Clarkson: Racist

[simoid]

The N word is simply deplorable to me - it makes me uncomfortable to think about saying it. I can't imagine a context where I'd ever use it to describe someone.

However, many people feel the same about the shortening of Pakistani, but I hear that quite often to describe small convenience stores where I live (central Scotland). I don't come across the N word very often, or black people to be honest.

My other half hates the vagina being described as a too, but I say to her it's just a word. One can use that word, but use it in front of a police officer in the wrong way and it'll probably get you in bother.

Even calling somebody a liar could end up in court if you do it in a particular context.




My 2p:


If someone wants to use any word, they should be aware of the consequences and that it could get them in trouble. Be aware of your tone and audience and use language appropriately, and apologise if you slip up or appear to do so.

I think Clarkson follows these rules.

After all, it's not the word that counts, it's what you do with it.



Eta I don't think Clarkson even "used" the N word.

Edited by simoid on Thursday 15th May 11:19

[anonymous-user]

FredClogs said:

Pixelpeep said:

So if we are clear the word (Regardless of origins) can be used as a derogatory term, why can't we also be clear that it could just be used as its original intended descriptor - like Sick for vomit instead of sick for 'cool'

Latin is a dead language...

hth

I learnt Latin at school a mere 15 years ago.

[Pixelpeep]

longblackcoat said:

Pixelpeep said:

longblackcoat said:

Pixelpeep said:

longblackcoat said:

the word "" was invented by white people as a derogatory term for black people.

No it wasn't - It may have become that but its origins were from the Latin word niger, meaning Black.

Sure, and this word became the noun, negro (black person) in English. Not a racist word, just a descriptor. The word "" seems to be a phonetic spelling of the White Southern mispronunciation of negro, and by the 1800s the term was firmly established as a derogatory one.

So if we are clear the word (Regardless of origins) can be used as a derogatory term, why can't we also be clear that it could just be used as its original intended descriptor - like Sick for vomit instead of sick for 'cool'

I am not an expert. My opinion, however, is that the word 'negro' could be used without offence, though it's been superseded by the term African American. The word '' has only ever been used as a derogatory term by whites against blacks - a descriptor of the the hatred and disgust directed toward black Africans/African Americans. Historically, '' defined/limited/made fun of/ridiculed all blacks. It was a term of exclusion, a verbal reason for discrimination.

So I can't see any situation where I, as a white person, would ever feel comfortable using that word. And I could entirely understand a black person being incredibly angry were I to use it.

Ok, all makes perfect sense.

So why, if it can only mean something horrible that someone would take great offence to, is it 'ok' for black people to use it and not white?

[longblackcoat]

Pixelpeep said:

Ok, all makes perfect sense.

So why, if it can only mean something horrible that someone would take great offence to, is it 'ok' for black people to use it and not white?

I'd say no.

The argument goes that by reclaiming the word, it loses its power to hurt and to shock. After all, it's just a word, blacks should not be prisoners of the past or the ugly words that originated in the past. But then if continued use of the word lessened its damage, then would not hurt or cause pain now.

Personally, I just don't like the term. Were I to be black, I'd be fairly embarrassed by Dr Dre's use of the term 'nigga', but then, in all truthfulness, I'd be embarrassed by Dr Dre regardless of what words he used....

Finally, you know how when you meet a really good friend you can be appallingly rude to each other? A friend of mine, who I'd not seen for several years, met me at Heathrow with the phrase "fk me, it's -face!" Perhaps it's seen as that when black guys call each other . As I say, I'm white, so I have no real clue on this and am theorising.

[FredClogs]

NinjaPower said:

FredClogs said:

Pixelpeep said:

So if we are clear the word (Regardless of origins) can be used as a derogatory term, why can't we also be clear that it could just be used as its original intended descriptor - like Sick for vomit instead of sick for 'cool'

Latin is a dead language...

hth

I learnt Latin at school a mere 15 years ago.

Hogwarts?

[Pixelpeep]

FredClogs said:

NinjaPower said:

FredClogs said:

Pixelpeep said:

So if we are clear the word (Regardless of origins) can be used as a derogatory term, why can't we also be clear that it could just be used as its original intended descriptor - like Sick for vomit instead of sick for 'cool'

Latin is a dead language...

hth

I learnt Latin at school a mere 15 years ago.

Hogwarts?

It may be used less these days, and maybe not even be taught but the point in question was the words origin.

