Richard Sherman on 'thug': "it's the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowadays."

[geek tragedy]

http://www.salon.com/2014/01/22/richard_sherman_thug_is_simply_the_accepted_way_of_calling_somebody_the_n_word/

The only reason it bothers me is because it seems like it's the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowadays," Sherman said during a press conference on Wednesday. "It's like everyone else said the N-word and they said 'Thug' and they're like, 'Ah, that's fine.' That's where it kind of takes me aback and it's kind of disappointing."


...

"What's the definition of a thug really?" Sherman asked reporters on Wednesday before comparing his antics to those of players involved in the recent NHL line brawl between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. "Maybe I'm talking loudly and doing something I'm not supposed to. But I'm not ... there was a hockey game where they didn't even play hockey. They just threw the puck aside and started fighting. I saw that and said, 'Oh, man. I'm the thug? What's going on here?'"

A 25-year-old graduate of Stanford, Sherman is in his third season in the NFL and has already been twice named a first-team All Pro. Despite his education and his professional accomplishments, Sherman told reporters on Wednesday that he has had to continually deal with preconceived notions about him since he grew up in hardscrabble Compton, Calif.

"I know some 'thugs,' and they know I'm the furthest thing from a thug," Sherman said. "I've fought that my whole life, just coming from where I'm coming from. Just because you hear Compton, you hear Watts, you hear cities like that, you just think 'thug, he's a gangster, he's this, that, and the other,' and then you hear Stanford, and they're like, 'oh man, that doesn't even make sense, that's an oxymoron.' You fight it for so long, and to have it come back up and people start to use it again, it's really frustrating."

Lots of people had a negative reaction to his post-game interview. But it's really not that hard to call someone an arrogant ass rather than using loaded racial terms.

[DonViejo]

1. I believe Sherman's correct...

"thug" is the acceptable way to call someone the "N" word nowadays. I've even seen it used instead of "Black"

[FreeState]

10. +1

Sherman is the Lady GaGa of the NFL. He's smart, talented, craves attention and has a plan.

[RandySF]

107. I call Republicans "thugs" all the time.

[whathehell]

186. Yes, people are calling Christie a thug, even a republican recently called him that. n/t

[JimDandy]

150. Right here too, on DU, a poster saying Obama is a thug

Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2014, 09:12 PM - Edit history (1)

And the long-time poster doubled down when called on it by "rejecting" the assertion that the term "thug" was racist as it was being largely used against Blacks.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=345559

[geek tragedy]

197. what????? PM me a link if you don't want to post please nt

[JimDandy]

224. That poster got tombstoned yesterday!

Here since 2001 and kept behaving badly. Will put a link soon.

[geek tragedy]

225. this persona?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=102937&sub=trans

[JimDandy]

226. Yes - low post count and hid out for a long, long time. n/t

[Mr Dixon]

170. AGREED

i myself being from Compton, i have dealt with the same thing and I'm not famous ROFL.

[redqueen]

175. +1

[Liberal_in_LA]

223. +1000

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Bingo!

Sherman is a sharp guy IMO. He nails it.

The difference between hockey,football and basketball is interesting when it comes to branding people thugs.

When African Americans fight in football or basketball, it's considered thuggish.

But white Hockey players are never branded thugs even though fighting is way more common. They are branded "enforcers" and it's pretty accepted.

White America needs to acknowledge it's racism and stop pretending like this double standard doesn't exist.

[geek tragedy]

3. "they're not thugs, they're goons!"

Donald Brashear has probably avoided the label because he has to wear a helmet

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

5. "Goon" is the hockey term

If the guy doesn't play for your team, of course....

[tabasco]

81. Very true.

I used to hate Darius Kasparaitis until he came to the Penguins, when I learned he was a truly outstanding hockey player.

[Mr Dixon]

171. AGREED

[uponit7771]

221. +1

[Nye Bevan]

4. 85% of DUers disagree.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024236384

[geek tragedy]

6. Context is everything. If applied to a violent criminal, not racist.

When applied to Richard Sherman, unquestionably racist.

