Disclaimer: This thread is has not been created to debate race relations. I just want to see what the general consensus from the site's community was.

Please state Yay or Nay and if you'd like, a brief explanation why.


This includes any variation of the word.

Thanks.

Difficult, isn't it. Whatever is decided will upset someone.

There are those who say that the use of the word even between blacks is offensive because of its history

On the other hand some would argue that it's like gays claiming words like "faggot" and "poof" and therefore taking the venom out of them.

I suggest we forget it and all go out for a dance instead.

Cloudbuster said:

did someone say.....dance???

sosgemini said:

Then why was it created?



...and you expect people to do this without mentioning race relations or getting into a heated debate about race?



This is some weird shit.

I hate the word. People that use it colloquially are idiots. Most of the time I think people just use it to get a rise out of others.

Tom said:

it's up to ben.

though if my opinion is in any way useful, i say ABSOLUTELY NOT.

*NO* word should be banned from use.

the use of all words, however, should be monitored for CONTEXT and INTENT.

when the org starts banning words, the shark has SERIOUSLY been jumped.

Anx said:

I agree.

I still feel weird about this whole thread being started, though.

FunkMistress said:

i know whatcha mean.

Tom said:

Oh they absolutely do. The same folks over and over.

Oh, I'd be happy if the Org just banned the people who use the word to purposely be offensive.

Romera said:

maybe it's the TROUBLEMAKERS who need to be banned and not the words they manipulate.

Anx said:

check the above post.

Romera said:

sorry...i was kinda agreeing with ya the first time around, i just chose the wrong words. ironically.

Saying something crass like "Fuck you!" for example is kinda universal and generic. But hearing people drop the N word, which references something very specific and awful, is frustrating. I don't get why people would want to joke about something like that, there's nothing even funny about it.

I agree though, I'm uncomfortable with banning specific words. Thats opening a whole can of worms...

I was watching "Dog Bites Man" last week and they were joking about a gay guy in a wheelchair, and called him "rolaids". The joke seemed really out of place in the show, considering how ignorant it was.

interventionism vs. personal responsibility. the same ol' argument marches on.

Yes- there shouldn't even be a question in anyone's mind about it. It's a terrible word used by those who don't understand it's origin or intention.

nurse said:

i think we should make a list of words that we as individuals find objectionable and then hold the moderators responsible for making sure nobody uses those words, and if someone DOES, ensure they're banned for life.

and i think there are also works of literature, film, television, music, etc., that are unquestionably racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. - i recommend that we compile a list of these offensive materials and maintain that these works are never discussed or quoted in the forums.

that'll be a start for keeping us from seeing what we don't want to see.

Anx said:

I think you should be the president of such a task.

Adisa said:

whatever it takes for me to be despotic again!

FunkMistress said:

why is it? just consider this a poll. i really just want to hear/read what peoples opinions are. thats all.

what i dont want this thread to turn into is a big ole back and forth, "you are wrong for believing what you believe" type thread...if you want to debate the use of the word go right on ahead and create a thread in the p&r for that...
[Edited 6/30/06 13:59pm]

Anx said:

You could search through all of these works and never find anything as worse as this one word. It was made for the purpose of making a race of people feel inferior-so you can call it what you want. I call it a shame. It's funny how threads get locked around here everyday for anything, but the one's with the N-word seem to last forever. Wonder what opinions the mods really have about it? Or do they really care? Lastly, how can it be justified that a site uses the name of an African-American who sings about these matters all the time in his music and yet this word is allowed to be used here daily. Really sad .
[Edited 6/30/06 14:58pm]
[Edited 6/30/06 15:49pm]
[Edited 7/1/06 6:06am]

luv4u said:

Anx said:

nurse said:

1. What if all those "offensive works" that I alluded to were works that used that word repeatedly? Books like "Huckleberry Finn" or movies like "Pulp Fiction"? What about all the countless hip-hop songs that use the word? If we can't use the word on this site anymore, why should we be allowed to glorify works of so-called "art" which glorify use of the word? Wouldn't that be as dangerous as using the word itself? I'm being very serious in asking you this.

2. As for the wondering about the mods' opinions, you do realize that it was a mod who started this very thread, right?

3. The African-American after whom this site was named is not exactly exempt from blame in using the "n-word" in his lyrics. Should we ban Prince?

and by the way, nurse, i'm not trying to pick on you nor am i trying to defend the word in question as being something that we should bandy about in conversation all the time. of course not. what i AM trying to do is defend our ability to communicate freely, and to suggest that maybe we should patrol our own words instead of asking that our comments be patrolled for us.

It's an awful, awful word, but I'm with Anx on this - look at the context.

We shouldn't forget that several works of Prince himself contain it. "2 N... United for West Compton"? The album "Goldn...."? The album "Exodus"? Are we not allowed to reference these records anymore if the word is categorically banned? If Prince had an org account, should the mods ban him for extensive public use of the word?

Anx said:

1-The use of the N-word in any form is wrong including in the arts and in the trash that is hip-hop nowadays.

2-I did know that a mod created this forum. My point was did they pose this question for honest truthful decision making related to the N-word or was it just to evoke emotions from people. Because essentially when ever this topic is brought up-it does evoke strong feelings in people in general.

3-I don't encourage the usage of the N-word for any person including Prince. My point was that just like many other artist he has done many songs about the topic of racism (which in case you don't know) still exist.Surely, he has used the word just like many others have, but won't admit-that still doesn't make it right .

nurse said:

The forum rules clearly say that posting hateful or racist material is not allowed. I strongly encourage the mods to strictly carry out these rules, and I think they do. Isn't that enough? Do we need extra rules for specific words?