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RC

(25,592 posts)

134. Horse Pucky.

Thu Jan 23, 2014, 11:26 AM

Jan 2014

More Word Police trying to put another good, reputable word into disrepute on DU, by assigning a meaning it does not have.

thug ( thŭg) n. 1. A cutthroat or ruffian; a hoodlum. 2. One of a band of professional assassins formerly active in northern India. [Hindi Úhag perhaps from Sanskrit sthaga¡/ a cheat from sthagati, sthagayati he conceals; See (s)teg- in Indo-European Roots.] thug “ger·y n. thug “gish adj.

1. (n.) A person, often hired, who terrorizes or assaults others:
· ruffian
· goon (informal)
· gorilla (informal)
· gunsel (slang)
· hood (slang)
· hoodlum
· hooligan
· plug-ugly (slang)
· torpedo (slang)
· yob (British, slang)
· yobbo (British, slang)
2. (n.) A person who behaves in a disorderly or destructive fashion:
· rowdy
· hooligan
· larrikin (chiefly Australian)
· punk
· roughneck
· ruffian
· tough
· yob (British, slang)
· delinquent
· hoodlum
· vandal
· yahoo

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Highlight:

Richard Sherman on 'thug': "it's the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowadays." [View all] geek tragedy Jan 2014 OP

I believe Sherman's correct... DonViejo Jan 2014 #1

+1 FreeState Jan 2014 #10

I call Republicans "thugs" all the time. RandySF Jan 2014 #107

Yes, people are calling Christie a thug, even a republican recently called him that. n/t whathehell Jan 2014 #186

Right here too, on DU, a poster saying Obama is a thug JimDandy Jan 2014 #150

what????? PM me a link if you don't want to post please nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #197

That poster got tombstoned yesterday! JimDandy Jan 2014 #224

this persona? geek tragedy Jan 2014 #225

Yes - low post count and hid out for a long, long time. n/t JimDandy Jan 2014 #226

AGREED Mr Dixon Jan 2014 #170

+1 redqueen Jan 2014 #175

+1000 Liberal_in_LA Jan 2014 #223

Bingo! Cali_Democrat Jan 2014 #2

"they're not thugs, they're goons!" geek tragedy Jan 2014 #3

"Goon" is the hockey term ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2014 #5

Very true. tabasco Jan 2014 #81

AGREED Mr Dixon Jan 2014 #171

+1 uponit7771 Jan 2014 #221

85% of DUers disagree. Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #4

Context is everything. If applied to a violent criminal, not racist. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #6

I pretty much agree pintobean Jan 2014 #21

someone here said he was acting 'gangsta rap' and used a 'violent tone' geek tragedy Jan 2014 #22

That exchange and this use of thug are all undeniably racist. morningfog Jan 2014 #119

everyone needs to give the guy a break, NM_Birder Jan 2014 #147

Most people wouldn't proclaim how god-like they are and trash someone else by name joeglow3 Jan 2014 #179

at the most NM_Birder Jan 2014 #182

85% of DU'ers can blow it out their ass Scootaloo Jan 2014 #56

AGREED Mr Dixon Jan 2014 #172

The opinions of 85% of people on a site whose members... Spider Jerusalem Jan 2014 #57

Thank you. Seriously. Number23 Jan 2014 #123

Please elaborate. Do you think DU is full of racists? Comrade Grumpy Jan 2014 #237

Wow. Number23 Jan 2014 #238

Well, only 84% since I added my yes vote. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #80

Ah, our resident racism denier. Cute poll. morningfog Jan 2014 #116

he's not wrong Alamuti Lotus Jan 2014 #7

Funny thing, he's not known as a big hitter--certainly not compared geek tragedy Jan 2014 #28

He's a cornerback. They are quick and fast brush Jan 2014 #54

It's not about race, it'a about roids... joeybee12 Jan 2014 #8

When did Joe Mauer ever fail a steroid test? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2014 #12

Update...meant Braun...nt joeybee12 Jan 2014 #18

And by the way.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2014 #24

aye Papi! nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #36

Seattle leads the NFL in failed drug tests mythology Jan 2014 #102

One thing we cann ALL agree on.......... NM_Birder Jan 2014 #153

I think Manning gets a ton of slobber ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2014 #210

lets see....where is that "like" thingy ;) NM_Birder Jan 2014 #211

Your post would have a shred of honesty to it if Mauer had ever geek tragedy Jan 2014 #13

Naturally, you misread everything and call names... joeybee12 Jan 2014 #14

To sit there and claim that people get called 'thug' because of steroids is bullshit. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #19

