Comments on: Racial slurs may be covered by the First Amendment, but you’re still an asshole for using them http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/ Mark Jaquith's blog about capitalism, freedom, WordPress, the web, and personal topics Wed, 02 May 2012 07:17:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-beta4-20838 By: CR Gardner http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-616677 CR Gardner Tue, 20 May 2008 22:46:09 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-616677 Keep it positive! Keep it clean! Don't be lazy, think of a better word. Dare and care to be considerate even if it's countercultural. Keep it positive! Keep it clean! Don’t be lazy, think of a better word. Dare and care to be considerate even if it’s countercultural.

]]> By: PATRICK Cote http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-431922 PATRICK Cote Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:31:25 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-431922 Ken... History is not your's to rewite, letters not written by you cannot be edited by you and then atributed to the real author. This is obviously just my opinion though I would ask you to consider some future publisher editing the Gettysburg address, would it still mean as much knowing that it wasn't what was really said and, by the way, was not what was originally written by Abe Lincoln? Just a thought... The challenge that comes with publiching the original is the need for courage to face up to what will almost certainly be folks who feel differently than I do. Good luck & good courage. Ken…
History is not your’s to rewite, letters not written by you cannot be edited by you and then atributed to the real author. This is obviously just my opinion though I would ask you to consider some future publisher editing the Gettysburg address, would it still mean as much knowing that it wasn’t what was really said and, by the way, was not what was originally written by Abe Lincoln? Just a thought…

The challenge that comes with publiching the original is the need for courage to face up to what will almost certainly be folks who feel differently than I do.

Good luck & good courage.

]]> By: Ken Alley http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-210816 Ken Alley Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:27:35 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-210816 I'm am presently transcribing 1000 pages of written letters that were written and sent home by a young lady from Milwaukee, who, shortly after WWII worked for the Army in Occupied Japan as a court reporter. She is a very good writer and funny,and describes Japan and all her experiences while there like no other, but she also uses numerous racial slurs and can be quite descrimitive when refering to the Japanese people and black American soldiers stationed in Japan. Since these letters were written in 1947 & 1948, is it still anti... or anti... to reproduce them as is? It was very common at the time to talk that way and to have those prejudices. It's history. Not reproducing them as is would be misleading as to the times. Since I want to publish these letters in book form I'm in quite a quandary about what to do. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks a bunch. I’m am presently transcribing 1000 pages of written letters that were written and sent home by a young lady from Milwaukee, who, shortly after WWII worked for the Army in Occupied Japan as a court reporter. She is a very good writer and funny,and describes Japan and all her experiences while there like no other, but she also uses numerous racial slurs and can be quite descrimitive when refering to the Japanese people and black American soldiers stationed in Japan.
Since these letters were written in 1947 & 1948, is it still anti… or anti… to reproduce them as is? It was very common at the time to talk that way and to have those prejudices. It’s history. Not reproducing them as is would be misleading as to the times.
Since I want to publish these letters in book form I’m in quite a quandary about what to do.
Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks a bunch.

]]> By: Stefan http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-210486 Stefan Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:28:54 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-210486 There are a lot of strange guys out there. I can imagine reactions like that can sadden. Don't waste time on such thoughts and look on the community you have created. The field of politics bears a high potential of hate and supidity. There are a lot of strange guys out there. I can imagine reactions like that can sadden. Don’t waste time on such thoughts and look on the community you have created. The field of politics bears a high potential of hate and supidity.

]]> By: Late to the discussion http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-136735 Late to the discussion Sun, 20 May 2007 09:39:56 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-136735 Just had to crack a smile over the Ann Coulter Google ad on this post. :D Just had to crack a smile over the Ann Coulter Google ad on this post. :D

]]> By: ivavzy http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-133291 ivavzy Sun, 13 May 2007 09:52:50 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-133291 Hi My Name Is ivavbv. Hi My Name Is ivavbv.

]]> By: Aigars Mahinovs http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-119732 Aigars Mahinovs Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:50:52 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-119732 If a term is "loaded" then banning its use will only make it more loaded. Noone can stop use of a word. THe only thing the community can actually do is overuse the word and overload it to the point when it looses the offensive meaning to all but the most sensitive cunts. Any word regardless how innocent and appropriate in the context might offend someone. So, should we stop speaking just to please the oversensitive people? No. If you look back in the history, then there are some communities that embrace and extend the words pointed at them until the words loose their meaning. And this is good for the community as there is no more separation - there is integration. Integration of slurs. Just call people niggers because of their attitude and regardless of their skin color. Call people cunts and dicks because of their attitude and regardless of their sex. Do that and in 10 years no sane person will take these words as offensive. If a term is “loaded” then banning its use will only make it more loaded. Noone can stop use of a word. THe only thing the community can actually do is overuse the word and overload it to the point when it looses the offensive meaning to all but the most sensitive cunts. Any word regardless how innocent and appropriate in the context might offend someone. So, should we stop speaking just to please the oversensitive people?
No.
If you look back in the history, then there are some communities that embrace and extend the words pointed at them until the words loose their meaning. And this is good for the community as there is no more separation – there is integration. Integration of slurs.
Just call people niggers because of their attitude and regardless of their skin color. Call people cunts and dicks because of their attitude and regardless of their sex. Do that and in 10 years no sane person will take these words as offensive.

