Is "redneck" a racial slur? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Charlatan · 07-28-2005, 07:47 AM

You raise another interesting point Dawg... terms like Cracker and Redneck are, to my knowledge, only used to describe North Americans.

I just have a hard time imagining a Russian, an Italian, a French, a Brit or any European being called Redneck.

And yet, any Chinese person, anywhere can be called a Chink, or black man a Nigger, etc.

Again, as others have pointed out, Redneck just doesn't hold up as racist under scrutiny.

Slur yes... Racist slur... not so much.

politicophile · 07-28-2005, 08:19 AM

The concensus seems to be that "redneck" is a term that is often used in a derogatory fashion to refer to a particular demographic of people that may or may not necessarily be all white.

Soooo, should the word be tolerated on these boards when used in the derogatory context (George Bush is just a redneck from Texas, eg), or in polite conversation in general?

Charlatan · 07-28-2005, 08:36 AM

Perhaps it would be better stated that, "George Bush is a Texan with a provincial, conservative and often bigoted attitude"

Ultimately when used in the context as described above it is a shorthand for a stereotype... it would be just as easy for the person to say George Bush is an idiot but it just doesn't have the same, depth of imagery as redneck.

I think it is stretching things to suggest it is offensive.

spongy · 07-31-2005, 05:40 PM

I once knew a man who liked to say that he hated niggers and bigots.

Suave · 07-31-2005, 11:05 PM

It's not racist in connotation, but clearly it is describing a white person (harder to have a visibly red neck if you're black or Asian or brown). It is describing a certain type or group of white person, and hence not a racial slur; it is simply limited to a certain race.

toxic515 · 08-01-2005, 06:23 AM

since we've visited the definitions of the words redneck and nigger (partially, because older dictionarys define "nigger" as an ignorant person {no flame war please, it is offensive to me as well, just rounding out the definition for us all}) I'd like to inject another definition... that of "race" I will include all of the iterations and then point out what I think is important here... Short attention spans, or bored folks skip the middle, go straight to the end :-)

RACE n.

1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.
2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race.
3. A genealogical line; a lineage.
4. Humans considered as a group.
5. Biology.
1. An interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms differing from other populations of the same species in the frequency of hereditary traits. A race that has been given formal taxonomic recognition is known as a subspecies.
2. A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.
6. A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine.

[French, from Old French, from Old Italian razza, race, lineage.]

Usage Note: The notion of race is nearly as problematic from a scientific point of view as it is from a social one. European physical anthropologists of the 17th and 18th centuries proposed various systems of racial classifications based on such observable characteristics as skin color, hair type, body proportions, and skull measurements, essentially codifying the perceived differences among broad geographic populations of humans. The traditional terms for these populationsCaucasoid (or Caucasian), Mongoloid, Negroid, and in some systems Australoidare now controversial in both technical and nontechnical usage, and in some cases they may well be considered offensive. (Caucasian does retain a certain currency in American English, but it is used almost exclusively to mean “white” or “European” rather than “belonging to the Caucasian race,” a group that includes a variety of peoples generally categorized as nonwhite.) The biological aspect of race is described today not in observable physical features but rather in such genetic characteristics as blood groups and metabolic processes, and the groupings indicated by these factors seldom coincide very neatly with those put forward by earlier physical anthropologists. Citing this and other pointssuch as the fact that a person who is considered black in one society might be nonblack in anothermany cultural anthropologists now consider race to be more a social or mental construct than an objective biological fact.

now, from a medical standpoint, Race: An ethnic stock or division of humans. Naturalists and ethnographers have long divided humans into a variable number of distinct races. However, DNA and other genetic studies have revealed that that most genetic variation, about 94%, is within so-called racial groups while these racial groupings differ from one another only in about 6% of their genes. This means that there is greater genetic variation within racial groups than between them. The concept of race is a superficial and subjective one. All of humankind is a single species.

and lastly, from an anthrolopological view: 1) The term "race" is used in different senses by both the public and by
professionals. The uses often overlap and result in substantial
misunderstanding and conflict.

