Do you think it sounds dumb when a particular racial slur is called,"The 'N' word..."?

Question

I know the word offends, but it sure sounds dumb when they refer to that word that way, like on the news. Should we call the one for whites 'the "H" word'?

I do think it's better than saying it, but it does sound dumb.

Answer 1

I've never thought about it quite that way..but now that you bring it up..it does sound kind of stupid to be referring to a word as any letter. Like..the "F" word, the "S" word, etc.

But, with that being said...conversations about the use of "the N word" can't necessarily use the word in the conversation.

So..we are forced to call the word a letter. I don't think there is a way around it. But..wait. Prince used a symbol for his name at one point in time. We could always say, " The world formerly referred to as the letter "N".

P.S. I hate the use of that word casually or otherwise.

Answer 2

Yes. I also think it sounds dumb that a certain lifestyle choice is refered to as "The L Word".

Please bear in mind that I don't use the "N" word. I just think dumbing it down like that is silly. A way of tiptoeing around saying it without saying it.

Answer 3

I agree with what Lily said. I don't think anyone should be saying at all. I tried to watch a movie called State Property 2 and after 10 minutes of watching it I turned it off broke the disk and threw it away. I don't think there was any reason for them using that word so many times.

Answer 4

yes. it's taken on a titular status that no other racial slur has. i'd prefer if people ignored race and spoke generally about how "an insulting word" was used, or just blurt the word right out. bestowing some special distinction (ie: "The 'N' Word") on a racial specific slur fosters a continued perception of black americans as victims. numerous groups of people are referred to with insulting terms; we cannot accomodate them all with euphamisms, and so should accomodate none of them. i say no to "The 'H' Word," too.

Answer 5

there is no way for any white or other race person to use that term without being offensive. blacks are the only people who can say it and even some of them do not approve. i think it's way to dangerous and disrespectful to ever say and find no need to even think about it. and personally as a white guy i find nothing at all wrong with honky or even cracker....almost makes me chuckle. hey remember one day not too far down the line whites will be the minority. people who have to speak of this subject have to find a sensitive way to mention it and the more respectful they can be the better.
people should always be judged on their own individual basis, not by the color of their skin.

Answer 6

It's just a common way to say it so people know what you're talking about without actually saying it. What bothers me is that it seems to depend on what race you are as to whether it's a forbidden word or not. If the word is SOOOOO horrible, NO ONE should be using it.

Answer 7

To be perfectly honest with you, the only Black person who used the "H" word was George Jefferson of the TV show "The Jeffersons". It was just used in TV shows and movies. No one used it or uses it in real life.

In reference to the other comment regarding the "N" word, that word has so much negativity associated with it that in our politically correct society calling it the "N" word is supposed to be the way to say it. In my humble opinion, why say it at all?

Answer 8

I think that it is as offensive as any other racial slur. There just happens to be more publicity surrounding the "n" word than any other.

Answer 9

i think that word is really offending, and no matter how dumb "the n word" sounds, it's better than using the actual word

Answer 10

We used to call my one sister "the N word" (the abbreviation, not the actual word)because she was skanky and we didnt like her and her name started with N. But one day, my brother and I were in a restaurant talking about her and we kept calling her "the N word" and there were black people at the table behind us and they got upset and the manager came and asked us to leave.