Originally posted by Krusty
SoA2, you've made a good post there, and have a good point. I, however, tend to believe that the word itself is not a slur. I believe words can be turned INTO slurs, by the invection and the way they are said/spat out of the mouth. You can say the word "Friend" with growl and it instantly becomes clear it means enemy. That doesn't make the word "friend" a slur. Far from it.
I don't disagree with what you've typed SOA, but I still believe it's more the use and not the word.
Errrr........yes, but you are missing the point. I honestly dont think most people who use it intend it to be derogatory. But then you arent the one getting your feelings hurt either.
I suppose if you were Hispanic and I called you "spic", and said its a legitimate contraction of the proper term, you would just accept it?
Little bit different take on it ..........
I have several black friends. They toss the "N word" around pretty lightly amongst themselves. I'd never dream of using it, even though we are good friends. Why? Because for them, its a put down but joking. From me, they'd see it as using a derogatory term. I cold argue I dont mean it that way, but would it matter?
How my friends view what I say is important to me. How my wife views what I say is important to me. I would never use the N word around my black friends, I'd never say Jap around my wife's family. And honestly, even if I agreed with your position and understood you didnt mean anything by it, if you called my wife a Jap and hurt her feelings I'd have to punch you in the nose.
I think that makes sense.
Btw, thats not a threat, its intended in a light-hearted manner. I dont think you are the kind of person who would do any such thing, just trying to make you understand that if you hurt someone, what difference does it make what you meant? Why not just say it the right way to start with?