2) Race, as a term of biology - applied to the natural world generally,
focuses on minor genetic differences, resulting from population isolation,
and normally manifested in minor differences of colouring, behaviour, or
form. It is not a formal division within the standard bi-nomial
nomenclature of biology, which recognises divisions into genera, species
etc. In this system the term "sub species" is preferred.

Sub-species are somewhat arbitrary, subdivisions of "species", the
narrowest, formally defined division of taxa. Sub-species tend to be
defined in terms of recognisable, but minor, local characteristics of
populations within species. Genetic variation between sub-species is very
limited. When geographical boundaries between two sub-species break down,
the utility of the term disappears, as the two groups interbreed.
Generally the dividing line between "sub-species" is a very moveable
feast, as variation within any two "sub species" results in an overlap
between the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the two groups. The
differences between sub species, then, are primarily statistical rather
than absolute.

In the terms of biology, given the (increasingly) extensive intermingling
of the people of the earth, the comparatively recent (in biological terms)
earlier isolation of the groups, and the absence of any clear genetic
separation the concept of human sub-species has little utility or meaning.
The genetic differences between human groups, beyond trivial matters such
as body coloration and the frequency of particular blood groups, is
extremely limited. The greater differences which exist are cultural or
environmental rather genetic in origin. Hence the concept of human
"races" is of little importance in biological terms.

3) Race, as understood by most people, is a socially derived concept based
on an over-estimation of the extent of biological differences betwen
different populations of humans. It is often used in an attempt to provide
a false legitimising "scientific" explanation of the diversity of human
cultures, and to justify heirarchical or discrimatory action aimed at
ensuring the dominance of one cultural group over another. For this
reason, when discussing differences between groups of people, the term
"ethnic group", which recognises the cultural rather than biological
differences between people, is preferable to "race" in almost all
situations.

CONCLUSION! (FINALLY)
Having little objective relevance from a scientific standpoint, current usage of the word race is used to indicate a group of people, this can me with similar physical characteristics, similar cultures, close geographic proximaty, OR they may have chosen to identify themselves seperately. Redneck IS a racial term, but like many other general blanket terms, is typically offensive based on usage. Intent means a lot on this.

sorry for the extended post....

Suave · 08-01-2005, 07:22 PM

toxic: I didn't read your whole post as far as defining race and all of that, so forgive me if I appear ignorant from that standpoint (I have a short attention span). Race, to my understanding as a sociologist, is based exactly on the colour of someone's skin as well as certain physical traits, and is not interchangeable with other defining characteristics. When speaking of cultural or other shared non-superficial characteristics, the term used is generally ethnicity.

Zeraph · 08-01-2005, 09:31 PM

Redneck is an odd word, a mix between insulting or and a badge of honor depending who the recipient is, though I've never thought of it as a race thing more like a location and education thing. So maybe its locationist

I disagree toxic, using that logic geeks, nerds, jocks, punks, etc, would be a race of their own.

Jesus Pimp · 08-02-2005, 02:31 AM

There's only one race, the human race. Redneck is no more than a term to describe a social class of an ethnic group.

Jinn · 08-02-2005, 11:30 AM

Bitch is a word that describes a subset of the female gender, characterized by anger and bitter resentment. Does that mean that using a term like bitch, applied to the larger set (women) should not be offensive?

You're using the same flawed logic for redneck if you say that because it applies to a SPECIFIC subset that it's not offensive when applied to the larger set. Some women wear "bitch" like a badge of honor, yet it doesn't define all or even most women. Call a random girl on a street a "bitch" and don't expect it to be taken rudely? Naive. (Thank you whomever corrected my spelling of this word earlier)

I'm offended when someone calls me a redneck, because it denigrates my race (yes, race), my intelligence, my political ideology, and my attitude towards life. Bitch, nigger, and cracker all fall into these same categories. I don't see how you can justify it as NOT being a racial slur because it applies to a subset of a larger set; you've seen above that it is flawed logic. By this logic, calling a white man a nigger would mean that nigger isn't racial because it applies only to your status is a hierarchy and not a race.

Jocose · 08-02-2005, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesus Pimp

There's only one race, the human race. Redneck is no more than a term to describe a social class of an ethnic group.

