Even if, as you say, the word ‘nigger’ was not acceptable in any sort of polite company, I would say that white people who created the word, and used it to discriminate against and insult African Americans, or others who didn’t do anything about it, don’t have the right to be offended by an African American (quite a mouthful) using the word in any fashion they pleased.

I would say that it was a matter for the African Americans to sort out among themselves, as they were the ones who suffered most because of ot and they had every right to object to a white caucasian using it.

That’s what I would say to a UN panel investigating the matter.

If you want to address your father using the word ado, go right ahead – I personally wouldn’t object. But I would like to point out that while the use of the word ado in certain contexts is inappropriate, it can easily by used in many contexts where no one would be offended by the use of the word.

I’ve said this because you’ve completely missed the point I’m making – that the word nigger, used in any application – whether it is used as an open insult, a term of endearment, or even during a discussion of the relative merits of its use – is offensive to many people. By many people, I mean millions upon millions of people, including African Americans.

The words ado, fag, fairy and bitch can be used by two or more people amongst themselves in contexts where no third party would be offended if they happened to overhear the conversation. The use of the word nigger in any context whatsoever is offensive to countless millions of people.

You’ve suggested above that my use of this word above is inoffensive. You’ve also mentioned the Dr. Laura issue. However, during that infamous call, Dr Laura wasn’t trying to insult the caller, Nita Hanson. She was merely trying to make a point about the use of this word – discussing its use, as we have been doing.

Despite this, Nita Hanson said she found this “very insulting and upsetting.”

Now of course you’re going to argue that Hanson was upset because Dr Laura is not an African American, but then I’m no African American either, which means that even if the only reason Hanson found Dr Lauras use of the word offensive was because it was used by a non African American, then by the same virtue, my use of the word above is equally offensive, which effectively negates your ‘picard moment” theory.

I notice that you chose not to address the later part of my comment, my ugly, stupid, duck like friend, so I’m going to assume that you somehow missed it, and have re-posted it for your benefit below.

Which brings me back to my point. The word nigger is severely offensive to some people, and its use is not really considered, by society at large, to be politically correct.
I (and countless millions of others) think that it is hypocritical of some African Americans to continue to use this word as term of endearment, and consider it perfectly acceptable for a black person to use the word, yet scream bloody murder when a white person uses the word. Technically speaking, this effectively constitutes discrimination on racial grounds. Is that what you’re advocating?

By the way, have you ever heard two Pakistani people refer to each other using the word “paki”? Or two Chinese people refer to each other as “chink”?

Like Dodo says it’s who calls whom a nigger that counts, not why everybody can’t use it. I’d call a sibling all kinds of names but be thoroughly offended if anyone else did. Discrimination doesn’t come in to it. You could say that was unfair, but if you aren’t sensitive enough to understand that, there’s no point in saying anything further.

“I challenge you to present a way in which the word nigger may be used in a context which is completely unoffensive when used by anyone, in any situation.”

Ah a picard moment, you’ve defeated your own argument by using the term nigger inoffensively.

But more to the point, the connotations of the word ‘nigger’ does not depend on place set but on who uses it. So asking for a situation where ‘anyone’ can use the term ‘nigger’ inoffensively amounts to nothing more than a red herring. Even if it weren’t a red herring, what the hell does it establish? Does finding a neutral way to use the term nigger make it more or less legitimate. That’s just a silly and non sequitur line of reasoning.

And Mahinda, countless millions of people are perfectly fine with the status quo as far as ‘nigger’ is concerned. Dr. Laura is making a fuss because people have grown tired of her rants about gays and she’s loosing her audience. so she needs to concoct another farce to sustain her career.

And there is no discrimination here, words are merely strings of symbols they don’t have meaning or value beyond what they represent. Saying black people being allowed to use ‘nigger’ endearingly is discriminatory is as hilarious as saying my father’s friend being allowed to call my father ado in an endearing way and myself not being allowed to use ado the same way towards my father is discriminatory towards me.

I do however object to the way rap artists use the word ‘bitch’, and also the use of obscenity.

As for your advertising crack, c’mon, surely there are a few less hacked cliches you could come up with? I think synergy became a client servicing catch phrase somewhere in the mid-90′s. I think it died out about ten years ago.

If you were looking to get a answer to 2+2 that was in excess of 4, then you’re actually more qualified to provide such an answer, seeing as these advertising types like to use concepts like ‘synergy’, in their marketing spiels, right?

I was thinking more along the lines of accepted norms of families as a part of communities comprised of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, and yes, mutual respect.

The last time I checked, 2+2 was 4, Pi was approximately 3.14 and Stefan Boltzmann’s constant was approximately 5.670 X 10 (to the power) -8 , in SI units.

Define polite company, Mahinda. IF you mean people of mutual respect, then two drug dealers having a chat over a spliff could call each other “nigger”, and all would be well.

And 2+2=?

Right. Lets put your “context” in perspective.

A few other words have been mentioned here, supporting this context theory about the usage of the N word…

Off the top of my head, they are (in no particular order), thambi, fairy and fag.

Lets see if these three word could be used in the presence of polite company.

Little boy: thambi, ungoluku pashikida?

Little girl: Mummy, I’m going to be a fairy in the school play.

Little boy: daddy said he’s going to buy a packet of fags.

Although the last one isn’t great, these comments wouldn’t really upset anyone, right? But we also agree that they can be offensive if used in a different context.

When is it ever ok to use nigger in in the presence of polite company?

As I’ve pointed out previously, many educated and respected African Americans actively campaign against the use of this word, even by members of their own community.

So if you don’t like it, don’t use it. You know, goose-gander/speck-plank etc etc etc

Its a fair point of view, really, and shared by millions of Americans – Black, White and other shades.

As for the Sunday Leader editor’s knowledge on military matters, I’ll look for that page when I run out of toilet paper. I’m surprised you even read that paper given the con job they did on your god SF.

BTW, did you ask your mango friend SF those questions I passed to you? Guess not, or you wouldn’t still be prattling on about coupes.

It’s the same with any word or phrase used in a racial context — that word again, Mahinda. If I were to say “Sinhalese are dumb,” that would be racist because I’m not Sinhalese. If I said “Burgher chicks are tarts,” it wouldn’t be racist, just ignorant. Get it, Mahinda?