• NY case puts N-word use among blacks on trial
    57 replies, posted
[QUOTE]NEW YORK (AP) — In a case that gave a legal airing to the debate over use of the N-word among blacks, a federal jury has rejected a black manager's argument that it was a term of love and endearment when he aimed it at black employee. Jurors awarded $30,000 in punitive damages Tuesday after finding last week that the manager's four-minute rant was hostile and discriminatory, and awarding $250,000 in compensatory damages. The case against Rob Carmona and the employment agency he founded, STRIVE East Harlem, hinged on the what some see as a complex double standard surrounding the word: It's a degrading slur when uttered by whites but can be used at times with impunity among blacks. But 38-year-old Brandi Johnson told jurors that being black didn't make it any less hurtful when Carmona repeatedly targeted her with the slur during a March 2012 tirade about inappropriate workplace attire and unprofessional behavior. [/QUOTE] [URL]http://news.yahoo.com/ny-case-puts-n-word-among-blacks-trial-071543769.html[/URL]
I argue about this with people all the time. White people can't say nigger, because it's always racist. Black people can say it, because when they say it, it's not racist. This is racism in its self. Either everyone should say it, or no one should say it.
I find it more offensive that someone can be say their feelings being hurt is worth $250,000 in compensatory damages, honestly
[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;42073478]I argue about this with people all the time. White people can't say nigger, because it's always racist. Black people can say it, because when they say it, it's not racist. This is racism in its self. Either everyone should say it, or no one should say it.[/QUOTE] uh Things are a little more complicated than "it's completely racist for everyone or it's not racist for anyone at all".
[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;42073478]I argue about this with people all the time. White people can't say nigger, because it's always racist. Black people can say it, because when they say it, it's not racist. This is racism in its self. Either everyone should say it, or no one should say it.[/QUOTE] facepunch threads about the n word never fail to be hilarious and pathetic at the same time white people get away with saying nigga frequently depending on the context. if you're too dumb to differentiate between calling someone a nigger and slipping nigga into a friendly conversation, regardless of the races involved, thats on you
when it comes to speaking i think you should make sure you understand how those around you will take the things you say. i will admit i say the n word quite often around my friends, lots of whom are maori, just as they'll say other words that are generally considered slurs, heck here in nz 'cunt' is one of the most widely used terms of endearment between friends but at the same time a deadly insult. so if you're speaking with/to people that you don't know how they will take certain words you should not use them. so in this case, the manager could be right that his use of 'nigga' towards other blacks is a term of endearment, it clearly wasn't the case when he used it towards this employee so he shouldn't have used it. [editline]4th September 2013[/editline] going back to my example, i would never say nigga to a person i'd just met, just as i would not say cunt to someone i had just met, but after knowing them long enough and them knowing me i would know whether or not they would be offended by such words and would speak accordingly. this is a thing known as manners
[QUOTE=TheTalon;42073485]I find it more offensive that someone can be say their feelings being hurt is worth $250,000 in compensatory damages, honestly[/QUOTE] There is a limit on what people can claim depending on the situation and actual fees as far as loss of work over a period due to suing your boss and legal fees..a judge or jury can use the maximum if they wish. I'm sure this was more to be seen as setting an example for those involved due to publicity it was sure to receive. I doubt if these cases keep coming up they would award as much. Either way, I'm glad they had the right state of mind in this case.. an employer should know better then to speak in any way other then professional with someone that is working under them. This person is offering you their service and time.
[QUOTE=Kopimi;42073491]facepunch threads about the n word never fail to be hilarious and pathetic at the same time white people get away with saying nigga frequently depending on the context. if you're too dumb to differentiate between calling someone a nigger and slipping nigga into a friendly conversation, regardless of the races involved, thats on you[/QUOTE] I don't see what is pathetic about being on equal ground about this. With context with friends, it's fine. Yeah. I use it. But as soon as it gets out of that little sphere of friends. It instantly becomes racist, because the person who said it is white. If a white person ever says it in public to a friend, even if he's white or black. It's considered racist. But, if a black person says it in public, to a white or black person. It's socially acceptable.
[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;42073557]I don't see what is pathetic about being on equal ground about this. With context with friends, it's fine. Yeah. I use it. But as soon as it gets out of that little sphere of friends. It instantly becomes racist, because the person who said it is white. If a white person ever says it in public to a friend, even if he's white or black. It's considered racist. But, if a black person says it in public, to a white or black person. It's socially acceptable.[/QUOTE] yeah nah that all depends entirely on context and the area you're living. in phoenix white dudes call people they just met nigga and nothing happens. idk if you're in rural ohio and you're upset that white kids aren't allowed to say "what up nigga" to the handful of black kids that go to your school or something but not everyone will pounce on you, you're not as persecuted as you think you are. and yeah, maybe you should be careful about who you use a racially charged term with, maybe thats not a bad idea! maybe dont call strangers nigga, play it on the safe side instead of throwing around words you probably shouldnt be using in the first place and getting upset when people take offense to it.
