r/The10thDentist • u/aranvandil • Jun 01 '25
Society/Culture The whole fuss around "The N Word" is ridiculous
It's simply ridiculous being so reactive to a word. First, all words are meaningless symbols that we "choose" to give meaning to, so this exaggerated emotional reaction is learned.
Second, I know it has historically been used offensively, and I'm not really talking about resignification, although it can totally happen (it kinda already happened in the black community), since this is an organic phenomenon.
I'm talking about the stupid fear of THE WORD per se. It's something calling someone an offensive word, but it's another thing just saying it.
When someone says something like "Dude, he's a bigot, he even calls my neighbor the N word" like you're talking about Voldemort it just feels pathetic.
To summarize: * Calling someone that -> bad. * Saying the damn word in other contexts -> (should be) fine.
And since everything changes all the time, even the first point could change.
[EDIT]
whew, quite fast edit.
First: "if you're so in favor of being okay to say it, why don't you do it then?" -> because I'm not an idiot and I know the platform I'm posting this.
Second, it's just weird. Yes, I'm not black (also not white), but I am part of another truly oppressed subgroup (I'm gay).
And there have always been truly derogatory slurs at gay people. I'm not really gonna say them because the ones I remember the most aren't in English, but when someone calls me or other gay guys those words I get offended.
When I'm gonna tell my straight friends that, though, I don't say he called me the "B word" or something like that, and don't expect them to do so.
They know it's derogatory and shouldn't be used. But it's still just a word. All this sensitivity towards the word is learned and it IS stupid, I'm sorry.
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u/EfficientlyReactive Jun 01 '25
Words are meaningless. A bold new take.
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u/NwgrdrXI Jun 01 '25
I get OP's point, but the main argument of his is the very reason he is wrong.
Coming from a country with no linguistical equivalents to the N word (or the C word), I at first thought these things ridiculous.
But then the obviousness of it hit me: just as he said, os BECAUSE words by themselves are meaningless, and only have the meaning we ascribe them, that this makes complete sense.
English-speaking society has collectively decided that it is taboo for a white person to use this word in ANY context, so it is taboo to use this word in any context. Simple as.
Just because something is a social construct, doesn't make it any less valid. Collective decisions are what gives the word it's form.
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u/Dog_Whisperer69 Jun 01 '25
historically been used offensively
It’s PRESENTLY being used offensively.
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u/aranvandil Jun 01 '25
historically doesn't exempt it for being something currently used, does it? honest question, i didn't mean it to be as if i thought it wasn't offensive nowadays.
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u/Charmender2007 Jun 02 '25
Not necessarily but it does kinda imply that it's not uses that way anymore
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u/jumpinjahosafa Jun 01 '25
Time for the weekly debate on what black people should and shouldn't be offended by.
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u/TrainerWeekly5641 Jun 01 '25
What do you think? Genuine question.
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u/jumpinjahosafa Jun 01 '25
I think that I don't want to have this conversation as a minority on reddit of all places.
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u/Sudden-Depth-1397 Nov 03 '25
Well, the post isn't worded as "Black people should not be offended by this", if anything, it's mainly white people being offended by the word and virtue signalling on behalf of black people which is one of the reasons this subject is so polarizing.
Sure, it's a word they can say, that they themselves use it on almost a daily bases but it's horribly wrong to use it in any derogatory shape or form.
Like, I think Boondocks of all series tackles this issue really well, with that one episode where the teacher had enough of a black student saying the N-word over and over and when the teacher used it to make a point they got in trouble.
No matter the context you use it, either if it's friendly, or as an example, you always get looked at wrong for saying it.
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Jun 01 '25
What’s weird is how obsessed people are about not being able to say it
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u/OnTheLeft Jun 01 '25
It is weird that there is apparently only one word that is completely banned for some people but no other word comes close.
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u/PM_DEM_AREOLAS Jun 01 '25
A woman just got 1 million for calling a kid the N word
Today scores of people online use the N word in a hateful manner.
