A New Racial Slur for Whites

[Chesterton]

You really think all those terms are secretly racist?

For example, is there any situation where one could legitimately call a black man a "thug" or a woman "bossy"?

Yeah, that's kind of an amazing post. Tells you a lot about how certain kinds of people think.

 

[tulc]

You really think all those terms are secretly racist?

At this point they aren't "secretly" anything. After you hear the same words being used over and over again in the same situations it's abundantly clear what they're doing/saying.

For example, is there any situation where one could legitimately call a black man a "thug"

sure there are, but not one of those is being said from the stage by a politician. It can be used if you're talking about a cult of assassins and thieves who worshiped Kali and operated for about 600 years on the Indian sub continent. Think "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" It can be used by rappers as shorthand for the life of violence and poverty in the ghetto, but people can talk about trying to get kids out of or away from the "thug life". In other words it can be used to describe an actual thing, but the minute someone says "We need to enact stricter laws to protect ourselves from all those thugs!!" it's become a code word for black.

or a woman "bossy"?

sure, if you know the actual woman and she's bossy. If however you use it because the woman you're talking about is simply someone you don't like because she keeps saying things you just don't agree with that doesn't make her bossy. Or if she's a cow you own. I quite like the name "Bossy" for a cow.
tulc(once helped take care of a cow named Bossy when he lived on a farm in California back in the 70's)

 

[Ana the Ist]

At this point they aren't "secretly" anything. After you hear the same words being used over and over again in the same situations it's abundantly clear what they're doing/saying.

I don't consider those racist terms. This is news to me. I see the term nazi getting thrown around pretty casually these days....is that just a racist term for whites?

sure there are, but not one of those is being said from the stage by a politician.

Words suddenly change definitions when used by a politician?

That's a new one....

It can be used if you're talking about a cult of assassins and thieves who worshiped Kali and operated for about 600 years on the Indian sub continent. Think "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" It can be used by rappers as shorthand for the life of violence and poverty in the ghetto, but people can talk about trying to get kids out of or away from the "thug life". In other words it can be used to describe an actual thing, but the minute someone says "We need to enact stricter laws to protect ourselves from all those thugs!!" it's become a code word for black.

I think you should consider that you're projecting. I'm sure you know those words have a legitimate modern definitions. I don't really need to pull up dictionary definitions, do I? If you think they always refer to black people...perhaps its not those who use such words that are the racists.

sure, if you know the actual woman and she's bossy. If however you use it because the woman you're talking about is simply someone you don't like because she keeps saying things you just don't agree with that doesn't make her bossy. Or if she's a cow you own. I quite like the name "Bossy" for a cow.
tulc(once helped take care of a cow named Bossy when he lived on a farm in California back in the 70's)

I can't say I've ever heard it used in reference to a woman who wasn't bossy.

 

[Inkfingers]

So I've noticed this more and more on blogs and amateur journalist articles regarding the topic of race....the word "colonizers". At first, I thought it was a joke...meant satirically....though I never really saw the humor in it.

Then I noticed it wasn't just those blogs and amatuer articles...it started popping up in regular dialogue with certain people. I realized that, of course, it only refers to white people and is meant entirely as an insult. I started thinking, "who comes up with this stuff anyway?"....then I watched the movie Black Panther and made the connection. There's a scene or two where a helpful white character is derogatorily referred to as a "colonizer".

So I looked into it and found several articles mentioning this. One which did the most explaining was in The Root (warning, mild language in article in case you're easily offended)....

https://www.google.com/amp/s/verysm...d-for-problematic-white-people-1823338348/amp

I understand that a lot of people have probably never read The Root...and good for you if you don't. It's basically the black equivalent of Stormfront....and I'd guess at least half of the articles are about how awful white people are.

If you're not inclined to read the short article, it explains how black people have been searching for a good racial slur for whites for decades, and the various reasons they don't tend to stick. It explains how calling white people "colonizers" is the equivalent of calling non-whites "savages" (in that they refer to a historical contrxt) It then goes on to encourage everyone to try it out for a few months and see how well it works.

Personally, I'm not offended by the term colonizer....I'm more concerned with the attitude of so many who actually believe that coming up with new racial slurs is a worthwhile pursuit. We've taken some huge steps away from the dream of MLK.

What do you think? Relatively harmless or shameless racism towards whites?

It's part of the "intersectionality" agenda; which says the more boxes you tick, the more it is right to hate you.

Boxes include: straight, white, male, christian, able-bodied, socially conservative, and not poor.