There are wealthy Rednecks and Middle Class Rednecks too. Rednecks are the same as "Good Ole Boys" as I understand it. "Hick" seems to be the slur if you want to insult someone's education and class. Personally, I think people are too politically correct and too sensitive. Makes my skin crawl to see people shy away from words like "black" and "poor" and "stupid".

It's amazing how many darn names we over-moral, over-sensitive people can think of.

We should be impressed with our creativity! However, we should also think about seeing a collective psychologist to help undo the last thirty years of cultural brainwashing that has taken place in the West.

Of course, mature and reasonable people should be respectful of others; and often are. I just hate to see otherwise intelligent people resorting to totally ridiculous language for the sake of other people's sensitivity.

Sweetpea · 08-02-2005, 12:53 PM

Yes, i believe so. If used with the intent to make another person feel less than or as a put down. So, in most cases, since it is meant in a negative stance, i think it is.

Sweetpea

Gilda · 08-02-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JinnKai

Bitch is a word that describes a subset of the female gender, characterized by anger and bitter resentment. Does that mean that using a term like bitch, applied to the larger set (women) should not be offensive?

You're using the same flawed logic for redneck if you say that because it applies to a SPECIFIC subset that it's not offensive when applied to the larger set. Some women wear "bitch" like a badge of honor, yet it doesn't define all or even most women. Call a random girl on a street a "bitch" and don't expect it to be taken rudely? Naive. (Thank you whomever corrected my spelling of this word earlier)

I'm offended when someone calls me a redneck, because it denigrates my race (yes, race), my intelligence, my political ideology, and my attitude towards life. Bitch, nigger, and cracker all fall into these same categories. I don't see how you can justify it as NOT being a racial slur because it applies to a subset of a larger set; you've seen above that it is flawed logic. By this logic, calling a white man a nigger would mean that nigger isn't racial because it applies only to your status is a hierarchy and not a race.

My experience has been that "bitch" is generally used to mean "a woman I dislike" for whatever reason, or is used as a generic insult for any woman. "Nigger", and "cracker" are good parallels, as they are again, used as insults for groups the speaker dislikes, or as generic insults for, respectively, black people and white people.

"Redneck" isn't really parallel, as it doesn't refer to any specific ethnic group,
nor is it used as a generic insult for all white people or for that matter, any specific ethnicity. It refers to a group of people based on attitudes, belief systems and lifestyle.

A better parallel would be, say nerd or geek. Like the words nerd or geek, redneck is frequently used as an insult, particularly by outsiders, but can also be merely descriptive of a given set of behaviors.

Tophat665 · 08-02-2005, 06:24 PM

I can't begin to believe that there is anyone taking this thread seriously. Nuff said.

waltert · 08-02-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Pyro

At the factory I work at, there this guy Roy, who loves nascar(Jeff Gordon), hunting, fishing, country, a stereotypical redneck. He also is African American. His wife is too. She's also a redneck. They go line dancing on fridays! Theres just more white rednecks than black. Bet you'll find some down south. I can't wait to tell him about this thread! Buy that!

and I cant find white niggas?

I think the term is racial.

each subdivision of poor, uneducated people gets their own racial slur. whether it be blacks, whites, or mexicans.

I dont think that anyone would call Tiger Woods or Colin Powell a "nigger"

and I doubt that anyone would call George Bush a....nevermind.

but they wouldnt call Bill Gates a redneck!

Suave · 08-02-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JinnKai

I don't see how you can justify it as NOT being a racial slur because it applies to a subset of a larger set; you've seen above that it is flawed logic. By this logic, calling a white man a nigger would mean that nigger isn't racial because it applies only to your status is a hierarchy and not a race.

Because it doesn't use race as grounds for insult? It might be negative, it might be hurtful to some, it might be a lot of things, but one thing it is not is racist. People are not called rednecks because they are white; they are called rednecks because they come from rural areas, have less than cosomopolitan viewpoints, and speak with an accent. People who are called niggers are called niggers because they are black (or in some instances, a certain "type" of black person).

The term "nigger" may have evolved of late to classify a certain type of black person, ie the thug life epitomizing, "negative" one, or poorer black people, but it still has connotations to many (most I would say) as referring to all black people. Redneck never has been used, to my knowledge, to refer to caucasians as a whole group.

