Anonymous wrote:"Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them."

Linguistics and cultural reappropriation would disagree. I would say read up on it, but it is just easier to be simple minded and black and white, I guess.

Oh, and as for the straw man of hearing a student say one of these words... well, duh. Context matters, venue matters.

You're trying too hard to justify use of the "N" word; however, if you don't have a problem using it, that's your choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.

+1

This is the USA. No words are illegal. This is insanity and if I were Paula Deen I'd be suing the hell out of the plaintiff and Food Network.

How dumb is that?
Let her sue the person who is suing her because during the course of the lawsuit she admitted to a pattern of behavior that her employer found harmful to their business and they let her go.
Let Paula fire her DAMN SELF.
It is really sad that thread is revealing a whole contingent of white folk who are just mad cause they want to be able to do and say whatever they want with no consequences.
White Privilege run amok!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.

+1

This is the USA. No words are illegal. This is insanity and if I were Paula Deen I'd be suing the hell out of the plaintiff and Food Network.

Paula Deen wasn't in her own home when she used hate speech. She was in a professional environment. Believe it or not, there is a vast difference, and conduct in professional settings matter.

Again, they aren't "illegal words" because we aren't Nazi Germany nor Communist China.
"Hate speech" is a new category of words thought up by the PC police. And if it's "hate speech," it is so whomever uses it. No exceptions. BUT...that brings us back to the Nazis and the Communists.

Orwell, here we come. Thoughtcrime is next. Pathetic.

Sweetie, you might want to cover up and be a little more modesty - your naked privilege is showing.

DAYUMMMM
so well said

"Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them."

Linguistics and cultural reappropriation would disagree. I would say read up on it, but it is just easier to be simple minded and black and white, I guess.

Oh, and as for the straw man of hearing a student say one of these words... well, duh. Context matters, venue matters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

Then let's see BET, music companies, etc make the same decision for black rappers, comics, etc who freely use the word.

Are you being willfully ignorant? Why do you care so much about what black people call each other? Do you care equally that gay people use fag in the same way/context?

Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them.

I think the difference is that for example if I say "Oh my arms are so flabby!" and you respond with "yes, they sure are! they look like bags of mice!" I can "insult" myself, but when you do it, it is offensive. Same with what group can use certain words. Is it illogical? Yes. Is it dumb? maybe. But that's just the game we play.

I appreciate your trying, but you haven't convinced me. These singers aren't always referring to themselves. They use denigrating words towards women. As I said earlier, if a student (of any race, age, gender, religion, etc) in the schools where I've worked calls another student a "nappy-headed N," consequences are given. It's not allowed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

Then let's see BET, music companies, etc make the same decision for black rappers, comics, etc who freely use the word.

Are you being willfully ignorant? Why do you care so much about what black people call each other? Do you care equally that gay people use fag in the same way/context?

Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them.

I think the difference is that for example if I say "Oh my arms are so flabby!" and you respond with "yes, they sure are! they look like bags of mice!" I can "insult" myself, but when you do it, it is offensive. Same with what group can use certain words. Is it illogical? Yes. Is it dumb? maybe. But that's just the game we play.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.

+1

This is the USA. No words are illegal. This is insanity and if I were Paula Deen I'd be suing the hell out of the plaintiff and Food Network.

Paula Deen wasn't in her own home when she used hate speech. She was in a professional environment. Believe it or not, there is a vast difference, and conduct in professional settings matter.

Again, they aren't "illegal words" because we aren't Nazi Germany nor Communist China.
"Hate speech" is a new category of words thought up by the PC police. And if it's "hate speech," it is so whomever uses it. No exceptions. BUT...that brings us back to the Nazis and the Communists.

Orwell, here we come. Thoughtcrime is next. Pathetic.

Sweetie, you might want to cover up and be a little more modesty - your naked privilege is showing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

Then let's see BET, music companies, etc make the same decision for black rappers, comics, etc who freely use the word.

Are you being willfully ignorant? Why do you care so much about what black people call each other? Do you care equally that gay people use fag in the same way/context?

Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them.

Nothing is as simple as your clumsy assertion. But let's go with it's not offensive (in your over-simplified world). And the next time you hear the word said, join in with the conversation using the word. Good luck!

It's not a clumsy assertion at all. If I hear an African-American student call another student a "nappy headed N," I don't give him a pass. Same for anyone else who uses that kind of term.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.

+1

This is the USA. No words are illegal. This is insanity and if I were Paula Deen I'd be suing the hell out of the plaintiff and Food Network.

Paula Deen wasn't in her own home when she used hate speech. She was in a professional environment. Believe it or not, there is a vast difference, and conduct in professional settings matter.

Again, they aren't "illegal words" because we aren't Nazi Germany nor Communist China.
"Hate speech" is a new category of words thought up by the PC police. And if it's "hate speech," it is so whomever uses it. No exceptions. BUT...that brings us back to the Nazis and the Communists.

Orwell, here we come. Thoughtcrime is next. Pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.

+1

This is the USA. No words are illegal. This is insanity and if I were Paula Deen I'd be suing the hell out of the plaintiff and Food Network.

Paula Deen wasn't in her own home when she used hate speech. She was in a professional environment. Believe it or not, there is a vast difference, and conduct in professional settings matter.

Are singers and comedians providing entertainment in a professional environment? Hate speech, derogatory terms, whatever name you want to give it, is wrong. Anywhere. Anytime.

I agree with you, but you probably couldn't get away with firing someone for using derogatory language in their own home. I think the Food Network is completely in the right here - the bottom line is that Paula Deen is grossly unprofessional and inappropriate. An employer has the right and responsibility to terminate (or not renew contract of) an employee that acts unprofessional and inappropriate. Deen doesn't get a free pass just because she's a celebrity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

Then let's see BET, music companies, etc make the same decision for black rappers, comics, etc who freely use the word.

Are you being willfully ignorant? Why do you care so much about what black people call each other? Do you care equally that gay people use fag in the same way/context?

Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them.

Nothing is as simple as your clumsy assertion. But let's go with it's not offensive (in your over-simplified world). And the next time you hear the word said, join in with the conversation using the word. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.

+1

This is the USA. No words are illegal. This is insanity and if I were Paula Deen I'd be suing the hell out of the plaintiff and Food Network.

Paula Deen wasn't in her own home when she used hate speech. She was in a professional environment. Believe it or not, there is a vast difference, and conduct in professional settings matter.

Are singers and comedians providing entertainment in a professional environment? Hate speech, derogatory terms, whatever name you want to give it, is wrong. Anywhere. Anytime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

Then let's see BET, music companies, etc make the same decision for black rappers, comics, etc who freely use the word.

Are you being willfully ignorant? Why do you care so much about what black people call each other? Do you care equally that gay people use fag in the same way/context?

Either the words are derogatory, or they're not. I don't think anyone should be using them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

Then let's see BET, music companies, etc make the same decision for black rappers, comics, etc who freely use the word.

Are you being willfully ignorant? Why do you care so much about what black people call each other? Do you care equally that gay people use fag in the same way/context?

Anonymous wrote:I liked Paula Deen's show - though I didn't make any of her recipes because the calorie and fat count is astronomical. I am horrified at these revelations about her behavior. I don't care what age you are or where you are from, racism and bigotry are wrong and the N word (or other slurs) is never acceptable.

I'm not sure why there's 11 pages of debate on this. Seems like Paula Deen is a closet racist and the Food Network made the decision to part ways. Very simple and, to me, completely uncontroversial.

I agree had enjoyed watching her show and found her rather charming in an aw shucks Gomer Pyle sort of way. On a few episodes, she featured older black ladies (her restaurant employee-slaves). I suspected that she swiped their biscuit, etc recipes and was parading them on her show to impress us with her big ole generous, kind heart. I sensed that she was really exploiting them. I gave the heifer the benefit of the doubt given her advanced age and southern shortcomings.

I'm glad this fat, racist hog has been outed and is getting barbequed. Yum-yum!