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Cigarette

Cigarette

Cleveland, OH
April 2004

JUL 15, 2007 05:50 AM

Girthy said:
think that one doesn't have to be black to be a "nigger".



It's derived from the Spanish and French for black (negro/nègre).

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

JUL 15, 2007 05:55 AM

Cigarette said:

Girthy said:
think that one doesn't have to be black to be a "nigger".



It's derived from the Spanish and French for black (negro/nègre).



He has a point, though. Albeit it is mainly used to refer to those of massive melanin persuasions, can be used to identify activities that are below, in opinion, the expectations of the speaker when referring to anyone else.

See Chris Rock.

NickFaust

NickFaust

USA
April 2004

JUL 15, 2007 05:56 AM

I grew up in the south. I grew up in a time when this word was used openly, without any embarrassment.

There were three variations - Negro in the formal press, Nigra in polite company and Nigger, when you wanted people to know how you really felt.

In my experience (I am white) the word has never been used as anything but an epithet. It was intended as an insult. Nothing more or less. I don't not use the word at all now

But, since epithets are a lingering need for human beings, I imagine that NAACP action or no, it will be around for a while.

Vampirate

Vampirate

Durham, NC
October 2004

JUL 15, 2007 06:09 AM

Zarth said:

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

Girthy said:

Uncognitive said:

Girthy said:
What would be a more effective way of removing the racism from the word would be to use it to describe what it originally intended.

Ignorant retarded motherfuckers, no matter what their color or creed.


Speaking of which, you do know that the word "nigger" started out referring only to skin color (The Latin word for "black" being niger and all), and gradually became a race-based insult around the early 19th Century, right?

So the word "nigger" has always referred to race, and if you think you can wish away the two centuries of racial hatred that have been encrusted onto "nigger" by charmingly claiming that it really only refers to "ignorant retarded motherfuckers", than you can rock on with your ol' whiteboy self with that.


Actually, "Nigger" is derived from "Niggard" which means a stingy, grasping person; a miser.

I do believe that you're mistaking the word with "Negro". It's a quite common misconception and quite possibly one of the factors that went in to it getting applied in the way it did.

At least that's the way I've always understood it.


Your understanding is wrong. The word "nigger" is derived from "Negro," not "niggard."

Girthy said:
I dunno, maybe it's 'cause my lineage is Irish that I've never really applied the word to black people specifically. As you may know, people refer to the Irish as niggers as well.

It's been more of a term for an amazingly inexorable asshole to me for as long as I can remember.


Irish were called micks or paddies. I've never heard of them being called niggers, except occasionaly in the Nineteenth Century by Anglo-Saxons who genuinely felt that Celts were an inferior race (i.e., of the same social status as Africans, and hence deserving of the same treatment), and only used the word specifically to make that point.


I've never heard someone actually directly call an Irishman a "nigger", but I've heard the Irish in general referred to as "the niggers of Europe." I'm pretty sure it's 100% a back formation, comparing their socioeconomic status and the way they're viewed by the rest of Europe to blacks' status here.

emotedcreations said:
To be honest, I never really understand the reason why black people in America are referred to as African-American. To me, an African-American would be an African who became an American citizen (speaking an African language having a big part of it). My ancestors were German, Irish, and Polish, but I don't call myself a German-American, an Irish-American, or Polish-American. I'm just American--a white American. A German-American would again be a German citizen who became an American citizen (and spoke German)--to me anyway. I dunno.

I mean, don't get me wrong, if black American's prefer to be called African-Americans I'm not going to quibble and tell them they're wrong, I'm just saying I don't get it. In the end, I'll call any group of people whatever they want to be called, because it doesn't affect me either way (just don't go changing it every year trying to confuse me smile).


Honestly, I think it's only overly politically correct white people who use the term "African-American", and, yeah, it's retarded. All the black people I know use the term "black" (or "nigger", actually).

Vampirate

Vampirate

Durham, NC
October 2004

JUL 15, 2007 06:15 AM

_Poptard_ said:

Cigarette said:

Girthy said:
think that one doesn't have to be black to be a "nigger".



It's derived from the Spanish and French for black (negro/nègre).



He has a point, though. Albeit it is mainly used to refer to those of massive melanin persuasions, can be used to identify activities that are below, in opinion, the expectations of the speaker when referring to anyone else.

See Chris Rock.


Yeah, I guess nineteenth century British Empire types used the word to refer to any dark "natives" (who were, of course, obviously inferior to their white conquerors or would-be conquerors), not just Africans but Indians and the swarthier Middle-Easterners as well.

That pretty much fell out of fashion in the twentieth century, though, and now if you used the word to refer to an Indian, people would not only look at you like you were a vile racist, but also like you were stupid or unhinged.

