Well all the black people I met in college were highly educated and well to do. And the impression I got from them was this:
1. n-word, nigga, wigga (white nigga), jigga, and all other variants are completely disrespectful.
2. nigga got its roots from the unacceptable n-word so you'll never hear them calling eachother nigga.
3. The only black people that use the word nigga are niggas. And what they meant by that is best described by a Chris Rock skit I once heard where he said, "You got black people and then you got niggas." Nigga is like the black equivalent to the white term "redneck" or "po white trash" so the only reason you'd be using the term would be in a degrading fashion albeit jokingly but still degrading.
Some people like to joke with it and as long as everyone involved is comfortable with it, there's no problem. Some people derive strength from it because it is sometimes viewed as the equivalent of "brother" or "comrade".
But I get the feeling that a lot of black people who are at the upper echelon with regards to academic, financial, political and cultural status would never use the word and do not find it constructive. You'd never hear Martin Luther King or Jesse Jackson say, "WAZZUP MA NIGGA!!!"
So just to stay on topic with that, if the n-word is in fact a word that is not constructive and can serve to hurt people in part or in whole, probably the best solution as Marik Steele mentionned is abstinence. You can't govern such abstinence though so its really up to individuals and what they feel is appropriate in their community circles.
<!--QuoteBegin-Dr_133t+Oct 15 2004, 05:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dr_133t @ Oct 15 2004, 05:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->as long as theres no black ppl around, its generally ok to use the N word.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Why does it have to do if there is black people around. I from personal experience feel its white people that have the hardest time with racism. I know alot of you might find that statement weird but on so many occasions i've had to stop myself mid sentence to think "hey there might be a black person in earshot that might take offence", when what i'm sayin is neither racist or intended to cause hate or to insult someone.
Slightly off-topic Alot of the issues we have with racism these days is down to the way people in our society are. If i went out tomorrow and attacked someone who i just didn't like/get on with (not that i would, just stressing a point) to me it wouldn't matter if they were white, black, asian, etc, it would just be that I didn't like them. But in the eyes of society if it was a person of a different creed it would most likely be deemed as a racist act. Also if an ethnic minority was to accuse a white of racism its much more serverly frowned open than if a white person is to call someone of ethnic background the same. Attitudes like these are what make the place we live not a very nice one, but hey we've all got to deal with it.
GrendelAll that is fear...Join Date: 2002-07-19Member: 970Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, NS2 Playtester
A word's meaning is not fixed.
I've frequently used the "N-WORD" (OMG!) because I have had black bosses and black mates who use the term themselves. It's contextual. I wouldn't walk up to someone in the street and say to them, "Hey ****, what's the time?", because they'd quite correctly smack me in the teeth.
On the other hand, if I'm playing Soul Calibre II and my mate Jay (who is unarguably black) whips my arse, I'd quite likely turn around and say, "I guess you think you're a bad **** now?"
A word is imbued with the user's meaning. I spend all day replacing what people say with what people mean in order to understand the drivel they come out with. Everyone does. I don't recall the last time somebody actually used the word <i>decimate</i> in an appropriate context. Sigh.
<!--QuoteBegin-illuminex+Oct 15 2004, 01:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (illuminex @ Oct 15 2004, 01:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> So, my opinion is that I am using "nigga" as a term of endearment for all friends of mine, regardless of skin color, in order to take away the seperation the word implies. After all, if it is a positive greeting, why does it have to be just for blacks? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Ok that's one thing, but as I understood this thread it was about using it and an insult. It's the "I'm going to f-ing shoot that dirty **** up and impail his wife on a stake." kind of thing I was talking about. Sure among friends we can say lots of **** while still being friendly, we all do that.
<!--QuoteBegin-Grendel+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Grendel)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It's contextual.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Right on! That's what I was trying to say in less words.
Still though I don't use it. I also don't say African American because that's too long and sounds stupid. Black or blackie is fine; if I'm hang with my homies and am like wazzup niggaz that's fine to. But I'm sure you all remember how this one person continually tries to cover the Off Topic forums with "why are ****s so smelly" and then pics of KKK hangings. That's not cool.
