Should the "N"-word be banned legally?

Question

Some lawmaker from NY wants to ban the "N"-word (it's a sad measure of today's society that one can't even spell a word out for fear of reprisal - but that's why I put it the way I did).

What do you think of this? Will it fix the underlying problems that generate prejudice? Is censorship and banning free speech the right way to change people?

This is a scary step, and I'm looking for other opinions.

Wow! Great response.

I should note that I'm *not* in favor of this idea - but I wanted to get a pulse. Looks like the pulse is strong! :-)

An interesting note is that a lot of black people were speaking in favor of this on the newsstory i watched - but they were in favor of it to stop other blacks who use the term colloquially, and not so much whites. Very interesting.

Answer 1

Wow. What a great question! My first reaction was yes! But really...it is a shot against free speech. It will not fix the prejudice in this country which is a very sad thing. I am a white person living in hicksvlle-NH, but have lived in many different areas. As much as I got beat, degraded, and metally scarred by different races in Florida......I would NEVER...NEVER say that word. It is EXTREMLY disrespectful. And I despise the people that think they are better than everyone else and feel like they can use it freely. But getting back to your question (sorry went on a rant).....I think that censorship and banning free speech is not the right way to change peoples thoughts and beliefs. If it starts here, then it will just turn and get uglier. I think it is opening a door for sooooo many problems. The problem in this country is LACK OF RESPECT. You don't have to like everyone, but you need to be respectful.

Answer 2

I heard this story, too. It's so absurd that I hardly gave it a thought. I went through the responses and was a bit surprised nobody saw the obvious. Of course it won't happen! It's totally unconstitutional! You simply can't ban a word. The lawmakers know that. It was purely a political statement geared toward generating them attention.
Rather then debating the use of the word, we should be debating whether or not the moronic "lawmakers" that came up with the idea in the first place should hold office. Do you really want somebody in office who wants to dictate what words you can use?

Answer 3

No. Banning of a word in our language, no matter how offensive to some, is not a solution to any problems anywhere. It's nothing but censorship on a grand scale. I won't say that banning a word is a violation of the First Amendment, because it's not; the First Amendment prohibits the government from taking action against you for criticizing it. It does not say that you can't ban words.

But as I said, this is nothing more than a "feel good" piece of legislation proposed by someone who is trying to get votes for either himself or his party in the upcoming election by pandering to a minority. It will do nothing to solve any of America's problems.

Besides, if you're going to start banning words, why not start out with words that are offensive to ALL of the population, not just a part of it? Why not ban "whore" or "sl*t" or the slang for anus? All are words used in a derogatory manner, yet no one is talking about banning them...wonder why that is?

Answer 4

Tonight I'm Loving You- Enrique Iglesias Give Me Everything Tonight- Pitbull FT. NeYo Hollywood Tonight- Michael Jackson

Answer 5

No not really, words like the b-word or f-word are banned but many people use it anyway. People just say it with anger and the slip of tongue. No matter how many times they ban a word people are still going to use it. It isn't like a person can't curse, they have too. Everyone makes mistakes and they can't say a word and get a $50 fine on that if it go banned, Its just stupid and idotic.

Answer 6

It certainly violates freedom of speech. You are right about the fear of reprisal. I am definitely an advocate of equality and against racism, but organizations such as the NAACP serve only to portray race as a differentiating factor that requires special rules and rights. By constantly portraying minorities as the 'victim', these so-called advancement organizations are only impeding the ability for society to be truly colorblind.

If people can't use words responsibily, they will face their own consequences, but the law cannot restrict our vocabulary.

Answer 7

I bet I can guess which lawmaker from NY wants to ban it. How about terms like "cracker, whitey, redneck," and the time-honored favorite "honky?" What about the First Amendment and right of free speech and all that sort of thing that Democrats constantly scream this administration and the Republican Congresses have taken away? (This lawmaker is Democrat, right?) Or is this another example of the Democrat meaning of free speech: You can say what you like as long as you agree with them. And how would they enforce such a thing? Would they ticket only Whites who say it in a derogatory way or would Blacks who say it to their friends in jest also be ticketed? How foolish can this possibly be?!

Answer 8

If you ban one word that opens the door to ban other words. It is every persons right to use their freedom of speech in America. Does that mean that women should try to ban the word b****? I don't think so! I think everybody has used a word that may be perceived as offensive by another but that doesn't mean we should start "banning" words. It is ridiculous.

Answer 9

I don't think any word should be bannedl legally. That is our freedom of speech. That is not the way to change people. Someone would probably just come up with a replacement word anyway.

Answer 10

That is a very silly idea indeed. Firstly it will enshrine the word in peoples memory. Secondly black people sometimes use the word among themselves (usually in humour ). Why interfere. Is this lawmaker black or white I wonder.