Riley Cooper sorry for racial slur

[brainhulk]

So there is nothing wrong with the word itself, it just depends on who is using it?

MotionMan

One subset of people are assumed to be using it in a derogatory manner whether they are not

 

[JACKIE]

One set of people us it as an insult, purposefully offensive.

Another group does not.

If you want to argue that it's just a word and that people should not take offense to any words, that is another story. Otherwise you just sound like a racist

LOL...I'm pretty sure all groups have used it offensively at time or another.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Context has everything to do with it. Someone could call me a dirty f'ing mexican immigrant scum and I would laugh, since I'm a white dude that was born and raised in the midwest. Now if I was of latin decent I would probably take offense to it.

 

[MotionMan]

Context has everything to do with it. Someone could call me a dirty f'ing mexican immigrant scum and I would laugh, since I'm a white dude that was born and raised in the midwest. Now if I was of latin decent I would probably take offense to it.

Is there a context where it is appropriate for a white person to call a black person the N-word?

Is there a context where is is inappropriate for a black person to call a black person the N-word?

MotionMan

 

[slayer202]

Is there a context where it is appropriate for a white person to call a black person the N-word?

Is there a context where is is inappropriate for a black person to call a black person the N-word?

MotionMan

no

yes

It's probably no use explaining further.

 

[MotionMan]

no

yes

It's probably no use explaining further.

So, it is not the word itself, it is only the context, right?

MotionMan

 

[surfsatwerk]

As long as he doesn't get traded then come back to the Eagles to retire, I'll give him a pass on this.

 

[MotionMan]

As long as he doesn't get traded then come back to the Eagles to retire, I'll give him a pass on this.

:thumbsup:

MotionMan

 

[dank69]

Is there a context where it is appropriate for a straight person to call a gay person a lovely human?

Is there a context where is is inappropriate for a gay person to call a gay person a lovely human?

MotionMan

Answer your own questions.

 

[Theb]

Video of the incident. http://deadspin.com/eagles-wr-riley-cooper-at-concert-i-will-fight-every-979470075

Oh the poor oppressed white man.

When will we be able to be racist in public again?

When will black security guards learn their place and let us go backstage at Kenny Chesney concerts?

When will the suffering end?

 

[pelov]

....


You really need to go there???


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

Yes, actually. The episode was about an incident much like this and even including the sob story afterward to stop the bleeding. And why even bother deleting the image? It's only racist in a person's twisted perception of what it's meant to portray, when in fact what the image -- and the entire episode -- were meant to shed a light on that touchy subject.

Is there a context where it is appropriate for a white person to call a black person the N-word?

Is there a context where is is inappropriate for a black person to call a black person the N-word?

MotionMan

Yes and yes.

Story time...

In college, I had a highly educated black professor who was both wise and incredibly quick-witted. The topic of race came up and the subtleties of 'the N word' came up. He halted the class discussion to tell us a little story that perfectly expressed the issues with race within this country and how the common approach is woefully miserable in dealing with it.

He was outside smoking on a cold winter morning behind a pillar. It was early and the streets were relatively empty (this is NYC, so empty is a very relative term). A group of high school kids had decided to meet in front of that building to gather up before class. He quietly listened to their conversation, which was riddled with 'N words'. 'N words' were being thrown about without any condescending or derogatory tone, but rather in friendly manner - n*gga. After a few minutes of these kids chatting, a group decided to leave early. The two kids that were left slowly drifted father away, and from a distance they noticed that my professor had been standing there smoking the entire time, quietly listening to their conversation. The two kids that were left were white and the few others that left were black, hispanic and another white kid. After a few seconds of whispering to themselves, one of the two remaining white kids came up to my professor and apologized for his language and his use of 'the N word'.

The kids weren't racist. Regardless of skin color, they got along well and all used the same language. It wasn't until the two white kids discussed it amongst themselves and decided to apologize that it became racist.

Racism is subtle and pervasive. It's an ubiquitous part of our society that's impossible to pin down and purge. It'll stay with us forever and is incredibly complex as it can be simple, like this idiot blurting out a slur at a country music concert. Racism is a lot more than just a dumb word that by itself means utterly nothing. And if you want a prime example of how people boil racism down to just some dumb word that should be avoided at all costs then just look at the post above where I posted this image and it was taken down with a dumb nonsensical message to replace it, completely missing the point of the post, the picture, and the context of it all.

As to MotionMan's original question:

We used 'the N word' in all its splender and glory in class that day. There were definitely some weird looks and pale faces, but it was important that we did. In the end, it's just a dumb word, but it's the actions and sentiment behind it and the context in which it's placed that determine whether it's offensive or harmless. If he were a white, Asian, Mexican, or alien professor and told the same story using 'the N word' it still wouldn't have been racist.




You cannot post about the moderator that took place for your post. I did you a favor and gave you a warning in the post, nothing official was on your record.

But what you posted was a moderator callout and its not allowed.

Read the rules and you would know that you take such issues to the MD forum.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=60552

"12) Do not contact individual moderators. Please report violations of these guidelines by using the "report post" feature located below the poster's username and postcount on the left-hand side of their post (look for the symbol). Please direct all questions about specific moderator actions to our Moderator Discussions sub-forum. Please be patient with moderation requests and inquiries. Users found in violation of this directive will be given only one warning and pointed in the right direction before further action is taken."

