I do agree about context being all. I am white and find the word "nigger" too terribly loaded to consider using; I'm queer and am clear that "queer" is a good term to describe those of us who are not "straight" (in terms of sexual orientation or gender identity), but that it would be offensive if someone used it in a derogatory manner. The Vagina Monologues have done a great servive in the reclaimation of words like "cunt", and I use it in specific contexts, though I refrain from using any bodypart as an insult (including "dick") - though I have to admit I have just realised that I do use the word "asshat" as an insult, even though I believe that the use of bodyparts as insults is deeply unhealthy, so I'm going to have to be more aware of that!
Yes, that's exactly what the above definition says :)
No, it doesn't have a nice origin, but most of us are happy to embrace it. My husband's a big geek; I'm very happy to geek out on sci-fi; the linguistic shift is such that it's been effectively reclaimed. Nigger is not a word that has been effectively reclaimed - there's too much recent baggage, and my understanding is that many Black people find it too deeply offensive under any circumstance for it to be reclaimed any time soon (if ever). The use and reclaimation of derogatory terms is both fascinating and deeply uncomfortable.
gook /guk/ Pronunciation[gook]
-noun Slang (disparaging and offensive).
1. a native of Southeast Asia or the South Pacific, esp. when a member of an enemy military force.
2. any dark-skinned foreigner, esp. one from the Middle East.
3. anyone who is offensive to others because of stupidity, coarseness, etc.
[Origin: 1930-35; of uncert. orig; cf. earlier googoo, gugu, as opprobrious term for a Filipino, and perh. comparable relationship of kook to cuckoo]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
geek /gik/ Prounciation[geek]
-noun Slang.
1. a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.
2. a peculiar or offensive person, esp. one who is perceived to be overly intellectual.
3. an expert in computers (a term of pride as self-reference, but often considered offensive when used by outsiders.)
[Origin: 1915-20; prob. var. of geck (mainly Scots) fool < D or LG gek]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
I do agree about context being all. I am white and find the word "nigger" too terribly loaded to consider using; I'm queer and am clear that "queer" is a good term to describe those of us who are not "straight" (in terms of sexual orientation or gender identity), but that it would be offensive if someone used it in a derogatory manner. The Vagina Monologues have done a great servive in the reclaimation of words like "cunt", and I use it in specific contexts, though I refrain from using any bodypart as an insult (including "dick") - though I have to admit I have just realised that I do use the word "asshat" as an insult, even though I believe that the use of bodyparts as insults is deeply unhealthy, so I'm going to have to be more aware of that!
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No, it doesn't have a nice origin, but most of us are happy to embrace it. My husband's a big geek; I'm very happy to geek out on sci-fi; the linguistic shift is such that it's been effectively reclaimed. Nigger is not a word that has been effectively reclaimed - there's too much recent baggage, and my understanding is that many Black people find it too deeply offensive under any circumstance for it to be reclaimed any time soon (if ever). The use and reclaimation of derogatory terms is both fascinating and deeply uncomfortable.
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