Question: Is it wrong to call someone who's acting like a hood rat by the name Shiniqua when you don't know them?

Here's the situation: I was walking down the street to my school in Berkeley, and there were a couple girls with a rather big man - they were all friends, and were carrying on like friends do. She was jumping on him and swinging her purse at him and all, but she was not watching where she swung the purse, and it made it hard for me to get out from behind them.

I made a (not rude) request, "Okay, guys, I don't want to get hit by the purse." She replied rather indignantly, "well then, walk around it!" I kept my cool, and said, "Ummm, that's hard to do without walking into the street." I did get ahead of them, and went about my business. That was what I said out loud. What I WANTED to say was, "Look Shiniqua, ..., (fill in the blank)." But I didn't, cuz I've thought of this as actually being a racial epithet, even though I would call a white girl or hispanic girl acting like this (that I don't mention asian girls is a subject for another time) by the exact same name if that was the case.

Your thoughts, orgers?

hell i do it

doesnt matter what race they are, if they act like that i usually call them a stereotypical ghetto ass name.

I think U would have been out of line because what U were in fact insinuating is that all girls/women who act like U described are: (a)automatically from "the hood" and (b)named such names.

I have a girl in my class named Shaniqua. She's very quiet, smart and sweet. It's unfortunate that her name is associated with such behavior.

If U got past them without further incident, then so be it. Name-calling was unnecessary, IMO.

What is a "hood rat"

I've heard of "hooded rats".

InsatiableCream said:

Which is fine, so long as you don't have a hissy fit when someone labels you a racist.

eaglebear4839 said:

Unless you're able to handle that big dude, better to move on.

JustErin said:

Hood Rats in their natural environment...

Yeah, probably not a good idea. I've had people call me Pedro all in fun and even though it didn't really offended me it still left a bad taste in my mouth.

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with it...being that I simply adore sarcasm!!
However, I can see where it may be quite offensive and racist.
Actually, it brings to mind that JLo movie Maid in Manhattan where the uppity blond guest of the hotel insisted on calling JLo's character Maria in a condescending tone when her name was actually Marissa, I believe. It had definite racial overtones... IMHO...

violator said:

it's whatever. i know i'm not so who cares

InsatiableCream said:

It's fine if you have that attitude, it's just that so many people don't.

uPtoWnNY said:

That's what I was thinkin'. I tell people all the time "You can say whatever you want to say in life, just be prepared to deal with the consequences of your words". It would have been best to simply walk around them as best you could. You're lucky you didn't catch a beatdown for even going THAT far with it. No tellin' what kinda fool they were.

Okay, I've been guilty of doing this, BUT I would never do it to the person's face
I don't think it's racist, but it could be interpreted that way.

"Hood rat, hood rat, hoochie mama!!!!"


....only singing....

MuthaFunka said:

Very true. And that's the extreme end of it. But as I said earlier, many of those same people would have a fit at just being called racist while in complete understanding of how stereotypical a comment like that is.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

you gotta stop!

violator said:

Yep.

I really hate racial double standards

violator said:

You're cute.

RenHoek said:

Those are fake hood rats

THESE are real hood rats

http://youknowyoudeadazzw...-girls.jpg


[Edited 12/2/08 14:24pm]

MuthaFunka said:

Exactly. Don't let your mouth get you into something that your ass can't get you out of. One of those fools could have had a knife, box-cutter or gun - then what? It's 3 against 1. You have no idea what the other person is capable of. If you're by yourself, swallow your pride and walk on.

JustErin said:

And I have a huge cock.

MuthaFunka said:

Exactly, take it as far as you're willing to take it. But you can't expect to call a stranger Shiniqua and have them say/do nothing back to you. Unless maybe that's her name

I'd just ignore them as best I could because I don't want to be upset all day about some fight with idiots.

bboy87 said:

I stand corrected!!!

thekidsgirl said:

eaglebear4839 said:

Are you white?

If so, then yes it would be fucking racist of you to call her "Shaniqua."

I hear ya. And for me, I know I can say anything and I know there's consequences, but for me sometimes saying the words is committing the deed and getting the consequences at the same time. What did we used to say in school - it takes one to know one? Not that I think of myself as a Shiniqua (I joke about it, but not serious). What I mean is that I don't think we call someone a not-so-nice name or complain about a characteristic they have without having recognized it in ourselves first, consciously or otherwise. I guess it also goes back to the idea that I can call someone all the dirty names in the world or think all the nasty thoughts about them that I want, but it's how I act over those thoughts that would get me in trouble.

MuthaFunka said: