sixtyandaquarter
Member
Deleted (Too long and off the topic, my apologies)
Nigga, whats in a word? words change. whats it mean?
- Thread starter FoxDemonSoavi
- Start date
Oburi;127620 said:
step out of your monochrome neighborhood and take a look around you. Anyone notice that it was associated with slavery which the dutch and spanish started. the term for black is called negro. Somewhere in the south or in translation it became a "tag" if you will for slave. The word means black or from Niger, the country (people were small minded back then).
Go to Harlem and say the n-word. They make swiss cheese out of you. But its ok for them to call each other that?
People wonder why no one can get over the racism hurdle. Its the words that s stopping that. If you ignore the problem, it loses its luster and no one cares after a while.
Take the term "Aryan" or "Arian". It was a term used in the 1940s for Germans born with blonde hair and blue eyes. Hitler's master race. After a while no one cared to be called Aryan anymore and eventually it goes away.
See what I'm saying? Desensitizing the world makes the hype go away. give it 5 years or 50. Its always going to be there cause the black community integrates it into their life as a red flag they can raise at anytime. So goes for white people. They use it out of hate, but no one really knows what the true meaning is anymore.
When you choose to live your life thinking it wont happen then it wont plain and simple. Black and white need to quit whining and running to their race saviors everytime things dont go their way. Pure and simple.
Get SMART and GROW UP!
Lincoln would slap you right now if he seen this crap.
Just for the record, since I don't know if many people in here know, the word originates from the Latin word "Niger", which means "Black" (the color). Slave owners (at least those in England and America) used the term in their record keeping when keeping track of their slaves.
It is true, that racism can go both ways. When one black person calls another black person that word because "we want to show that we can do something white people can't" (from the post Lene found on the BET forums, I believe), it is also racism. That kind of belief means that that person believes their race is superior to any other because they have terminology that they can say that the other race can't. That is, by definition, racism.
I know that the "friendly" use of the word is under large debate, especially in the black community, but, at least in my opinion, if you want to stop racism everyone should stop using the word.
It doesn't matter what the color of your skin is or "if you know/are dating a black person". It should never be a double-standard.
It is true, that racism can go both ways. When one black person calls another black person that word because "we want to show that we can do something white people can't" (from the post Lene found on the BET forums, I believe), it is also racism. That kind of belief means that that person believes their race is superior to any other because they have terminology that they can say that the other race can't. That is, by definition, racism.
I know that the "friendly" use of the word is under large debate, especially in the black community, but, at least in my opinion, if you want to stop racism everyone should stop using the word.
It doesn't matter what the color of your skin is or "if you know/are dating a black person". It should never be a double-standard.
Fallofthetyrant
Member
Where I live comedians can easily laugh at the low class white man, but what about other races, oh no, no way, the scandal begins. If it's about black people, it matters, if it would be about any other race then no one would really care.
Blacks a minority in usa? lol, where did you pick up that? what about arabs?
or asians? or latinos? aren't those a minority? Studies have proven that white people will be the minority in a couple of decades.
I just think it's ridiculous to care about a simple word when in fact there's much more important matters.
Enough said...
Blacks a minority in usa? lol, where did you pick up that? what about arabs?
or asians? or latinos? aren't those a minority? Studies have proven that white people will be the minority in a couple of decades.
I just think it's ridiculous to care about a simple word when in fact there's much more important matters.
Enough said...
Roman Candle
Member
The low class white man is safe. No one's ever going to get rid of him :p
The idea that white people will be a minority in America is nonsense. It doesn't matter how many people there are; it matters what their social standing is and how much poewr they have. Look at South Africa under apartheid - technically the whites were in total minority. And yet the country revolved around them. They had the social and power majority.
The idea that white people will be a minority in America is nonsense. It doesn't matter how many people there are; it matters what their social standing is and how much poewr they have. Look at South Africa under apartheid - technically the whites were in total minority. And yet the country revolved around them. They had the social and power majority.
