Is 'the N word' offensive or just acceptable everyday slang?

[sp1814]

I would appear to be the latter in Australia:

http://www.dailymail....N-word-offensive.html

Would any Ab'er use the phrase in front of a black person they didn't know, and if so, in what context?

[mike11111]

Robertsons gollyw.o.g. badges

Ena, I had six of those on my school blazer when I was five.Dead chuffed I was, wouldn't have called the King my uncle.

[ttfn]

How times have changed Mike , and not always for the best imo

[missnemesis]

Who decides whether a word is offensive or not? When I was younger there were plenty words used that are now frowned upon as being non PC but who decides which words/names etc it is ok to use and which ones are not?

[jno]

if they offend people they're offensive. As someone's already suggested, try calling a black person a n*gger, a Jew a y*d or a gay a qu*er and you'll soon find if they're offended.

[jno]

like I said, birdie, try it and see.

[missnemesis]

I get what you're saying birdie but what if 'I' don't find it offensive? Conversely just because 'I' do find a particular word offensive what right have I got to expect others not to use it?

[trt]

lets bring back the Golliwog Dolls, my 2 sisters used to love them. What was the name of the jars of jam with the Golliwog label that were banned?

[missnemesis]

Robinsons I think trt.

[ttfn]

Robertsons

[missnemesis]

I bow to your superior knowledge there ttfn. I'm far too young to remember them anyway ;-)

[ttfn]

Cheers missn you just made an old lady - older
But I am only superior if you let me ;)

[mike11111]

As a devotee of the late great Dame Agatha I should point out that the novel in question is now entitled, "And then there were none."

[ttfn]

As a devotee of grammar that should read 'And then there was none' ;)

[lindapinda]

Although I am "caucasian" as per race identification...With dark hair,eyes and summer tanned skin,in the 70s i was yelled at "you're only an ole ***"....I felt the abuse then and it was quite shocking:-(...I was just a colour...or race...not a person. That gave me a very small insight on what its like to be non white...and it was horrible:-(...To be clear then...the P word is not only offensive...it FEELS offensive.

[sherminator]

SP sorry its taken a while to get back. you say that White people would still use it....if they did and black people didnt say it as well then they would have no comeback and would clearly be in the wrong.
lets just get rid if these words by not using them in any kind of context at all!

also birdie your point about who can use the n word....There is a jeniffer lopez song called play and she used the N word....a lot of people were like "is she 'allowed' to say that word?"