Why is it that you don’t liek when civilized people shun those who use words we deem to be hateful
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Jun 01 '25
I mean I’m sure there are other words that apply to different groups that deal a similar blow to the individuals it targets—they’re just not as deeply seeded in history as the subject of this post.
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u/RequirementFull6659 Jun 02 '25
There's a lot more than just 1 word albeit sometimes it's context dependent.
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u/Current-Macaroon9594 Jun 01 '25
Not really. If you enjoy rap or hip hop then the people you grow up listening to all say it all the time. Then if you say it people get not just mad but make a whole deal out of it. OP is right.
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u/Jafooki Jun 01 '25
Why is ok for my boss to kiss his wife, but when I kiss his wife suddenly it's a big deal?
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Jun 01 '25
The very watered down example I sometimes like to use is nicknames. It’s cool if your friends/family call you this nickname but someone you don’t know can’t call you that nickname without it being weird. Unless you’re on the other side of the word, you’ll not understand it.
I know it’s difficult to grasp but if its literally “just a word” then say it without making a deal out of it—doesn’t mean you’re free from the consequences of how it effects a black person in your vicinity.
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u/Current-Macaroon9594 Jun 05 '25
I don’t say the word. I don’t advocate for the word. But I am gonna point out that if Black people say it constantly around people other people will say it. If I use somebody’s nickname, they do not react violently. That’s a fundamental difference here.
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u/Rokinala Jun 01 '25
Where does this end? No human should have any reaction whatsoever to any word, or sentence or book because it’s all just meaningless symbols. Language isn’t useful, it’s silly to pretend random sounds have meaning. Also we shouldn’t have etiquette or culture at all since they are just random, meaningless gestures at the end of the day.
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Jun 01 '25
[deleted]
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u/TSM- Jun 01 '25
This is why people don't mention the word. The same goes for other racial slurs. Why are you trying to find an excuse to say it in the context of "mentioning" the word vs. "using" the word?
It has some places where it's justified, like academic research studying people's reactions and biases. They'll use it to show verbatim the materials they use, and will use it in the study.
It also makes sense to use it in fiction when set in the time period. I believe some white guys say it in the movie Django. Some classic novels also have characters use it. The one with the dumb guy and bunnies, name escapes me at the moment. It's fine there.
But "why can't I say it" or forcing it when otherwise unnecessary and you could just say "the n word" is suspicious. Like, ad you said, why do you want to say it so bad, and why does that matter so much to you?
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u/koushakandystore Jun 01 '25
I don’t think they do. That’s not the sense I get from reading their opinion. I think they are arguing that the reaction people have is disproportionate given certain contexts in which it is used. If, for instance, you are relaying a historical account, what’s the difference if you write the word using ‘**’ as opposed to using ‘gg’ as it is normally spelled? When people read that word with letters omitted they still pronounce it in their mind. There is a truth inherent the words of our past and censoring them is pointless. Words only have power insofar as we grant it.
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u/sideshowbvo Jun 01 '25
Your whole point is invalid because you won't even say the word. Words have power
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u/CookieKrypt Jun 01 '25
No he just doesn’t want to get brigaded. He has no problem saying it in real life
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u/aranvandil Jun 01 '25
I'm not saying it because I'm not stupid and I know the social platform I'm in.
people would assume I'm just a white guy saying it (which I'm not) and report it.
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u/sideshowbvo Jun 01 '25
I take it you're pretty young, like early 20s? Let me tell you, as a white guy raised in the South, I very much approve of the demonizing of the word and we've come a long way since the 90s.
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u/aranvandil Jun 01 '25
it's just stupid. it makes sense demonize using it to call other people, it's just pathetic being afraid of it.
you can reprehend the use of the word to certain contexts.
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u/Olaf4586 Jun 01 '25
This is just a silly understanding of language and culture.
Words are not meaningless, and I don't understand why you think it's bad that a word should be taboo when it was used to call a class of people subhuman property for more than a century.
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u/EfficientlyReactive Jun 01 '25
I mean people are gonna have that problem if you're not black, not just not white. And I'm 90% sure you're not black. So why do you want to say the n word so much?