Fallofthetyrant
Member
Non sense? sorry man, but do you know what statistics are?
Did you know they are quite useful nowadays?
And the white men had the commercial power over Africa, that's the main reason why they were powerful even if they were just a minority.
Also, the military power. Should I continue?
Now, should we return to our main topic? Thanks...
We were talking about this word that seems to bother so much some people.
It's funny, today I read in the news that this comedian here in canada may be sued for being "racist".
How comes you may ask me?, well, each week he shows a short video over the internet, that's how he became known... and last month he made this video about an African from a tribe, a sort of cannibal... anyway, it's funny, because this comedian also laughs about white men, low class white men from Canada, American soldiers, Latinos, Arabs, Asians, and yet, none of these communities I just mentionned sued this guy. But, black people had to.
Come on, this seems to me like deja vu, what with the feeling of being the victims... If I remember, several white tribes in the past 2000 years were slaves as well, oh , well, I'll hate vikings because they attacked the village of my family 1000 years ago...
Come on, lets get over this non sense concerning words... and how "powerful" they are. What's powerful is the desire to change, not to hate.
And again, Roman, white men will be a minority eventually, and I hope that will be for the best, since all the communities may, lets hope, eventually be mixed. So there wont be limitations such as race, class, income, nationality, religion, sex, etc.
Last word, we live in a racist society, also in a very communitarian society, and that's the problem we should be, as a whole, be attacking, rather than discussing if a word is an insult or not.
See ya',
Peace...
Did you know they are quite useful nowadays?
And the white men had the commercial power over Africa, that's the main reason why they were powerful even if they were just a minority.
Also, the military power. Should I continue?
Now, should we return to our main topic? Thanks...
We were talking about this word that seems to bother so much some people.
It's funny, today I read in the news that this comedian here in canada may be sued for being "racist".
How comes you may ask me?, well, each week he shows a short video over the internet, that's how he became known... and last month he made this video about an African from a tribe, a sort of cannibal... anyway, it's funny, because this comedian also laughs about white men, low class white men from Canada, American soldiers, Latinos, Arabs, Asians, and yet, none of these communities I just mentionned sued this guy. But, black people had to.
Come on, this seems to me like deja vu, what with the feeling of being the victims... If I remember, several white tribes in the past 2000 years were slaves as well, oh , well, I'll hate vikings because they attacked the village of my family 1000 years ago...
Come on, lets get over this non sense concerning words... and how "powerful" they are. What's powerful is the desire to change, not to hate.
And again, Roman, white men will be a minority eventually, and I hope that will be for the best, since all the communities may, lets hope, eventually be mixed. So there wont be limitations such as race, class, income, nationality, religion, sex, etc.
Last word, we live in a racist society, also in a very communitarian society, and that's the problem we should be, as a whole, be attacking, rather than discussing if a word is an insult or not.
See ya',
Peace...
Just an interesting note:
Racism = Bad
Sexism = Bad
Nationalism = Good
What is the distinction?
It is ok to think your country of origin is better than anyone else's, but not your race or gender?
I guess you can argue that racism and sexism are aesthetic differences, while nationalism can't be seen from the outside. So, it is ok to think you are better, only if people can't physically see why you think that?
Just something I find a little amusing.
Racism = Bad
Sexism = Bad
Nationalism = Good
What is the distinction?
It is ok to think your country of origin is better than anyone else's, but not your race or gender?
I guess you can argue that racism and sexism are aesthetic differences, while nationalism can't be seen from the outside. So, it is ok to think you are better, only if people can't physically see why you think that?
Just something I find a little amusing.
Fallofthetyrant
Member
Yet, at the very beginning the culture was mostly English, so the fact they are celebrating their heritage should be considered as normal.
Didn't this thread die a long time ago?
FotT- IMO the best way to attack these problems is to discuss them, because 10 times out of 10 people think they know, but they have no idea. Hell honestly, talking to people has made me learn a lot. Believe me, I have changed my outlook in the years past.