 

[Ana the Ist]

It's part of the "intersectionality" agenda; which says the more boxes you tick, the more it is right to hate you.

Boxes include: straight, white, male, christian, able-bodied, socially conservative, and not poor.

I don't really focus on this stuff much...but occasionally, I'll read up on various social issues. For those, I tend to look at bloggers who dedicate 90-100% of their writing to 1 topic...because in my mind, if they do that and manage to attract a significant following...then you can start to understand the opinions if certain sections of our society. At least, that's how I see it.

The way I described it in the OP was literally the way I saw it. More and more, people were using the term colonizers. At first I thought it was getting used in a broader sense than the regular definition...then I thought it was satirical...then I watched Black Panther and realized it was just plain old racist.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Extremist ... you won't find any significant percentage of any population using it.

One can always find SOMEONE using derogatory language, just not the majority of people. I can just as easily find a person here or there using derogatory terms for non-whites. Thankfully, such usages aren't as common as they used to be.

It's all about what you're looking for ...

Maybe...but keep in mind it's only been used as a derogatory term for a very short time.

 

[tulc]

(snip)

Words suddenly change definitions when used by a politician?

That's a new one....

Not really.

I think you should consider that you're projecting. I'm sure you know those words have a legitimate modern definitions. I don't really need to pull up dictionary definitions, do I? If you think they always refer to black people...perhaps its not those who use such words that are the racists.

Alright, lets try an experiment (no need to post an answer, it's just something for you to think about) Ready? Imagine you're listening to a speech and the person on stage starts discussing law and order issues, alright? And they suddenly say: "we need to protect ourselves from all those violent thugs out there!!" Now the instant you hear that phrase "violent thugs!" what picture comes to your mind? That picture you get in your head? That's why they use the code words instead of saying it right out. I could be way off, but i suspect I could give a general description of the picture that came to your mind. Again you don't need to say what you saw in your head, it's just something to think about.

I can't say I've ever heard it used in reference to a woman who wasn't bossy.

You could be right, it was pretty common when I was growing up in the sixties.
tulc(seems to notice this "programming" he got as a kid, as he gets older)

 

[tulc]

(snip)
...then I watched Black Panther and realized it was just plain old racist.

I don't know about racist, but it did strike me as lazy writing in the movie.
tulc(may need to watch it again...or not, he still hasn't seen "Infinity War"!)

 

[Ana the Ist]

tulc(thought the movie was ok, not the best of the Marvel movies and they (((spoilers!!))) apparently killedn!)

Yeah, me too...considered it an average outing for Marvel. My wife fell asleep about halfway through. Great visuals, good acting....kind of a ho-hum plot. It had the usual Marvel plot holes (why not just give everyone the plant that gives people super powers?) and some of the themes/characters felt shoehorned in (band of evil white theives who advanced the story in no real way) and a few cringe-worthy moments (they had a gorilla tribe that actually grunted like gorillas).

Certainly not the worst (X-2 anyone?) but the reviews that used words like "Shakespearean epic" had set the bar a little too high.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Not really.




Alright, lets try an experiment (no need to post an answer, it's just something for you to think about) Ready? Imagine you're listening to a speech and the person on stage starts discussing law and order issues, alright? And they suddenly say: "we need to protect ourselves from all those violent thugs out there!!" Now the instant you hear that phrase "violent thugs!" what picture comes to your mind? That picture you get in your head? That's why they use the code words instead of saying it right out. I could be way off, but i suspect I could give a general description of the picture that came to your mind. Again you don't need to say what you saw in your head, it's just something to think about.

I actually picture people in the costumes in that last Purge movie. To be honest though, I don't know if I'd have come up with a mental picture at all unless you'd asked me to. I don't think this works in written text that well because I was picturing the politician speaking the whole time until you asked me to picture thugs lol.

You could be right, it was pretty common when I was growing up in the sixties.
tulc(seems to notice this "programming" he got as a kid, as he gets older)

It's true that "bossy" is an adjective that seems almost exclusive to women....but when I think of the words we commonly use to describe bossy men....I think I'd prefer being called bossy.

 

[Shadow]

So I've noticed this more and more on blogs and amateur journalist articles regarding the topic of race....the word "colonizers". At first, I thought it was a joke...meant satirically....though I never really saw the humor in it.