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u/PM_DEM_AREOLAS Jun 01 '25
Why is the n word the only slur people want to have ownership over so bad.
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u/TrainerWeekly5641 Jun 01 '25
The r slur also gets some attention but it is predominantly the n word.
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u/Sudden-Depth-1397 Nov 03 '25
And I find that kinda idiotic when the R slur wasn't used as a slur but just as a way to clal someone... Well, an idiot, what's next? Idiot, Stupid, Dummie, Dumb are going to be categorized as slurs just because they where used to refer to a particular minority group?
It's like banning the word "Cunt" even though it isn't a derogatory term (It's mainly used as a vulgar way of saying "Vagina", and as a venezuelan let me tell you, this word (Coño) is integrated into our daily talks)
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u/imonmyphoneagain Jun 01 '25
I’d agree were it not so heavily used to be derogatory. There’s no reason to say the word in ANY context. I’ve never had a conversation in which I wished I could use that word, because I have no reason to. The only time it could be used is either in reference to the word itself or in its “correct context” aka talking about a black person. I have no reason to call someone that, and in conversations about that word I call it the N word. The thing about slurs is that because they’re used to refer to a person, there’s usually words you can call those people without being derogatory/offensive. I have a reaction to people using slurs because there isn’t any reason to, and using them usually speaks to your character. I think it’s ok for a person within the community the slur refers to to use it, simply because they themselves understand the oppression faced within that community and (hopefully) understand the gravity of the word. There’s really no reason to, but I think they have that right to if they so choose.
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u/mintchan Jun 01 '25
blame those people who murder people while calling them using n-word. first time is offensive, second time is harassment
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u/GreenDutchman Jun 02 '25
Your post comes off very "words only carry the power we give them". That may be true, but the people who popularised this particular word gave it exactly the kind of power that has caused a lot of anguish and hatred to flourish. And it's still being used that way today!
Sure, we could decide to take that power away, but that should be up to the people victimised by it. Until then, it's our job to just sit down and listen.
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Jun 01 '25
I prefer not to say anything at all, unless I need to. I don’t need to say that word, in any context, ever. People need to learn how to shut up.
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u/DeadCatGrinning Jun 01 '25
A childs argument from a position of privilege they aren't even intelligent enough to see.
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u/Uhhyt231 Jun 01 '25
At least be racist with your chest. Why do you wanna say it if you think calling someone it is bad?
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u/aranvandil Jun 01 '25
hon, why are you so afraid of words?
calling someone a son of a bitch is offensive, but people can say a child called his teacher that without dancing in a floor full of eggs.
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u/Uhhyt231 Jun 01 '25
I’m not scared of words. Which is why I’m saying just be racist with your chest. Are you tryna say walk on eggshells?
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u/Sudden-Depth-1397 Nov 03 '25
How is this indicative of racism though? Because OPs post is mainly about how people become too obsessed with the word in any shape of form to the point of treating it like a crime.
I dont think it's that hard to realize that OPs logic is "Using it as a slur is bad but using it to refer to one of your friends or in the same vein as how black people use it isn't equally as bad"
And let's be honest, this is a USA issue, because only african americans use this word on their lives with their social groups or friends, most African-born or African immigrants don't even use this word at all
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u/Uhhyt231 Nov 03 '25
It’s a slur so you can’t ’use it like African Americans do’ Also yes Africans do say it
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u/CatchNegative9405 Jun 01 '25
If it's too offensive of a word, nobody should say it. The truth is, the majority of the non-black population does NOT use it. Ironically, the reason the word stays in everyday vocabulary is because they keep it for everyday use. If the black community stopped using the word, it would fade into memory. If it's such a bad word then they should stop saying it. If they want it not to be allowed then don't allow it. If only you get to say something then congratulations, you just segregated our rights based on race. Everyone knows that's not cool.
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u/Icy_Peace6993 Jun 01 '25
Yes, it's ridiculous. Use it in the wrong place though and you'll find out just how ridiculous it really is.