Silverline, what parts of my posts in this topic were racist?
Also, in response to your quote, this mentality of "it's your fault you're being mistreated" in regards to racism, is ridiculous and more than a little bit presumptuous.
If the word doesn't mean shit to someone, then why must they continue saying it? It seems like a grand waste of time to me. I said it once before in this thread, but I don't mind repeating it: It seems to me that the people who talk about words having no power are the ones who use them the most to get a rise out of others. Very hypocritical imo.
Maybe those kinds of people should just decide to stop speaking and wasting their energy with useless words. Sounds like a vast improvement to me. XD
FotT- IMO the best way to attack these problems is to discuss them, because 10 times out of 10 people think they know, but they have no idea. Hell honestly, talking to people has made me learn a lot. Believe me, I have changed my outlook in the years past.
Silverline, what parts of my posts in this topic were racist?
Also, in response to your quote, this mentality of "it's your fault you're being mistreated" in regards to racism, is ridiculous and more than a little bit presumptuous.
If the word doesn't mean shit to someone, then why must they continue saying it? It seems like a grand waste of time to me. I said it once before in this thread, but I don't mind repeating it: It seems to me that the people who talk about words having no power are the ones who use them the most to get a rise out of others. Very hypocritical imo.
Maybe those kinds of people should just decide to stop speaking and wasting their energy with useless words. Sounds like a vast improvement to me. XD
One of my best friend's is black, I call him my Negro-Amigo, call me a racist but this world is too politically correct for it's own good. Here are some examples:
Ba Ba Rainbow Sheep
The Chalkboard
Throwing Bird Seed at Weddings
In all honesty even the word African-American pisses me off, because what, if you're not American, you're just African then!?
I'm not pro calling people Niggers like I said one of my best friends is black. But I just think that the whole world has gone schitzo over a matter that should have been resolved 40 years ago.
Ba Ba Rainbow Sheep
The Chalkboard
Throwing Bird Seed at Weddings
In all honesty even the word African-American pisses me off, because what, if you're not American, you're just African then!?
I'm not pro calling people Niggers like I said one of my best friends is black. But I just think that the whole world has gone schitzo over a matter that should have been resolved 40 years ago.
Not an excuse for you.
Stand by your words. Anyways, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here. Maybe it's just me but:
1) I'm kinda hardpressed to find how a direct translation of black friend to spanish is racist Petros. O_o
2) I thought the reason why people stopped throwing rice at weddings was because birds would eat the rice, choke and die. I've never heard of a racial reason for it.
3) Personally, I think the term "African-American" is kinda misleading because there are a lot of American black people who don't identify themselves as African. There are a lot of immigrant blacks who don't either (well, except the Afircan ones). I also think it's hilarious (in a "omg how stupid!" way) when people use it as a term for black people, regardless if the person was born in the UK or Argentina or something.
Sometimes people just need, chill out and use their common sense when it comes to those things. Or ask. It never hurts.
Honestly, the only time I've ever did a doubletake and asked "what did you say?" is when one of my friends referred to black people as "colored". I mean, I wasn't really offended at it (because, context wise, there was nothing mean behind it), but I was surprised that anyone born after the 60s still used that word. People of Color is being thrown around these days, but that's a very broad classification. PoC includes anyone who isn't white, not just black people.
However, the name game is not an issue that's exclusively black. There's the Oriental vs. Asian debate (which has been settled, people aren't Oriental, they're Asian. A rug can be Oriental though...). I recently went to an interesting discussion regarding defining Hispanic Americans. I remember a while ago, Spanish was the word of choice, but that has really fallen out of favor these days. Some people like Latino, other people like Hispanic, others just rather be associated with their country.
Bringing this back on topic, I don't see how the n-word is a matter of being Politically Correct. It's a racial slur for goodness sakes!
I'm Japanese/Mexican and all my black friends call me "nigga" and vise versa.
