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In reply to the discussion: NY case puts N-word use among blacks on trial [View all]spooky3
(34,444 posts)7. I disagree that using it as he describes would reduce the power, because we didn't give the words
power in the first place. The culture did and does. The harm done by trying to change the meaning of hate words on an individual basis is enormous to those people targeted by the words who will understand the culturally shared meaning they have and it is not clear to me that there are many benefits.
Refraining from using these words - and better yet, changing the motivations to spew hate speech - offers more potential for good.
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You can use it. I don't care and I'm a woman. I think giving these words ALL THIS POWER
valerief
Sep 2013
#4
I disagree that using it as he describes would reduce the power, because we didn't give the words
spooky3
Sep 2013
#7
"no white person has ever used that word in a complimentary fashion, and never will"
bunnies
Sep 2013
#16
I'm not talking about this incident. I'm talking about the right wing tactic of
valerief
Sep 2013
#30
It surely does. To pretend otherwise is absurd, and obnoxious. Probably deeply ignorant, as well.
Judi Lynn
Sep 2013
#21
I tried in vain to curtail the use of that word when I was teaching middle school
marshall
Sep 2013
#35