Cairo

Cairo

SUICIDEGIRL

Maryland, USA

JUL 15, 2007 08:11 AM

Rude_Ruca said:

OhSoOrdinary said:
I would just like to say, on behalf of my race, I apologize.

Not just for this.

For everything.




Ummm, excuse my ignorance, perhaps it's the hangover, but whaaaa?

confused



From her December 28, 2006 entry:

Why black men make bad boyfriends.

I have a general tendency to date white men.

This is 25% because I have more in common with white people and 75% because black men suck.

Suck (v.) 1. To treat women like crap. 2. To speak in broken English 3. To be uneducated. 4. To be financially irresponsible. 5. To be unmarried, but the father of a child 6. To not be goal oriented 7. To not be socially conscious. 6. To have an aversion to performing oral sex while feeling entitled to receiving it (seriously. Thats last one is some BULLSHIT!).



So no, it's not the hangover. She's just kind of an ignoramus.

I sort of feel compelled to make an entry about why black men make fantastic husbands, but I gush about my dude all the time, so it would pretty much be redundant.

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

JUL 15, 2007 08:47 AM

Cairo said:

I sort of feel compelled to make an entry about why black men make fantastic husbands, but I gush about my dude all the time, so it would pretty much be redundant.



Is it actually because he's black or because he's a good guy?

I've never understood why people think that members of certain races make better or worse partners. It's been my experience that people of all colours can be wonderful or complete douchebags.

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

JUL 15, 2007 08:50 AM

Cairo said:

Rude_Ruca said:

OhSoOrdinary said:
I would just like to say, on behalf of my race, I apologize.

Not just for this.

For everything.


Ummm, excuse my ignorance, perhaps it's the hangover, but whaaaa?

confused


From her December 28, 2006 entry:

Why black men make bad boyfriends.

I have a general tendency to date white men.

This is 25% because I have more in common with white people and 75% because black men suck.

Suck (v.) 1. To treat women like crap. 2. To speak in broken English 3. To be uneducated. 4. To be financially irresponsible. 5. To be unmarried, but the father of a child 6. To not be goal oriented 7. To not be socially conscious. 6. To have an aversion to performing oral sex while feeling entitled to receiving it (seriously. Thats last one is some BULLSHIT!).


So no, it's not the hangover. She's just kind of an ignoramus.

I sort of feel compelled to make an entry about why black men make fantastic husbands, but I gush about my dude all the time, so it would pretty much be redundant.


I'll field that one for you.

While I don't want to know my stepfather's (you know, the college professor with the summer house in Spain and the five successful, college-educated children) attitudes about number seven, there, it's fair to assume that he's kept my mother happy enough over the course of their thirty-year relationship.

So as far as I care to know, there's not a single stereotype there that he and his family don't violate.

emotedcreations

emotedcreations

Germany
July 2006

JUL 15, 2007 11:39 AM

Vampirate said:
Honestly, I think it's only overly politically correct white people who use the term "African-American", and, yeah, it's retarded. All the black people I know use the term "black" (or "nigger", actually).

The distinction was really reinforced when I went to college and made friends with people who were actually Africans with American citizenship. Anyway, I use black unless someone tells me they prefer otherwise, but that's only happened once and they told me they weren't offended at all, so...

DhD_No_Pants

DhD_No_Pants

Katy, TX
May 2006

JUL 15, 2007 12:02 PM

emotedcreations said:

Vampirate said:
Honestly, I think it's only overly politically correct white people who use the term "African-American", and, yeah, it's retarded. All the black people I know use the term "black" (or "nigger", actually).

The distinction was really reinforced when I went to college and made friends with people who were actually Africans with American citizenship. Anyway, I use black unless someone tells me they prefer otherwise, but that's only happened once and they told me they weren't offended at all, so...



I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.

emotedcreations

emotedcreations

Germany
July 2006

JUL 15, 2007 01:06 PM

DhD_PillowPants said:
I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.

Yeah, I mean it's not like white people actually stayed there or anything after they were done colonizing the entire continent!

skeptik

skeptik

New Orleans, LA
February 2004

JUL 15, 2007 01:11 PM

DhD_PillowPants said:

emotedcreations said:

Vampirate said:
Honestly, I think it's only overly politically correct white people who use the term "African-American", and, yeah, it's retarded. All the black people I know use the term "black" (or "nigger", actually).

The distinction was really reinforced when I went to college and made friends with people who were actually Africans with American citizenship. Anyway, I use black unless someone tells me they prefer otherwise, but that's only happened once and they told me they weren't offended at all, so...



I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.



I am constantly amazed at the quantity of people who know absolutely nothing about - well, almost everything.

I guess I should've learned by now.

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

JUL 15, 2007 01:24 PM

emotedcreations said:

DhD_PillowPants said:
I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.

Yeah, I mean it's not like white people actually stayed there or anything after they were done colonizing the entire continent!


