Michael Brown shooting II

[This is The End]

This silliness about the use of the word "thug" and the pretence by some that it is a racial slur against black people strikes me as, well, silly.

The word is commonly used as defined, whether it be a reference to a street thug, a union thug, a jack-booted thug, a police thug, an Irish thug, a mafia thug, a black thug, a government thug, or, most often, just a thug without any qualifiers. I do not understand why some people are pretending that the word 'thug' refers only or primarily to black people, because it obviously does not, and I do not understand why some are pretending that the use of the word 'thug' is an indication of racial bias, which is, frankly, ridiculous.

A thug is a thug is a thug, regardless of whether or not the individual indulging in thuggery is white, black, yellow, red, brown, or other.

Yep and the word tweet just means the sound a small bird makes. Words have more than one meaning... I'm not sure how hard that is to recognize. You're also the same person who last year admitted you had never heard of the deep early 19th century racist connotations of the word "boogie".

Also, I highlighted the lie. No one is claiming that. It is when you use the word in certain connotations that it because racially orientated. Just like in the early 1900s with the word "boogie".

 

[This is The End]

I think you're entirely missing the point, which is that the word is just - and only - what it is, despite some folks or groups of folks trying to usurp it for their own purposes at various points in time.

Not only are you ignoring the evolution of words like "tweet" you are ignoring the entire history of the creation of the English language. Well done. That's some impressive blinders.

You do realize that there are some English words that have around one hundred completely unique meanings? The top ones being "set", "run", and "break".

For instance the word "crane". It has several completely unique meanings and they are all in very common use. Interchange the word "crane" with the word "thug" in your previous two posts and you will see just how silly those two posts read.

 

[Matthew Best]

A girl could end up being branded a "slut" for just hooking up with one guy one time while intoxicated at a party if certain people noticed, and had an axe to grind. Is that sexism or just people being people?

Can't it be both?

 

[This is The End]

It's complete nonsense.

As is claiming that the word "thug" is a racial slur against black people.

Just making sure this quote stays. A clearly 100% claim that it is nonsense that the word thug has a meaning which is a racial slur against black people.

 

[Wolrab]

How is it that Tupac could define a word wrongly and force everyone else to accept his wrong definition? Are we all allowed to do this? If so, I have decided the word environmentalist means someone that rips the heads off kittens. All you green people defending environmentalists obviously condone kitty torture. There can be no further use of the word environmentalists as someone who cares about the environment. Ever!

 

[This is The End]

I mean look at all of the Union thugs. Not a single one is white! Oh, wait...

Why do people keeping trying to prove that a word doesn't have a particular meaning by pointing out that it has another meaning? This is one of the very basic parts of the English language for crying out loud.

"It is nonsense that people call that white bird over there a crane because a crane is that thing putting the steel girder onto the building!! Oh wait, neither of those things must be called a crane because I had to crane my neck to look!!"

Then we have the people claiming that it isn't racist because it isn't in the ******* dictionary!!

I suppose "spook" and "coon" also have no such racial connotations.

Face it, their only out is that in the case of this thread one of the other word meanings also applies.

But guess what? If this were a thread about a black FBI agent do you think they would claim it is OK for them to use the word "spook"? Because spook also means an FBI agent... Actually some of them probably would do that.

 

[casebro]

I don't see where Tupac's quote above says "thug = ONLY young black male".

Yes, people call young black males ******* and thugs, but we also call petty criminals in general thugs.

And queer can still mean odd.

And black still means "a dark color".

And "niggardly" has nothing to do with skin tone.

 

[This is The End]

How is it that Tupac could define a word wrongly and force everyone else to accept his wrong definition? Are we all allowed to do this?

You think Tupac started the racial connotation of the word "thug"?? WTF. That would be like claiming Tupac started the racial connotation of the N word! He didn't start it, he tried to make it his own and remove the stereotype, just like NWA did with the N word. But guess what? Certain whites used that against them. In spades.

(Remember everyone, the word "spade" only has two meanings. It is either a playing card or a small shovel. That proves it has no racial connotations.)

 

[This is The End]

This has to be a joke, right? Your ideas are nonsense. That's not rude or uncivil, it's just obvious.

Are you also claiming the word "thug" has no racial meaning?

I would like to have you clearly state that.

Also, are you aware of the racial meanings for each of these words. One by one please. Spook (a federal spy or detective). Coon (short for raccoon). Boogie (old German word for ghost). Spade (a small shovel). Thug (a criminal). Teapot (you cook tea with it on a stove).

 

[This is The End]

Can't it be both?

Nope. Words only have one meaning. (Also sometimes known as: Words only have the meanings they had before I turned 30. Kids these days need to get off my lawn and off my language.)

It can't be more than one because a thug is a thug is a thug. Duh. Isn't that obvious?

 

[Wolrab]

You think Tupac started the racial connotation of the word "thug"?? WTF. That would be like claiming Tupac started the racial connotation of the N word! He didn't start it, he tried to make it his own and remove the stereotype, just like NWA did with the N word. But guess what? Certain whites used that against them. In spades.

(Remember everyone, the word "spade" only has two meanings. It is either a playing card or a small shovel. That proves it has no racial connotations.)

So I am forever banned from using the commonly accepted use of thug? Am I being racist if the designee is white? Who decides what definition I am using?