Then I noticed it wasn't just those blogs and amatuer articles...it started popping up in regular dialogue with certain people. I realized that, of course, it only refers to white people and is meant entirely as an insult. I started thinking, "who comes up with this stuff anyway?"....then I watched the movie Black Panther and made the connection. There's a scene or two where a helpful white character is derogatorily referred to as a "colonizer".

So I looked into it and found several articles mentioning this. One which did the most explaining was in The Root (warning, mild language in article in case you're easily offended)....

https://www.google.com/amp/s/verysm...d-for-problematic-white-people-1823338348/amp

I understand that a lot of people have probably never read The Root...and good for you if you don't. It's basically the black equivalent of Stormfront....and I'd guess at least half of the articles are about how awful white people are.

If you're not inclined to read the short article, it explains how black people have been searching for a good racial slur for whites for decades, and the various reasons they don't tend to stick. It explains how calling white people "colonizers" is the equivalent of calling non-whites "savages" (in that they refer to a historical contrxt) It then goes on to encourage everyone to try it out for a few months and see how well it works.

Personally, I'm not offended by the term colonizer....I'm more concerned with the attitude of so many who actually believe that coming up with new racial slurs is a worthwhile pursuit. We've taken some huge steps away from the dream of MLK.

What do you think? Relatively harmless or shameless racism towards whites?

I thought you were about to bring up the recent usage of "Gammon", but that appears to be a new British slur against White middle aged men. It hasn't crossed the Atlantic yet. "Colonizers" has much more sting to it, as I just find "Gammon" funny.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I don't know about racist, but it did strike me as lazy writing in the movie.
tulc(may need to watch it again...or not, he still hasn't seen "Infinity War"!)

I was referring to the "colonizer" comment specifically....but i did catch a mildly racist vibe from the movie in general if that's what you mean.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I thought you were about to bring up the recent usage of "Gammon", but that appears to be a new British slur against White middle aged men. It hasn't crossed the Atlantic yet. "Colonizers" has much more sting to it, as I just find "Gammon" funny.

Isn't that the guy Link fights in Legend of Zelda?

 

[Shadow]

Isn't that the guy Link fights in Legend of Zelda?

I had to look it up, but I think that's Ganon (or Ganon Dorf).

...Whereas this is Gammon. It sounds the same and spelt almost the same way too, but Gammon and Eggs is probably a Stereotypical British Meal..

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I was face to face with Black Panthers back in a meeting in 1971
Some of them wanted a reason to beat on me
They called me every name in the book they could think of but I never retaliated
I ended up saying "if you can't show me any respect then I have no reason to support your cause" and I left
No one laid a hand on me

Respect is where it's at
Respect each other and progress can be made

That requires respectability by both parties.

 

[Chesterton]

I think you should consider that you're projecting.

^ This. Yes, it's projection. When I hear the word thug, I correctly think of a person who engages in certain types of behaviors, regardless of color. When tulc hears the word thug, he thinks of a black man, and projects that onto others. His post also involves other recognized cognitive distortions such as mind reading and catastrophizing. Now I'm not saying lefties are crazy, but psychology seems to.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

@Ana the Ist, minorities calling white people 'Colonizers' is nothing new. It's been happening for a long time now. I have been involved in Native American social justice and political activism for more than 26 years and this term has been a common way to refer to white people in Native American circles. I haven't heard the term used in a derogatory way to insult white people though. The fact is white people living in America today are descendants of European immigrant colonizers. Colonizer is a term I've heard many times over the years and I've even used the term myself. But I never used it in a manner to insult white people and I haven't heard it used in a manner to insult white people.

 

[Noxot]

let's just start calling each other "colons" to spite them.

the first time I heard the term "colonizer" used in a derogatory manner was by some angry woman that had some native american blood in her.

 

[tulc]

^ This. Yes, it's projection. When I hear the word thug, I correctly think of a person who engages in certain types of behaviors, regardless of color.

Ok...that's possible. Again, it was a simple experiment.

When tulc hears the word thug, he thinks of a black man, and projects that onto others. (snip)

I'm curious who's engaging in mind reading now? I suggested a simple test to see what people thought when someone would use the phrase "thug" in a speech. You now seem to want to make this about me and things you have no way of knowing one way or the other. If I didn't know any better? I'd say it sounds like I touched a nerve with what I said. But since the thread isn't really about you or I why not just keep it impersonal and discuss what the thread is about in general terms instead?
tulc(thinks it will keep the thread more interesting and less flamey)

 

[Dave-W]

Where are white people colonizing? You can't be a colonizer if you're not colonizing.

Anywhere outside of Europe.