What's Your Take On Racial Slurs?

[King and God]

I personally think it is alright to use them whenever wanting to - even to shout a racial slur about Jews to a Jew. People who take offense by being called "whitey", "nigger", "chink", etc. are pathetic. It is ridiculous to take offense from an insult directed at a whole racial group and not to oneself, as one's race does not = oneself. For the very same reason I think it is pathetic to take pride in one's race or nationality. Why be proud of something that others but oneself has achieved.

[joey11223]

it depends if your using them threateningly or not. If you just joking then it's ok but they are seen as offense by most people.

[Neruo]

I have always found it to be a bit of a vague, unclear thing. I understand why black people don't want to be called the N-word, but I don't see why they use it themselves so much. Like small people don't want to be called midgets, I don't see them saying midget to each other : / Anyhow, racial slurs can be somewhat funny, if both parties know it is meant jokingly. If you are pissed at someone with a different race, resulting to racial slurs is just silly, (after all, you aren't angry at the person because he/she is a honkey/mexican/black person,) it would make things very complicated, unless if you are a racist then you should just stfu.

[Developer]

I personally think it is alright to use them whenever wanting to - even to shout a racial slur about Jews to a Jew. People who take offense by being called "whitey", "nigger", "chink", etc. are pathetic. It is ridiculous to take offense from an insult directed at a whole racial group and not to oneself, as one's race does not = oneself. For the very same reason I think it is pathetic to take pride in one's race or nationality. Why be proud of something that others but oneself has achieved.[/b] You live in northern Sweden, right? From what I know, it's almost only sweds living there?

[King and God]

Yes and yes. There's few immigrants here. A handful of black guys and some Slavs (Russians and Jugoslavians).

[Seeker]

Depends on the circumstances and friendship level. I've got good friends from many races and nationalities and still, I would feel nervous using a slur in their presence.

[wasup]

I would feel nervous using a slur in their presence.[/b] But it's all good when they're out of the room!

[FluBB]

as one's race does not = oneself.[/b] and thats the problem. some people dont recognize this. in most cases its good to make fun of people because of little steriotypes and stuff like that, its good to laugh at yourself. but its just dumb to go up to a black guy on the street and call him a nigger... thats offensive to him most likely because only his homies call him that... and hundreds of years of slavery... but all in all its alright.

[Merlin38]

As in most cases, racial slurs depend on the situation. I feel that if you are pointing out a stereotype humorously, it is a joke, but one should never intend to harm others on a racial basis.

[Lord Toaster]

Most of these terms have come to mean bad things, so calling people by them is insulting. It's just like another swear word that's exclusive to a certain racial group. I don't use them unless it's with friend's and as a joke. I wouldn't dream of calling people in the streets that kind of thing.

[QwinsepiaSquared]

I really really really hate this whole racial thing. What really ticks me off is that an African American can call me white all they want, but if I even say the word black around them they get offended. Now really, don't you think it offends me that they're calling me white?

[Merlin38]

Give me the serenity to accept the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things I cannot accept, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of those I had to kill because they ticked me off. A less violent version of your quote would seem to be good advice to follow in this situation.

[wasup]

Why would calling a black person black be offensive...?

[NeAvO]

Yeah it may pathetic for a person to over react to rascial slur but its more pathetic to actually use the word aimed at some one. If words like "white boy" or "nigger" weren't used then it would be much better. The only exception if the person using the word and the person recieving it were in on it and knew it was harmless, but then I stilll find it pointless using the word.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Hmmm. Where to begin? Lol. First off, I hate racial slurs - doesn't matter who's saying them or who they are saying them to. I think falling back on racial slurs is about the lowest form of comedy. They are built upon close-minded stereotypes that, should the person using them realize the extent to which there are exceptions, they'd probably stop using them, in recognition of their own ignorance. Fundamentally, they are words meant to insult an entire race, at once. There is no other reason to use them, no matter how people try to disguise the intention (besides the alleged exception of "taking back" the word, such as turning "nigger" into "nigga," but I think that is a degenerative and irresponsible concept and you will hardly ever (though I wouldn't say "never") hear me use "nigga" (except every now and then, in my raps), let alone; "nigger." If I was going to call a hispanic man, that I didn't like, a "spic," I'm not only insulting him, but I am labelling him as a term that is, at once, disrespecting everyone of his race (which is why I don't really agree with you, King and God, in that the insult is not directed as the person being insulted.) If I was to call a hispanic man a spic, a white man a cracker, etc, I am not only calling them "the slang, derogatory word for their race," but I'm also conveying the initial mentality that birthed that term, and directing it toward that man. I would be telling him that he is not of equal worth than I because, when these terms have been born out of hate and a feeling of superiority, I'm telling that man, directly, that he's of no greater worth than a "spic" (nigger, cracker, etc) in the eyes of the groups of people that were first to use the term - if that makes any sense. You're invoking a feeling of supremacy over that person. I really really really hate this whole racial thing. What really ticks me off is that an African American can call me white all they want, but if I even say the word black around them they get offended. Now really, don't you think it offends me that they're calling me white?[/b] Yeah, I understand that. It's that way with all races, though, in some cases, ya know? It offends you, just like it offends others. It doesn't bother me if someone calls me black (I mean, why would it?) but I often have to pause, momentarily, and look for their tone of voice and context, when they're saying it. Not saying it should be that way, but hey, you implied that it offends you too, so I'm sure everyone has this reaction, at some point.