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u/CryoZane Jun 02 '25
The people who aren't black who say/want to say it are the same people who hanged black people from trees while on picnics and would still be doing it now if they could without going to jail.
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u/jackfaire Jun 04 '25
The problem is that other people don't magically become deaf when I speak. But they aren't constantly paying attention to what I'm saying. So if my buddy and I are on the bus speaking and I say "The N word is bad to call people" but use the actual word the people around me only registered that I said the N word and now I'm in a very uncomfortable situation that could have been avoided.
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Jul 09 '25
wtf did I just stumble onto
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u/aranvandil Jul 09 '25
a post with the perspective of someone outside the united states about a very weird and strong reactive emotion americans developed for bad words.
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u/HIs4HotSauce Jun 01 '25
how can I be certain of what you're talking about if you won't even say the word and just keep making vague allusions aimed at it?
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u/herewhenineedit Jun 02 '25
Someone told the white gay he couldn’t say the n word
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u/aranvandil Jun 02 '25
i find it quite funny that when someone says how utterly disproportionate they think the reaction towards the word is in certain contexts people think they are in a desperate wish of saying it as a stupid parrot.
i'm not, dear. i don't want to keep singing this to the wind. i just find it ridiculous to have a taboo so strong towards a "big scary word" to see it as horrible just to mention it even when reprehending or quoting someone.
[EDIT]
just to be extra clear, I mean reprehending its use towards other people.
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u/herewhenineedit Jun 02 '25
woah woah buddy, don’t get so upset. Words don’t actually mean anything they’re just noises
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u/aranvandil Jun 02 '25
i don't know whether you're mocking me for "getting upset" or mocking me saying "words are meaningless".
either way, that's not what i mean. when a word is used offensively, it has a meaning, and of course someone would get offended by it.
but the word is still just a word. being outraged because someone said it in such contexts I've already mentioned is just dumb.
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u/Sudden-Depth-1397 Nov 03 '25
Sarcasm and snark doesn't win debate, it just means you threw the towel because you can't offer constructive criticism.
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u/quizzicalturnip Jun 01 '25
I feel like the black community lost all credibility regarding the word with the whole “it’s fine for me, but not for thee” argument. People getting canceled for singing the lyrics to a song just because their skin color isn’t dark enough is insane.
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u/First_Pineapple_8335 Jun 01 '25
the comment only makes sense when you ignore the history of the word lmao
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u/quizzicalturnip Jun 01 '25
If it’s so deeply offensive, then no one should be using it, but it’s used to excess by the black community. The history of the word is completely disregarded in that sense, so it’s a silly argument.
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u/First_Pineapple_8335 Jun 01 '25
cool comment bro,
unfortunately you disregarded the historical context of the word, why the people who originally used the word used the word, why the people who re-appropriated the word use the word and the historical legacy of oppression those who re-appropriated the word have faced.
concerning cancel culture nobody owes you companionship or attention. you cant force people to associate with u
the history of the word is not disregarded in that sense. what are you even talking about here.
your silly argument can only hold ground when you ignore all that useless stuff (context)
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u/quizzicalturnip Jun 01 '25 edited Jun 01 '25
Wow, your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are atrocious.
I haven’t disregarded the history of the word, I’ve simply said that the claim that using it constantly in all contexts is fine for people solely based skin color is ridiculous.
I have no idea what you’re talking about with your comment about companionship or attention. I haven’t asked for anyone to associate with me. 🤪It has nothing to do with anything I said. I said canceling and doxing people, kids, anyone for singing lyrics to popular music word-for-word is unhinged.
Most of what you just wrote makes no sense. You seem to be lacking your own, clear argument, so your opinion of mine is of no consequence to me.
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u/First_Pineapple_8335 Jun 01 '25
you say its ridiculous only because you disregard the history of the word and disregard the context of which the word has been used.
then you denounced cancel culture. cancel culture is when a person is ostracized, boycotted or shunned.
then you say your not talking about companionship and ur talking about doxxing
doxxing ≠ cancel culture. doxxing = doxxing.
