Are people's rights in NY being violated? Apparently so.?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6406625.stm

A ban on the N-word? If I want to go down the street saying the N-word, F-word, B-word, or any other word, I have the right to say it. Banning the word, although it might come out of pure hate, violates freedom of speech...correct?

It seems like most people agree with me.

To BarB, I did read the article, and I should have the right to say hate slurs. Do I not have the right to hate people? Do I not have the right to express my hate?

Answer 1

Yep... Welcome to the United States of Europe?

Answer 2

To all the ******* in the world when I am banned from infringing on your rights You have just as effectively infringed on my rights to free speech.
Please some one answer this then all the hoopla over the "N" may make some sense.
The question is as follows
If a N calls a N a N this is perfectly acceptable and considered normal speech in most areas of this country, But if a whitey call a N a N then that is hate speech and the Whitey is subject to censure ship . What the Hells the difference.For the definition is still the same no matter the race saying it .The N word absolutely does not change its meaning because someone other than black said it.

Answer 3

It can be looked at as violating the freedom of speech right, however the "N-word" is highly offensive to many people. I think the idea here is to help make people sensitive to the word since pop culture has been using it so much.

I have mixed feelings about stopping people from saying it for many reasons, one of which is... if you stop people from using it, as it is a very hateful word, then when someone finally does say it... it can cause a bigger problem than it would today. I think by stopping people from using it, authorities would have to be prepared and be able to accept that when the word is used, it can cause a very harmful act of violence b/c in a way it's like they're preserving the word.

Answer 4

This isn't a ban that they can actually enforce so I think it's dumb they even wasted their time on it.
And on a side note...I personally think if it was such a huge deal to blacks that people said this word then they should stop saying it themselves. I went into a restaurant yesterday and there was a black family and all of them- from the grandma down to the small kids- were calling each other that. Too much is being made out of a word and I think everyone should have better things to do with their time than to sit around worrying about who says the "N" word and in what context.

Answer 5

Yeah, I agree...that is pretty absurd.

I hate the n-word, I don't use it at all, but I do hear a LOT of people who do use it and even though I hate the word, I have to say that it is a violation of people's rights and freedom of speech here in NY. There are a lot of people who emulate the hip hop culture and use the n-word and to just ban it like that is just plain dumb. But that definitely isn't going to stop people from using it.

Answer 6

Did you read the whole article or only what you wanted to see. The "n-word" is a racial slur demeaning to a whole race of people; it is insensitive, insulting and crude. Free speech does not mean you get to speak in hate filled language......

The "b-word" and "f-word" are not racial slurs...they are more commonly used in place of regular conversation when the speaker has no command of the English language and cannot speak or understand words with 2 or more syllables. These are definitely lower class verbiages indicative of a very young, or very uneducated or mentally challenged person.

Answer 7

Sadly, You are correct. It does violate free speech by banning those words. If you use them as a non-black, you are a bigot, and if you use them as a black, you're an idiot. But, our constitution protects your right to speak those words.

Answer 8

YES, it dose. You have the right to say anything that you feel~ although i wouldn't say the N-word to an African American for the apperent reasons!

But just because you have the right to say something doesn't always mean you should go arround saying it if you get what i mean!

Answer 9

If you are infringing other's rights they have the right to take free speech away. I would say hate crimes or words are violations of another's rights, so they are in the right to take away the free speech.

Answer 10

I think your civil rights are being violated. The tactic that will be used against you in court is that you are potentially inciting a riot.

Answer 11

I get very uncomfortable no matter who says that word. I grew up learning that word was dirty and to use that word as slang insults me so I'm being violated....