I only hid one person so far in my 10+ years at DU joeybee12 Jan 2014 #23

Ha ha, I'd hide anyone who handed me my ass on a plate too. bettyellen Jan 2014 #65

You forgot to answer the question: Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #91

I guess that's easier than addressing the point nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #99

You're right about Clemens. secondvariety Jan 2014 #84

Well, Bill Romanowski . . . nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #94

lol....... NM_Birder Jan 2014 #159

Douchebag is a tough one for me. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #161

lol....again NM_Birder Jan 2014 #166

I believe you're thinking of Ryan Braun.. Upton Jan 2014 #16

You're right...changed...nt joeybee12 Jan 2014 #20

if he took anything it was adearall wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #55

Let me preface this with I love Richard Sherman. dilby Jan 2014 #9

Some may use it more innocuously. But for a lot of white Americans, they know exactly what they're nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #58

Yeah, it's become a code word. delta17 Jan 2014 #222

The fact that he shuts them out soon after the "thug" talk begins should tell you something! Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #86

But he obviously did not think it equalled the n-word. dilby Jan 2014 #160

I love this! cilla4progress Jan 2014 #130

Like I said... cilla4progress Jan 2014 #140

Thanks for sharing that. dilby Jan 2014 #162

There is nothing racial about the word "thug". ladjf Jan 2014 #11

Just like there's nothing racial about 'shiftless welfare queen' nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #15

tehehehe Cali_Democrat Jan 2014 #17

Also... Cali_Democrat Jan 2014 #25

The word "thug" is at least 700 years old and has been used all around the world. ladjf Jan 2014 #31

How long have the words "lazy" and "welfare" been around? geek tragedy Jan 2014 #34

To the majority of the world's population, since they don't speak English, it doesn't mean anything. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #83

The word thug is basically the same in all languages. It was derived from a nomadic tribe called ladjf Jan 2014 #114

Very well said! When I read the headline to this thread, Sherman's comments really resonated R B Garr Jan 2014 #118

More than that Sgent Jan 2014 #169

Not in English. Igel Jan 2014 #93

the word 'thug' was used more often on Monday on television than it had been geek tragedy Jan 2014 #133

Agreed. n/t whathehell Jan 2014 #187

Or dog whistle. GeorgeGist Jan 2014 #52

Oh yes there is. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2014 #67

Sanders was so afraid of contact it was a joke Drahthaardogs Jan 2014 #68

He may not have been as great as he was made out to be, Are_grits_groceries Jan 2014 #70

Being a sure tackler is very important for a cornerback Drahthaardogs Jan 2014 #77

So, gay didn't mean homosexual until the dictionary added that definition? Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #88

Post removed Post removed Jan 2014 #146

people who call President Obama "a typical Chicago Democratic thug" are racist geek tragedy Jan 2014 #207

I really like and respect sherman (go hawks) but disagree on this point. at least to a degree arely staircase Jan 2014 #26

that's because Incognito is an actual thug. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #38

no shit nt arely staircase Jan 2014 #41

I use "thug" to describe a violent criminal. nt Eleanors38 Jan 2014 #117

How about "asshole"? alarimer Jan 2014 #27

That's perfectly fair. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #30

I would go with immature arely staircase Jan 2014 #45

Yeah, he earned a lot of legit criticism on that. nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #46

but that said arely staircase Jan 2014 #48

No, it's really not. RiffRandell Jan 2014 #185

I didn't say I agree. I have a very strong personal approval of this guy overall. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #195

so why don't you complain about Crabtree wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #61

Exactly! nt RiffRandell Jan 2014 #192

Nice Broad Brush of athletes. RiffRandell Jan 2014 #191

Sherman is just using this as a way to deflect attention Upton Jan 2014 #29

Yeah, he should just sit there and take the racist slurs. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #32

I don't consider it to be a racial slur.. Upton Jan 2014 #35

Well, I guess if some white people don't consider it a slur geek tragedy Jan 2014 #37

You'll have to ask someone who called him that.. Upton Jan 2014 #43

why is he not qualified to speak on racial slurs? geek tragedy Jan 2014 #44

I'm well aware of where he went to school.. Upton Jan 2014 #50

Condi Rice is not part of this discussion nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #71

She is now. RC Jan 2014 #129

only as an attempt at distraction from someone trying to whitesplain geek tragedy Jan 2014 #131

How is 'whitesplain' not being racist? RC Jan 2014 #136

whitesplain: geek tragedy Jan 2014 #138

I know what it means. RC Jan 2014 #141

as I said, white guys who whine about political correctness have zero geek tragedy Jan 2014 #143

You are saying in effect that only non white guys have credibility when it comes to RC Jan 2014 #145

no, white guys who actually make an attempt to listen to the voices geek tragedy Jan 2014 #149