[FredClogs]

Pixelpeep said:

FredClogs said:

NinjaPower said:

FredClogs said:

Pixelpeep said:

So if we are clear the word (Regardless of origins) can be used as a derogatory term, why can't we also be clear that it could just be used as its original intended descriptor - like Sick for vomit instead of sick for 'cool'

Latin is a dead language...

hth

I learnt Latin at school a mere 15 years ago.

Hogwarts?

It may be used less these days, and maybe not even be taught but the point in question was the words origin.

Context is either everything or nothing, as people were saying about three weeks ago on this thread it's all just sounds coming out of our mouths, there is no inherent meaning or truth to any word, it's origin is of even less importance, it's how it is received that matters.

[Pixelpeep]

FredClogs said:

Pixelpeep said:

FredClogs said:

NinjaPower said:

FredClogs said:

Pixelpeep said:

So if we are clear the word (Regardless of origins) can be used as a derogatory term, why can't we also be clear that it could just be used as its original intended descriptor - like Sick for vomit instead of sick for 'cool'

Latin is a dead language...

hth

I learnt Latin at school a mere 15 years ago.

Hogwarts?

It may be used less these days, and maybe not even be taught but the point in question was the words origin.

it's origin is of even less importance, it's how it is received that matters.

the origin of the word was very important, when it was the origin of the word that was in question.

[dudleybloke]

After the Michael Richards "n" incident a few years back which caused such outrage, Paul Moody, the joke writer for Pryor, Murphy and Rock and comic in his own right was challenged to see if he could do a live set without using that word.
He managed about 10 mins.

[FredClogs]

dudleybloke said:

After the Michael Richards "n" incident a few years back which caused such outrage, Paul Moody, the joke writer for Pryor, Murphy and Rock and comic in his own right was challenged to see if he could do a live set without using that word.
He managed about 10 mins.

Paul Mooney? Yes he and Pryor, Murphy, Rock use the word a lot, but you can watch what Michael Richards said and did on You Tube and I think you'd have to concede there is a difference.

[dazren]

NOTE - A FEW POSTS DELETED

Messrs MBH and WinstonWolf.

BEHAVE!!!!!!!!

[mybrainhurts]

dazren said:

NOTE - A FEW POSTS DELETED

Messrs MBH and WinstonWolf.

BEHAVE!!!!!!!!

Sorry if that offended, but it was a serious point, for which there is no answer, and makes a mockery of current public attitudes.

[craigjm]

Media are now reporting he has been offered a new three year contract by the BBC

[mybrainhurts]

Dear Mirror, Piers Morgan and the odd PHer....FAIL

They will be seething as we speak.

Which is nice....

[B17NNS]

craigjm said:

Media are now reporting he has been offered a new three year contract by the BBC

Good.

[George111]

B17NNS said:

craigjm said:

Media are now reporting he has been offered a new three year contract by the BBC

Good.

It would be nice to see something new, the TG format is getting tired regardless of what you think of Clarkson.

[mybrainhurts]

George111 said:

B17NNS said:

craigjm said:

Media are now reporting he has been offered a new three year contract by the BBC

Good.

It would be nice to see something new, the TG format is getting tired regardless of what you think of Clarkson.

Why does it need to change? New cars make it new. If things need to change, bloody East Enders would have had the decency to die decades ago.

[George111]

mybrainhurts said:

George111 said:

B17NNS said:

craigjm said:

Media are now reporting he has been offered a new three year contract by the BBC

Good.

It would be nice to see something new, the TG format is getting tired regardless of what you think of Clarkson.

Why does it need to change? New cars make it new. If things need to change, bloody East Enders would have had the decency to die decades ago.

They introduced the road trips a few years ago which were fantastic - the basic staple of a star in a car, news and driving a fast car fast round a track is tired, we've all seen it for years and some of us have done it ourselves. So they need something new which is imaginative and captivating as the road trips were.

Only cretins watch Eastenders . . . I don't know who is in it or what is happening, never watch it.

[wc98]

B17NNS said:

craigjm said:

Media are now reporting he has been offered a new three year contract by the BBC

Good.

yep,end of thread,if bbc say he is not racist ,it would take someone that is left of a very left thing to disagree

[oakdale]

wc98 said:

yep,end of thread,if bbc say he is not racist ,it would take someone that is left of a very left thing to disagree

Believe me, there are many people on PH who are very left of left.