who have made that word into what it is today.
While the quote in Zuhane's sig there might seem promoting of racism, it's really just saying the publisher of that book (and/or author) had BALLS to do something like that. Which if you think about it, they didn't really, because back then it was no big deal.
In that story the titular niggers in question were in a poem about I guess 10 little black kids who died in various ways. (None of them were lynched by shaven white men dressed like ghosts.)

I'm not sure where I was going with this. I really shouldn't write replies to controversy when I wake up in the morning

[Valiere]

I disagree with most of you. That word is offensive because of the extensive history behind it. It became a slur in the days of slavery, and it's still a slur today. The fact that is doesn't offend you is irrelevant; it offends somebody. And if you can make the tiny sacrifice not to use it and therefore avoid making Dragoon's girlfriend feel unwelcome, you should do the decent thing.

[DedlellyDeth]

I refuse to change my sig for the pure irony of it.

I disagree with most of you. That word is offensive because of the extensive history behind it. It became a slur in the days of slavery, and it's still a slur today. The fact that is doesn't offend you is irrelevant; it offends somebody. And if you can make the tiny sacrifice not to use it and therefore avoid making Dragoon's girlfriend feel unwelcome, you should do the decent thing.

You seem shocked. Oh wait, your eyes are always like that.

[Archem]

I'd like to point out to anyone who misconstrued my words, I do think that the word in question is offensive. I hate the word, and I never use it. However, I don't get pissy when someone uses it, no matter what the circumstance. Sure it's a word that, while originally having a more benign meaning, has taken on a more malicious definition, but like all words, it only actually has power if you let it.

[DedlellyDeth]

I'd like to point out to anyone who misconstrued my words, I do think that the word in question is offensive. I hate the word, and I never use it. However, I don't get pissy when someone uses it, no matter what the circumstance. Sure it's a word that, while originally having a more benign meaning, has taken on a more malicious definition, but like all words, it only actually has power if you let it.

Just like Voldemort amirite?

[Valiere]

I'd like to point out to anyone who misconstrued my words, I do think that the word in question is offensive. I hate the word, and I never use it. However, I don't get pissy when someone uses it, no matter what the circumstance. Sure it's a word that, while originally having a more benign meaning, has taken on a more malicious definition, but like all words, it only actually has power if you let it.

I'm assuming you're speaking as a white person who isn't actually affected by the word.

[DedlellyDeth]

I disagree with most of you. That word is offensive because of the extensive history behind it. It became a slur in the days of slavery, and it's still a slur today. The fact that is doesn't offend you is irrelevant; it offends somebody. And if you can make the tiny sacrifice not to use it and therefore avoid making Dragoon's girlfriend feel unwelcome, you should do the decent thing.

I'm assuming you're speaking as a white person who isn't actually affected by the word.

[coasterkrazy]

Funny how we sort of came back at the same time, huh?

Welcome back! I do have to apologize that. It was rather uncharacteristic of me to do something like that. I was probably having a bad day and doing something stupid to feel better or something like that. No hard feelings!