Is it only a matter of time before someone gets cancelled for using the "'N-word' word?" I.e., someone who uses the euphemism "N-word" may be deemed just as praeterite as someone who uses the actual word? (I hope I'm just making this up.)
John, I've been listening to different interviews you've done for the past month or so. One of the things I love about your arguments is your refusal to dehumanize the other side. As a Christian, that's something incredibly important to me, because as soon as we start viewing the "other" as lesser, we ignore our own failings and need for forgiveness. Happy to subscribe.
Wait. It gets worse: now we can observe efforts to “sanitize” popular comedy of only a decade or so ago. This scourge is now at work as worried people set about trying to anticipate tomorrow's potentially-objectionable terms and “sanitize” their use and appearance in print or audio dialogue even before objections are raised. That, of course, is the point: second-guessing the “politically-correct” language police before they strike.
Thus a term used relatively recently in popular situation-comedy television series was silently erased from the sound-track of a re-broadcast (on a television network (“E4”) in Britain) of an episode (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2378184/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm) “The Higgs Boson Observation” ((2012) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory_(season_6) Episode 3 (Episode 114; ) of the popular and award-winning American series, “The Big Bang Theory” (BBT) and found to my surprise that the term “skank” was excised from the comedy's audio. Not “bleeped” out. Rather, it was simply erased. Mayim Bialik , the actress (yes, that's how I refer to women of the acting profession, whether the language police approve or not) was never the less seen to pronounce the suppressed term. Bialik, who plays the role of Amy Farrah Fowler, biologist and girlfriend of lead character, the physicist Dr. Sheldon Cooper (played by the actor Jim Parsons) is seen to but not heard to pronounce the word “Skank” while speaking in confidence to her friend, “Penny” (Kaley Cuoco), about “Alex Jensen” (short for “Alexa” or “Alexandra”) (Margo Harshman), a very attractive newly-hired research-assistant working for Sheldon Cooper. “Amy” and “Penny” supposedly discretely observe what looks clearly (to them) like “Alex” at the lunch table getting acquainted with the cast regulars, Cooper's friends “Rajesh Koothrapalli” (Kunal Nayyar), “Howard Wolowitz” (Simon Helberg), and “Leonard Hofstadter” (Johnny Galeki) and openly flirting with Leonard who seems just as clearly to be enjoying Alex's attention. Amy, at first concerned that Alex might prove a rival for the affection of Sheldon, is relieved to see that Alex is interested not in Sheldon but in Leonard. As Amy says to Penny, confirming Penny's assurance that Amy has nothing to worry about, “You're right: that skank's your problem.” (Earlier, Penny and Amy are together at Penny's apt. Amy: “That was Alex, Sheldon's new assistant” (on the phone answering Amy's call to Sheldon). He didn't mention that she's a woman.” Penny: “Maybe he didn't notice.”)
Notice that it's “Amy” who uses the term to refer to “Alex”. Both women, neither of them apparently refused the term's use in the comedy dialogue. Apparently, none of the cast raised enough of an objection—if they raised any at all (these are professional comedians) —to have the script changed. Notice, too, that, nearly ten years ago, this vignette got laughs. The show's live studio audience thought it was funny. And that's because it was—and, for me, still is.
Whatever happened to "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words shall never harm me" sung to a tune. I learned that one in kindergarten back in the 1950s. Indeed times have changed. See more on the topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticks_and_Stones
Performance art? It may not be art; but what sort of performance is it (shaming people for mention not use; crushing them socially)? The sociologist Harold Garfinkel gave this a name: "degradation ceremony." Cf. his "Conditions of Successful Degradation Ceremonies," American Journal of Sociology 61(5):420-424 (1956). Yes, the response to this one tabooed word is over-reaction, but is this not perhaps the very point: not to offer measured response but to score in interpersonal up-manship? (At the same time as boosting ego, I right the wrongs of past generations by smiting the existing individuals within my reach; neat two-fer, no?) Q: "What kind of antiracism is that?" A: the vengeful kind. Of course it is mean. It is the kind which does not sing "till victory is won" but shouts "hasta la victoria siempre." By any means necessary. Proportionality? Fair play? Let the punishment fit the crime? Mere oppressor morality. No punishment too harsh to be deserved. So, yes, let the oppressor ilk be degraded, and of course do it ceremoniously.
Just stumbled across this quote from musician Nick Cave (The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds).
