Stymie said:

I do as well.

I can see how "cracker" may be "against the rules" on this website depending on how it is used. But in no way do I think it even comes close to other racial slurs. It simply can't.

CarrieMpls said:

But that's not the argument though. If it's a racial slur, it's a racial slur. Sure it may not have the historical impact of other slurs, but if someone is offended by being called "cracker" then they have every right to be offended, regardless of if it stands up next to other slurs.

MuthaFunka said:

Oh, I agree with that as well. And when it's been used towards someone in a negative manner in the past it's been snipped. I've even snipped it, I believe.
It depends on the context of the post.

MuthaFunka said:

then be offended any racial slurs are used towards whomever.

Stymie said:

I, personally, don't "HAVE" to be offended by clurs against other races, but everyone has the right to be offended by a racial slur aimed at their race.

MuthaFunka said:

I know you don't have to be but we are not going to beat this
if we only cheer for our dog in the fight.

Stymie said:

Well, I don't think we'll ever "beat" racism, but it will take a concerted effort by everyone to at least alleviate it.

MuthaFunka said:

i agree we have to stand up against all use of terms and for everyone. because we have to work together to change the world.

A word like 'cracker' might not have the same historical gravity that 'N' word does, but still I think it's better for everyone to disregard those nuances and even context and just snip all such terms whenever they're used. I don't personally have any experience of being called something like 'cracker' and wouldn't find it terribly offensive if directed at me in terms of what it means to me in my life (it's not a word I've ever been around, used in that way), but in general I find the idea of racist terms like that offensive, directed at whoever. We just all need to take responsibility, report posts with racial slurs, and hopefully the mods will be on the ball and do what needs to be done.

I once posted a picture that was in very poor taste and it makes me sick thinking about it now. That feeling is a good reminder.

As for 'changing the world', I think it's clear that there's progress made with each generation. In my experience things have gotten better, but that a thread like this is necessary shows there's obviously much to be done. No reason to be disheartened though. We can do something right here on the org. Just have to be a good example. To be honest, I could care less about whose racism is worse or carries more historical meaning. We're all coming from different standpoints, with different experiences of racism. No need to start sub-dividing, giving explanations for, justifying or rationalizing racism. It's outrageous, whatever form it comes in and whoever it's aimed at.

One of my duties in the military is to serve as an Equal Opportunity Advisor...so the use of ANY derogatory racial term is wrong across the board...regardless of historical context, it does promote a double standard to allow "honky", "white whatever", "cracker" and so forth....if you're quick to check someone for using slurs aimed at minorities, you've got to be just as quick the other way...because the intolerant attitudes about our inherent differences is what needs to be eradicated before we all can really start practicing what we preach about diversity....

just my

reneGade20 said:

Makes sense to me.

meow85 said:

so true and well said

ehuffnsd said:

Me too and then the mod told me i only reported it because i didn't like said person and i would get banned if i reported it again.....don't ya just love equality?

ehuffnsd said:

did you report it?

I've seen nigga and nucca used several times. Both are supposedly more affable words for 'nigger' to some, but let's face it--they're still offensive to somebody out there.

I've also seen the rampant use of "midget" to mean dwarf or little people, when it is a derogatory word to them.

I know it seems like a daunting task for folks to have to keep up with who is offended by what, but let's face it--it's not up to us to decides what offends "them"--that's for them to decide. It's like men defining how far is too far when it comes to sexual misconduct with a woman--let's face it, the woman gets to decide there.


But your problems still exist until you do something about it, so report it.


I mean, if African Americans didn't do something about it, they'd still be drinking from their own segregated fountains.




grammar edit
[Edited 11/1/08 9:16am]

^^^ I say all this above and my hypocrite ass loves using the word fag.

CarrieMpls said:

I don't think it's up to the moderator to decide. And the argument here is about whether the words are offensive to the person in that particular racial/ethnic group--not what the legitimacy of his sensitivity to those words are--that's not for us to critic or judge.

He's offended. He's offended cause he's part of that ethnic group. And that's all that needs to be factored in, IMO.



grammar edit
[Edited 11/1/08 9:15am]

Imago said:

This is called IMPACT v. INTENT....whatever the person saying the offending word or phrase intended is immaterial to the impact upon the offended person....or as the adage goes, "one person's meat is another person's poison"...

Imago said:

I still hold that it depends on the context in which it is used. And in that sense, a moderator does decide. We don't have words that are outright banned on the site.

Frankly, anyone can be offended by anything and we're not going to snip everything written here just cause someone finds it offensive. The entire GD forum would be gone.

Though, as I said in another post, I've personally snipped it before, and in most cases I don't know why we wouldn't, but again, it depends on the context. I don't know what case this was and I certainly haven't seen any reports on this recently, so maybe it was in a forum I don't mod.

CarrieMpls said:

I'm not talking about having a laundry list of words you can't use here.

I'm talking about obvious words which obviously offend certain ethnic groups. Just cause you don't think cracker holds the same weight as other words doesn't mean that to the person receiving the comment, it doesn't offend them.

And yes, anyone can be offended by anything. But it's not up to us to decide for THEM whether the offending word is legitimate or not. ... within reason of course. I just thought your original statement that this doesn't equal that dismissive.

Imago said:

I wasn't saying no one should be offended by it. Just giving my persepctive on the use of words in general.

CarrieMpls said:

I wasn't saying that. You're trying to get the last word!!!

Imago said:

This stupid ass thread

I think there's room -- in this sort of discussion, as well as in the moderation of this site -- to acknowledge the differing historical contexts of various slurs but to shun their use.

I don't think words should be banned, but I think a responsible community (online or othewise) can discourage their use and the disruptive behavior of those who resort to those words.

ThreadBare said:

I agree with this....and what folks should understand is that no one is trying to say that, historically speaking, "c-----r" as a slur is on par with "n----r"....not even close....the point is that if someone takes offense, there is a responsibility to address the offense, not to spin it because of historical context....

again, just my opinion...

damn, i didn't know the C-Bomb and H-Bomb was so offensive.

A lot of folks here are getting it twisted. Regardless of what power or history these words have, they're still used to racially disparage people. The rules say not to post any racially degrading material, thus these words should be snipped. /thread

ThreadBare said:

ThreadBare for Mod

Mach said:

I was going to say that. What Threadbare said.

mcmeekle said:

You can have my job