29 replies to this topic

[Inhibitor]

...is nothing. Yeah. Believe it on not, many people I know personally believe the word 'Nigga' to be a sign of greeting and friendship. Well you know what I think? They're f*cking idiots. Anybody with a pint-sized brain SHOULD know that there's nothing friendly or funny about that word. 'Niggers' were beat and whipped senselessly by their 'upper class' masters. 'Niggers' were painfully stacked together like salmon under the lower floors of transport ships. 'Niggers' were considered the lowest 'race' among all were to be treated like dirt, all because of their darker skin. If they know nothing about those things, their tongues should be ripped off and cleaned because they're full of shit. To think that some European and African Americans alike believe there to be nothing wrong with that word is pure retardation. I know this isn't a topic that should be here, but the stupidity of the youth these days is getting me so pissed. They're the same word. They have the same meaning. There's nothing friendly about it. The fact the people actually debate about this make you wonder if they were raised by rats. The word is wrong, it shouldn't be used at any time under any circumstance, and thats the end of it.

[chief]

The black slaves were called Niggers because the original slaves came (mostly) from Niger, Africa. Thus you get the "Got a boat full of Niggers (originally pronounced N-I-ggers).

Do I think there is something wrong with the word? No. I really don't. Just because it is linked to the slavery and abuse of blacks at one point is no reason to hold against it now. And yes, I'm saying blacks because I'm white. I'm not European, I'm not European-Canadian.. I'm white. Sure you have politically correct words for everything but, I don't know many whites who get pissy for being called white and not European Immigrant or some silly junk.

But I also respect people. If a black person were to find the word offensive I would not say it around them. Same with anyone really. If something is offensive to someone I will respect that.

The "Nigga" or "Nigger" term in greetings and so on came from.. Well the rap/hip-hop culture. Then it just sorta went to "Well.. If they say it to each other I'm saying it too". But of course a lot of Caucasians (politically correct word for white) started to get in trouble for saying it. African Americans (politically correct word for black person living within the United States of America.. Whats a Black Canadian?) I guess I should say 'some' African Americans started to say "Its *our* word". Well thats reverse racism there. Allowing one race to say said word when others can not.


I guess what I'm trying to say is its a word thats not going away. For example Nazi, Hitler, and so on. One term for that is Grammar-Nazi. Will you go against people saying Grammar-Nazi? Trust me, Hitler killed off way more Jews then what were killed off and beaten during the Slavery years of America.

The reason why Nigger got turned into a "bad word" in the first place was because people were afraid and wanted to forget what they once did. Well, perhaps not them, but their grandparents, or great grandparents and so on. In fact forgetting what happened, or trying to forget, putting it behind you, censoring stuff about it and so on is rather rude and bad in its self.


I'm not racist, I don't hate any particular group of people, and I see the past as the past. You learn from mistakes and you move on. Holding grudges for stuff just makes everything repeat eventually.

[BigWigRah]

The terms we use to describe each other are always going to be ambiguous and silly anyways. What is an African American? Is it someone who immigrated from an African country and now has US citizenship, or is it a a black person born in the US? Shouldn't there be a distinction for both?

Let's consider the term "white people" for a second. It's important to realize that the definition of who is white and who is not has changed over time. The Irish weren't always considered white people in America, especially when they were just beginning to immigrate into Boston in the early to mid 1800s. No one has a problem with it now.

A lot of people want to let the dark chapters in American history go just as today's Germans want to let their own dark chapters close. It can't really happen if they're going to be groups of people holding it against them. As long as there are groups out there who want to hold on to racial or ethnic barriers, division between people will always be perpetuated.

Ayn Rand describes race as the worst form of collectivism. Why would you want to identify with any particular "race" of people in everyday associations, when the "racial culture" might not be representative of you as an individual? If we teach kids "you're a hyphenated American," that puts a divisive idea into their head that they can automatically associate with "these people" and not "those people." If we teach kids "you're an American," then those divisive barriers might be less likely to form. Racism isn't an instinctual behavior; it's learned.

rambling a bit, but it's still something to think about.

[chief]

I personally like to look at people as a difference of culture, not race. Seeing other cultures is interesting. Race is... really nothing. Not important. Culture is whats important.

[Inhibitor]

For one thing, I commonly use the term European-Americans for what is normally called 'Caucasians' or Whites because we all came from somewhere. African American is obviously used because our ancestors were from the continent of Africa. Thats also generally the same story with Chinese , Asian, and Japanese american term came from. The reason why I refrain from White so much is because it enforces the so-called fact of upper class. Almost as if they made the USA and is their homeland. In a way it is, because more Europeans migrated to the US than any other ethnicity. (from what it seems) As the years go by, the future generations aren't even aware of it. And Chief, you're right. They're hardly any races. Its just the cultures and descents that make us, not these differing 'colors'. Yes, the time of slavery and racism has ended for the most part, but its hard letting some things go. At least for me it is. The point is, the ongoing misinterpretation of racial names given is making me sick. And I can hardly stand what I hear everyday. I guess this would fit more in the Vent section of the forum...

