Re: Duck07 Thread
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:34 pm
Warning: I'm going to use the N-word below repeatedly. If that's difficult for you, don't read this.
So, here's my unpopular opinion of the day: I think the criticisms of Matt Barnes are unfair. The word is in fact used all the time these days among young black people. It's a part of the culture, like it or not. He shouldn't get s*** on for using it in the same way millions of Americans do. If there's a problem, it's not with Matt Barnes, it's about that word.
So, as difficult as it is for us to do, I'm gonna consider the N-word. So two things about this: One, I think what's important to consider is the role of context. 'Nigga' used in the way it's used today does not mean the same thing as what 'nigger' used to mean. They're related but separate words. Furthermore, my usage of 'nigger' in this post is very different than that of a white person using it to refer to a black person, because I'm using it in an academic way so that I can discuss a cultural conflict. Context matters a lot with words in general and with these two words in particular. Two, how to deal with the racial double standard regarding 'nigga'. I don't think all double standards are created equally. Some are more reasonable than others. How reasonable is this one? Well, partially. There really are racial divisions in this society. This dates all the way back to our country's origins; whites and blacks began separated, and there has never been a event when that was totally overcome -- some great progress, but that goal just has never been reached. Black people tend to hang out with black people, white people tend to hang out with white people (though obviously there is a lot of crossover nowadays, which is progress). Because of that actually-existing racial division, and because the history of the two racial groups is essentially one of white oppression of black, black people wanting a word that only black people can use is not the most irrational thing. I can understand it, anyways.
With that said, however, it is a problem. Double standards, regardless of their justification, are divisive and breed resentment. Some white people are not gonna like being told that they can't do something that other people can just because of the color of their skin. So white people are unhappy, and rather than say "I want to use the N-word!" (great way to sound like an asshole) they say "if we shouldn't say it you shouldn't either." That's also pretty reasonable. So, black people have reclaimed an awful word and made it their own, and don't feel comfortable with white people using it. What to do? I really don't know. I don't like the idea of white people policing black culture. I also don't like that there is a double standard, not because I need to use the word but because it makes some young white kids resent black people when they hear 'nigga' in their favorite songs but can't say it themselves. The whole thing sucks and I don't know what to do other than remember that people on both sides have legitimate feelings and frustrations and remember that we're all in this together, that we're all Americans and we should try to understand each other rather than get pissy over things. That's my attitude about the N-word.
So, here's my unpopular opinion of the day: I think the criticisms of Matt Barnes are unfair. The word is in fact used all the time these days among young black people. It's a part of the culture, like it or not. He shouldn't get s*** on for using it in the same way millions of Americans do. If there's a problem, it's not with Matt Barnes, it's about that word.
So, as difficult as it is for us to do, I'm gonna consider the N-word. So two things about this: One, I think what's important to consider is the role of context. 'Nigga' used in the way it's used today does not mean the same thing as what 'nigger' used to mean. They're related but separate words. Furthermore, my usage of 'nigger' in this post is very different than that of a white person using it to refer to a black person, because I'm using it in an academic way so that I can discuss a cultural conflict. Context matters a lot with words in general and with these two words in particular. Two, how to deal with the racial double standard regarding 'nigga'. I don't think all double standards are created equally. Some are more reasonable than others. How reasonable is this one? Well, partially. There really are racial divisions in this society. This dates all the way back to our country's origins; whites and blacks began separated, and there has never been a event when that was totally overcome -- some great progress, but that goal just has never been reached. Black people tend to hang out with black people, white people tend to hang out with white people (though obviously there is a lot of crossover nowadays, which is progress). Because of that actually-existing racial division, and because the history of the two racial groups is essentially one of white oppression of black, black people wanting a word that only black people can use is not the most irrational thing. I can understand it, anyways.
With that said, however, it is a problem. Double standards, regardless of their justification, are divisive and breed resentment. Some white people are not gonna like being told that they can't do something that other people can just because of the color of their skin. So white people are unhappy, and rather than say "I want to use the N-word!" (great way to sound like an asshole) they say "if we shouldn't say it you shouldn't either." That's also pretty reasonable. So, black people have reclaimed an awful word and made it their own, and don't feel comfortable with white people using it. What to do? I really don't know. I don't like the idea of white people policing black culture. I also don't like that there is a double standard, not because I need to use the word but because it makes some young white kids resent black people when they hear 'nigga' in their favorite songs but can't say it themselves. The whole thing sucks and I don't know what to do other than remember that people on both sides have legitimate feelings and frustrations and remember that we're all in this together, that we're all Americans and we should try to understand each other rather than get pissy over things. That's my attitude about the N-word.
Every person who has eaten an ear of Corn has eaten a GMO food. The original corn was the size of a head of wheat and just as hard. You can say you don't like the way we currently modify our our food, but we have been genetic altering our food and animals for thousands of years.