 

[TheL8Elvis]

He has friends swearing he had no temper problem, one person who claims he was a jerk with an attitude when she encountered him, and a personal history that suggested becoming a cop was something he needed because he was becoming rowdy after a rough childhood.

So he most certainly could have, but we don't really know yet.

Do you have evidence he didn't?
<SNIP>

Is that what it has come to now ? You are make up a scenario based on no evidence and ask people to disprove it ?

And a woman with an outlandish tale about wilson is now evidence to hang your hat on, but people at the scene discussing what just happened caught on camera are suspect.

The double standard being displayed here is pretty extraordinary.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

And of course, they were too stupid and hateful to notice the rubber band that Johnson was wearing on his left hand.

I'm just saying.

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/08/09/police-shooting-ferguson/13832083/

This video shows Wilson's SUV on a flatbed, and it also clearly shows the gold bracelet on the ground next to Wilson's SUV.

Start at about 1:16, it's HD and looks good fullscreen.

For my clarification (and because it seems more on topic than the rest of the discussions ...)

I don't know that the bracelet has any relevance, but it does look like it was on Johnsons wrist at the store, and is now on the ground by the SUV.

What does the rubber band have to do with anything ?

 

[Distracted1]

Are you also claiming the word "thug" has no racial meaning?

I would like to have you clearly state that.

Also, are you aware of the racial meanings for each of these words. One by one please. Spook (a federal spy or detective). Coon (short for raccoon). Boogie (old German word for ghost). Spade (a small shovel). Thug (a criminal). Teapot (you cook tea with it on a stove).

How about
" double plus ungood "?
Have enough thought police vetted that phrase to your satisfaction?

Can Mr. Browns actions ten minutes prior to being shot safely be referred to as double plus ungood?

Edit. Does " violent felon " have a racial overtone? Or perhaps you can suggest some descriptor that takes his actions into account and falls somewhere between " violent felon " and " bully "

 

[This is The End]

So I am forever banned from using the commonly accepted use of thug?

No one is saying that.

We are saying that you might want to be aware of it if it is used in reference to a black person.

Just like you are not "forever banned from using the commonly accepted use of the word spook" either. People call federal agents spooks. But if you say it to one that happens to be black you might find that you get a funny look.

Just like how if it is Halloween and there is a dress up as a raccoon contest you are not "forever banned from using the commonly accepted abbreviation coon". But if one of them happens to be black you might find that you get a funny look.

I have a feeling some of you are being stubborn about this just because this thread happens to me about someone who robbed a store. In those other two cases would you be being stubborn about it if the thread was about federal agents or spies? Or the Halloween raccoon costume contest?

Words have two meanings. Have none of you ever seen a Police Accademy or Airplane! movie? Entire forms of comedy are based on the fact that words have two meanings!!

 

[Monketi Ghost]

The funny thing is, I'd love to hit the "off switch. I explained this in great detail, but it was moved to AAH.

There's no such switch, though.

I have no choice but to give you far more weight than the average poster. And so, when you rush in and loudly proclaim, against all evidence, that "thug" is not just a substitute for the N-word, I get to see it and reply.

Meanwhile, since you are so adamant on this topic, please explain to us all why Richard Sherman was called a "thug".

Or Michael Brown.

Or Trayvon Martin.

Or Jordan Davis.

Or, maybe I'm working from a flawed premise. In any case, please, explain what's going on.

LashL is correct. I have decided to stop using the word thug to describe Brown's behavior because some people find it a racist term.
But it isn't.
You're endeavoring to create a special meaning for the term, which is equally applied to thugs of all races. I can recall a specific NRA instance of Wayne LaPierre using the term jack-booted thugs to describe government agents and he wasn't talking about the scary black man.

You have to reconsider thinking of it as a code word. It's not.

 

[This is The End]

How about
" double plus ungood "?

Nope that is fine. "Double plus ungood" has no alternate meanings that is a racial connotation that I am aware of.

Edit. Does " violent felon " have a racial overtone?

That one is also fine AFAIK. "Violent felon" has alternate meaning which is a racial connotation.

" bully "

That one is also fine. I think you now are getting it.

 

[This is The End]

But it isn't.

Just because you never heard of a word meaning doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

Imagine that you never heard of the alternate meaning for "spook". Spook is a word that is used for federal agents and spies of all races. Now look at your logic:

You're endeavoring to create a special meaning for the term, which is equally applied to thugs spooks of all races.

Accepting that there is information that one does not currently know is the very foundation of science. There are alternate meanings for words that you are not aware of, and yet you are aware of other meanings for those words. Take the list: spook, boogie, coon, spade, teapot. I bet you baulk at the word "teapot" if you are not old and form the UK. That doesn't mean the meaning doesn't exist!

 

[Monketi Ghost]

Don't you see? The more emotional, irrational, and disconnected from reality and evidence a belief is, the more obligated you are to be gentle and pretend it's true, lest you hurt the feelings of the person who clearly holds said belief very deeply, and who clearly would be very hurt if you pointed out how wrong it is.

I'm getting tired of your skeptical thuggery.

 

[This is The End]

You have to reconsider thinking of it as a code word. It's not.

No one is claiming that the people are 100% doing it intentionally! We are just pointing out when people use it that you might not want to.

Just like if this thread was about a black federal agent or spy. If someone called him a spook, not realizing the words other meanings, it would be polite to give them a heads up.

Spook is a very common word for federal agents or spies just like thug is a very common word for criminals. That doesn't make the alternate meanings just disappear!!