That_Annoying_KidSire of TitlesJoin Date: 2003-03-01Member: 14175Members, Constellation
<a href='http://www.daveyd.com/nigaornigpol.html' target='_blank'>nigga vs ****</a> <-- fantastic article writen by a very respected DJ
Last year during the Random Acts of Kindness officers retreat we had this discussion and beat it to death and then some.
I'm white, I say nigga and **** all the damn time. Most people just don't understand and if they don't I don't say it around them. When I'm chillin with the homies it's all good. I'm not using it in the racist connotation and I'm not racist. Anyone who uses the N word with it's complete racists meaning will quickly get physicall harm. "I hate ****s" is completely and totally unacceptable. "What up my nigga" "what up my nig?" "what yall ****s doing" is completly gravy and is said all the time.
To answer the question posed by the thread: yes it is perfectly acceptable to use the "N-word" just don't act a goddamn fool and get yourself shot.
<!--QuoteBegin-relsan+Oct 16 2004, 03:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (relsan @ Oct 16 2004, 03:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well all the black people I met in college were highly educated and well to do. And the impression I got from them was this:
1. n-word, nigga, wigga (white nigga), jigga, and all other variants are completely disrespectful.
2. nigga got its roots from the unacceptable n-word so you'll never hear them calling eachother nigga.
3. The only black people that use the word nigga are niggas. And what they meant by that is best described by a Chris Rock skit I once heard where he said, "You got black people and then you got niggas." Nigga is like the black equivalent to the white term "redneck" or "po white trash" so the only reason you'd be using the term would be in a degrading fashion albeit jokingly but still degrading.
Some people like to joke with it and as long as everyone involved is comfortable with it, there's no problem. Some people derive strength from it because it is sometimes viewed as the equivalent of "brother" or "comrade".
But I get the feeling that a lot of black people who are at the upper echelon with regards to academic, financial, political and cultural status would never use the word and do not find it constructive. You'd never hear Martin Luther King or Jesse Jackson say, "WAZZUP MA NIGGA!!!"
So just to stay on topic with that, if the n-word is in fact a word that is not constructive and can serve to hurt people in part or in whole, probably the best solution as Marik Steele mentionned is abstinence. You can't govern such abstinence though so its really up to individuals and what they feel is appropriate in their community circles. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I concur with you wholeheartedly, my African-American brother.
Actually I'm Native American but I like to think of myself as a brother to all races <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
no no, it's a gratuitous reference to <a href='http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fo%27+shizzle+my+nizzle' target='_blank'>this.</a>
(although i do concur <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
Comments
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wouldn't mind it one bit.
1. n-word, nigga, wigga (white nigga), jigga, and all other variants are completely disrespectful.
2. nigga got its roots from the unacceptable n-word so you'll never hear them calling eachother nigga.
3. The only black people that use the word nigga are niggas. And what they meant by that is best described by a Chris Rock skit I once heard where he said, "You got black people and then you got niggas." Nigga is like the black equivalent to the white term "redneck" or "po white trash" so the only reason you'd be using the term would be in a degrading fashion albeit jokingly but still degrading.
Some people like to joke with it and as long as everyone involved is comfortable with it, there's no problem. Some people derive strength from it because it is sometimes viewed as the equivalent of "brother" or "comrade".
But I get the feeling that a lot of black people who are at the upper echelon with regards to academic, financial, political and cultural status would never use the word and do not find it constructive. You'd never hear Martin Luther King or Jesse Jackson say, "WAZZUP MA NIGGA!!!"
So just to stay on topic with that, if the n-word is in fact a word that is not constructive and can serve to hurt people in part or in whole, probably the best solution as Marik Steele mentionned is abstinence. You can't govern such abstinence though so its really up to individuals and what they feel is appropriate in their community circles.
