General Discussion

Roy Rolling

(7,681 posts) Fri May 1, 2015, 10:12 AM May 2015

Thug is the New N$&%er - A discussion [View all]

First they came for the word "integration". I said nothing.
Then they came for the word "liberal". I said nothing.
Then they came for the word "thug" . . . You get the point.

Once again, propagandists have seized another word from the English lexicon and given it a completely narrow and pejorative definition.

So can I call Putin a "thug" now? Is Al Capone still a "thug"? How should enlightened people counter this continuous political assault on the English language?

That's not rhetorical, I don't know. Do you? I just know I am irritated by the barrage of propaganda and re-purposing of word meanings to carry its underlying message. And that rioters in Baltimore are no more "thuggish" than rioters in Vancouver after a hockey riot. But that is reality, not the world of words.

48 replies

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Thug is the New N$&%er - A discussion [View all] Roy Rolling May 2015 OP

The word has already been repurposed gollygee May 2015 #1

For all this talk of "dog-whistling" by opponents of the word... derby378 May 2015 #2

Oh, I get the point of this OP. demmiblue May 2015 #3

You know what irritates me? JustAnotherGen May 2015 #4

if 'Thug' is the New N$&%er - why is it allowed to be spelled out? KG May 2015 #5

Give it time. B2G May 2015 #6

If some have there way, I don't doubt that. NaturalHigh May 2015 #26

Because it is still new and still socially acceptable gollygee May 2015 #7

"how it's most often used." Throd May 2015 #14

The majority of people in your circle maybe gollygee May 2015 #18

If this is the worst thing happening in your day, you probably have a pretty unaffected life. Starry Messenger May 2015 #8

AKA 'White privilege' - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #27

Wow...I think it's been almost 24 hours since I read that term. NaturalHigh May 2015 #42

Wow, aren't you precious? - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #43

Gay used to mean "joyful" "carefree" and "full of mirth" cyberswede May 2015 #9

And yet 'gay' hasn't been banned. B2G May 2015 #11

Of course "gay" isn't banned cyberswede May 2015 #12

So we can crawl into their heads and B2G May 2015 #13

When people use "thug" as a dog whistle, it's obvious. cyberswede May 2015 #16

So we ban a word based on Limbaugh? B2G May 2015 #20

I've never mentioned banning a word. I'm pointing out its racist use, pursuant to the OP. cyberswede May 2015 #25

If you assign racial intent to the use B2G May 2015 #30

I'm not the one assigning racial intent to the use...those using it as a dog whistle are. cyberswede May 2015 #47

This is where you want to plant your flag? NCTraveler May 2015 #10

I've heard the way they use it on Fox News and it is racist when used like that Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #15

Depends on context. backscatter712 May 2015 #17

So if you call a black criminal a thug, that's racist, but B2G May 2015 #21

When some call a black person a thug, it's a dog whistle for the n-word cyberswede May 2015 #29

That is bullshit. B2G May 2015 #32

When it's used as a dog whistle, "thug" is totally based on race. cyberswede May 2015 #34

I agree. FAUX Noise has pioneered the dogwhistle meaning of "thug". backscatter712 May 2015 #40

How many other words will we allow intolerant morons to redefine? Throd May 2015 #19

Plenty of people here will be happy to tell you what words you can't use. NaturalHigh May 2015 #24

I hope the "intolerant morons" you're referring to are those who use it as a dog whistle cyberswede May 2015 #31

oh, poor, poor you. PeaceNikki May 2015 #22

Violent white soccer and hockey players are routinely called thugs oberliner May 2015 #23

...but not as a dog-whistle for the n-word. nt cyberswede May 2015 #33

Think "Zionist." Behind the Aegis May 2015 #46

That's what happens with language. Words acquire connotations through their usage. DanTex May 2015 #28

Grow up. johnp3907 May 2015 #35

Well that really added to the conversation. NaturalHigh May 2015 #41

So the only TRUE people you can call "Thug" lapfog_1 May 2015 #36

So, "Jack Booted Thugs" (JBT's), is still okay? VScott May 2015 #37

If they're white, you can call them thugs B2G May 2015 #39

Unless you're black EL34x4 May 2015 #44

Well duh. lol. B2G May 2015 #45

I don't think so if I'm reading the wordphobia police correctly. Vinca May 2015 #48

Context matters. It's clear that there are people who use the word as a dog whistle, petronius May 2015 #38