"As far as I can see, cancel culture is mercy’s antithesis. Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world. Its once honourable attempt to reimagine our society in a more equitable way now embodies all the worst aspects that religion has to offer (and none of the beauty) — moral certainty and self-righteousness shorn even of the capacity for redemption. It has become quite literally, bad religion run amuck.
Cancel culture’s refusal to engage with uncomfortable ideas has an asphyxiating effect on the creative soul of a society. Compassion is the primary experience — the heart event — out of which emerges the genius and generosity of the imagination. Creativity is an act of love that can knock up against our most foundational beliefs, and in doing so brings forth fresh ways of seeing the world. This is both the function and glory of art and ideas. A force that finds its meaning in the cancellation of these difficult ideas hampers the creative spirit of a society and strikes at the complex and diverse nature of its culture."
Wow, sounds like he's talking about The Elect. Has the Godfather of Goth been reading Mr McWhorter?
"Activism" implies work towards an idea of the greater good. "Performance art" should be artistic. This seems like a power play to establish and police the in-group.
I'm white and was raised to be decent, so I have never used the word as a racial slur against anyone. I do use it when quoting Mark Twain, especially for his use of it in Huckleberry Finn where N***** Jim is shown to be the best man in the book. Twain was no racist, and I believe he used it in this instance for the cognitive dissonance.
I do use a word that is spelled and pronounced exactly like the problematic word, in reference to an archaic term for cutting felled trees into usable lengths, often with the use of fire to burn through the sections. I cut down a lot of trees and I feel very wicked when I say I've been ou n*ggering all afternoon.
This just in . . . BREAKING NEWS . . . Paul McCartney stripped of knighthood for the lyrics "ooh you've been a naughty girl you've let your knickers down" . . . Back to you, Kelly . . . (Bonus points for figuring out if this is really Eye'm Witless News or just The Onion.)
I'm curious why the analogy of a peanut allergy isn't being invoked. Isn't this about increasing sensitivity to "the word that cannot be referred to"? (TWTCBRT -- hey, if you can learn LGBTQIA+ you can learn this acronym). With hearers going into the psychic equivalent of anaphylactic shock if they hear it, regardless of intent. It's getting to the point that a whiff is all it takes -- even 20 rows away on the plane. And so on.
As someone in my 40s and not from the south, I was brought up to never say or even think this word. However, I wonder now when much popular music uses the word pretty freely if it is difficult for some clueless kids not to use it with their friends.
Numerous public school teachers, college professors, and politicians have been reprimanded, and in some cases fired, for using the word "niggardly"
According to the article:
Niggardly (noun: niggard) is an adjective meaning "stingy" or "miserly". It is derived from the Middle English word nigard, which is probably derived from Old Norse nigla, meaning "to be poor", which itself is most likely derived from hnøggr ("stingy"). The word niggle, which in modern usage means to give excessive attention to minor details, probably shares an etymology with niggardly.
The discussion does indeed illuminate the glaring difference of reaction to the word dependent only on the user’s skin color. It is apparent that among the Elect there is NO circumstance, referential or otherwise, of appropriate use of the N word by a non-black. Yet it is indeed used with frequency and impunity among blacks primarily as a term of endearment or connection. Thus, in light of this fact, the following anecdote is quite thought provoking. One busy afternoon in the Emergency Department I work in , I was taking care of a young black man. We had a disagreement concerning his care, specifically he felt he should be given a much stronger analgesic than I was willing to provide. I was quite specific about what I planned to order, and as I was exiting the room to place my orders, he yelled “GET BACK IN HERE YOU F...ING N-word, I’M NOT DONE WITH YOU”. I ,however, was quite done with him so I continued my exit without another word. I honestly don’t know what I could, or should have said in the moment. As well, I honestly don’t know how I should feel about the event. This gentleman clearly intended the word as a slur, and despite that intent, did not, and will never, face any consequence for its utterance in that context. Certainly, the same could not be said of me had the table been turned. By the way, I am Caucasian.
Is it only a matter of time before someone gets cancelled for using the "'N-word' word?" I.e., someone who uses the euphemism "N-word" may be deemed just as praeterite as someone who uses the actual word? (I hope I'm just making this up.)
John, I've been listening to different interviews you've done for the past month or so. One of the things I love about your arguments is your refusal to dehumanize the other side. As a Christian, that's something incredibly important to me, because as soon as we start viewing the "other" as lesser, we ignore our own failings and need for forgiveness. Happy to subscribe.