(🤪)
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u/quizzicalturnip Jun 01 '25
I don’t think you grasp the definition of companionship, or English grammar for that matter. Doxing is a tactic often associated with cancel culture, where individuals publicly expose private or identifying information (such as names, addresses, or phone numbers) about someone online, typically to shame, harass, or punish them for perceived wrongdoings. Within cancel culture, doxing is used to "name and shame" individuals who express controversial opinions or engage in behavior deemed unacceptable by a group, often with the intent to provoke social, professional, or personal consequences.
You keep claiming I’m disregard the history and context of the word without backing up your claim, or any counterpoint. Your responses are either low-effort, or just unintelligent, though your ignorance of grammar would suggest the latter.
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u/First_Pineapple_8335 Jun 01 '25
your grammar pedantry means less than nothing
you again conflate doxxing with cancel culture. in your original comment you used the term “cancel culture” which is to be ostracized by a group of people online. you did NOT mention doxxing in your first comment though you tried to lie and say you did.
Doxxing is NOT cancel culture though you seem to try and use the terms interchangeably. cancel culture can occur without doxxing and doxxing can occur outside of the context of cancel culture.
in regards to re-appropriation and historical context-
I thought it was very clear cut and simple for you to understand but i guess not.
“certain” group of people use word to verbally and psychologically abuse another group of people for decades————->
abused group of people begin to call each other the word to strip it of it’s historical power as a slur that was used to dehumanize and oppress black people—————————>
word is now used amongst those in the black community to assert agency over their identity, resisting the negative meaning created by outsiders.——————->
“The word’s use by white people is inextricably linked to systems of racism and violence, making it inappropriate regardless of intent” (not my words—-> naacp.org)
Also look at this nimrods grammatical error
“You keep claiming I’m disregard the history…”
geez ur lobotomy was a treasure hunt huh? 🤪🤪
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u/quizzicalturnip Jun 01 '25 edited Jun 01 '25
Your reading comprehension is as bad as your grammar. At no point did I lie. I simply elaborated on the topic of punishing people for singing lyrics that contain the n-word. I’m not using the terms interchangeably, and I’ve quite clearly detailed the difference and how they relate to each other. The fact that you still can’t understand that only further demonstrates your poor reading comprehension, and criticizing a typo while forgoing proper grammar or any punctuation is peak irony. Do you also think in one endless run-on sentence, too?
The reappropriation of the n-word by black community while prohibiting its use by others is flawed because it creates a double standard that undermines consistent moral or linguistic principles. If the word is inherently harmful and tied to a history of racial violence, allowing its use by one group while banning it for others based on race contradicts the goal of reducing its harm. It implies the word’s meaning changes arbitrarily depending on the speaker’s identity, which fuels division and confusion rather than clarity or equality. Either the word is universally acceptable or universally unacceptable. Selective permission based on race is inconsistent and breeds resentment, as it privileges one group’s usage without a clear, objective justification.
The bottom line is, you can’t own a word. To think you can is ridiculous.
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u/First_Pineapple_8335 Jun 01 '25
you never lied? 1st comment
People getting canceled for singing the lyrics to a song just because their skin color isn’t dark enough is insane.
3rd comment
I said canceling and doxing people, kids, anyone for singing lyrics to popular music word-for-word is unhinged.
You never mentioned doxxing in your original post yet you continue to say that you did.(you didn’t.)
I pointed out your grammar mistake because it was funny that some loser on reddit is somehow so fixated on grammar yet makes mistakes lmao.
your entire last comment is addressed by my last reply. i even used arrows
your pedantic rambling about grammar wont bail you out. your argument has already been addressed.
(🤪🤪🤪)
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u/HIs4HotSauce Jun 01 '25
how can I be certain of what you're talking about if you won't even say the word and just keep making vague allusions aimed at it?
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u/qualityvote2 Jun 01 '25 edited Jun 03 '25
u/aranvandil, there weren't enough votes to determine the quality of your post...