[pedantry]Of course you mean "the entire continent except Ethiopia."

And it is true that the areas of white settlement were fairly few and limited (South Africa, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, and Kenya were the only colonies I know of that sustained any significant "permanent" European populations).

But it's also true that ignorance about Africa was one of the two reasons it used to be called "the Dark Continent." To this day, most Americans have no idea that there large and sophisticated (albeit preliterate) civilizations in sub-Saharan Africa, and if you were to tell someone that the University of Timbuktu was once one of the most famous in the world, they'd probably think you were joking.

"Timbuktu" is a funny-sounding word, after all.[/pedantry]

Domo_Kun

Domo_Kun

Rockford, IL
March 2005

JUL 15, 2007 01:39 PM

Cairo said:

Rude_Ruca said:

OhSoOrdinary said:
I would just like to say, on behalf of my race, I apologize.

Not just for this.

For everything.




Ummm, excuse my ignorance, perhaps it's the hangover, but whaaaa?

confused



From her December 28, 2006 entry:

Why black men make bad boyfriends.

I have a general tendency to date white men.

This is 25% because I have more in common with white people and 75% because black men suck.

Suck (v.) 1. To treat women like crap. 2. To speak in broken English 3. To be uneducated. 4. To be financially irresponsible. 5. To be unmarried, but the father of a child 6. To not be goal oriented 7. To not be socially conscious. 6. To have an aversion to performing oral sex while feeling entitled to receiving it (seriously. Thats last one is some BULLSHIT!).



So no, it's not the hangover. She's just kind of an ignoramus.

I sort of feel compelled to make an entry about why black men make fantastic husbands, but I gush about my dude all the time, so it would pretty much be redundant.



That sentiment that you were criticizing is pretty typical, though... At least in big cities with a large black underclass, like Chicago. I'm not saying it's valid, however...

The problem is this: Most people, when they think of black culture, they think of BET. In fact...

emotedcreations

emotedcreations

Germany
July 2006

JUL 15, 2007 02:26 PM

Zarth said:

emotedcreations said:

DhD_PillowPants said:
I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.

Yeah, I mean it's not like white people actually stayed there or anything after they were done colonizing the entire continent!


[pedantry]Of course you mean "the entire continent except Ethiopia."

And it is true that the areas of white settlement were fairly few and limited (South Africa, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, and Kenya were the only colonies I know of that sustained any significant "permanent" European populations).

But it's also true that ignorance about Africa was one of the two reasons it used to be called "the Dark Continent." To this day, most Americans have no idea that there large and sophisticated (albeit preliterate) civilizations in sub-Saharan Africa, and if you were to tell someone that the University of Timbuktu was once one of the most famous in the world, they'd probably think you were joking.

"Timbuktu" is a funny-sounding word, after all.[/pedantry]

tongue

Vampirate

Vampirate

Durham, NC
October 2004

JUL 15, 2007 03:07 PM

DhD_PillowPants said:
I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.


Yeah, I had a student this last year who was of Irish stock but was born in Kenya. We had fun calling him "African-American."

Chainlink

Chainlink

Key West, FL
August 2005

JUL 15, 2007 03:15 PM

Ha ! Yeah. A wonderful sculptor I worked with for a while (Isaac Witkin) is a white English gentleman from South Africa. People were always very confused when he said he was South African. He was educated in London and so has a mild English accent but he's lived here in the US since I don't know when.

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

JUL 15, 2007 03:16 PM

Vampirate said:

_Poptard_ said:

Cigarette said:

Girthy said:
think that one doesn't have to be black to be a "nigger".



It's derived from the Spanish and French for black (negro/nègre).



He has a point, though. Albeit it is mainly used to refer to those of massive melanin persuasions, can be used to identify activities that are below, in opinion, the expectations of the speaker when referring to anyone else.

See Chris Rock.


Yeah, I guess nineteenth century British Empire types used the word to refer to any dark "natives" (who were, of course, obviously inferior to their white conquerors or would-be conquerors), not just Africans but Indians and the swarthier Middle-Easterners as well.

That pretty much fell out of fashion in the twentieth century, though, and now if you used the word to refer to an Indian, people would not only look at you like you were a vile racist, but also like you were stupid or unhinged.



That's not what I meant, but true.
What I meant was someone can be referred to as a nigger if they are acting in a way that the speaker deems below them. e.g. like a nigger. My dad's usage is this way quite often. It racks my nerves to no end.

DrStinkypants

DrStinkypants

Saint Paul, MN
October 2002

JUL 15, 2007 04:01 PM

Girthy said:
Well by saying that's the way I've always understood it, I'm pretty sure that explained that was the way I was lead to believe growing up. I'm pretty open to hearing other takes on it and to the fact that I may be misinformed. You don't need to insult me on it. Granted I may have worded it in a way that you missed that.