They don't get offended nor angry at me, probably because I know them 0_o
But when I had first said it to them, they just looked at me and laughed because I had said it "the wrong way".
Apparently I didn't say it with style
Now the word "nigga" has slipped into my vocab, and at times I don't realize I say it, but I never mean it to be derogatory or racist.
Hell, I make fun of myself for being a double minority xD
They don't get offended nor angry at me, probably because I know them 0_o
But when I had first said it to them, they just looked at me and laughed because I had said it "the wrong way".
Apparently I didn't say it with style
Now the word "nigga" has slipped into my vocab, and at times I don't realize I say it, but I never mean it to be derogatory or racist.
Hell, I make fun of myself for being a double minority xD
Fallofthetyrant
Member
African, hmm, in my opinion is very badly used, in that sense, my wife is African, since she is from morocco yet she isn't black.
Now, concerning the black friends, hmm, I don't understand this, why calling him negro? or nigger?... I also have a friend who is black, from Somalia actually, and to me the fact he is black is the last think I think of it, also I don't call him black since he got a name, just like I do.
And no Lene, answering to what you said longtime ago to me, I don't use my friend as "decoration" so I can say I'm not racist. I'm not racist because I don't feel there's differences between races. Well, physically there is, but those exists merely based on the environment in which each race had to develop. But anyway, since that's not the point of the discussion here, well,
the word nigger to me is irrelevant, yet, of course I'll agree this word has been used in a bad way, just like many others identifying other races.
Nigger or Nigga became a very used word, and of course to some extent it may be hurtful. but at the end is a very simple word.
Words are powerful, but humans created those words, therefore humans got the power over words, wheter a word hurt you or not, it is up to you and no one else.
Now, concerning the black friends, hmm, I don't understand this, why calling him negro? or nigger?... I also have a friend who is black, from Somalia actually, and to me the fact he is black is the last think I think of it, also I don't call him black since he got a name, just like I do.
And no Lene, answering to what you said longtime ago to me, I don't use my friend as "decoration" so I can say I'm not racist. I'm not racist because I don't feel there's differences between races. Well, physically there is, but those exists merely based on the environment in which each race had to develop. But anyway, since that's not the point of the discussion here, well,
the word nigger to me is irrelevant, yet, of course I'll agree this word has been used in a bad way, just like many others identifying other races.
Nigger or Nigga became a very used word, and of course to some extent it may be hurtful. but at the end is a very simple word.
Words are powerful, but humans created those words, therefore humans got the power over words, wheter a word hurt you or not, it is up to you and no one else.
Roman Candle
Member
Erm, is the difference between nationalism and sexism not obvious?
Firstly, remember the difference between nationalism and patriotism. Patriotism is pride in your county. I've always understood nationalism to be pejorative. Like the difference between considering something good; and considering something better, (and at the same time everything else worse).
Judging someone based on their country of origin isn't a good thing. I'm all for taking pride in a country, (at least, I would be if I thought there was one country that actually deserved pride being taken in it as a whole :p). I'm constantly apawled the manic desire of politicians to disregard all our English traditions, (the good ones, not the classism and the pronouns), in some kind of misguided attempt to win over minority votes.
But! Just because stupid people might call things bad, it doesn't mean that aren't. PC might say that it's bad to call people niggers, but it's not bad because PC says so.
In the end the meaning of a word is a combination of how it's meant and how it's recieved. Watch people using it. It's an insult, it's a joke, however you want. But however you mean it, it carries a little bit of the other. People keep saying, "It's time to get over it, it's time to forget it". In that case, shouldn't people stop saying it? Don't you think that would help? 'Nigger' will never not carry that implication. No matter how much people try to 'reclaim' it, no matter how many jokes are made. I can tell you from very similar personal experience how sharp it can be when you hear the jokes that aren't jokes.
Firstly, remember the difference between nationalism and patriotism. Patriotism is pride in your county. I've always understood nationalism to be pejorative. Like the difference between considering something good; and considering something better, (and at the same time everything else worse).