[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;42073557]I don't see what is pathetic about being on equal ground about this. With context with friends, it's fine. Yeah. I use it. But as soon as it gets out of that little sphere of friends. It instantly becomes racist, because the person who said it is white. If a white person ever says it in public to a friend, even if he's white or black. It's considered racist. But, if a black person says it in public, to a white or black person. It's socially acceptable.[/QUOTE] People are typically allowed to use slurs aimed at their own race. How is that a double standard?
Hell yeah niggah!
i'm black, i think the n word is funny unless used in a negative racial context. the manager obviously said something in order to upset her, so he fucked up.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQpWQgLcTi8[/media]
[QUOTE=kwk;42073616][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQpWQgLcTi8[/media][/QUOTE] That is like the black version of a Nicki Minaj song
nigger =/= nigga
[QUOTE=kwk;42073616][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQpWQgLcTi8[/media][/QUOTE] it's totally fine that he said peckerwood yep nothing racist about that at all
the manager was actually a white man suffering from re-vitiligo, you see
Maybe if everyone didn't rage over a word there wouldn't be a problem.
I think saying nigger is just like any other curse word. It's entirely dependent on context. For example: We don't serve niggers here. / Hey what's up my nigger? You can do the same thing with words like bitch: You're that son of a bitch that fucked my wife! / Damn it Bob, you're one genius son of a bitch! What I am trying to say here is that it's ok to say nigger as long as you don't mean it in a demeaning way.
[QUOTE=TheTalon;42073485]I find it more offensive that someone can be say their feelings being hurt is worth $250,000 in compensatory damages, honestly[/QUOTE] Employee harassment. It's not just hurt feelings, but feelings hurt by an employer over a significant portion of time using things which are usually strictly banned in the workplace.
People who say "n-word" on the other hand should be smacked hard. If you're too cowardly to say nigger, don't project it into other people's heads. It's just childish in my opinion.
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42074531]People who say "n-word" on the other hand should be smacked hard. If you're too cowardly to say nigger, don't project it into other people's heads. It's just childish in my opinion.[/QUOTE] thanks german dude but people using n-word in order to present the word in a historical or context-clear way do so for a reason and its childish to say they should get smacked for it because of some stupid notion of cowardice
[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;42073478]I argue about this with people all the time. White people can't say nigger, because it's always racist. Black people can say it, because when they say it, it's not racist. This is racism in its self. Either everyone should say it, or no one should say it.[/QUOTE] Why can't I say Nigger if it's not being used in a demeaning way. Of course saying nigger insultingly that's like an instant [I]foul[/I]. You can't just call a black guy a nigger. Nigger is a bad word. [QUOTE=DrDevil;42074531]People who say "n-word" on the other hand should be smacked hard. If you're too cowardly to say nigger, don't project it into other people's heads. It's just childish in my opinion.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NAUgCm-3Tc"]just say nigger and get it done with[/URL]
[QUOTE=J!NX;42074574]Why can't I say Nigger if it's not being used in a demeaning way.[/QUOTE] only do this if you actually know the person you're talking with well enough to say whether they'll be offended or not. it's not unreasonable to expect some guy you just met on the street to have a problem here
[QUOTE=Cone;42074586]only do this if you actually know the person you're talking with well enough to say whether they'll be offended or not. it's not unreasonable to expect some guy you just met on the street to have a problem here[/QUOTE] It's like jokingly calling a gay guy a faggot or calling out "Get down nigger!" but giving your black friend a look knowing he has a fucked up sense of humor and has to SARCASTICALLY respond to it. or you're shooting a movie like Django unchained. [sp]I need to stop saying nigger before it gets trapped in my head god damnit also look at how many times it shows in this thread so far, thank god we don't have autoban[/sp]
I'm all for word equality, if I want to say nigger, I should be able to. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22]Even words which aren't nigger can get you into trouble.[/url] Abolish curse words and make them normal words just like every other word.
[QUOTE=Coffee;42074616]I'm all for word equality, if I want to say nigger, I should be able to. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22]Even words which aren't nigger can get you into trouble.[/url] Abolish curse words and make them normal words just like every other word.[/QUOTE] I've seen "Nigger-rig" as a replacement for Jury-rig
the problem here is, most of you (probably all) that are talking about how everyone should be able to say nigger and it shouldn't be seen as an insult etc etc aren't black. obviously YOU don't find it insulting, and obviously you don't see how it could be, because you're not from a race that has been disenfranchised for 300 years, with that word (being used by white people) being a verbal expression of that disenfranchisement and oppression. so how about, if someone doesn't mind you saying it, then sure say it in conversation with them, if someone DOES mind it, or you're not sure if they would, then just don't say it. is it really so hard to not say that one word? even if you don't see why people would find it offensive (though it should be glaringly obvious) why not just be polite and not say something you know could/would get a rise out of someone?
This is a troubling case. A black guy gave me permission to use the the word years ago. Does this entitle me to the use of the word?
[QUOTE=Reds;42073490]uh Things are a little more complicated than "it's completely racist for everyone or it's not racist for anyone at all".[/QUOTE] Not if it's equality you want.
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