Then why do I get the feeling that you are whining about me not conforming to your idea RC Jan 2014 #152

Not whining, just observing that you equate listening to black people geek tragedy Jan 2014 #157

I totally agree with what you say here. cinnabonbon Jan 2014 #156

Having watched it firsthand, I thought either Crabtree must have said something awful, SolutionisSolidarity Jan 2014 #33

Sherman says in article he wrote marlakay Jan 2014 #49

The only one corroborating that story is Sherman's brother.. Upton Jan 2014 #64

I think the article makes some good points, ZombieHorde Jan 2014 #39

some of it isn't conscious. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #40

I was unaware of any specifics Jenoch Jan 2014 #42

People here say slurs are abstract idea, and it puts white men in a disadvantaged position... bettyellen Jan 2014 #47

How does having to adjust one's vocabulary "disadvantage" anyone? That is completely absurd. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #63

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2014 #202

Thanks for playing and enjoy your pizza. edit below. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #203

Honored the 30 minutes or less. William769 Jan 2014 #204

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2014 #208

For the second troll I would say why do you think? hrmjustin Jan 2014 #209

the rationalization is that it is divisive to give African Americans or women "special privileges" bettyellen Jan 2014 #69

Same old catering to the right wing. It's nothing new, and it never works. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #105

'Special privileges'... such a rightwing whine. nt redqueen Jan 2014 #178

but you hear it from people here, and they argue how anyone can judge the word is used a slur... bettyellen Jan 2014 #183

This far too true far too often Kurska Jan 2014 #51

how often do you and I agree on anything? Alamuti Lotus Jan 2014 #53

He's right. Trayvon was called that...even after he was shot and killed. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2014 #59

Chris Christie is beloved partly because he talks shit; he's rude, arrogant, and a "straight talker" Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2014 #60

Why is no one complaining about Larry Bird wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #62

"What's the definition of a thug really?" AlbertCat Jan 2014 #66

Did anyone listen to Reggie Miller on the Dan Patrick show today??? a kennedy Jan 2014 #72

Heh, it would have been hypocritical in the extreme for Reggie to say otherwise. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #75

I doubt I'd blame Andrews, she expected to get an interview with a player happy with winning the FSogol Jan 2014 #76

She didn't do anything wrong, but people's reaction to a black guy with dreads going geek tragedy Jan 2014 #98

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2014 #199

This message was self-deleted by its author William769 Jan 2014 #200

I tend to agree with this. Erin Andrews' grimace during the interview was so R B Garr Jan 2014 #115

The proper word for Sherman was "poor sportsman." FSogol Jan 2014 #73

You had me until the end. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #78

I didn't call him a thug. Thug is the wrong word, poor sportsman is the proper term. n/t FSogol Jan 2014 #79

I guess maybe we're talking past each other. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #82

"Talking trash" is a time-honored tradition in pro sports. kwassa Jan 2014 #90

Time honored? Sorry, that's one of the problems with pro sports. FSogol Jan 2014 #92

It is part of the psych-up and psych-out of Denver. kwassa Jan 2014 #97

Sherman doesn' think he can get into Manning's head. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #96

oh, I agree with that. Manning has ice water in his veins. kwassa Jan 2014 #100

This Sherman lad strikes me as a very intelligent young man. Aldo Leopold Jan 2014 #74

I agree with Sherman, but sulphurdunn Jan 2014 #85

Absolutely true. Thug is code. marble falls Jan 2014 #87

I don't think the reaction would be that different to the term arrogant ass Boom Sound 416 Jan 2014 #89

I tend to agree, all the rebs were calling Travon Martin a thug too. TheKentuckian Jan 2014 #95

I'm glad he said that. I've felt the same thing. AAO Jan 2014 #101

Sherman's the new Jim Mora klook Jan 2014 #103

Wyatt Cenac had a similar observation caraher Jan 2014 #104

Sherman has a 4.2 GPA and is working on a Masters at Stanford. RandySF Jan 2014 #106

Glad I just called him an ass then. Inkfreak Jan 2014 #108

he's right d_b Jan 2014 #109

About the history of the word as a racial slur: Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #110

he is correct Skittles Jan 2014 #111

No, he isn't. When I say Gov. Thug, I am not calling him the N-word. pnwmom Jan 2014 #112

that's because Christie threatened and bullied and intimidated. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #125

I don't know who Sherman is. I'm responding to his general claim pnwmom Jan 2014 #180

it does mean the N-word in some contexts. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #189

