Oh dear. Oh my god. I'm not even replying to some one who makes so many contentious statements then runs from the forum. Come back if you want an answer and I will answer every single point you've raised here. Seriously, I have an answer for every single last point you've raised here. But will you listen?

This argument over a word or words just shows how ridiculous and counter productive censorship is.

Point one. Banning the use of a word does not stop the user of the word thinking the way they do.....

Point two. A word can offend. Yes but only if you let it That is the choice of the listener.

This country has gone crazy.......People need to toughen up a bit and not rely on nanny state to protect them from mere words that any mature person would take on the chin and stop behaving like a bunch of crying babies because they heard something they don't like....

Censporship is one of the biggest offending actions that can be inflicted. Adults should be grown up enouhg to face adult situtaions.

Racism exists thats a fact of life like it or not. Banning the use of words won't get rid of racism it will only solidify people on one side of the fence or the other.


If words are allowed to be used freely then the meaning of words can be debted freely as things are debates are difficult because they are more likely to breaks down into arguments and insults.

GiRTh, I have not left the forum and done a run for it. Why would I? I came on here a few days ago and noticed my last 3 long posts (which you obviously didn't see) have been deleted, along with everyone elses and the thread was locked so yeah I left. I checked today and it's been reopen but my posts have not returned. I can't be bothered to retype what I said.

To the user who said calling someone stupid and calling them a ****** are very different .... my stupid example was for children. Children call each other stupid on the playground. This is the same concept to adults, just a different word used. So people are acting no different from children in this matter.

I appreciate that when a black people hear the word they feel more emotion than white people but where were you all when the word was first used? Those people many years ago who were slaves have a right to be offended but most of you here are new age people, the word shouldn't mean the same, the emotion shouldn't be as strong.

I agree with bananarama completely. We are adults, we should set an example to children around us, not cry when a word is used, whether its ******, or another word. If someone thinks something about you there is nothing you can do about it, banning a word won't change their mind. When someone calls you a name, whatever name that would be, you have two choices, you can either flip and show you have taken offense, of you can ignore that person. I prefer the latter because I know better, because I am a stronger than the person who said an offensive word.

Must I stress again the phrase many children are taught... "sticks and stones may brake my bones but words can't hurt me". I am not a completely white person, I am more black than white and my dad is full black.

I would like to ask all black people here, what the N word means to you personally. Note, I am not asking what it means to the black community, I am asking for your own personal thoughts.

Yes that was me. Ok, as an adult I understand where your coming from if the word was ****/wanker/prick... something along those lines. But the word ****** is in direct reference to your skin colour, picking you out because of the colour of your skin and trait you cannot change.

Just because there is no slavery now, does not mean the word does not get used for the same effect it was before. Just because this is the year 2007 does not mean racists don't exist, does not mean that black people do not come across barriers and situations in which they are still not accepted because of the colour of their skin.

We shouldn't have to just sit back and accept it.

I would like to ask you something. If the word ****** was used throughout the world like it is now but black people stood up and didn't react the way they do, how long would it take before the word ****** died out? People say things to one another for affect, to see how they react, people who are racist say the N word because they may get a buzz out of the recipients reaction. This is true, whatever the word being used is, whether its racist or not, its down to the recipients reaction. The recipient alone can stop a word being used in its tracks... just like that. It is immature of us to take offense over a single word. It happens in racisism, in bullying, in sexist, it happens everywhere.

Yes the word can be referred to as slavery, but come on people that doesn't happen now does it? and it hasn't happened for so long. No one here has been a victim of black slavery because none of you were born, why take offense now? Black and white are equal in every single way, accept that people. I appears I am stronger than most of you here, when a word is thrown at me, I ignore it, leaving the offender feeling like an idiot.

I would like to say support your logic a balanced and calm outlook...If only peolple would believe more in the sticks and stones saying we could all be a happier and uncensored nation together. As things are serious conflict of cultures and races is I think inevitable.... Sweeping what is unpleasant under the carpet does not get rid of the dirt it only creates more dirt.....

Banning words is exactly the same as hiding dirt...Expose it and eventually it blows away and diminshes to nothing worth while.


Those that complain about offensive words actually give those words more intensity and the chance to hurt.....It's like giving a film an X rating it will give it more intensity of interest.


Bad swear words used to saved for insulting someone now they are used in general conversation rightly or wrongly. They have lost their original intensity of meaning.

The attempt by the music world to neutralise the N word I think is a brave attempt to destroy the upset the word can cause.......Unfortunately those in a time warp of the past won't allow it to be put to bed.........

On another topic it says that Charley called Emily "Chalky" and called Chanelle "white trash" so is this really ok? See racism works both ways!! and if this is true then Charley should be removed as well and if she doesn't I will go f*@king crazy!!! :mad::mad::mad:
Write you views and comments here!

Good Post.:thumbs:

You appreciate that the word has a history but in your original post you claimed that it was silly to be offended by a word. I beg to differ. This word is different. The original meaning is still highly offensive and when spoken to a black person by a white person it stirs up many years of resentment. It's not about sticks and stones it's about history. Many black people, myself included, are told of the struggles of our fathers. We're not allowed to forget what our ancestors went through so that we can have the opportunities we now have. That is why this words is still so offensive and that is why this discussion will still be going on in fifty years time.

Edit: I'll answer you last point in another post.

Unless we get confirmation and are actually shown the incidents then there is no point speculating about if or not she should go..........

