Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To think the n word needs to be completely banned

376 replies

LardLizard · 25/08/2018 23:21

Rodrigo removed from the B.B. house

I think the meaning of the word has a different meaning in these current times

I personally hate the term and thinknit should be totally banned

But can see why it’s confussing for younger people with it in so many pop songs

OP posts:
pinkgirl1234 · 26/08/2018 00:53

It's a vile word and, as a white woman, it would never occur to me to use it.

pinkgirl1234 · 26/08/2018 00:56

I swear - too fucking much. I don't like swearing and I'm trying to cut down but life can be such a cunt at times, I'm finding it difficult. Grin

Not to mention my fucking cats! Grin

WoWsers16 · 26/08/2018 00:57

lol pinkgirl1234
I find it hard to even write swear words! lol

Smellbellina · 26/08/2018 00:57

Bing and Wow, if you thought about it s little bit more it would make sense to you. Black people and white people have very different recent histories in our society.

esk1mo · 26/08/2018 00:58

you are entitled to an opinion obviously, but that doesn’t mean your opinion is acceptable if it comes across as racist.

maybe do some research on the topic, and you might understand why. you’re comparing the use of colloquial language between members of the same race, against someone of the opposite race using that word. they aren’t the same race, its never going to be colloquial, it will be insulting.

pinkgirl1234 · 26/08/2018 00:58

You see I don't like when rappers use 'ho' and 'bitch'. Fuck that noise.

I agree, MrsTP. Although I don't listen to rap music so am spared that.

SemperIdem · 26/08/2018 00:59

This book is a true eye opening read and in its entirety explains really well why black people can use the word and white people cannot.

To think the n word needs to be completely banned
esk1mo · 26/08/2018 01:01

its almost like when a woman is on her period, and she thinks to herself “jeez im really moody, must be pms”

compared to a man saying to a woman “why are you so angry, are you on your period?!”

your argument is that if a woman can say that to herself, or her female friend then men should be able to say that to women aswell.

aperolspritzplease · 26/08/2018 01:02

If you can culturally appropriate you need to stand by the use of language. You can't have it both ways ways.

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/08/2018 01:02

You're missing out pink

SemperIdem · 26/08/2018 01:02

bing

Racist and prejudiced aren’t the same thing. HTH

TeaForTiger · 26/08/2018 01:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BananaToffo · 26/08/2018 01:05

Why is anyone struggling with this?

The N word has one meaning when coming out of a white person's mouth - one. It's never had an alternative meaning & has always, in every circumstance, been used to dismiss, demean, insult and attempt to diminish black people.

So basic manners, if nothing else, ought to be enough for all of those who give a shit about such things to simply not say the word. It's not a hardship...no one NEEDS to say it, so just don't.

So, why can black people say it? Because they are saying it to each other, and they don't have a history of using the word in the same vicious way, with all the associated civil rights abuses, that white people do.

Context matters...and if you can't see that the context of a white person saying it & a black person saying it are very, very different, then there's something the matter with you.

And, in many circumstances, the word is already banned...depending on context, of course. Try using it to refer to a black person at work or in public and you'll see just how banned it is when you're arrested &/or sacked.

pinkgirl1234 · 26/08/2018 01:10

Very catchy video, MrsTP! I didn't mind that at all lol.

Some confronting images in it too.

pinkgirl1234 · 26/08/2018 01:12

Why is anyone struggling with this?

Hard to believe really.

sayinggoodbye · 26/08/2018 01:19

Words should never be banned. The n word is for the most part horrifically offensive when said by White people. HOWEVER I disagree that this is always the case- a boy in dds year got suspended for singing the word - he sang with his two best friends, who are black- he was deemed offensive because a teacher logged a complaint HmmShock. His friends were not punished in any way . He has a school record of hate speech. Of racism! . He sang an -offensive to women , black and white popular song with his friends ffs!! It wasn't hate speech. Young people are often genuinely "colour blind" and to race as well as many other things, youths are often ignorant. Not malicious, just young. Education is the answer of course. But try telling young people that.

MichonnesBBF · 26/08/2018 01:19

@BananaToffo

Couldn't agree with you more, I am actually dumbfounded at the complete lack of intelligent comments ,such obvious racism and incredible ignorance on this this thread.

You explained very well.

Oswin · 26/08/2018 01:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/08/2018 01:26

Yay @pinkgirl1234 they are very talented.

sayinggoodbye · 26/08/2018 01:29

An example of youth not knowing that the words their idols use are not for them www.google.com/amp/s/thegrapevine.theroot.com/becky-got-kendrick-lamar-m-a-a-d-rapper-shuts-down-whi-1826200198/amp

Should this girl have "bleeped" the words the rapper who invited her on stage to sing , sang? She should have known that despite idolising and being part of the concert , those words weren't for her to sing?! When she was invited up to star to rap she was supposed to censor herself ffs!!!She was offensive! And racist!

It was she just ignorant and after all, innocent? just a foolish girl and a fan of the music?

Thesearepearls · 26/08/2018 01:30

I think a lot of black people consider it to be reclaiming the word ironically

one of my best mates is jewish. Only he gets to tell jewish jokes - and he has a fund of them - you start out feeling uncomfortable with the first and then you end up giggling

There are certain terms which only certain racial groups get to use. And you can't ban black people from using the n word, can you?

I am mixed race and I tend to identify myself as black, Stated to give context to my comments above.

pieceofpurplesky · 26/08/2018 01:31

I can't believe that in 2018 people are arguing about the use of a word that has been historically incredibly offensive and think it's unfair that they can't use it today. Crazy.

araiwa · 26/08/2018 03:17

I use the term as often as i like

Which is never

But talk of banning words os nonsense

MagentaRocks · 26/08/2018 05:05

You can't 'ban' a word. And even if you could I don't think it would necessarily be a good thing.

Years ago when single there was a guy I liked that I knew through friends. He seemed lovely. There was a bit of flirting etc. I thought we would possibly go out in a date. He then used the N word in conversation in a way that showed who he really was. He didn't seem so nice after that and the flirting stopped on my part. He wasn't someone I wanted as a friend let alone anything more.

Dottierichardson · 26/08/2018 05:13

Fucking hell. How long has Mn been infested with racist thick fuckers?

You get a smattering of the 'polite' ones - the 'I'm not racist but...' during the day, but then the more blatant ones emerge at night, especially at weekends. They are aware that moderation is lax at these times, they keep company with the knicker fetishists and other dubious groups.