Aisha

Err... kinda with Meiko tbh...

Not that i thought the guy was funny, he was just loud and boring.

But if a black guy calls a black guy a nigga, it ain't offensive... but then if a white guy says it, it's like UPROAR!

Notice the black guy came back with "White-boy" as a insult... ain't that racist then? No it ain't because only a nub would get wound up over a silly couple of words like that.

Ya ever see Chris Rock the comedian before? He's black and his number one phrase is nigga O_o

Reminds me with the whole issue on Muslim Veils atm... completely stupid imo. The fact that it does not say anywhere in their religion that women have to wear veils. It's simply there to undermine Muslim women and give the men more control. Yet cause we live in a multi-cultral society in the UK we ave to bend over backwards to accomodate these people...?

Wish Britain would grow it's balls back and tell people who don't like our ways to f off like most other contries do.

Sally Buttons

Actually, on the subject of veils, in this town, where all the furore happened, it's the women who are choosing to shroud themselves from head to foot. I work with a man who is a Muslim, and he said that she's not doing it for religious beliefs, as it doesn't say anywhere in the Koran that they have to wear all that stuff; they are just told to dress "modestly". He also said that she isn't doing the majority of law-abiding and moderate Muslims any favours with her attitude.
She actually went for her job interview and was not veiled, and that was before an all male panel. She worked for about three weeks, before a male colleague made a complaint about her refusal to remove the veil in class, and then she went off sick and hasn't been back since.
The school she worked in was a C 0f E school, but it was in Savile Town, so probably nearly all the children in the school would be Asian and also Muslim.

Going back to the original subject, I'm quite dismayed to see people trying to dismiss or condone what Michael Richards did, by trotting out the old chestnut "well black people call each other nigga, so what's so bad about him doing it?"
That word is a deeply offensive one, that was used for a lot of years to keep black people down and deny them basic civil rights.
Some of the attitudes on this thread make me sad and worried.

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Klion D'Gar

Theres nothing racist about calling someone a 'nigger' or a 'paki' in an argument. If you are arguing with someone it's quite natural to attack anything that's different about them, for example calling someone fatty, or four eyes. Since coloured people remain a minority in the West, it's only natural someone would attack that during an angry row.

This is the problem with the West right now. Our 'academic elite' are all complete morons; spoon fed on left-wing multiculturalism nonsense.

Sally Buttons

"Coloured" people? Nothing wrong with calling someone a nigger or a paki??? Did you vote for the BNP? I've never heard such a pile of shite, could you possibly BE any more offensive?

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Klion D'Gar

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Thats the question here I think.

Nigger is just a word, what was offensive about it was the intent behind it. It's why it's acceptable for black people to say it (and argubally) not for white people. However if a white person uses it and their intent is not to offend is it still a bad thing? I'd argue not.

Klion D'Gar

I just gave you my justification as to why people use these words in the context of an argument - as was the case in this video. People are TRYING to be offensive when they argue, thats the whole point.

If they used them on a daily basis I'd imagine they perhaps ARE racists, but I'd still not make a presumption. People use these words for a lot of reasons, and not everyone of them is a racist.

Is it so hard to have an openmind, or have you been totally brainwashed by the leftist culture of our society?

Sally Buttons

I'd say that my mind is a damn sight more open than yours, if you think it's EVER ok to call someone offensive names, and use arguing as justification for it.
It is perfectly possible to argue with someone without resorting to insults like that.

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Futt

What irks me about "African Americans" is the double standards. "White Supremacy" groups are all but outlawed, while "Black Power" gangs are cheered on. There are well known neighbourhoods where white people are as good as dead if they dare enter, while black people can move around freely. It just gets my blood boiling when the spoiled little whiners stand there, welfare cheque in hand, whining about how white people are racists and they used to be slaves so all white people owe them. In my experience (from forums and RL American friends) the so-called "African Americans" are the worst racists ever, but they get away with it because they're black.

Call me a racist if you will, but that whole "help help I'm being repressed" routine is getting old. And annoying.

This thread should probably be moved to the Hornet's Nest shouldn't it heh.

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Kendrick

It's not about "intent".

I could call you a racist brain-dead moron and not really mean it. But how do you know what my intent was? its still been said.

The meaning of a word derives from its accepted usage, If a word like "nigger" (or "racist" or "moron") is accepted to have a pejorative meaning, then intent has nothing to do with it.

Why is it ok for black people to use it then? After centuries of civil rights abuse and slavery, black people have decided that they're going to take this phrase for themsleves to diffuse the horrible sentiments it used to engender. They *do* have the right to use it. Can a white person ever use the phrase and maintain they didn't "intend" to use it vindictively? Maybe they can. But in the middle of an angry argument? No way. They're using the word precisely because its hurtful and nasty.

I'm stuggling to understand this imaginary context where a white person is using the phrase "nigger" without "intent".

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Devlin

Yeah but I think the difference is how its meant. I'm gay, and I have no problem with my friends calling me fag or queer, but I would if someone I didn't know did (who meant it aggressively).

Its the same for calling a black person a nigger. I'm sure many black people would have no problem with a white friend calling them nigger if they didn't mind their black friends calling them that.

Likewise I'm sure theres a lot of black people that would be offended by another person calling them a nigger. I would say it all depends on the situation.

But I don't understand why lots of white people get so upset about it; it's always seemed like a thin veil for racism to me, saying that them dirty ethnic minorities is here to take away the rights of white people!

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Klion D'Gar

Well if I am having an intense argument with someone and am deeply offended by what they say, I may well call them a nigger. I can't say I ever have done so, but it wouldn't be below me if there was suitable provocation.

For the record, the following is a defenition of a racist:

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Nowhere does it state the use of particular words makes you a racist.

Klion D'Gar

Exactly. I call me gay friend a 'hóm' all the time; am I homophobe (scared of gays)? Nonsense. I go out drinking with him all the time and I hit the gay bars with him on occasion. He knows my INTENT is not to offend so he's got no problem.

Oh and I agree that it seems like racism to me. Why are white people so protective of the minorities.. are they to weak to take a bit of abuse? It's complete nonsense.

Devlin

Err.. If you pick out someone's skin colour to use as an insult in an argument, and would even consider calling someone a paki, I call that pretty damn racist.

Just because you're in an argument, it doesn't mean you can use racial slurs suddenly without being racist. Because racial slurs ARE racist

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Devlin

Yes but if you called him a fucking queer in an argument, like you just said, it would be offensive

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Klion D'Gar

My point is not that it isn't offensive, the intent would be clear by the context of it's use. My point is that it doesnt make you a homophobe.