Is 'the N word' offensive or just acceptable everyday slang?

[sp1814]

I would appear to be the latter in Australia:

http://www.dailymail....N-word-offensive.html

Would any Ab'er use the phrase in front of a black person they didn't know, and if so, in what context?

[andy-hughes]

A number of black people have 'taken back' this nasty epithet and totally removed its offence by using it as a term of affection among themsevles.

I believe, the cultural norm is - it's perfectly acceptable for one black person to use the expression to, or about another black person, but it would be highly unwise for a white person to use it, even to a black person they know well.

In order to avoid anything from abuse to a fight, if you are white, simply delete the word from your vocabulary.

[woofgang]

I gather its the same with spazz or spastic.

[sp1814]

EDDIE51

Errr...where on earth did you hear that???

Perhaps Jay-Z may refer to Snoop like that, but it's certainly NOT acceptable amongs the vast majority of Afro Caribbeans!!!

[naomi24]

It has truly horrible connotations and unless I were writing something about the days of slavery in the deep south, or the KKK, I can't think of an instance where I'd use the word.

//A number of black people have 'taken back' this nasty epithet and totally removed its offence by using it as a term of affection among themsevles. //

That's what happens isn't it. I remember when it was considered offensive to say black people were black. We were expected to describe them as 'coloured'. Now I believe 'coloured' is deemed offensive. God, with all this offence being taken in practically every culture and in practically every walk of life, very soon we'll be frightened to open our mouths because won't know whether we're coming or going!

[naomi24]

sp, I agree with Eddie. I've heard that several times over the past year or so.

[carrust]

I thought i was being polite when I called a black youth worker coloured. She turned on me & said..." I am not blue, pink or red, I'm ' effing black!!!" She apologised later, saying she shouldn't have been offensive....but she was right to say what she did.

[McMouse]

The entire world is mad. In that great film The Dambusters, Guy Gibson had a black labrador called n1gger. The name has now been censored out of the sound track. Utter grollocks.

[sp1814]

carrust

Ironically, from what you write, you were using the best word that you were brought up with. In the 70s 'coloured' was the most polite word...!

vibrasphere - you must have a very unique set of mates.

[naomi24]

I remember my first day at a new job, the guy sitting opposite me was on the phone to a friend. He told him I'd just started there, and the friend obviously asked if I was 'coloured', because the guy looked straight at me and said "Yea, she's kinda pink". :o)

[sp1814]

EDDIE51

Do you think that people don't use the N word because of polical correctness, or because they acknowledge it's actually offensive...like referring to women as the 'c' word?

[snags]

'' the friend obviously asked if I was 'coloured' ''

How odd.