If you're not black do you say the 'N word'...

[McGruff]

When singing along to songs?

So many mainstream songs have it in now. I don't sing in public or anything but I will sing along with it in the shower, tidying up etc.

But what if its karaoke?

It's not a word I'm comfortable saying in any context out of my own mouth, ever. But when it's part of a song I love and I'm singing along. Should I censor myself?

Oh yeah Gold Digga . I do sing it . It’s part of the song and I’m not offending anyone as it’s not aimed at anyone and I’m alone .

K word???

The K word means unbeliever, but it was used in South Africa to describe a black person in a derogatory way.

I know the K word @CoolCarrie. Very offensive and derogatory.

We read the "Wooden Horse" at high school & teacher read "basted" instead of the swear word - that was hilarious & actually made us think about the word she avoided more

Basted to rhyme with 'wasted'?

Guy Gibson, one of The Dambusters had a black lab which was called the n word, so when the film is on tv I have noticed it’s dubbed to digger, which I think is a good thing, maybe not accurate but not jarring and takes nothing away from that film.

No, I don't and wouldn't.....then again it's not likely to crop up on Radio 2 or 6M, which is mainly what I listen too.

It is not a word I hear or would tend to crop up day to day for me.

I have never even heard of the K-word, and have just had to look it up. I have never said that out loud or come across it before.

Interesting Wnyton Marsalis take on some forms of hip hop/rap:

“I started saying in 1985 I don’t think we should have a music talking about niggas and bitches and hoes. It had no impact. I’ve said it. I’ve repeated it. I still repeat it. To me, that’s more damaging than a statue of Robert E. Lee…"

“I call it 'ghetto minstrelsy'," he says. "Old school minstrels used to say they were 'real darkies from the real plantation'. Hip-hop substitutes the plantation for the streets. Now you have to say that you're from the streets, you shot some brothers, you went to jail. Rappers have to display the correct pathology. Rap has become a safari for people who get their thrills from watching African-American people debase themselves, men dressing in gold, calling themselves stupid names like Ludacris or 50 Cent, spending money on expensive fluff, using language like 'bitch' and 'ho' and 'n*er'."

*Wynton

Wynton Marsalis wouldn't know bebop if it jumped up and bit him on the arse classic, lol.

I don't say it though black DH listens to a lot of music with it so I hear it very often. I find it distressing and I don't even sing it in my head or by myself I wouldn't be able to.

@Drabarni who’s talking about bebop?

Bebop?

But is there any need to use those words? I'm not saying I'm expecting Jay-Z to rap in RP but, you know, why is it 'expected'?

I have my grandmother’s sewing box. It has done very old cotton reels in it. One is labelled n*** brown, not by my DGM but the actual manufacturer’s label. I showed it to my teen DDs and they were horrified, rightly so.

Ha Ha, typo.

Thanks for clarifying @iklboo

There is a discussion to be had about rappers et al using the word but it's not up to me! Using bitch, ho and other derogatory words about women, that's my business. And I wouldn't be impressed about a bunch of men discussing whether it's offensive to women without women being the drivers of the conversation.

No. I'd probably say it if i was an English teacher reading Of Mice and Men aloud. But that's not likely to ever happen. Plus i don't really listen to that kind of music very often.

Not a term I'd use but I also take the view if a word is considered too offensive for me to use it should also be offensive for others to use.

I don't listen to music with the N word. However I don't think art should be censored. Once an artist or writer releases a piece of work it's up to the audience to interpret and use it however they feel is appropiate.

Of course I do, it's in the lyrics of The Sun Has Got His Hat On (I love that song) But I loathe rap music so wouldn't be singing along to that.

Yes I say it when singing along on the occasion I listen to rap- it's the lyrics and I don't find it an offensive word when used in rap songs or movies for example.

Movies and rap songs are not real life. If I heard it being used down the pub or in real life I'd hit the roof, obviously.

I was going to say 'good God, no!' but realise that I do, when burbling along to Oliver's Army. The only person I am likely to shock would generally be the cat, though. But I would think twice about reading The N*er of the 'Narcissus' on the bus; which is not logical at all.

Yes if I’m singing along to a song.

no, but I also wouldn't listen to music with the word in. I didn't realise just how offensive it is (I mean I'd never say it or call anyone it but still...) but my dd has many black friends and feels so strongly about this and she's educated us all. I feel really uncomfortable even hearing the word.