Quote:
Originally Posted by boxcorner
Pardon the partial quotation, but I'm curious - was, "Ten Little Indians" not considered a racial slur by some people?
Which do you think is the most reputable, most reliable and based on the greatest amount of research? - OED
- Merriam-Webster
- reference.com
Do you think that being based on a range of different sources makes reference.com more credible? It's a serious question - I'm interested in dictionaries, and why people use them.
Wasn't the slang use by African Americans covered by the point raised earlier (the last paragraph in Post #131), that nevertheless, when the n-word is used by a Caucasian it causes offense?
When you say, "... I believe thats the way everyone is using it now ...", if you mean literally everyone, then you might as well accept the reference.com World English Dictionary definition which clearly indicates that its use is derogatory, or offensive. Consequently, I don't see how that is a double-standard, as it applies universally. |
No, I did not read Post #131, I said I havent read all of the posts. Merriam Webster is apparently Dictionary.com, I typed in websters.com and got redirected to Dictionary.com. Havent gone to reference.com.
http://www.reference.com/browse/Nigger
http://www.reference.com/browse/Nigga
I guess you could say using all these references makes it reputable, if you feel like reading. Id rather have a short answer. See Im wondering, have you ever heard a Caucasian called an 'n-word'? I havent. Latino? Nope. Universally offensive? I dont see how. Only when said by a Caucasian to an African American. I dareday a Latino might even get away with calling an African American an 'n-word', but the minute it slips out of a Caucasian persons mouth expect trouble.
Maybe we live in different places. Some people take offense, some couldnt careless. I see most people dropping it like its nothing but they say 'nigga' instead. Truthfully if you ask me thats a nicer way of saying the 'n-word'.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Nigga
And look at that, Dictionary.com agrees with me. An extremely offensive word they say. Thats funny because
EVERYONE around here uses it just as they said. 'Yo thats my nigga', 'What up my nigga', 'Nigga owes me money', whichever way you want to say it.
What about
real slang usage?
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nigger
Look at definition number 4. Used to insult people then as a term of endearment? In the same conversation? That makes no sense at all.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nigga
Well look at that, definition number 1, its just a modern day version of the 'n-word'. Who knew?
I guess my point is I think people need to stop getting so up in arms about it. Its just a word. People need to get over it. I dont care about where it came from. Those were horrible times to be sure but enough about what happened back then. What about now? What is the African American culture doing now to get over that name, to prove that it is just a word? Definitions numbers 2 through 5. Exploiting it. Call a Caucasian a 'cracker' and he might laugh at you. 'Honkey' same thing. Call an African American an 'n-word' and he might beat you to death. I see a problem here. And look at rap. Seriously, take a look at rap music. Mostly African Americans and how many times do they say nigga? Its just ridiculous. They can say it all they want but a Caucasian says it and its racist? None of it makes sense.
Now maybe this was already brought up. But what Im saying is why in the World should this book be taken and redone just because a few people, anyone know what race they are, want to get insulted when most people didnt care to begin with and still dont care now?