Wait. It gets worse: now we can observe efforts to “sanitize” popular comedy of only a decade or so ago. This scourge is now at work as worried people set about trying to anticipate tomorrow's potentially-objectionable terms and “sanitize” their use and appearance in print or audio dialogue even before objections are raised. That, of course, is the point: second-guessing the “politically-correct” language police before they strike.
Thus a term used relatively recently in popular situation-comedy television series was silently erased from the sound-track of a re-broadcast (on a television network (“E4”) in Britain) of an episode (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2378184/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm) “The Higgs Boson Observation” ((2012) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory_(season_6) Episode 3 (Episode 114; ) of the popular and award-winning American series, “The Big Bang Theory” (BBT) and found to my surprise that the term “skank” was excised from the comedy's audio. Not “bleeped” out. Rather, it was simply erased. Mayim Bialik , the actress (yes, that's how I refer to women of the acting profession, whether the language police approve or not) was never the less seen to pronounce the suppressed term. Bialik, who plays the role of Amy Farrah Fowler, biologist and girlfriend of lead character, the physicist Dr. Sheldon Cooper (played by the actor Jim Parsons) is seen to but not heard to pronounce the word “Skank” while speaking in confidence to her friend, “Penny” (Kaley Cuoco), about “Alex Jensen” (short for “Alexa” or “Alexandra”) (Margo Harshman), a very attractive newly-hired research-assistant working for Sheldon Cooper. “Amy” and “Penny” supposedly discretely observe what looks clearly (to them) like “Alex” at the lunch table getting acquainted with the cast regulars, Cooper's friends “Rajesh Koothrapalli” (Kunal Nayyar), “Howard Wolowitz” (Simon Helberg), and “Leonard Hofstadter” (Johnny Galeki) and openly flirting with Leonard who seems just as clearly to be enjoying Alex's attention. Amy, at first concerned that Alex might prove a rival for the affection of Sheldon, is relieved to see that Alex is interested not in Sheldon but in Leonard. As Amy says to Penny, confirming Penny's assurance that Amy has nothing to worry about, “You're right: that skank's your problem.” (Earlier, Penny and Amy are together at Penny's apt. Amy: “That was Alex, Sheldon's new assistant” (on the phone answering Amy's call to Sheldon). He didn't mention that she's a woman.” Penny: “Maybe he didn't notice.”)
Notice that it's “Amy” who uses the term to refer to “Alex”. Both women, neither of them apparently refused the term's use in the comedy dialogue. Apparently, none of the cast raised enough of an objection—if they raised any at all (these are professional comedians) —to have the script changed. Notice, too, that, nearly ten years ago, this vignette got laughs. The show's live studio audience thought it was funny. And that's because it was—and, for me, still is.
Whatever happened to "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words shall never harm me" sung to a tune. I learned that one in kindergarten back in the 1950s. Indeed times have changed. See more on the topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticks_and_Stones
Performance art? It may not be art; but what sort of performance is it (shaming people for mention not use; crushing them socially)? The sociologist Harold Garfinkel gave this a name: "degradation ceremony." Cf. his "Conditions of Successful Degradation Ceremonies," American Journal of Sociology 61(5):420-424 (1956). Yes, the response to this one tabooed word is over-reaction, but is this not perhaps the very point: not to offer measured response but to score in interpersonal up-manship? (At the same time as boosting ego, I right the wrongs of past generations by smiting the existing individuals within my reach; neat two-fer, no?) Q: "What kind of antiracism is that?" A: the vengeful kind. Of course it is mean. It is the kind which does not sing "till victory is won" but shouts "hasta la victoria siempre." By any means necessary. Proportionality? Fair play? Let the punishment fit the crime? Mere oppressor morality. No punishment too harsh to be deserved. So, yes, let the oppressor ilk be degraded, and of course do it ceremoniously.
Is it now problematic to hire the actress Ruth Negga?
Just stumbled across this quote from musician Nick Cave (The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds).
"As far as I can see, cancel culture is mercy’s antithesis. Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world. Its once honourable attempt to reimagine our society in a more equitable way now embodies all the worst aspects that religion has to offer (and none of the beauty) — moral certainty and self-righteousness shorn even of the capacity for redemption. It has become quite literally, bad religion run amuck.