This is like asking jews to get over the holocaust. It's about history and not about individual words.

Yeah but c'mon I understand what he means... it happened in the past and it won't happen again so get over it!... :bored:

The N word is an incredibly sensitive subject. I grew up in a house where the word was used virtually everyday by my mother. She would use the word usually when she was annoyed with me or I had done something stupid. She'd say thing's like 'Open the door, ******'. That is how my mother speaks. . My father, on the other hand, never used the word. So, even within the black community there are people who simply do not use the words because they are offended by its use even in a playful way.

My closest friend, who is white and I’ve know since we were five, has used the word in my company. He has even called me this word in a playful way. I have no problem with this. We grew up together. I asked him last night if he’d ever use the word in front of my parents and he replied that he wouldn’t. I pushed it and he replied that he would never use the word in front of a black person who he did not know very well. He understands the word. He understands that it has several meanings and he would rather not put him self in an awkward position than claim his right to use the word.

This word is more than a name calling device. This word has a tremendous amount of history to it and I’d advise white people to be careful with their use if it

I wish I knew a lot about history but I don't so I can't give examples but I do know that black slavery etc isn't the only history the world has seen. I am sure there have been bad history in the past among people that has now died out, that is no longer present today because people have gotten over it and forgiven each other. Why can't this be the same in this situation? I urge someone who know history well to give me an example of that. I fail to believe every single conflict in the past hasn't been resolved completely today.

I don't believe these problems will last forever, I think in 50 or so years, this would have died out or at the very least, people aren't so sensitive about it. Just look at the last 20 years and today.... it's far less sensitive now than it was then, which shows as time goes on, this should die out.

Ok well the main point I am trying to make is be strong and don't act on the anger inside of you if someone calls you a name, whatever name that is, whether it has history or not. If people acted less on names and ignored it more, this wouldn't of happened. I feel really sorry for Emily, a word she uses jokingly with her friends has caused her to be booted from the house.

We all know though that racism is a 2 way thing but being only offensive towards the black community (history or not) is not fair.

The Jews have still not got over the holocaust.

Edit: Racism still exists in parts of the USA and this word is still used in it's original context. This issue will not go away until racism goes away.

Final point.

I don't know if you're aware of the 'Kramer incident'. Here's a link to Michael Richards Wiki page. Navigate down to the Laugh factory incident.

MIchael Richards (A.K.A. Kramer) WIKI page

Here's the incident from You tube.

Kramer Meltdown

He is using the word in its original context. As long as people are still doing this, this discussion will continue. I

bump

My final point...

If the word causes offense then it shouldn't be spoken by anyone. Black people say it to black people and white people, white people say it to black and white people when its casual talk amongst friend. The word is moving away from meaning slavery and is becoming more casual amongst people. The definition is changing but I understand the history and I personally never use the word.

I can see over the history and accept it as just a word. Yes there are some people who use the word in it's original terms and I hate people who do that but Michael Richards isn't the majority of people. Emily was wrong to use the word but it's very clear to me she didn't mean to. What happened to housemate emily wouldn't of happened if it wasn't for celebrity big brother. Big Brother didn't have to show the footage of Emily saying the word, but Big Brother decided to which has made the situation worse than it really is.

When people say "only black people can use the term", I consider that sentance racist. With this attitude, racisism will never go away.

Good post.:thumbs:
I agree with just about everything you say. I dont agree with the 'only black people can use the word' argument either. But, as I've posted on aother thread, white people should be very careful in using it.

I understand what you say when you say be strong etc.
And yes slavery was a long time ago, but to simply say to get over it, is I'm afraid not that simple.

Many issues within the black community are there because of the effects of slavery. Maybe you should do some reading to help you understand better, there are some good books out there.

The fact that my father, uncles & aunties, grandparents and great grandparents, who are all still alive, have experienced racism in a way even I couldn't understand, who have been called ******* by white people, is what makes me stand up and say something about it and not accept it even if it was not meant in a malicious way, whether black people use it themselves or not, I am not going to take this as an excuse or justification.

Great post:thumbs:

More karma for ttw.

Fortunately I grew up knowing that this word is wrong, knowing its origin and its connotations to some cultures. However, as society and the education system backs down from things that may cause offence; how can we guarantee that our children are made aware of the meaning behind these words - because god knows, they don't listen to their parents!! We're not cool, so how can we tell them that the word their favourite rap stars use as friendship to their "homies" is actually a word that they would be ridiculed and punished for using?? It's wrong, children, whether 8 months or 8, learn by example and making a word acceptable for one group of people and not another should not be allowed not by anyone, no matter who they are. It is unfair.

I think that BB was right to show the incident if only to show us how it was said and context in which she used it; remember that this 19 year old girl is going to remember this incident for the rest of her life - I doubt Charley or anyone else will. Which leads me on to my next point...

This word is terrible and if it warrants the eviction of Emily than Charley should not be allowed to use it to lever the situation. Later that day she led Shabnam to believe that Emily said it maliciously, then followed them into the garden to make sure that they didn't work out that she had twisted the truth slightly. Charley should have been punished for doing this as it undermines BB's decision and her integrity.

is p*** just a word too. i ask that because as a black/asian women i've noticed with some white people they find racist words against asians worst than when it against blacks why?
i've said it before and i'll say it again if shilpa had been black noone would have cared.

I am sorry, what does the p word you used say?

Pretty sure she means p*ki...