In light of some unknown admin editing the title of the thread I started "the wrong nigga to fuck with" I've been thinking about language and how the meanings of words are contextual.

Is it a racial slur to quote a song title which contains a word derived from a racial slur? I don't think so, but I'm open to arguments otherwise. Not that I would ever call a black person a nigga, considering the history behind the word I think it is rarely appropriate for anyone who isn't an African-American to use the word. Ironically, sarcastically, or in a quote is something else entirely:



Can the word nigger ever be used as anything but a racial slur? I think so. I think my use of the word nigger in that question is not racial slur because the intent is not racist. I have said the word nigger in front of a black person, without hesitation and without fear of offending them. I wasn't calling anyone a nigger, I was using the word because the word itself was the topic of discussion. As with "nigga", I think there are some circumstances where someone who isn't African-American can use the word nigger without it being a racial slur.

For example here it is used to sarcastically make explicit the subtle racism that pervades American society:





My impression has been that this was something understood about this forum. The word nigger has been used in thread subjects without issue in the past in ways which I do not think count as being racially disparaging.

I believe that nigger is safe for work.

I don't know what the fuck is up with someone fucking with "fuck", that is totally fucked up.

I agree. Even though we all know what you're saying anyway...for some reason, people are more comfortable knowing what the word is without actually seeing the word. >_O

The history of the word "nigger" renders it totally inappropriate to me. Until everyone forgets exactly what it means, then it will continue to be rude and offensive. To me, anyway. I think that black people calling each other "niggers" are degrading themselves.

How does the context I used the song title in render it obscene? Perhaps I am not a reasonable person but to me it seems to do the opposite. It's ironic, sarcastic, and a specific and relevant cultural reference all rolled into one. If that doesn't mitigate the inherent obscenity of the word then what can? In what context can the words nigga or nigger be used and not be obscene?

The full name of this website is inherently NSFW if we go by the "super-SFW" rule. The name of this forum is itself NSFW by that standard as well, seriously Giant Douche? Turd Sandwich? I think "Giant Douche" is actually something that COULD get me in trouble at work. It's totally misogynistic and most employers frown on that shit. The picture of Kramer with nigga please on it would get a laugh. The Barney picture with the word nigger on it would get a laugh. Both are totally SFW in my case. "GIANT DOUCHE" on the other hand would lead to me having some explaining to do. Actually, the penguin with a gun logo of this website would too. It's "scary and violent". Employers are really freaked out by violence. Whenever I load this site in a place where others could see I am always careful to avoid displaying it on my screen because where I work that would be at the very least a major faux pas.

I'm not in a position to determine if you are reasonable or not :). But you assume that an onlooker or new forum poster is familiar with either the song or your own particular writing style so that they might recognize instantly the irony, sarcasism and so forth that many of us who "know" you do.

A possible litmus test Dick for the obscenity would be this: Go find a random group of people, composed of several ethnicities. But try to find one that has a significant number of african americans. Then walk up and engage in a dialouge about the Harvard article, but the first words out of your mouth must be " Hey check this out: He was teh wrong N****** to fuck with!". *wait* ok now spend the next few minutes either running, or trying to explain away the trouble you just created for yourself.

As for what context can you use the word, as a white male? Outside of an academic discussion or those listed by endyss, I would say never.

As far as the NSFW debate goes, I don't really think there is a true NSFW boundary in these forums. Like Dick and Endyss both said, what's safe and not safe for work depend on what one would define as appropriate or inappropriate. This could essentially be the name of the particular forum itself. I too could imagine someone offended at work by "Giant Douche." I think NSFW, at least in these forums, really lacks structure and definition and kind of defeats its purpose. I mean, I honestly have been regarding NSFW material more as a warning that something "shocking" is about to load on my page, no matter where I am to look at it. I don't know about you guys.

As far as the word "nigger" goes, I find it very difficult to make an appropriate use of the word outside the lines that Endyss described. I wouldn't say that it's even appropriate to use the word in the way it was used in that topic title before it was changed. I think in an instance like that, it's tolerable, assuming the people who do read it don't mind. I wouldn't say the word "nigger" would have appropriate usage unless there was an instance in which ANYONE, especially African-Americans, wouldn't get offended in the way in which it was used. That's my take on it.

sucka nigga - tribe called quest

I'm no hip-hop connoisseur, but I loves me some tribe.

to the topic:
Until the word falls from lexicon, it'll keep creeping up on people as this nasty ghost from times past. Should we make NSFW threads ( stuff with "nigger" prominently displayed ) have SFW titles? That sounds fine. Add it to the charter or whatever we've got.

Good boy. My faith in you is restored.. now, as promised..

(ugh I wasn't counting on having to do this.. let's see if this works)

___^
/_____\
|_____|
|_Milk_|____|~~~|
|_____|____|~~~|
|_____|____|~~~|
(::)(::)(::)(::)
(::)(::)(::)(::)

I don't eat no milk & cookies cuz they're high in cholesterooooolll..
yo tip do you eat em? nope
salad do you eat em? yep
ALL THE TIME

Bonus question: Who are the two people on that song that actually do eat ham & eggs? Their names and origins.