Add REBELS to the Offensive Word List

[managee]

As I posted,... but you failed to comprehend, the word NIGER was neutral, and as in other parts of Europe, as it was a word linked to the colour black,...it was simply used to differentiate between black skinned people and white.

But since you obviously have an axe to grind, you will be blind to that FACT.

And of course the word evolved to being a derogative,... I have repeated that over and over again.

The word was not used in public in Canada, unless you associated with low lifes.

And once again, you posted "American society", and "Canadian society", but I do undersdtand that you harbour enough hate to paint everybody in both countries with the same brush.

OK then.

Personally, the Wiki etymology you used misses a widely accepted contextual piece, and oversimplifies its origin as harmless evolution from the original Latin. But maybe it’s just me who cares about this nuance.

It was coined during the Reformation, a time when people who earned the label of “niger” were believed to not have a soul, which justified their enslavement. So, it was “neutral” during a time when both Protestants and Catholics had to debate whether killing these people actually constituted a sin. I find it hard to believe one could be both ‘neutral,’ while holding onto this worldview.

If this particular topic interests you, I highly recommend https://www.amazon.ca/Nigger-Strange-Career-Troublesome-Word/dp/0375713719 and/or https://www.amazon.ca/Word-Who-Can-Say-Shouldnt/dp/0547053495. Personally, I liked Kennedy’s more.

In Canada, good examples of its public use can be found in the Africville Apology papers. I recall its use in the form of primary documents in a couple books I’ve read, and probably long lost, on Fortress Louisbourg. The documents were written by slave-owning Canadians (or future Canadians) living as slavers in Nova Scotia. For a concise history on its use in Canada, definitely check out https://www.amazon.ca/Blacks-Canada-History-Robin-Winks/dp/0773516328. I think there was a good section on the Beattie stuff in Toronto during the 60s and early 70s. Not surprisingly, that particular brand of low-life used it publicly and frequently.

By-no means have I tried to paint “American” or “Canadian” society as anything. Although in #37 I can see how I was ambiguous when writing “American” instead of re-writing ‘Confederate American’ I can’t imagine even you will disagree that the the n-word’s use “was perfectly acceptable in a society that actively sought to maintain or increase marginalization of races” (society = Confederate States of America, subject of OP, to which I was responding).

==

As-far as having an axe to grind goes, I’m not a fan of Nazis and their ilk, but I wouldn’t call even my attitude towards that human garbage ‘hateful.’ Otherwise, I’m pretty much full of love.

Even for you, grumpy-pants.

Sorry if I’ve given off that impression.

:yield:

 

[managee]

Sorry but there is nothing offensive with saying the N word
Regardless of connotation its 99% of the time blacks calling blacks the N word
Can't have it both ways, if it is offensive noone says it. If the "offended people" call themselves it then it is obviously not really offensive

 

[sempel]

For clarification, here’s a good explanation from the Wikipedia:



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retard_(pejorative)

I recall it being a pejorative term by the mid-80s...

It’s not quite as simple as ‘misuse.’

Was once told by a lady who worked with special needs children that "retard" is offensive and should not be used. I try very hard to remove it from my vocabulary although sometimes it slips out. Same thing with "gay" (which originally meant happy) was originally used growing up as an insult e.g. "This X is gay". So, retard should never be used period IMO.

Sorry but there is nothing offensive with saying the N word
Regardless of connotation its 99% of the time blacks calling blacks the N word
Can't have it both ways, if it is offensive noone says it. If the "offended people" call themselves it then it is obviously not really offensive

I "think" I know what you are trying to say but your wording is so terrible, you really come across as ignorant. The N-word is offensive which is why people don't use it. However, black people choose to use it and amongst (most) black people, it's not considered offensive. Similarly, the term "Paki" is offensive to EI people but some use it amongst themselves without taking offense. It definitely is a double standard and IMO terms like these, along with others for other racial groups, shouldn't be used. In a similar vein, an Asian comic can make fun of Asian people, an EI comic can make fun of EI people - it's considered self-deprecating I guess but a white comic can't really do the same thing and get away with it.

 

[TeeJay]

For clarification, here’s a good explanation from the Wikipedia:



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retard_(pejorative)

I recall it being a pejorative term by the mid-80s...

It’s not quite as simple as ‘misuse.’

From your own link the word was not even used before 1985 so it could not possibly be misused until after it was in use

Either way I think most of this silly backlash over offensive words really did not pick up until after 2000
Prior to this nobody cared, not the schools, not the police, not the general public

As someone else mentioned earlier in this thread the N word was still be used as an insult (albeit the lower classes)

 

[TeeJay]

The N-word is offensive which is why people don't use it. However, black people choose to use it and amongst (most) black people, it's not considered offensive.

You love riding that fence always; take a side one of these days
Its absurd to try and claim "people don't use it"
Whether hate inspired by red necks or used to be cool by wannabe rappers
You yourself mentioned comedians as another common use

Unless the black person is totally ignorant, calling another black person the N word on HBO is (obviously) going to be consumed by young kids white & black
If the term was really offensive noone (short of an utter fool) would set his own children up like that by saying something offensive against his own race simply for a dollar

 

[sempel]

You love riding that fence always; take a side one of these days
Its absurd to try and claim "people don't use it"
Whether hate inspired by red necks or used to be cool by wannabe rappers
You yourself mentioned comedians as another common use

Unless the black person is totally ignorant, calling another black person the N word on HBO is (obviously) going to be consumed by young kids white & black
If the term was really offensive noone (short of an utter fool) would set his own children up like that by saying something offensive against his own race simply for a dollar

And you love proving to everyone that you either can't read or cannot interpret a simple point. The F-word is profane and shouldn't be used in polite company but people still use it. Doesn't mean it isn't profane. A racist joke can be told by people. Doesn't mean it isn't racist. The N-Word is offensive no matter who uses it. But like everything in the world, what is extremely offensive to some is less offensive to others so they don't make a stink of it.

And I never said comedians use the N-Word. I said ethnic comedians tell ethnic jokes. Do me a favor and read what someone writes in its entirety and read the context rather than taking random excerpts and piecing it together. But yes, some black comedians use it - doesn't make it right.

HBO like any other channel has a rating for each of it's productions. Bad language, including the N-word, constitutes a certain rating and young kids are not supposed to watch it. If they are you can blame the parents, not HBO.