Charlatan · 08-03-2005, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waltert

I dont think that anyone would call Tiger Woods or Colin Powell a "nigger"

Really? I don't believe that for one second you can't find a relatively large number of people who would call them niggers. Heck, there are still golf courses in the US where Woods can't play because he's black.

Jinn · 08-03-2005, 07:17 AM

Quote:

The term "nigger" may have evolved of late to classify a certain type of black person, ie the thug life epitomizing, "negative" one, or poorer black people, but it still has connotations to many (most I would say) as referring to all black people. Redneck never has been used, to my knowledge, to refer to caucasians as a whole group

It has, and is. Especially here in Colorado.

Suave · 08-03-2005, 03:39 PM

Interesting. So even if I were a Swedish businessman, blond hair, blue eyes, sharply dressed, with the Swedish accent, someone in Colorado would call me a redneck?

texxasco · 09-18-2005, 03:16 PM

It all depends on who is using the words... In my neck of the woods, racism is very bad. Normally when a black person is using the word redneck in reference to a white person, it is in a derogitory manner. On the flip side of the coin, when a white person uses the word nigger, it is usually meant in a derogitory manner as well.

The exceptions are...a white person can call another white person a redneck, and the person on the receiving end won't be offended...some will consider it a compliment, others won't...but there is no offense taken usually.

If a Black person calls another black person a nigger, or nigga then there is no offense taken usually, unless the person is a little older or educated. I know plenty of black people who don't subscribe to the use of nigger or nigga as a term of endearment.

I have heard a black person call a white person a redneck....and when the two know each other well, or are on friendly terms the white person usually doesn't get offended. But, the reverse is usually not true... I haven't witnessed an incidences where a white person would ever get away using the word nigger towards a black person...

I think how people react to the word "redneck" and "nigger" depends on who is doing the name calling, who is on the receiving end, and what part of the country it takes place in. I am "from" the more central part of Texas, just north of Austin...yet I reside in SE Texas, north of Houston, and where racism isn't bad where I am from, where i reside it is extremely bad. For the first 6 months I lived here, it felt like I was stepping back to the 60's or 70's as far as racial tolerance goes. Growing up I never saw a black guy, or woman, ride a horse, drive a truck, wear wranglers or a cowboy hat either... I saw all of that in the first couple weeks I lived here, and see it fairly regularly. Back where I am from, most blacks wouldn't be caught dead on a horse or wearing a cowboy hat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Heck, there are still golf courses in the US where Woods can't play because he's black.

Oh really? I am not doubting what you are saying, but could you be specific? What are your sources? I find it interesting, that after all he has contributed to the sport, there are dumbasses that won't let him play on their course.

HoneyPot · 09-25-2005, 11:50 AM

Being from Montana, redneck is a very common word here. We use it as a joke. But then again, if I lived in a larger city, it wouldn't be a word I would use very often.

07-28-2005, 07:47 AM	#41 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	You raise another interesting point Dawg... terms like Cracker and Redneck are, to my knowledge, only used to describe North Americans. I just have a hard time imagining a Russian, an Italian, a French, a Brit or any European being called Redneck. And yet, any Chinese person, anywhere can be called a Chink, or black man a Nigger, etc. Again, as others have pointed out, Redneck just doesn't hold up as racist under scrutiny. Slur yes... Racist slur... not so much. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-28-2005, 08:19 AM	#42 (permalink)
politicophile Addict	The concensus seems to be that "redneck" is a term that is often used in a derogatory fashion to refer to a particular demographic of people that may or may not necessarily be all white. Soooo, should the word be tolerated on these boards when used in the derogatory context (George Bush is just a redneck from Texas, eg), or in polite conversation in general? __________________ The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

07-28-2005, 08:36 AM	#43 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Perhaps it would be better stated that, "George Bush is a Texan with a provincial, conservative and often bigoted attitude" Ultimately when used in the context as described above it is a shorthand for a stereotype... it would be just as easy for the person to say George Bush is an idiot but it just doesn't have the same, depth of imagery as redneck. I think it is stretching things to suggest it is offensive. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-31-2005, 05:40 PM	#44 (permalink)
spongy Psycho	I once knew a man who liked to say that he hated niggers and bigots. __________________ The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. Stephen King