I think people are blowing Sherman out of proportion Arcanetrance Jan 2014 #113

He ain't wrong. Iggo Jan 2014 #120

I don't know Richard Sherman from a can of beans Number23 Jan 2014 #121

He is a cornerback Jamaal510 Jan 2014 #228

This message was self-deleted by its author Drunken Irishman Jan 2014 #122

kick for truth... Blue_Tires Jan 2014 #124

Wow, a well-known trash-talker complaining about being called a thug??? DinahMoeHum Jan 2014 #126

so, using racist code words is okay with you if the geek tragedy Jan 2014 #127

It's HIS problem if he thinks it's racist. DinahMoeHum Jan 2014 #128

OFFS. it's a black person's fault if they're offended by geek tragedy Jan 2014 #132

Hey, I'm not getting into a "pissing contest with you. DinahMoeHum Jan 2014 #181

Seems to be a popular belief here. ForgoTheConsequence Jan 2014 #227

Horse Pucky. RC Jan 2014 #134

The word is not the problem, the racists' use of it is. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #135

I think you are seeing racism where little or none exists. RC Jan 2014 #137

I think I'll trust what black people say as opposed to white guys geek tragedy Jan 2014 #139

I'd like to see this poll you took or saw. RC Jan 2014 #142

never in my life have I encountered a white guy who simultaneously whined geek tragedy Jan 2014 #144

Then you do not know many Liberals. RC Jan 2014 #151

parents many times employ the "do as I say not as a I do" approach nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #154

I don't. I taught my kids by example. RC Jan 2014 #155

you better not let them read your posts here. nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #158

Why not? Being tolerant does not mean being submissive. RC Jan 2014 #164

you're very tolerant of women and black people so long as they agree with geek tragedy Jan 2014 #165

Stop projecting and don't put your words on my mouth. RC Jan 2014 #168

Slang reassignments of word definitions come a go, particularly among people with ladjf Jan 2014 #231

No one believes they're synonymous now and never were. RC Jan 2014 #232

Perhaps I've misunderstood this entire thread. ladjf Jan 2014 #234

Look who posted the OP for your answer. RC Jan 2014 #236

Thanks. I know that I had never heard that "thug" was code for some racial slur. nt ladjf Jan 2014 #239

Not a fan of Sherman, but he's right on this. bluedigger Jan 2014 #148

That fucking "Thug" Govenor Ahaaaaanold...... NM_Birder Jan 2014 #163

I hope his team wins so that the game flamingdem Jan 2014 #190

I see what you mean, especially after watching the video showing the sequence of events: icymist Jan 2014 #167

Well, it's also the way we characterize Chris Christie. Orsino Jan 2014 #173

yes, because Christie is a bully who relies on intimidation and threats and blackmail nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #174

Not exactly a counterpoint to Sherman's assertion, I guess. Orsino Jan 2014 #176

The word 'thug' was used on television 625 times on Monday--moreso geek tragedy Jan 2014 #177

Put your dog whistle away Packerowner740 Jan 2014 #184

so, when Rush Limbaugh calls Barack Obama a 'street thug' and when the Ted Nugent geek tragedy Jan 2014 #196

So you take everything some right wing idiot says to mean EVERYONE sees it the same way? Packerowner740 Jan 2014 #205

no, the point is that context matters. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #206

Just wanted to say thank you for your posts in this thread. nt redqueen Jan 2014 #188

thanks, doing my best to be civil nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #194

I think he IS a thug joeglow3 Jan 2014 #193

"someone who is incapable of rational conflict resolution skills" geek tragedy Jan 2014 #198

Thug IS used more about black kids cinnabonbon Jan 2014 #201

It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Glassunion Jan 2014 #212

please do not obfuscate. when white people call a black man a thug not because he is a thug geek tragedy Jan 2014 #213

So am I being racist when I call a white republican a "T" word Glassunion Jan 2014 #214

Do you agree that Rush Limbaugh is totally not being racist geek tragedy Jan 2014 #216

Rush is racist, so no matter what words he uses, there is a racist undertone. Glassunion Jan 2014 #218

Nope your just a thug. Egnever Jan 2014 #215

what act of excessive violence and brutality did Mr. Sherman commit such that geek tragedy Jan 2014 #217

I'm sure that "thug" knows the difference between your and you're. ForgoTheConsequence Jan 2014 #230

So all the times we use "thug" when it refers to non-black people is what? Bonobo Jan 2014 #219

this isn't that complicated geek tragedy Jan 2014 #220

If you defend calling black men "thugs".... ForgoTheConsequence Jan 2014 #229

I started noticing the THUG meme a few months ago. CBGLuthier Jan 2014 #233

It wasn't, but it is now gollygee Jan 2014 #235