Racial slurs

[jltracy]

I get very offended when I hear the 'n' word and tell that person to never say it in front of me again. I'm white, which shouldn't matter, but just clarifying. I find it the worst racial slur. I'm not even sure why! My best friend's boyfriend just told my boyfriend and I that his little sister is mentally retarded. I now find myself feeling really bad if I accidentally let slip "I felt sooo retarded," or "He looked so retarded" around him. I grew up hearing that word, but now, even though he never said it offends him, I feel it is a bad word to use as well. As for any other racial slurs, well, no one's used them around me. Just those two. But I'm sure I"d be offended if I heard them used, especially in a hateful way.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Just today at work (Convalescent home) one of the residents (Who is about 35, yes young there are a lot of young people here for many reasons) who is white came up to me and told me to "Tell those "N Word"s to shut up, they are talking so loud". She was referring to a family who came in to see their grandmother/mother. I thought it was extremely rude..I couldn't say anything to her about it though.

 

[Nechochwen]

They're just words. They don't carry any more weight than you let them carry.

 

[Dekka]

They're just words. They don't carry any more weight than you let them carry.

So you think that people should ignore hate? And that if people get turned into 'things' and dismissed, it should be ignored cause its just words?

So say my child was being called nasty racial slurs at school should I tell him they are just words (I agree with that part) and ignore it (that I would not do)?

To me racial slurs are horrible because of what they express. Heck my fathers sentiments offend me sometimes and he never says anything bad. You can just tell he was disappointed that my brother's friends were often from racial minorities.

 

[Lilavati]

They're just words. They don't carry any more weight than you let them carry.

True, and not true. Its hard to ignore hatred and contempt when they are directed at you . . . and those words, unlike some other "bad" words, pretty much embody hate and contempt. I oppose hate speech laws, but I recognize that people have every right to be offended and angry when those words are directed at them . . . not because of the word itself, but because of what the speaker means.

 

[a.baker]

They do hold some weight to certain people and I am sure some words would bother me big time. Especially someone trying to use a word to blame me for something false. So out of respect to everyone we should be careful about what words we use. Theres a whole dictionary full of words to mean the same thing that are not offensive and sound more intelligent using them. I could get freshened up on some vocabulary myself but i usually just use other simple words to say the same thing and its still respectful.

 

[SharkyX]

Honestly I think certain racial slurs carry alot more weight then others...

If someone called me a cracker I could care less and with most other racial slurs for white people... honestly I don't find any of them to be offensive... but that's me.
With people you know well then it's easy to make racial jokes... friend of mine from Iran... we used to go back and forth at one another all the time... it was funny and people we knew got used to it although the first couple times it took some explaining to people of other races we were just joking around and were good friends.

What bothers me more then racism is a sort of reverse racism where people assume they are being discriminated against because of there race. We had a guy like that in my class all the way through public and high school... everything that went wrong for him was because people were racist or hated chinese people... he never really clued in to the fact that now and again he's just do things wrong or act like an ass... had nothing to do with his skin colour.

 

[~Jessie~]

The problem with racial slurs is not that they are just words. They are, of course, just words. Nor is it that they are "bad words." The f-bomb is a bad word, but, in most circumstances, it is just a lewd, crude word. It is not a word intended, and used, to wound someone. You might call them a motherf-er, but you probably don't mean that they engage in sexual congress with their mother. You're expressing contempt and rage, but you are not trying to drive a nail into their heart. Calling a black person a n-gger doesn't just express anger, or contempt for their behavior . . . it is dismissing them as person, striking out at what they are, and using the most hurtful thing you can say. Its dehumanizing in a way that "motherf-er" isn't. It says, "you're not a person, you're just a n-gger."

I completely agree. :hail:

 

[a.baker]

Honestly I think certain racial slurs carry alot more weight then others...

If someone called me a cracker I could care less and with most other racial slurs for white people... honestly I don't find any of them to be offensive... but that's me.
With people you know well then it's easy to make racial jokes... friend of mine from Iran... we used to go back and forth at one another all the time... it was funny and people we knew got used to it although the first couple times it took some explaining to people of other races we were just joking around and were good friends.

What bothers me more then racism is a sort of reverse racism where people assume they are being discriminated against because of there race. We had a guy like that in my class all the way through public and high school... everything that went wrong for him was because people were racist or hated chinese people... he never really clued in to the fact that now and again he's just do things wrong or act like an ass... had nothing to do with his skin colour.

I agree. They say "its because I'm black" or what ever they may be. Its like um no if I did that or reacted like that the same thing would of happened to me. Its what happens when ANYONE does that. I have had friends say bad things happened to them because they wear tattoos or piercings. Again that has nothing to do with the consequence of their actions. Yes some people are racial jerks but a lot of that has left our society and people keep trying to bring it back for some reason. Maybe it will always be around or maybe it will take a couple more generations

 

[xpaeanx]

I think it reflects only on the person using it, rather than on the object of its intent and such things would lose their power to hurt and incite mayhem if we would all remember that.

I agree 100%

Honestly I think certain racial slurs carry alot more weight then others...

If someone called me a cracker I could care less and with most other racial slurs for white people... honestly I don't find any of them to be offensive... but that's me.

me 2.... I actually find most the slurs for white people to be rather amusing. Like the word cracker cracks me up!