07-31-2005, 11:05 PM	#45 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	It's not racist in connotation, but clearly it is describing a white person (harder to have a visibly red neck if you're black or Asian or brown). It is describing a certain type or group of white person, and hence not a racial slur; it is simply limited to a certain race. __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

08-01-2005, 06:23 AM	#46 (permalink)
toxic515 Addict Location: Texas	since we've visited the definitions of the words redneck and nigger (partially, because older dictionarys define "nigger" as an ignorant person {no flame war please, it is offensive to me as well, just rounding out the definition for us all}) I'd like to inject another definition... that of "race" I will include all of the iterations and then point out what I think is important here... Short attention spans, or bored folks skip the middle, go straight to the end :-) RACE n. 1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics. 2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race. 3. A genealogical line; a lineage. 4. Humans considered as a group. 5. Biology. 1. An interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms differing from other populations of the same species in the frequency of hereditary traits. A race that has been given formal taxonomic recognition is known as a subspecies. 2. A breed or strain, as of domestic animals. 6. A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine. [French, from Old French, from Old Italian razza, race, lineage.] Usage Note: The notion of race is nearly as problematic from a scientific point of view as it is from a social one. European physical anthropologists of the 17th and 18th centuries proposed various systems of racial classifications based on such observable characteristics as skin color, hair type, body proportions, and skull measurements, essentially codifying the perceived differences among broad geographic populations of humans. The traditional terms for these populationsCaucasoid (or Caucasian), Mongoloid, Negroid, and in some systems Australoidare now controversial in both technical and nontechnical usage, and in some cases they may well be considered offensive. (Caucasian does retain a certain currency in American English, but it is used almost exclusively to mean “white” or “European” rather than “belonging to the Caucasian race,” a group that includes a variety of peoples generally categorized as nonwhite.) The biological aspect of race is described today not in observable physical features but rather in such genetic characteristics as blood groups and metabolic processes, and the groupings indicated by these factors seldom coincide very neatly with those put forward by earlier physical anthropologists. Citing this and other pointssuch as the fact that a person who is considered black in one society might be nonblack in anothermany cultural anthropologists now consider race to be more a social or mental construct than an objective biological fact. now, from a medical standpoint, Race: An ethnic stock or division of humans. Naturalists and ethnographers have long divided humans into a variable number of distinct races. However, DNA and other genetic studies have revealed that that most genetic variation, about 94%, is within so-called racial groups while these racial groupings differ from one another only in about 6% of their genes. This means that there is greater genetic variation within racial groups than between them. The concept of race is a superficial and subjective one. All of humankind is a single species. and lastly, from an anthrolopological view: 1) The term "race" is used in different senses by both the public and by professionals. The uses often overlap and result in substantial misunderstanding and conflict. 2) Race, as a term of biology - applied to the natural world generally, focuses on minor genetic differences, resulting from population isolation, and normally manifested in minor differences of colouring, behaviour, or form. It is not a formal division within the standard bi-nomial nomenclature of biology, which recognises divisions into genera, species etc. In this system the term "sub species" is preferred. Sub-species are somewhat arbitrary, subdivisions of "species", the narrowest, formally defined division of taxa. Sub-species tend to be defined in terms of recognisable, but minor, local characteristics of populations within species. Genetic variation between sub-species is very limited. When geographical boundaries between two sub-species break down, the utility of the term disappears, as the two groups interbreed. Generally the dividing line between "sub-species" is a very moveable feast, as variation within any two "sub species" results in an overlap between the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the two groups. The differences between sub species, then, are primarily statistical rather than absolute. In the terms of biology, given the (increasingly) extensive intermingling of the people of the earth, the comparatively recent (in biological terms) earlier isolation of the groups, and the absence of any clear genetic separation the concept of human sub-species has little utility or meaning. The genetic differences between human groups, beyond trivial matters such as body coloration and the frequency of particular blood groups, is extremely limited. The greater differences which exist are cultural or environmental rather genetic in origin. Hence the concept of human "races" is of little importance in biological terms. 3) Race, as understood by most people, is a socially derived concept based on an over-estimation of the extent of biological differences betwen different populations of humans. It is often used in an attempt to provide a false legitimising "scientific" explanation of the diversity of human cultures, and to justify heirarchical or discrimatory action aimed at ensuring the dominance of one cultural group over another. For this reason, when discussing differences between groups of people, the term "ethnic group", which recognises the cultural rather than biological differences between people, is preferable to "race" in almost all situations. CONCLUSION! (FINALLY) Having little objective relevance from a scientific standpoint, current usage of the word race is used to indicate a group of people, this can me with similar physical characteristics, similar cultures, close geographic proximaty, OR they may have chosen to identify themselves seperately. Redneck IS a racial term, but like many other general blanket terms, is typically offensive based on usage. Intent means a lot on this. sorry for the extended post.... __________________ Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. Last edited by toxic515; 08-01-2005 at 06:26 AM..