 

[DrunkenSano]

The kids weren't racist. Regardless of skin color, they got along well and all used the same language. It wasn't until the two white kids discussed it amongst themselves and decided to apologize that it became racist.

They apologized because society has drilled it into their head that any use of the N-word is racist. Friendly or not.

 

[MotionMan]

Answer your own questions.

I do not set the rules, I am just expected to live by them.

It would make it a lot easier for me if the rules were clearly explained.

What I have gathered so far is that the N-word is a "bad" word, so much so that you cannot even type it out on this forum, like the F-word. Also, if you are white and use the N-word, you can be fined, suspended, fired and otherwise ostracized by society.

However, if said by a black person, it is generally OK.

Is that right?

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

They apologized because society has drilled it into their head that any use of the N-word by a non-black is racist. Friendly or not.

Fixed.

MotionMan

 

[pelov]

They apologized because society has drilled it into their head that any use of the N-word is racist. Friendly or not.

And mods, apparently.

That's the biggest problem with racism in this country, I think. We can't even bring ourselves talk about it because we put offensive language, regardless of how it's used, completely off limits. It's beyond ludicrous and as a result sweeps the issue under the rug.





Stop posting about the moderation of your post



esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[Kev]

So, it is not the word itself, it is only the context, right?

MotionMan

Why don't you make a point instead of asking inept questions?

 

[Kev]

I am more offended that he went to a Kenny Chesney concert.

 

[MotionMan]

Why don't you make a point instead of asking inept questions?

It's called "foundation". I prefer for my "points" to be based on these things called "facts". In order to gather the "facts", I ask questions. The answers to the questions (the "facts") build the "foundation" to my "point".

Unlike many here, I try to make "points" that are based on "facts".

(I also seem to over-use quotation marks at times.)

MotionMan

 

[MixMasterTang]

Is there a context where it is appropriate for a white person to call a black person the N-word?

Is there a context where is is inappropriate for a black person to call a black person the N-word?

MotionMan

I've got black friends who wouldn't mind if I used it in a context like "whats up my n*****!?" and some of them would get upset if another black person called them "a stupid backwards ass country n*****".

 

[dank69]

I do not set the rules, I am just expected to live by them.

It would make it a lot easier for me if the rules were clearly explained.

What I have gathered so far is that the N-word is a "bad" word, so much so that you cannot even type it out on this forum, like the F-word. Also, if you are white and use the N-word, you can be fined, suspended, fired and otherwise ostracized by society.

However, if said by a black person, it is generally OK.

Is that right?

MotionMan

I find it hard to believe that a highly educated attorney such as yourself cannot ascertain the answers to these questions himself.

I guess you find it confusing when gay people get upset when they hear people toss around the word lovely human in a derogatory manner. Do you have trouble determining when ANY word is used in a derogatory manner, or just the n-word?

 

[chimaxi83]

I say the 'n-word,' a.k.a. the only word banned by our hypocritical society (and this forum) at every opportunity, specifically because it pisses off people who I don't give a fuck about, anyway.

Same thing with 'lady.' You know what kind of woman gets super offended by that word?

None. And they don't hang out with me because I'm an asshole who tries too hard.

What. A. BADASS. Renegade. Alpha. You should give manliness classes, bro. Does your car have flames on it? I bet it does.

Also, FTFY.

 

[pelov]

I find it hard to believe that a highly educated attorney such as yourself cannot ascertain the answers to these questions himself.

I guess you find it confusing when gay people get upset when they hear people toss around the word lovely human in a derogatory manner. Do you have trouble determining when ANY word is used in a derogatory manner, or just the n-word?

Coincidentally, I think you may have just proved his point (though it's a weak point, I agree) We're allowed to say one but not the other. The reason for that is that we're told that words are off limits, and certain words are especially off limits.

I called a gay friend a 'total i love you' one time and we both laughed about it. We were sitting having lunch and he was critiquing this other gay guy's clothes. I looked at him with a sandwich in hand and said, "Oh my god, you're a total i love you.' At first he gasped, and then we laughed as he said replied "Touche."

It really is all in the context. Even when said jokingly it doesn't mean it's offensive.

 

[madoka]

We're allowed to say one but not the other. The reason for that is that we're told that words are off limits, and certain words are especially off limits.

ATOT seems to mirror society in that regard. We can make fun of Indians' hygiene, Asian penis size, Asian drivers, etc. But you can't make fun of other stereotypes because that would be offensive.

 

[twinrider1]

Context does matter.
I just choose to not use the word. Right or wrong, society doesn't like the word, at least not publicly. And I have a big enough vocabulary to cut you down without using the word.

Always thought this was funny. But it's NSFW. I repeat, NSFW.
Chris Rock NSFW NSFW NSFW

Hmm, he's a WR. You just know the other teams are going to lay the wood to him when they get the change. Should make for some interesting trash talk in the pile.

 

[MotionMan]

I find it hard to believe that a highly educated attorney such as yourself cannot ascertain the answers to these questions himself.

I know what I think. I want to know what others' opinions are.

I guess you find it confusing when gay people get upset when they hear people toss around the word lovely human in a derogatory manner. Do you have trouble determining when ANY word is used in a derogatory manner, or just the n-word?

So, if a white person uses the N-word in a non-deragatory manner (which is apparently how black people often use it with each other), you think that society thinks that is OK?

MotionMan