General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFamiliar with "niggles"? #1 in the urban dictionary says it refers to a "black persons nipples."
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by cyberswede (a host of the General Discussion forum).
#3 says in the urban dictionary says it is a "noun that means a fat black person."
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=niggles
Should anyone take offense from the use of the word by a critic of an OP involving a Black person? Or take offense when the author of the OP asks for clarification by the critic's use of the word? Such as when a post involves this guy who has been convicted of wife-beating in the past and who recently was arrested for repeating his wife-beating activities?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022932493
Is "niggles" a word that you've commonly heard before? Is it a word that you commonly understand to mean something else such as
#2 "Lawyer speak for a minor point of discussion in contract negotiations. Often used surreptitiously
in order to try and attempt to renegotiate key provisions or even an entire contract that is close to final signing." Or
#4 "an annoying dog"?
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=niggles
Apparently, even when the focus of an OP is between people who want to control others and those who do not, any mention of the word "firearm" or "gun" in the OP is like a dog-whistle that can be heard by some and can bring out certain passions.
I swear that I've never heard or read the word "niggles" before, and I am in my early 70's and have a post-graduate degree.
In response to a critic, who treated the use of the word "gun" as a license to engage in fact-free insults while using the word word "niggles," I asked
"You say "niggles"? Are you trying to make a racist comment of some sort?"
The question for you is, when a critic of an author of an OP uses a relatively rarely-used word whose meaning is not clear, should the author of the OP refrain from asking for clarification? Anyone can look at the words in the OP, and the various response posted by me, and know that it is uncharacteristic of me to engage in personal attacks. This is true, although I sometimes annoy people by being persistent with logic.
Do you really consider my question to be out of line? Additional entries in the Urban Dictionary at a second location indicates that "niggles"
#1 "Originates from Nigg, Nigglus, the Latin derivation of the term "nigger." Means "a black person who enjoys practical jokes or riddles."
#2 "A person who bitches about stupid details {and a way to get away with saying nigger}
#3 "African American (black) burglar."
#4 "A tall, skinny colored man."
#5 "An adolescent African American."
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Niggler
If you didn't have a Random House dictionary in front of you when a critic used the word "niggles," would it be rude of you to ask for clarification? Would it depend upon whether the question was asked by someone whose position on firearm ownership might coincide with some Democrats (including Vice-President Biden's) but not yours?
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Initially seeing the word "niggles" I would think it had something to do with giggles...
Like:
Niggles: (nightime giggles) - ex: when you are having sex at night and you both start laughing because something funny happens like a queef
loli phabay
(5,580 posts)Or a problem you are working on, it is all about the context.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)persistent annoyance.
Why didn't you post this OP in that other thread.
MADem
(135,425 posts)When you type the word into google, this is what you get:
nig·gle
/ˈnigəl/
Verb
Cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety: "a nasty leg wound which still niggled at him".
Noun
A trifling complaint, dispute, or criticism: "it is an excellent book except for my few niggles"; "I have a few niggles about design".
...........................
1nig·gle verb \ˈni-gəl\
nig·glednig·gling
Definition of NIGGLE
intransitive verb
1
a : trifle
b : to spend too much effort on minor details
2
: to find fault constantly in a petty way : carp <she haggles, she niggles, she wears out our patience Virginia Woolf>
3
: gnaw
transitive verb
: to give stingily or in tiny portions
nig·gler noun
See niggle defined for English-language learners »
Examples of NIGGLE
She had been niggled by worry her entire life.
He's always niggling over small details.
Origin of NIGGLE
origin unknown
First Known Use: circa 1616
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/niggle
I think the invented definition with racist overtones is offensive.
Ptah
(34,160 posts)Brickbat
(19,339 posts)Urbandictionary defines my name as "craxy-sexxxy." Should I complain?
intaglio
(8,170 posts)Type "Define Niggle" into a search engine's search field. From Google you get ...
Verb
Cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety: "a nasty leg wound which still niggled at him".
Noun
A trifling complaint, dispute, or criticism: "it is an excellent book except for my few niggles"; "I have a few niggles about design".
Other listings are The Free Dictionary
1. To be preoccupied with trifles or petty details.
2. To find fault constantly and trivially; carp. See Synonyms at quibble
1. (intr) to find fault continually
2. (intr) to be preoccupied with details; fuss
3. (tr) to irritate; worry
n
1. a slight or trivial objection or complaint
2. a slight feeling as of misgiving, uncertainty, etc.
[from Scandinavian; related to Norwegian nigla. Compare niggard]
Cambridge Dictionaries Online
Don't you feel even a slight niggle about the morality of your experiments
Merriam Webster
1
a : trifle
b : to spend too much effort on minor details
2 : to find fault constantly in a petty way : carp <she haggles, she niggles, she wears out our patience Virginia Woolf>
3 : gnaw
noun
: a trifling doubt, objection, or complaint
Oxford Dictionaries
[no object]
cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety:
Doreen wanted to discuss matters that niggled at her mind
(as adjective niggling)
niggling aches and pains
[with object] criticize or annoy (someone) in a petty way:
people niggling me for doing too much work
noun
a trivial criticism, discomfort, or annoyance:
it is an excellent book except for my few niggles
he can only throw underarm at the moment because of a niggle
Type "Etymology Niggle" the top listing is the Online etymology dictionary link
Now if you want to carry on exposing your knowledge feel free, but don't try and say the word is racist because of the a slang definition that you must have had some time finding. In other words stop niggling
Link to my original post
cyberswede
(26,117 posts)No whining about DU in GD.
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