08-01-2005, 07:22 PM	#47 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	toxic: I didn't read your whole post as far as defining race and all of that, so forgive me if I appear ignorant from that standpoint (I have a short attention span). Race, to my understanding as a sociologist, is based exactly on the colour of someone's skin as well as certain physical traits, and is not interchangeable with other defining characteristics. When speaking of cultural or other shared non-superficial characteristics, the term used is generally ethnicity. __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

08-01-2005, 09:31 PM	#48 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Redneck is an odd word, a mix between insulting or and a badge of honor depending who the recipient is, though I've never thought of it as a race thing more like a location and education thing. So maybe its locationist I disagree toxic, using that logic geeks, nerds, jocks, punks, etc, would be a race of their own. Last edited by Zeraph; 08-01-2005 at 09:34 PM..

08-02-2005, 02:31 AM	#49 (permalink)
Jesus Pimp The Original JizzSmacka	There's only one race, the human race. Redneck is no more than a term to describe a social class of an ethnic group. __________________ Never date anyone who doesn't make your dick hard. Last edited by Jesus Pimp; 08-02-2005 at 02:34 AM..

08-02-2005, 11:30 AM	#50 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	Bitch is a word that describes a subset of the female gender, characterized by anger and bitter resentment. Does that mean that using a term like bitch, applied to the larger set (women) should not be offensive? You're using the same flawed logic for redneck if you say that because it applies to a SPECIFIC subset that it's not offensive when applied to the larger set. Some women wear "bitch" like a badge of honor, yet it doesn't define all or even most women. Call a random girl on a street a "bitch" and don't expect it to be taken rudely? Naive. (Thank you whomever corrected my spelling of this word earlier) I'm offended when someone calls me a redneck, because it denigrates my race (yes, race), my intelligence, my political ideology, and my attitude towards life. Bitch, nigger, and cracker all fall into these same categories. I don't see how you can justify it as NOT being a racial slur because it applies to a subset of a larger set; you've seen above that it is flawed logic. By this logic, calling a white man a nigger would mean that nigger isn't racial because it applies only to your status is a hierarchy and not a race. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

08-02-2005, 12:53 PM	#52 (permalink)
Sweetpea Fade out Location: in love	Yes, i believe so. If used with the intent to make another person feel less than or as a put down. So, in most cases, since it is meant in a negative stance, i think it is. Sweetpea __________________ Having a Pet Will Change Your Life! Looking for a great pet?! Click Here! "I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"

08-02-2005, 06:24 PM	#54 (permalink)
Tophat665 Minion of the scaléd ones Location: Northeast Jesusland	I can't begin to believe that there is anyone taking this thread seriously. Nuff said. __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

08-03-2005, 03:39 PM	#59 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	Interesting. So even if I were a Swedish businessman, blond hair, blue eyes, sharply dressed, with the Swedish accent, someone in Colorado would call me a redneck? __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

09-25-2005, 11:50 AM	#61 (permalink)
HoneyPot Crazy Location: Nunya	Being from Montana, redneck is a very common word here. We use it as a joke. But then again, if I lived in a larger city, it wouldn't be a word I would use very often. __________________ Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.