Why is it NOT ok to say the "N" word, but it IS ok to say "paddy wagon"?

Question

The Irish were discriminated against when they first came over, but it's ok, I guess, cuz they're "white". What's up with that shite?

By the way, I'm not saying that I say that word, and I hold nothing against anybody of any color or anything unless it's personal. Don't judge me.

Answer 1

It's not ok to say the "n" word...but how come they use it anyways to each other....That is the question.

Answer 2

Before the Dutch brought Africans over the Irish "leased" themselves for 7 years to get here. They were enslaved, BUT, as soon as they could get clothes of sufficient quality to "pass" they could run off, fake an accent and move. This is what made Africans so popular, is moved racism up to simple color-coding. When my dad emmigrated from Ireland in 1954 he found plenty of Irish discrimination in New York, NY. Immigrants of all kinds came over to the US to find stereotypes waiting for them. My dad could choose to "adopt" another accent, but an immigrant of color has it forever. The "N" word thing is just what is happening now. It seems that by not using it non-blacks give a token of respect, and admit to the degree of harm slaves endured, and more recently the degree of civil rights refused to non-whites. Most white people don't realize how much they benefit from being white. Most people don't realize how important money is in current racism. Kanye West is right, it has evolved into classism. All words that are slang for ethnic groups can be offensive. Most Irish-Americans love St. Patrick's day, go green beer! They don't feel it is wrong to turn the day for the patron saint of a nation into a big joke, they have transformed the day into new meaning, "Irish Pride Day". That's fine. I just hope that the censorship of the "N" word doesn't let us more easily forget how it was used in America such a short time ago.

Answer 3

Why? Do you want to say the N word?

I don't think it's ok for anyone to say anything that negatively depicts a race or a group of people. Everyone needs to get past the superficial things that divide us (skin color, hair color, ethnicity, etc.) and see others as INDIVIDUALS. I do not want to be judged by the actions of others that happen to have the same skin color that I have. Just like you, I'm sure, don't want to have judgements made about you because you may happen to have red hair.

Those terms were created to divide races and to perpetuate racist beliefts. It's time we all (EVERYONE) stop the madness. I can't believe that my son will have to deal with skin color and racial issues when he's ready to face the world in 18 years. It'll be 2024 for God's sake!!

Answer 4

Everybody is discriminated against one way or another. Just because one person says something wrong doesn't mean you should say somethin back wrong. The n-word is not okay. And if paddy wagon offends you then don't say it either and tell people you hear saying it that you would appreciate them not saying it. But how many people say paddy wagon these days anyway? Can't say I've heard it.

Answer 5

Usage of the "N" word is the biggest social double standard that clearly is ridiculous; it's OK for blacks to use the word amongst themselves---but God forbid they hear whites speak it.

Irish are offended by the spoken term "paddy wagon"???? Maybe such folks should limit their coffee drinking and try decaf.

"Paddy wagon" is a simple term, coined by an prominent Irish police officer in New York, for padded wagon--which was standard police equipment during detaining groups of criminals; I don't find use of the word racially offensive--neither do any of my friends of Irish descent.

Answer 6

"Paddywagon


A paddywagon is a slang word for either a police car, or a police vehicle used to transport large groups of people who have been arrested. The word is of American origin.

The precise origin of the term is uncertain and disputed, though its use dates back to at least the 1930s.[1] There are at least three theories as how the phrase originated.[2]

The most prevalent theory is based on the term "Paddy" (a common Irish shortening of Patrick), which was used (sometimes as slang) to refer to Irish people.[3] Irishmen made up a large percentage of the officers of early police forces in many American cities. Thus, this theory suggests that the concentration of Irish in the police forces led to the term "paddywagon" being used to describe the vehicles driven by police. An alternative theory is similarly based on the term "Paddy" but states that the term arose due to the number of Irish being arrested for spirited behavior and hauled off in the vehicles.[4] The final theory holds that the name almost certainly originates from the padding used on the inside of police horse-drawn carriages to prevent injury.[5]

These vehicles were usually painted black. Archaically in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom, a police wagon was also sometimes called a Black Maria (using the archaic pronunciation i.e Mariah). The origin of this term is equally uncertain. The OED lists the first usage as the Boston Evening Traveller from 1847 which mentions them as a new type of wagon. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable suggests the name came from Maria Lee, a large and fearsome black madam who the police would call on for help with difficult prisoners. The term is still used today in parts of Britain for the vehicle that transports prisoners from gaol to court, appearing in the song "Guns of Brixton" by The Clash. Frequently, screened-in buses are also used for the same purpose. [1]

The term is often used in some areas of Australia, specifically New South Wales[2] and Queensland[3] to refer to a general duties vehicle with a prisoner cage on the back. Australian paddywagons are typically based on small utility vehicles such as the Holden Rodeo or Toyota Hilux. In other areas of Australia the term Divisional Van (or Divvy Van for short) is more common."