Yes, he named Reggin, which is a spin off of Reggie. My fiance is not racist, he has had friends of a variety of races. Reggin is not meant to be read backwards, its meant to be read forwards like any other word. It is not derogatory. Why am a with him? Well, that list could be long. lol.

you know... I would have NEVER thought of what it is backwards unless someone pointed it out... and I've been trying to figure out what where "Reggin" came from. So although, I'm sorry someone of accused you of that. At the same time, I'm glad bc now I know!!!

What bothers me more then racism is a sort of reverse racism where people assume they are being discriminated against because of there race. We had a guy like that in my class all the way through public and high school... everything that went wrong for him was because people were racist or hated chinese people... he never really clued in to the fact that now and again he's just do things wrong or act like an ass... had nothing to do with his skin colour.

SAME HERE!!!

When I was in 8th grade by boyfriend was puerto rican. his brother HATED me bc I was white. His reason for hating me was bc white people are all racist, therefore I'm racist, therefore he should hate me bc I'm racist.....

so I was dating his brother bc i'm racist? Needless to say, I dated his brother for about a year, and I practically lived with them that whole time, and he never lightened up. I even became close friends with his girlfriend, and he still hated me.

 

[eddieq]

I used to work at an Olive Garden. We were able to purchase food at 1/2 price when we took a dinner break. I had gotten a shrimp primavera lunch portion one day, which I paid for with my money that I worked for. One of the front of house hosts, who is black came over and didn't ask, he demanded, "Hey, give me a shrimp." I said, "No, it's my lunch, get your own." So he turned to his friend and said, "400 years of slavery and he can't even give me a simple shrimp." Who was the racist in this situation? I'm pretty sure it wasn't me.

 

[xpaeanx]

no eddie it wasnt' you.

people like to play the wounded card as much as they can. and that really drives me insane. I'm part Irish. we weren't given the nicestest time here in the states either... I don't parade around crying about how my ancestors had it rough therefore everyone owes me. throughout history Jewish people seem to be persecuted where ever they go, and that includes slavery...and yet they dont' hate everyone just bc they were given a hard time(at least the ones I know don't... and I know quite a few).

 

[bubbatd]

I think he just had a sense of humor !

 

[a.baker]

I agree eddieq!

 

[a.baker]

I think he just had a sense of humor !

I guess the tone and knowing who that person was in person makes a difference.

 

[eddieq]

I don't know. The way he said it and listening to him talk at other times makes me think that he wasn't trying to be funny.

His loss, though. Those shrimps were good

 

[bubbatd]

Once when Bubba and I were doing a TDI visit , the UPS man ( Black ) come with a package and froze when he saw Bubba greeting him . The Black gal in charged called out " Don't worry Fred , he only eats white meat " .

 

[J's crew]

I never ever use racial slurs. I think people that do are insecure themselves. I was raised in a city that had a mix of everything so I was really shocked when I moved to the south and saw how much racisism there still is. It's sad really.

 

[Squishy22]

I agree 100%



me 2.... I actually find most the slurs for white people to be rather amusing. Like the word cracker cracks me up!



you know... I would have NEVER thought of what it is backwards unless someone pointed it out... and I've been trying to figure out what where "Reggin" came from. So although, I'm sorry someone of accused you of that. At the same time, I'm glad bc now I know!!!




SAME HERE!!!

When I was in 8th grade by boyfriend was puerto rican. his brother HATED me bc I was white. His reason for hating me was bc white people are all racist, therefore I'm racist, therefore he should hate me bc I'm racist.....

so I was dating his brother bc i'm racist? Needless to say, I dated his brother for about a year, and I practically lived with them that whole time, and he never lightened up. I even became close friends with his girlfriend, and he still hated me.

Thank you. I've had Reggin for almost 2 years now. I've had many people meet him and see his name tag, and nobody has ever thought badly of his name... ever. I've also been apart of more than one forum and I've never had anyone point it out to me, but on the very rare occasion that someone does point it out. I have absolutely no problem explaining it. His name was never meant to be hurtful in any way, and thats what matters. I am not that kind of person to do something like that, and anybody who really knows me, knows that. Sometimes people mispronounce it, but nobody ever pronounces it backwards.

The one thing I do see a lot today is a really big hatred for people who engage in bi-racial relationships. I really do not get it. You fall in love with a person for who they are, not their skin color. And this really gets my blood boiling. I just cannot stand it. I have had a few white friends who have had black babies and black boyfriends. My step sister was black. I am white and I've been involved with two Mexicans. My fiance is Native American!!

My mom had the gal to tell me, while I was pregnant with madison, that its weird that nobody else in the family has an indian baby. Now that was hurtful and she did apologize, but the damage was already done.

 

[Sweet72947]

The one thing I do see a lot today is a really big hatred for people who engage in bi-racial relationships. I really do not get it. You fall in love with a person for who they are, not their skin color. And this really gets my blood boiling. I just cannot stand it. I have had a few white friends who have had black babies and black boyfriends. My step sister was black. I am white and I've been involved with two Mexicans. My fiance is Native American!!

My sister, who is white, used to date a boy who was black. We all liked him, but they did get some crap for being a biracial couple. My sister was never able to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner in Pennsylvania while they were dating because my uncle's father is a bigot and it would have just been a mess.

In this area there is a lot of racism against Hispanic people. But they are behaving in such a way that they are bringing it on themselves. Well, the men are anyways, not so much the women. I've met and liked many Hispanic women that I have worked alongside, and they were very nice people. I don't judge people, but I am wary of Hispanic men until I see that they are one of the nice ones, not one of the perverted ones that likes to make lewd gestures at my sister in traffic.