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lapfog_1

(31,959 posts)

36. So the only TRUE people you can call "Thug"

Fri May 1, 2015, 11:33 AM

May 2015

are people that look like this...

Because they all belonged to the Thuggee cult in India.

That's where we got the term "Thug". And we have perverted it over time to refer to non-white collar criminals. Dropping the "collar" from the "common definition" and you end up where we are today.

So... the definition of the word (as understood by most people using it) has changed dramatically over time... and continues to change to the current (now argued) definition.

I would prefer only calling the members of the Thuggee cult "thugs" ( or even better, dropping Thug and call them Thuggees ). However, my old college linguistics professor constantly reminded me that "language is what the majority of people speaking the language define it to be".

Edit to fix a misspelling.

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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