US student suspended for filming teacher using racial slur

[jeremyp]

You have to use the word to explain to students its etymology and why it should not be used.   You can't just wink at them and say....'you know that word....don't use it'

Yes you can actually. You could say "don't use the N word". Personally, I don't think that's any better than saying "nigger" because we all, in our heads, know exactly what word is being referred to. The BBC article doesn't even use "n-word", it says "racial slur" but we all know exactly what they mean.

[Nearly Sane]

Yes you can actually. You could say "don't use the N word". Personally, I don't think that's any better than saying "nigger" because we all, in our heads, know exactly what word is being referred to. The BBC article doesn't even use "n-word", it says "racial slur" but we all know exactly what they mean.

Second paragraph
'Mary Walton, 15, filmed her teacher saying the n-word repeatedly on 9 May at Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri.'

[Udayana]

Yes you can actually. You could say "don't use the N word". Personally, I don't think that's any better than saying "nigger" because we all, in our heads, know exactly what word is being referred to. The BBC article doesn't even use "n-word", it says "racial slur" but we all know exactly what they mean.

It is (obviously?) different - even though you know the word that is being referred to, the reason people object to it is because of the emotional impact it imparts. The difference between, say, shouting "you nigger" and "you n-word" at someone.
 

[jeremyp]

It is (obviously?) different - even though you know the word that is being referred to, the reason people object to it is because of the emotional impact it imparts. The difference between, say, shouting "you nigger" and "you n-word" at someone.

Yes, but why? The intent is the same in both those cases, and we all know in the second, what word is being thought of. If it's so toxic to even mention the N-word in a discussion about its use, then replacing it with "N-word" should not make any difference.

Unless it's all performative nonsense.

[Udayana]

Yes, but why? The intent is the same in both those cases, and we all know in the second, what word is being thought of. If it's so toxic to even mention the N-word in a discussion about its use, then replacing it with "N-word" should not make any difference.

Unless it's all performative nonsense.

I'll try again: The intent is not the same nor the effect. When you use the word directly you are intentionally bring up all the associations with slavery, brutality and showing your indifference and disrespect for the people you are addressing. When you say "n-word" you are explicitly, by using an indirect reference, disassociating yourself, the audience and the discussion from any support of those aspects.

   

[jeremyp]

I'll try again: The intent is not the same nor the effect. When you use the word directly you are intentionally bring up all the associations with slavery, brutality and showing your indifference and disrespect for the people you are addressing. When you say "n-word" you are explicitly, by using an indirect reference, disassociating yourself, the audience and the discussion from any support of those aspects.

   

Nonsense. "The N-word" is a direct substitution for the word "nigger". It means the same thing and therefore brings up all he associations with slavery and brutality. If it didn't mean the same thing, it wouldn't be doing its job.

As I said, it's performative nonsense.

[jeremyp]

I'll try again: The intent is not the same nor the effect. When you use the word directly you are intentionally bring up all the associations with slavery, brutality and showing your indifference and disrespect for the people you are addressing. When you say "n-word" you are explicitly, by using an indirect reference, disassociating yourself, the audience and the discussion from any support of those aspects.

   

And while I'm at it, just discussing the word should not require you to explicitly to disavow any support of slavery and other discrimination against black people. Claiming that using the word in the context of a discussion about when you can or cannot use the word means you support slavery is just childish fuckwittery. Are there any adults left in this debate?