]]> By: Barize http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-109443 Barize Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:41:09 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-109443 <strong>Black/White Double Standards...</strong> At one point, when he was a member of the cast of Saturday Night Live Eddie Murphy did a sketch on how white people behave when there are no black people around. He would get made up as a white man and do an undercover report to show how white people b... Black/White Double Standards…

At one point, when he was a member of the cast of Saturday Night Live Eddie Murphy did a sketch on how white people behave when there are no black people around. He would get made up as a white man and do an undercover report to show how white people b…

]]> By: Megan http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-104341 Megan Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:37:34 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-104341 It was a term used with much hate during WWII, and the government used it in charming slogans such as "lets blast the Jap clear off the map." Obviously, it was also used to promote the unfounded internment of Japanese-Americans on the West Coast. That makes it a loaded term. I am Japanese-American. I chose not to use the word, but I think that anyone who has had a slur used against them hatefully certainly has the right to "reclaim" it and take away the power. People who use slurs that have not been used to victimize them are generally acting out of insensitivity and ignorance. It was a term used with much hate during WWII, and the government used it in charming slogans such as “lets blast the Jap clear off the map.” Obviously, it was also used to promote the unfounded internment of Japanese-Americans on the West Coast. That makes it a loaded term.

I am Japanese-American. I chose not to use the word, but I think that anyone who has had a slur used against them hatefully certainly has the right to “reclaim” it and take away the power. People who use slurs that have not been used to victimize them are generally acting out of insensitivity and ignorance.

]]> By: shinguard http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-103931 shinguard Thu, 08 Mar 2007 22:41:43 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-103931 yo segramwolf u r an the biggest dumbass in the world. bryan shld be the one saying okay not u dick. u r just the biggest dumbass ive ever known yo segramwolf u r an the biggest dumbass in the world.
bryan shld be the one saying okay not u dick.
u r just the biggest dumbass ive ever known

]]> By: the baby jap http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-92986 the baby jap Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:25:12 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-92986 i'm a cunt-eyed cracker Jap and i'm proud of it. stop getting your panties in a bunch. "it's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence and the viciousness." -lenny bruce. let's strip the words of thier power by using them until they lose thier meaning. i’m a cunt-eyed cracker Jap and i’m proud of it. stop getting your panties in a bunch. “it’s the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence and the viciousness.” -lenny bruce. let’s strip the words of thier power by using them until they lose thier meaning.

]]> By: QOTD — Safely Ignored http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-86954 QOTD — Safely Ignored Mon, 05 Feb 2007 02:34:09 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-86954 [...] February 4th, 2007 While I’m on the subject of Constitutional rights, here’s another from Mark Jaquith: Racial slurs may be covered by the First Amendment, but you're still an asshole for using them [...] [...] February 4th, 2007 While I’m on the subject of Constitutional rights, here’s another from Mark Jaquith: Racial slurs may be covered by the First Amendment, but you’re still an asshole for using them [...]

]]> By: Mark http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-86428 Mark Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:10:20 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-86428 <blockquote>doesn't everyone deserve to be referred to in civil terms even if you are not referring to their race or gender?</blockquote> There's a huge difference between using vulgar words to characterize an individual's actions, and using vulgar words to characterize someone's racial or national heritage. Particularly odious actions merit the use of particularly odious words in describing them.

doesn’t everyone deserve to be referred to in civil terms even if you are not referring to their race or gender?

There’s a huge difference between using vulgar words to characterize an individual’s actions, and using vulgar words to characterize someone’s racial or national heritage. Particularly odious actions merit the use of particularly odious words in describing them.

]]> By: michael jaquith http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-86232 michael jaquith Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:05:28 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-86232 Mark, Isn't it offensive to refer to anyone as an "asshole"? I support the posts that call for civility in referring to ethnic groups, but doesn't everyone deserve to be referred to in civil terms even if you are not referring to their race or gender? Mark, Isn’t it offensive to refer to anyone as an “asshole”?
I support the posts that call for civility in referring to ethnic groups, but doesn’t everyone deserve to be referred to in civil terms even if you are not referring to their race or gender?

]]> By: Nicholas http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/comment-page-1/#comment-74614 Nicholas Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:35:51 +0000 http://txfx.net/2006/12/31/racial-slurs-may-be-covered-by-the-first-amendment-but-youre-still-an-asshole-for-using-them/#comment-74614 It's just too bad that people are as stupid about racism and racial slurs as they were decades ago. It's like introducing your friend, as a "Jap", he's Japanese for goodness sake. None of the commentators who commented that it was ok, were Japanese themselves.. maybe they should've asked if it was proper.. And in fact bryan said that he wasn't comfortable with the term Jap... people still kept on using it.. if that isn't wrong.. it's just wronfully distasteful. It’s just too bad that people are as stupid about racism and racial slurs as they were decades ago. It’s like introducing your friend, as a “Jap”, he’s Japanese for goodness sake. None of the commentators who commented that it was ok, were Japanese themselves.. maybe they should’ve asked if it was proper..

And in fact bryan said that he wasn’t comfortable with the term Jap… people still kept on using it.. if that isn’t wrong.. it’s just wronfully distasteful.

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