Cancel culture’s refusal to engage with uncomfortable ideas has an asphyxiating effect on the creative soul of a society. Compassion is the primary experience — the heart event — out of which emerges the genius and generosity of the imagination. Creativity is an act of love that can knock up against our most foundational beliefs, and in doing so brings forth fresh ways of seeing the world. This is both the function and glory of art and ideas. A force that finds its meaning in the cancellation of these difficult ideas hampers the creative spirit of a society and strikes at the complex and diverse nature of its culture."
Wow, sounds like he's talking about The Elect. Has the Godfather of Goth been reading Mr McWhorter?
"Activism" implies work towards an idea of the greater good. "Performance art" should be artistic. This seems like a power play to establish and police the in-group.
I don't understand how we always have this conversation without the following clarification:
there is no "THE N-WORD". there are TWO n-words.
"valdemorter" is a slur
"valdemorta" means "person, esp. a male person" in the modern vernacular, all rap lyrics, etc
I mean, seriously, Trayvon Martin called George Zimmerman "valdemorta" on the phone to his girlfriend. As in "that valdemorta messin' with me".
"valdemorta" just means "dude" or "man", basically
Like McWhorter's theme suggests, we need to consider not ruining someone's life because they quote a rap lyric that says "my man, let's party".
Then there's this oldie but goodie. Call the cops!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyslloMZQ8
I'm white and was raised to be decent, so I have never used the word as a racial slur against anyone. I do use it when quoting Mark Twain, especially for his use of it in Huckleberry Finn where N***** Jim is shown to be the best man in the book. Twain was no racist, and I believe he used it in this instance for the cognitive dissonance.
I do use a word that is spelled and pronounced exactly like the problematic word, in reference to an archaic term for cutting felled trees into usable lengths, often with the use of fire to burn through the sections. I cut down a lot of trees and I feel very wicked when I say I've been ou n*ggering all afternoon.
This just in . . . BREAKING NEWS . . . Paul McCartney stripped of knighthood for the lyrics "ooh you've been a naughty girl you've let your knickers down" . . . Back to you, Kelly . . . (Bonus points for figuring out if this is really Eye'm Witless News or just The Onion.)
I'm curious why the analogy of a peanut allergy isn't being invoked. Isn't this about increasing sensitivity to "the word that cannot be referred to"? (TWTCBRT -- hey, if you can learn LGBTQIA+ you can learn this acronym). With hearers going into the psychic equivalent of anaphylactic shock if they hear it, regardless of intent. It's getting to the point that a whiff is all it takes -- even 20 rows away on the plane. And so on.
As someone in my 40s and not from the south, I was brought up to never say or even think this word. However, I wonder now when much popular music uses the word pretty freely if it is difficult for some clueless kids not to use it with their friends.
"A friend jokes to me that somewhere in America somebody is getting fired for referring to niggling details."
Check this out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_niggardly
Numerous public school teachers, college professors, and politicians have been reprimanded, and in some cases fired, for using the word "niggardly"
According to the article:
Niggardly (noun: niggard) is an adjective meaning "stingy" or "miserly". It is derived from the Middle English word nigard, which is probably derived from Old Norse nigla, meaning "to be poor", which itself is most likely derived from hnøggr ("stingy"). The word niggle, which in modern usage means to give excessive attention to minor details, probably shares an etymology with niggardly.
The discussion does indeed illuminate the glaring difference of reaction to the word dependent only on the user’s skin color. It is apparent that among the Elect there is NO circumstance, referential or otherwise, of appropriate use of the N word by a non-black. Yet it is indeed used with frequency and impunity among blacks primarily as a term of endearment or connection. Thus, in light of this fact, the following anecdote is quite thought provoking. One busy afternoon in the Emergency Department I work in , I was taking care of a young black man. We had a disagreement concerning his care, specifically he felt he should be given a much stronger analgesic than I was willing to provide. I was quite specific about what I planned to order, and as I was exiting the room to place my orders, he yelled “GET BACK IN HERE YOU F...ING N-word, I’M NOT DONE WITH YOU”. I ,however, was quite done with him so I continued my exit without another word. I honestly don’t know what I could, or should have said in the moment. As well, I honestly don’t know how I should feel about the event. This gentleman clearly intended the word as a slur, and despite that intent, did not, and will never, face any consequence for its utterance in that context. Certainly, the same could not be said of me had the table been turned. By the way, I am Caucasian.