Answer 7

In my opinion, there's no difference between the N word or cracker (notice we have to use 'N' for the word but its okay to say cracker). I've never heard anyone call a white person a cracker who actually meant WELL by it. e.g 'hey cracker, nice to see you' and white people don't call each other crackers, its normally black people who call white people crackers unlike blacks who use the "N" word among themselves. I'm white, and Italian and my family has only been in this country for about 53 years. We had nothing to do with slavery, and as italians, in the area i live in, my own grandparents and uncles and aunts were beaten and verbally abused by jews, english police officers, etc. I don't hold anything against any of them.. Those were the times and now its time to get over it. In fact, its time to get over the ignorance of blaming all white people for everything.. aside from getting over it, everyone has to understand that for the most part, most white people accused of making slavery happen aren't even part of the descentents that WERE part of it. Most of us come from southern and eastern europe and had nothing to do with it. Also, black people hunted black people and sold them to white people for money who in turn brought them back to the americas as slaves so if we're gonna put GENERAL blame on white people then EVERYONE should accept blame.

Answer 8

Haha!

Errm... Probably because "paddy wagon" is short for "padded wagon" which is what they use to haul crazy people away?

See, the inside is padded so that the special people can't hurt themselves.

IRISH RACISM FTW.

Answer 9

Well not everyone knows about how the Irish have struggled...

Just like why is it not racist to say you are going Dutch on a date? You are implying your date is cheap, and when you say Gyped..it refers to gypsies ripping you off...

Its just ignorance..when people realize that words mean things, maybe the world will be a better place..but for now we have to deal with the whole sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will not hurt me,but I'll sue and get lots of money and say that they did.....

Answer 10

Why does the "n" word have to be associated with a certain group of color. Isn't it presumpuous to think this? Sometimes the "n" word can mean other things. I personally think the use of the "n" word is rude, derogitory, slang, but I have noticed that people of the african american or black race tend to use it as a terms of endearment towards each other...but yet the caucasian or white person is ridiculed or persucuted for saying it to the other race. It seems that within our own races people can use it as an "endearment term" to mean friend, (in a majorly cool way?)
Now paddy wagon...you have me here...I do not know why it is ok to say paddy wagon.....maybe this term was not used as much? Is paddy wagon an Irish term? It just did not get the negative attention as the "n" word has.
Lets think outside of the box first. While predjudism is real, we can come close to eliminating a lot of it by not "assuming" that the actions of the opposite race are always because of racism. Sometimes people just do or say things within their comfort zone...has nothing to do with being white or black or red or green. It is all about our comfort zone. If I were to go up to 12 black women and call them all the "n" word. I would probably end up very beat up.
If I were to go up to an all white womans group and say the "n" word to all of them...I would probably get wierd looks, maybe ignored...maybe a few odd looks or a few laughs. If a black woman went up to a group of 12 black women and called them all the "n" word..she would be accepted...that would mean friend or "hey there cool person" in his/her comfort zone.
So in a way it has to do with our heritage, color of our skin, etc but it is all about our being in our own comfort zone. We are most comfortable being around people who we are most like, people who we have the most in common with. We like to stay inside the box.
So it is ok for some to say the "n" word...as long as they are within their own group or comfort zone...just as any group of possibly teenage friends of any color can get by with calling the other rude names such as "dog", "retard", "assh****", bit** or biat**. But if we were to go up to our parents and call either of them a "bit**"...I think we might be slapped down. Groups of comfort.
All in all to end this answer.....I think the "n" word is a rude word for anyone to say. I just wonder if the world someday will think outside of the box. Then and only then will we be able to end racism and prejudism...and be able to accept all other people for who they are...then maybe some of these slang words can be either shared by all groups or just be forgotton.

Answer 11

its TOTALLY hippocritical for black ppl to be able to walk around calling each other nyggers and not let anyone else do it. Why not make every race stop using the word? You are living in the past every time you bring up slavery and use the nygger word, why not act civilized instead of making yourself sound like you belong in chains or picking cotton? If you dont want white ppl calling you a nygger then dont use it when you talk ebonics to your "homies". lol. bottom line is that its hippocritical and just keeps the hatred and separation alive. Black people are just sustaining the racial devide by using it and helping keep races segregated when intelligent black people like R. Jackson are doing just the opposite.