Why does it have to do if there is black people around. I from personal experience feel its white people that have the hardest time with racism. I know alot of you might find that statement weird but on so many occasions i've had to stop myself mid sentence to think "hey there might be a black person in earshot that might take offence", when what i'm sayin is neither racist or intended to cause hate or to insult someone.
Slightly off-topic
Alot of the issues we have with racism these days is down to the way people in our society are. If i went out tomorrow and attacked someone who i just didn't like/get on with (not that i would, just stressing a point) to me it wouldn't matter if they were white, black, asian, etc, it would just be that I didn't like them. But in the eyes of society if it was a person of a different creed it would most likely be deemed as a racist act. Also if an ethnic minority was to accuse a white of racism its much more serverly frowned open than if a white person is to call someone of ethnic background the same. Attitudes like these are what make the place we live not a very nice one, but hey we've all got to deal with it.
I've frequently used the "N-WORD" (OMG!) because I have had black bosses and black mates who use the term themselves. It's contextual. I wouldn't walk up to someone in the street and say to them, "Hey ****, what's the time?", because they'd quite correctly smack me in the teeth.
On the other hand, if I'm playing Soul Calibre II and my mate Jay (who is unarguably black) whips my arse, I'd quite likely turn around and say, "I guess you think you're a bad **** now?"
A word is imbued with the user's meaning. I spend all day replacing what people say with what people mean in order to understand the drivel they come out with. Everyone does. I don't recall the last time somebody actually used the word <i>decimate</i> in an appropriate context. Sigh.
Ok that's one thing, but as I understood this thread it was about using it and an insult. It's the "I'm going to f-ing shoot that dirty **** up and impail his wife on a stake." kind of thing I was talking about. Sure among friends we can say lots of **** while still being friendly, we all do that.
<!--QuoteBegin-Grendel+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Grendel)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It's contextual.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Right on! That's what I was trying to say in less words.
Still though I don't use it. I also don't say African American because that's too long and sounds stupid. Black or blackie is fine; if I'm hang with my homies and am like wazzup niggaz that's fine to. But I'm sure you all remember how this one person continually tries to cover the Off Topic forums with "why are ****s so smelly" and then pics of KKK hangings. That's not cool.
Last year during the Random Acts of Kindness officers retreat we had this discussion and beat it to death and then some.
I'm white, I say nigga and **** all the damn time. Most people just don't understand and if they don't I don't say it around them. When I'm chillin with the homies it's all good. I'm not using it in the racist connotation and I'm not racist. Anyone who uses the N word with it's complete racists meaning will quickly get physicall harm. "I hate ****s" is completely and totally unacceptable. "What up my nigga" "what up my nig?" "what yall ****s doing" is completly gravy and is said all the time.
To answer the question posed by the thread: yes it is perfectly acceptable to use the "N-word" just don't act a goddamn fool and get yourself shot.
1. n-word, nigga, wigga (white nigga), jigga, and all other variants are completely disrespectful.
2. nigga got its roots from the unacceptable n-word so you'll never hear them calling eachother nigga.
3. The only black people that use the word nigga are niggas. And what they meant by that is best described by a Chris Rock skit I once heard where he said, "You got black people and then you got niggas." Nigga is like the black equivalent to the white term "redneck" or "po white trash" so the only reason you'd be using the term would be in a degrading fashion albeit jokingly but still degrading.
Some people like to joke with it and as long as everyone involved is comfortable with it, there's no problem. Some people derive strength from it because it is sometimes viewed as the equivalent of "brother" or "comrade".
But I get the feeling that a lot of black people who are at the upper echelon with regards to academic, financial, political and cultural status would never use the word and do not find it constructive. You'd never hear Martin Luther King or Jesse Jackson say, "WAZZUP MA NIGGA!!!"
So just to stay on topic with that, if the n-word is in fact a word that is not constructive and can serve to hurt people in part or in whole, probably the best solution as Marik Steele mentionned is abstinence. You can't govern such abstinence though so its really up to individuals and what they feel is appropriate in their community circles. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I concur with you wholeheartedly, my African-American brother.
<!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
(although i do concur <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)