[Never]

I don't think it's ever okay to use them, at least for me. The reasons have already been explained quite well. Also, I disagree with King and God on racial and national pride. I see nothing wrong with a proud race of any type. Being proud of where you come from does not automatically mean you think you are superior to others. I personally don't really care as I am american, but if you are a pure this, that or other thing I think that is pretty cool actually.

[Daeva]

Anyhow, racial slurs can be somewhat funny, if both parties know it is meant jokingly. If you are pissed at someone with a different race, resulting to racial slurs is just silly, (after all, you aren't angry at the person because he/she is a honkey/mexican/black person,) it would make things very complicated, unless if you are a racist then you should just stfu.[/b] I don't take offense to the term honky, but I found it amusing that you used one racial slur for white people...whom it is generally always deemed acceptable to use racist terms against, but used 'black' and 'mexican' rather then slurs. I don't mind it when people use them against me, in fact I've been known to insult myself with them, but ehh...I just find it irritating when someone uses them, then follows up with a comment mentioning how if anyone said something similar about their race they'd go ballistic.

[wasup]

I don't take offense to the term honky, but I found it amusing that you used one racial slur for white people...whom it is generally always deemed acceptable to use racist terms against, but used 'black' and 'mexican' rather then slurs. [/b]

[Howie]

I personally think it is alright to use them whenever wanting to - even to shout a racial slur about Jews to a Jew. People who take offense by being called "whitey", "nigger", "chink", etc. are pathetic. It is ridiculous to take offense from an insult directed at a whole racial group and not to oneself, as one's race does not = oneself.[/b] You are yelling at a person but not at oneself? Is that like yelling fat ass at a fat person but you are meaning the entire collection of fat people. So you are a bigot. Not you, just but bigots¿

[FluBB]

like i said... whats wrong with laughing at ourselves everyonce in a while? if it racist then thats bad, but if its a joke... you cant honestly find something wrong with that.

[Bayside]

I both love and hate racial slurs and stereotypes. I have black friends that I openly make racist jokes about to their faces, because they know I'm kidding and they don't mind, they enjoy it, as I enjoy being made fun of for being white, I really don't care. But if you're going to use it offensively, then I think it's just stupid. As for the word "nigger", I think it's just bad. I see it as a large notion of ignorance on the person who's using it, as it kind of refers to a point in time when black people were in slavery. Anyone who gets pissed off at being called "black", is just stupid, because then what should we call them? It's not fair to call them African-American's, because not all of them are necessarily born in America either, so what would the proper term be? How about we just stick with black? Sounds good to me. Also, if you're talking about the word "nigger" being used by black people, it's really not. It's "nigga", which is really in a sense an entirely different word. Of course everyones going to have a different opinion on this, but I think Tupac said it best. "NiggERS was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing; niggas is the ones with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs." That's my view anyway.

[Merlin38]

That subtle distinction may be a bit too indecisive. Especially for anyone with an accent.

[wasup]

but I think Tupac said it best. "NiggERS was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing; niggas is the ones with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs."[/b] I suppose that means if I see a black guy, I can be like "Hey look at the nigga! Don't worry, Tupac said it was OK"

[CymekSniper]

You know all this talk about race reminds me of something I hate. I really hate how all the Mexicans and illegal Mexicans supposedly have pride in being Mexican. Yeah I don't think I need to explain about that one. Just think.

[juroara]

if someone came up to me and called me a spic, Id just crack up! really the word just sounds so funny! where did that term come from anyways? why is it attached to hispanics? im not against using racial slurs, on the account that they are used to debunk their original meaning.