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This entire discussion is precisely one of semantics.
There is an historical value to the word nigger that requires consideration. But in the same sense, I may personally have had a history of negative connotations of any word - maybe frisbee - which results in my extreme discomfort when the word is used in any fashion. Does the use of the word frisbee around me then become a faux pas on the part of the person using it? Assuredly, their intent is harmless as the social history of the word is harmless. Now, social history would also define my displeasure at the word frisbee to be absurd. If someone who had no clue that I hated that word were to be informed, they would consider it some form of crazy. Would that give them license to continue using it in front of me, as they clearly do not intend to be insulting? Would my further discussion of the word help me overcome the negative connotations I apply to it? It is nothing but a word - it is the issues I attribute to it which hold the negativity.
At present, I would say the the word nigger is currently only usable in the context of the discussion of the word. The more the word is discussed, the better chance that the negative issues attributed to it will be more accurately framed.
Nigger is not the problem. Race relations is the problem.
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