The "N" word

[ghostrunner]

Come on. People who have been white all their lives aren't authorities on the appropriateness of the N word, or on the presence of racism for that matter. In that respect we live in a completely different world. It's also a completely different thing from a black perspective for a white person and a black person to use the N word. We know that because black people have made their distaste for it known. It's just common courtesy if nothing else.

As far as Cooper goes, his job entails working very closely with a large number of people who he very well may have offended and may now be pissed off at him. You can bet his employer is going to send him to counseling, and in a non-football related business he may have been let go. I think the knee-jerk reaction to counseling is that it doesn't work, but when before has Cooper had other people's experiences put in front of him? He may never have. It's presumptuous to just dismiss the value of it unless you've been in that situation.

[Jocephus]

the outrage from white people is humorous to me

and the idea that all rap music is filled with the N word. i would bet money that people who say that don't actually listen to rap music.

but hey, lets forego context and generalize everything.

[wart57]

Come on. People who have been white all their lives aren't authorities on the appropriateness of the N word, or on the presence of racism for that matter. In that respect we live in a completely different world. It's also a completely different thing from a black perspective for a white person and a black person to use the N word. We know that because black people have made their distaste for it known. It's just common courtesy if nothing else.

As far as Cooper goes, his job entails working very closely with a large number of people who he very well may have offended and may now be pissed off at him. You can bet his employer is going to send him to counseling, and in a non-football related business he may have been let go. I think the knee-jerk reaction to counseling is that it doesn't work, but when before has Cooper had other people's experiences put in front of him? He may never have. It's presumptuous to just dismiss the value of it unless you've been in that situation.

I have only been white for most of my life, during the summer I turn a nice red color.

[wart57]

the outrage from white people is humorous to me

and the idea that all rap music is filled with the N word. i would bet money that people who say that don't actually listen to rap music.

but hey, lets forego context and generalize everything.

You are right I don't listen to rap, I just can't take all the "N" words they say.

[thrill]

and the idea that all rap music is filled with the N word. i would bet money that people who say that don't actually listen to rap music.

but hey, lets forego context and generalize everything.

Yep. Also, when it is used, it has great artistic merit. To quote my thoughts from another place on the internet:

I admire and am fascinated by the way the black cultural vanguard has always used language in an empowering way. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker popularizing calling each other and others in the jazz community "man" because they were sick and tired of white people calling them "boy" is an empowering and cool thing. Rappers using [expletive] as a term of self-identification is not only a middle finger to racists but it also creates (or at least should create) a barrier between their art and the white consumers who love their art. It's a way of saying you can get with what I'm doing, but it's not yours, which is a very important thing, I think, because white people have always been incredibly effective at stealing culture, homogenizing it and acting like they invented it.

Cultural boundaries can be good when they're borne from respect and sensitivity. This dumb pursuit of absolute equality is lacking all perspective. Equality of opportunity is righteous and just. Equality of language lacks perspective. Wanting everyone to get to say whatever they want without consequence lacks empathy.

[wart57]

and the idea that all rap music is filled with the N word. i would bet money that people who say that don't actually listen to rap music.

but hey, lets forego context and generalize everything.

Yep. Also, when it is used, it has great artistic merit. To quote my thoughts from another place on the internet:

I admire and am fascinated by the way the black cultural vanguard has always used language in an empowering way. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker popularizing calling each other and others in the jazz community "man" because they were sick and tired of white people calling them "boy" is an empowering and cool thing. Rappers using [expletive] as a term of self-identification is not only a middle finger to racists but it also creates (or at least should create) a barrier between their art and the white consumers who love their art. It's a way of saying you can get with what I'm doing, but it's not yours, which is a very important thing, I think, because white people have always been incredibly effective at stealing culture, homogenizing it and acting like they invented it.

Cultural boundaries can be good when they're borne from respect and sensitivity. This dumb pursuit of absolute equality is lacking all perspective. Equality of opportunity is righteous and just. Equality of language lacks perspective. Wanting everyone to get to say whatever they want without consequence lacks empathy.

But when only certain people or groups of people get to say whatever they want without consequence, how have we made any advancement in society?

[Schlich]

Come on. People who have been white all their lives aren't authorities on the appropriateness of the N word, or on the presence of racism for that matter. In that respect we live in a completely different world. It's also a completely different thing from a black perspective for a white person and a black person to use the N word. We know that because black people have made their distaste for it known. It's just common courtesy if nothing else.

It's always entertaining watching people explain the "p" word to people without saying the "p" word because the "p" word almost invariably gets them riled up.

[SHOW]

privilege

[thrill]

But when only certain people or groups of people get to say whatever they want without consequence, how have we made any advancement in society?

Which people or group is that?

[wart57]

But when only certain people or groups of people get to say whatever they want without consequence, how have we made any advancement in society?

Which people or group is that?

I am out.

[Jocephus]

and the idea that all rap music is filled with the N word. i would bet money that people who say that don't actually listen to rap music.

but hey, lets forego context and generalize everything.

Yep. Also, when it is used, it has great artistic merit. To quote my thoughts from another place on the internet:

I admire and am fascinated by the way the black cultural vanguard has always used language in an empowering way. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker popularizing calling each other and others in the jazz community "man" because they were sick and tired of white people calling them "boy" is an empowering and cool thing. Rappers using [expletive] as a term of self-identification is not only a middle finger to racists but it also creates (or at least should create) a barrier between their art and the white consumers who love their art. It's a way of saying you can get with what I'm doing, but it's not yours, which is a very important thing, I think, because white people have always been incredibly effective at stealing culture, homogenizing it and acting like they invented it.

Cultural boundaries can be good when they're borne from respect and sensitivity. This dumb pursuit of absolute equality is lacking all perspective. Equality of opportunity is righteous and just. Equality of language lacks perspective. Wanting everyone to get to say whatever they want without consequence lacks empathy.

But when only certain people or groups of people get to say whatever they want without consequence, how have we made any advancement in society?

are we keeping in mind that the group that "gets" to say it was at one time not considered equal to their fellow (white) man? and that in this country, it was only like, 200 years ago? i think thrills quote is apt in the sense that when AA's use the word it puts them in control of the word and in a sense makes it ineffective for whites.

i'd also liken to gay people who call themselves/fellow gay people the word that starts with f and rhymes with bag. its a hurtful and disgusting word but if you, the victim, are in "control" of it, it takes the power away from those who use it to hurt.

but both words are still used for hurtful purposes so its not like these types bigotry are gone even if we are more accepting as whole in society.

maybe you have a joke with a family member that between you guys is funny, but if someone not in your family said it, it would annoy/hurt you because they aren't in your family (group). they haven't "earned" that "right" to use it in your presence.