So, n*gger has been banned in NYC.

Imus got "nappy-haired hoes" banned...

The gays got f*ggot banned...

What else is next?

Coming from a 1st amendment perspective, banning words is a dangerous prospect. It's a slippery slope.

How will we know who the idiots are?

Ah so you see my point now? You coulda' used my thread. I wouldn't have minded :)

Maybe we can get 'clinton' banned in PO?

My god this thread is dumb...

Our bud spydie may be dumb, but he is also on to something in terms of censorship. Some entities/entertainers have the liberty to use certain words and phrases and others don't. It's selective censorship.

Maybe we can get 'clinton' banned in PO?

My god this thread is dumb...

So, the first amendment is dumb?

What's dumb are ad hom attacks with zero substance.

Here's a hint spydie, none of those words have been banned. That's the substance your thread is lacking. The drivel you typed up is inflammatory and absurdly false.

There is a distinct difference between people thinking that words are offensive and shouldn't be used, and banning them.

A+ on the hyperbole though, I don't think you could've taken it a notch higher.

There is a difference between words being banned and words being socially unacceptable.

What's dumb are ad hom attacks with zero substance.


Wow, you made my day.

Those words shouldn't need to be banned. Why be upset if they are or use them if they aren't?

I'm having AJS de ja vu's these days...

Here's a hint spydie, none of those words have been banned. ...

This is an attempt to apply penalties to the use of the N word... Are there any other words that have such penalties? It sets a dangerous precedent for the religious-right/moral police...

I'm approaching this strictly from the 1st amendment perspective.

So, here ya go...

New York City bans racial slur (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-02-28T231559Z_01_N28254477_RTRUKOC_0_US-NEWYORK-WORD.xml&src=rss)

Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:16pm ET


By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "New York City symbolically banned use of the word n*gger on Wednesday, the latest step in a campaign that hopes to expunge the most vile of racial slurs from hip hop music and television.

The City Council unanimously declared a moratorium that carries no penalty but aims to stop youth from casually using the word, considered by most Americans to be the most offensive in the English language.

The New York City measure follows similar resolutions this month by the New York state assembly and state senate, and supporters of the ban are taking their campaign to The Recording Academy, asking it not to nominate musicians for Grammy awards if they use the word in their lyrics.

..."

You should've read the article, yeah, the one you pasted into the thread. It says the ban is symbolic and carries no penalty...sounds like there aren't penalties after all.

I find this interesting living abroad, where people- adults and kids- use American English profanity. Not growing up with it, it matters nothing to them to drop the F-bomb in relatively polite company-- situations where I would never use it. Likewise, I am well acquainted with Norwegian profanity- and when translated to English it sounds completely harmless and benign--- but you would never use it around your mother-in-law.

Norway has a marginally acceptable word to describe blacks that sounds remarkably like the N-word. I always find it shocking when I hear people use it, but I also realize it does not have the same cultural connotations.

My inclination is to let people say what they want to say. And who decided that the N-word is the most vilest of racial slurs? That in itself is almost racist. Why do they need such special protection?

You should've read the article, yeah, the one you pasted into the thread. It says the ban is symbolic and carries no penalty...sounds like there aren't penalties after all.

I read the entire article, and it says the ban is symbolic in the very first line. They are trying to have unofficial penalties imposed by the recording industry for artists who use the N word.

It's a slippery slope... What will they try to ban next? There is an element within this government that believes our freedoms cause all of our social problems.

What happens if/when Bush designates a division of the FBI as the moral police? Perhaps headed up by Ashcroft...you know the guy who put the robe on Lady Liberty cause he couldn't stand seeing a statue with a bare breast...

Mark my words...

I'm having AJS de ja vu's these days...

I miss AJS :(

No words are "banned" Just because some group says you can't say 'em doesn't make it so. Go ahead and use them just don't act surprised when you're a social outcast and unemployed.