[MistressAli]

Race is... really nothing. Not important. Culture is whats important.

That's so true. I've seen (on tv) a white person being accused of 'acting black.' (ie: usually to mean they're acting like a stereotypical 'ghetto' black) But to me, that makes no sense. Are they saying all black people fit into some stereotyped way of acting? I've seen black people act like trashy ghetto idiots and I've seen them the complete reverse, logical, cultured and respectable. The same with white people and their 'white trash' vs the more 'classy' folk. Saying they're acting 'ghetto' (as in a culture) would make more sense. People need to look at the individual and their culture, not their race...

I personally have always disliked the term 'African American'. The blacks who were born in American are AMERICAN, not African. Now if they moved from Africa, maybe that's different, because they are citizens of both places... but then it seems they would be whatever African country they came from like 'Kenyan-American' or something but yeah... that's my 002 on that. I just prefer 'white' and 'black', it's simpler and I don't see how it's insulting.

As for the actual topic, words can change over history. 'Fag'...that originally was used for a bundle of wood. And 'gay' was happy. Maybe 'nigga' has changed to be a symbol of kinship and affection amongst the people whom it originally demeaned and enslaved. And since white (or other race) people aren't part of that kinship, when they use the word it doesn't mean the same thing...it retains the 'old' meaning.
I personally don't like the word. And of course being white I probably wouldn't use it anyway (unless I wanted a beat-down LOL) Its origins are just too hateful for me. I don't like 'fag' either, its origins are harmless, but the word has now been twisted into something hateful. It's kind of like the swastika. It was originally a symbol of protection, but now it's been so warped that even if used in its original meaning, it still carries all the negativity the Nazis put on it.
I guess I feel keeping 'nigger' around is just keeping around the negativity between the races. I think the past should be past, people need to get over what happened back then because nobody here was alive then. Blame people for their racist actions now... don't put crimes from their ancestors on them. Leave the negative word in the past instead of trying to turn it 'positive' because there are going to be people who will never see it positive, it will always remind them of the injustice in the past.
Wow I am rambling too...

[RedAuthar]

I've always wondered why it was consider offensive if I refered to someone as a black person, when I am usually refered to as a white person?

I don't want to offend people, it just was a curiosity.

[Morgan]

Only person I ever called a nigger was Chief.

[furrykef]

What sparked this thread?

[RedAuthar]

Some idiot saying words they know not the meaning of sparking the wrath of Mr.Knockout?

[John Roberts]

S'up Niggers.

[Morgan]

Chief is a nigger.

[chief]

Alright guys thats..enough of that. Mr. Knockout doesn't like it so don't go turning this topic into some kinda joke on it.

[furrykef]

I'm with Chief on that one. It's not funny.

[Ratty Randnums]

Culture is fascinating. It seems that as social animals it's an inante characteristic of almost every human to want to find a group, large or small, to associate themselves with and disassociate from others. Race has simply always been an easy (I am not saying it's RIGHT, just easy) way to do so.
Especially in the days before modern travel, when you could pretty much immediatly spot an "outsider" in such a way (language being the easy fallback failing that).
Politics play into this, and culture changes slowly, especially when it comes to equality between a very visibly different minority and a more wealthy and comfortable majority.
It's all very interesting and terribly sad, but one thing it's not is simple.
The whole issue with the "N" word is just a sign of a much more complex and deep history of exploitation, misunderstanding and unrest.

Another example of why I like people, I just don't usually like being around most of them. Again, fascinating species though.

[Inhibitor]

I think its ironic how the supposed administrators can be the most childish of everybody on this forum. Want to remind me how they got those permissions Chief?

[ALIENwolve]

I think its ironic how the supposed administrators can be the most childish of everybody on this forum. Want to remind me how they got those permissions Chief?

It's really easy to do so when you're not acting such as this.

[Ratty Randnums]

I think its ironic how the supposed administrators can be the most childish of everybody on this forum. Want to remind me how they got those permissions Chief?

I'm not Chief but well... Seniority, and John Roberts pretty much foots the bill for the entire thing. Including paying artists to make the Season 3 comic. Racism or at least joking about it is apparently a national pastime in Australia. Don't worry about it so much.

[chief]

*sighs*

John is my co owner on FUS. Morgan knows all the tech stuff for the board and does most of the board changes. I don't know the software well enough. Or care to learn it really.

[Morgan]

Mr Knockout: I understand your feelings and respect your wishes. I do not agree with the manner in which you chose to address these "childish admins", as you called us, and while there are much better ways of expressing your discontent in harmless joking, I will apologize for derailing your thread as well as any offense I have caused you.