You know who you are.
But I can't stand this—in fact, I truly despise and loathe this.
So, then. Got your adult panties on? Don't let me worm into them...'kay?~♥
Ah, derogatory terms. Aren't they just...awful? Demeaning and insulting, some created for the sole purpose of making one feel...less than human. Some are distasteful "nicknames" created to verbally spit on someone or a race or group of people. Either way...it's unpleasant, to be called a derogatory term.
But then this thing called "reclaiming" derogatory terms exists, as well.
Huh. Well, let's use some examples, here.
Nerd was used to describe, as Wikipedia puts it, a person seen as overly intellectual, obsessive, or lacking social skills. Such a person may spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular, little known, or non-mainstream activities, which are generally either highly technical, abstract, or relating to topics of fiction or fantasy, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Additionally, many so-called nerds are described as being shy, quirky, pedantic, and unattractive, and may have difficulty participating in, or even following, sports.
But, of course, as we are all painfully aware of, nowadays, the term "nerd" has been reclaimed and is used out of pride and is considered a group identity. Nerds are also awesome people. At least, from my own experiences. Never mind the fact that I am a nerd, myself, as is my older brother.
Queer, while originally a word (and is still a word) that means strange, peculiar, etc., it became used as a "derogatory term for effeminate men, men who were believed to engage in receptive or passive sex with other men, as well as those who exhibited non-normative gender expressions."
But, of course, this term has become widely embraced and celebrated with pride, and I, personally, agree that the term has a bittersweet truth to it from its original meaning. We are strange and unusual to mainstream, societal norms. We might never be able to escape this truth.
I wholeheartedly agree these words have their rightful places in the world. I like these words, as I identify both as a nerd and as queer. But I only support these words a) because nerd never carried the weight of some other pejorative words (and what the hell else are we supposed to be called?) and b) because of what "queer" originally meant, largely.
...However.
There are some words with histories so atrocious, so deeply rooted with hatred, ignorance, suffering, pain, destruction, and vile atrocities, I believe they should never be used outside of educational, informational means.
I'm going to focus on the one that has deep roots in my own existence.
You better fucking believe I'm talking about the 'n' word.
There is honestly no other way to get around it—
Nigger. Nigga. Niggah. However the fuck you want to spell it, it doesn't change what it is. What it means. How it is still used, even by the very same people who claim to use it in "positive" ways!
Human, please. Go the fuck back to school, read some stories, talk to some people, and then come the fuck back to me and dare you to keep using that thrice-accursed word.
Rationally speaking, I can only imagine people who use these words are people who never truly, and I mean truly researched the history, impact and meaning of the word and never spoke to friends, family members, who had to experience said impact of such a word.
Otherwise, you are honestly just sheep. Sheep following the herd of other ignorant, senseless, blithely asinine peers who are sheep in turn. Following the other collective assholes and ne'er-do-wells who put this word back into its accursed wide-usage we've become so-called "desensitized" to, today.
...Because, have you noticed that no other race of people use a derogatory term, such as Jap and spick, that was once used for them the way black people use the "nigger", in all of its variations, today? And here's the catch. These terms are still derogatory. Highly so, without a doubt. And no one dares use them unless they are indeed being derogatory. Whereas, on the same wavelength, words that were truly reclaimed, such as nerd and queer, are used by everyone, and freely so!
Whereas, I'll bet you're quite familiar with these:
"White people don't get to use the N word."
"White people can't use the N word."
"That word is ours, not yours."
And such nonsense such as this.
For the bobbleheads out there who say, "Wait, there's a difference between nigger and niggaaaaaaaa", I a-fucking-sure you, I've heard no difference between the way the two words are used. Again, by the same fucking people who initially claimed to use it in a "reclaimed, positive" way.
Firstly, there's no "positive" way you idjits use this word, and you know it. Because if you really believed that, you wouldn't call your best friend a nigga and then turn around and call someone you fucking despise a nigga, in the same shit-speaking breath. What sort of sense does it make to use a supposedly reclaimed word with this obvious inflection of hate, distaste or mocking?
Secondly, if this word was truly reclaimed, anyone could indeed, freely use it. Like nerd and queer. Mind-blowing? Shouldn't be! These words aren't, for all intents and purposes, career-crushing, respect-destroying words, unlike "nigger".
So here's what I say to all ye
Talk shit? Spit blood.
Because maybe that's what it's going to take to get you to understand the meaning of this word "nigger".
Me look it up for you?
YOU fucking look it up, and look it up long and hard. Swallow it. Regurgitate it. Swallow hard. Digest it. Turn it to crud. And then you fucking eat that literal shit and smear it into your brain, if you must.
KNOW. YOUR. FUCKING. HISTORY.
NO ONE SHOULD FUCKING USE THAT WORD. IF YOU EVEN HAVE TO GIVE LIMITATIONS TO IT, IT BLOODY MEANS THE WORD IS PEJORATIVE AND YOU KNOW IT.
Stop only parroting what you hear and actually use your rotting grey matter, damn it all! How, I mean just how stupid can you be?! I can't begin to explain how many times people have actually told me the only use the word because their friends do, because "everyone" does, or other nonsense!!
So I'm going to ask you all a serious, wretched question.
Do you want to be a nigger?
DO YOU REALLY?
DO you REALLY want to call this to a family member, a loved one? A close, good friend?
Because, I assure you, I am more than willing to remind you what it means to be less than human if you are so fucking willing to continue using this utterly distasteful, inexcusable word.
If I have to repeat myself to any of you who read this, know I will not be so kind as I am now. In fact, I'll just act like you don't exist.
And for you pissants who dare say I've been "triggered"?
I've got a trigger for you right here.
Twirl on it.
A post about "triggering" and how asinine that is will soon come your way.
No comments:
Post a Comment