Judging someone based on their country of origin isn't a good thing. I'm all for taking pride in a country, (at least, I would be if I thought there was one country that actually deserved pride being taken in it as a whole :p). I'm constantly apawled the manic desire of politicians to disregard all our English traditions, (the good ones, not the classism and the pronouns), in some kind of misguided attempt to win over minority votes.
But! Just because stupid people might call things bad, it doesn't mean that aren't. PC might say that it's bad to call people niggers, but it's not bad because PC says so.
In the end the meaning of a word is a combination of how it's meant and how it's recieved. Watch people using it. It's an insult, it's a joke, however you want. But however you mean it, it carries a little bit of the other. People keep saying, "It's time to get over it, it's time to forget it". In that case, shouldn't people stop saying it? Don't you think that would help? 'Nigger' will never not carry that implication. No matter how much people try to 'reclaim' it, no matter how many jokes are made. I can tell you from very similar personal experience how sharp it can be when you hear the jokes that aren't jokes.
I wasn't talking about just being proud of your country. I actually did mean nationalism being widely accepted.
It is not uncommon for people (especially here, in the U.S.) to say, frequently, that the "U.S. it the best country in the world", etc. If said in public, this view is usually met by widespread cheer and applause.
So, I find it interesting that finding (and publically voicing) the opinion that one's country is better than another is socially acceptable, but someone voicing their opinion that their sex/race is better than another is highly frowned upon.
I just brought it up as a social statement.
It is not uncommon for people (especially here, in the U.S.) to say, frequently, that the "U.S. it the best country in the world", etc. If said in public, this view is usually met by widespread cheer and applause.
So, I find it interesting that finding (and publically voicing) the opinion that one's country is better than another is socially acceptable, but someone voicing their opinion that their sex/race is better than another is highly frowned upon.
I just brought it up as a social statement.
Roman Candle
Member
In theory nationalism should be based on the actions of individuals, which are within their control. I'm sure when Americans say "The US is the best country in the world!" they don't mean "We're so great, we've got excellent resources and a (mostly) benign government! Woo hoo!". More like "We're so great, because we work hard to make the country good". A country isn't just 'born' good, people are born black. It would have thought the difference is in how strong the implicatoins are of your opinions of other nations: "We're great because we're above a certain level" vs "We're good because everyone else is beneath us".
Anyway, I personally strongly disapprove of nationalism. Unless someone's life has actually done direct good for the country, they have no right to be proud of it. I get what you mean - I'm sure lots of people are strongly PC and strongly nationalism. But those people are most likely either to have just not thought about it too much, or just morons.
Anyway, I personally strongly disapprove of nationalism. Unless someone's life has actually done direct good for the country, they have no right to be proud of it. I get what you mean - I'm sure lots of people are strongly PC and strongly nationalism. But those people are most likely either to have just not thought about it too much, or just morons.
I totally agree. I just brought it up as an interesting social statement.
People announce to crowds that "The U.S. is the best country in the world!" and they get cheers. Bumper stickers that say "Proud to be an American!" are on many cars (trust me, I see them all the time).
But, if someone announced to a crowd "White is the best race in the world!" or had a bumper sticker that said "Proud to be White!" and they would get crucified.
I don't see the two being so different for an ideological standpoint. They both mean the same thing. All you are changing is the adjective, yet one is perfectly fine (and even renouned in some cases) while the other abhorred.
Not that I condone the behavior, I just find it interesting.
People announce to crowds that "The U.S. is the best country in the world!" and they get cheers. Bumper stickers that say "Proud to be an American!" are on many cars (trust me, I see them all the time).
But, if someone announced to a crowd "White is the best race in the world!" or had a bumper sticker that said "Proud to be White!" and they would get crucified.
I don't see the two being so different for an ideological standpoint. They both mean the same thing. All you are changing is the adjective, yet one is perfectly fine (and even renouned in some cases) while the other abhorred.
Not that I condone the behavior, I just find it interesting.