And I hope by now you realize how completely incorrect you are. Though, when you through shit like this into the mix:

Girthy said:
I've realized that I've used this word more times than I'd really ever care to in a conversation; it's not as fun and some of the other curses out there, it's actually a pretty ugly sounding word, so I'm gonna bow out of here.



It's gonna probably just make you sound like an asshole.

PointBlank

PointBlank

New York, NY
November 2004

JUL 15, 2007 06:46 PM

Girthy said:

DrStinkypants said:

Girthy said:
Actually, "Nigger" is derived from "Niggard" which means a stingy, grasping person; a miser.

I do believe that you're mistaking the word with "Negro". It's a quite common misconception and quite possibly one of the factors that went in to it getting applied in the way it did.

At least that's the way I've always understood it.



Every once in a while, somebody comes along to say something stupid that makes all other stupid things said on the internet pale in comparison.
This is one of those moments.

Girthy said:
I dunno, maybe it's 'cause my lineage is Irish that I've never really applied the word to black people specifically. As you may know, people refer to the Irish as niggers as well.

It's been more of a term for an amazingly inexorable asshole to me for as long as I can remember.



Holy fuck, he's not done yet. I just shit and cried blood at the same time.
What in sweet fuck are you talking about?



Well by saying that's the way I've always understood it, I'm pretty sure that explained that was the way I was lead to believe growing up. I'm pretty open to hearing other takes on it and to the fact that I may be misinformed. You don't need to insult me on it. Granted I may have worded it in a way that you missed that.



Wait, weren't you the one who called people who didn't know the history of the word "ignorant?" I guess it's ok to insult others, but out of line when your on the other end, huh?

You said:
What would be a more effective way of removing the racism from the word would be to use it to describe what it originally intended.

Ignorant retarded motherfuckers, no matter what their color or creed.


So don't get bent out of shape because you are the one being shown your own ignorance now.

Moderncutthroat

Moderncutthroat

Philadelphia, PA
May 2006

JUL 15, 2007 07:02 PM

OhSoOrdinary said:
I would just like to say, on behalf of my race, I apologize.

Not just for this.

For everything.



Ummm, well don't.

2, I think that video is hilarious. That wasn't SERIOUS. It was meant to be a mockery of modern hip hop. Black people aren't the only people who've made stupid videos and things. A white man created the concept of Borat. You don't see the nearest blond on this site saying "I apologize for the man who created Borat and anything else that anyone with blond hair did during their existence on this planet." It makes absolutely NO sense. So don't PLEASE, don't apologize for me or anyone else who is black. If you have to apologize for them, than I'll have to apologize for you being admitted into the gene pool in the first fucking place.

If you are apologizing for the NAACP, don't do that either. That organization has done amazing work towards advancing our race and giving us opportunities that were denied during the civil rights movement and after.

Your self-loathing is disgusting. Your black. Fucking deal with it like the rest of the race does. If you're so upset by the color of your skin than do a Michael Jackson and bleach it. Then dye your hair blond and maybe you'll feel BETTER about yourself.

thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

JUL 15, 2007 11:56 PM

DrStinkypants said:
Every once in a while, somebody comes along to say something stupid that makes all other stupid things said on the internet pale in comparison.


I dunno. I've seen some of the stuff that you've said on the boards.

-TM

Moderncutthroat

Moderncutthroat

Philadelphia, PA
May 2006

JUL 16, 2007 05:24 PM

FreakPirate said:

Cairo said:

I sort of feel compelled to make an entry about why black men make fantastic husbands, but I gush about my dude all the time, so it would pretty much be redundant.



Is it actually because he's black or because he's a good guy?

I've never understood why people think that members of certain races make better or worse partners. It's been my experience that people of all colours can be wonderful or complete douchebags.



That my friend is the point. It's not racial. It's HUMAN.

Penultimate

Penultimate

USA
October 2005

OCT 20, 2007 08:43 AM

SirPsychoSexy said:
Words I want to bury:
Irregardless
Penultimate

The first is not a word, the second is seldom if ever used correctly. Penultimate means next to last, not more than ultimate.



Penultimate is my username. Don't bury it! I'm perfectly aware that it means next to last which is why it's so special to me.

Tallboy66

Tallboy66

Chicago, IL
January 2005

OCT 20, 2007 12:00 PM



It was the best way the NAACP could think of to tell fans of hip hop that they are incredibly old and out of touch.



Yeah really, way to catch up to 1992.

I had friends, who called me "nigga", they were African American and I am not so the slang term is different than the racist, hateful term.

For Kwame to say anything is really funny being called the "hip hop" mayor and supposedly to be the young spirit Detroit needed to start it's recovery and help bridge the gap between black, white Detroiters and suburbanites.

Economic troubles with GM aside, Detroit has never been able to get over the racial divide started in the 60's and it will probably be another 30 years more.
Truly sad.

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