[pintobean]

21. I pretty much agree

but I think a lot of people would use it in the Sherman case and not even realize it's racist.

[geek tragedy]

22. someone here said he was acting 'gangsta rap' and used a 'violent tone'

and then got pissy when asked to explain what they meant and asked me how dare I accuse them of racism

[morningfog]

119. That exchange and this use of thug are all undeniably racist.

This isn't that complicated or nuanced. I think those who don't get, don't get it on purpose. That, or they are just helplessly ignorant.

[NM_Birder]

147. everyone needs to give the guy a break,

Full throttle, adreline pumping, a constant battle with Crabtree the entire game, makes the play of a lifetime - then SPLAT you are on national TV !

If a microphone was shoved in my face after one of the most emotional, adreline fuled struggles of my career....god only knows what I would say.

on the upside I am glad he will be able to cash in on this, every reporter will be following him to "see what else he will say", he has a bright and lucrative future in commercials.....which is good

because my Giants are COMMING BACK NEXT YEAR !

[joeglow3]

179. Most people wouldn't proclaim how god-like they are and trash someone else by name

They just wouldn't.

[NM_Birder]

182. at the most

inopportune time, most people DO proclaim how god like they are and trash others by name. They just don't have a microphone shoved in their face on national TV.

Give the guy a break, or not............... I'm going to lunch.

[Scootaloo]

56. 85% of DU'ers can blow it out their ass

"Thug" is absolutely used as shorthand for the n-word.

[Mr Dixon]

172. AGREED

[Spider Jerusalem]

57. The opinions of 85% of people on a site whose members...

are overwhelmingly middle-aged, middle-class, and white, are probably not very relevant to this discussion generally. And the opinions of the 97 people who bothered to answer that aren't necessarily a representative sample, anyway.

[Number23]

123. Thank you. Seriously.

Anyone that thinks that DU is a good place to gauge racial issues needs to get out more. That's the only nice way that I can put it.

[Comrade Grumpy]

237. Please elaborate. Do you think DU is full of racists?

[Number23]

238. Wow.

But your immediate hysteria and defensiveness is duly noted.

Do yourself a favor. Go back and re-read the post that I posted in response to. Read it slowly. Digest it. And then hopefully that will give you the info you need as well as assuage your need to jump into threads days after they've ended with asinine questions.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

80. Well, only 84% since I added my yes vote.

As I said there, the word thug is used by racists only to describe blacks. Others may use it differently, but it has now become a tainted word. (Kinda like taint, only not funny.)

[morningfog]

116. Ah, our resident racism denier. Cute poll.

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. he's not wrong

I've been following his career this year, and I've become quite a fan of his--he belies most of the stereotypes that most (including myself) would imagine on him at first glance. To some degree, he creates an image of himself on the field, but this is largely to further intimidate the other players. That post-game interview was 99% adrenaline, and the knee-jerk reaction from certain fans/commentators speaks more about their own feelings and prejudices than to Sherman's.

[geek tragedy]

28. Funny thing, he's not known as a big hitter--certainly not compared

to other guys in their defensive backfield

[brush]

54. He's a cornerback. They are quick and fast

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 10:01 AM - Edit history (1)

He covers the wide receivers and defends against them catching the ball, many times man-to-man.

The safeties, also defensive backs, are usually bigger and bigger hitters than the cornerbacks as they cover bigger receivers like the tight ends.

[joeybee12]

8. It's not about race, it'a about roids...

And for those of you saying he won on appeal, so did Ryan Braun, and we now know the truth about that...Seattle is a dirty team of juicers, he's the face of that team...nice try at deflection, but he's a fraud.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

12. When did Joe Mauer ever fail a steroid test?

[joeybee12]

18. Update...meant Braun...nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

24. And by the way....

....fans of any team better be careful before they toss stones at any glass house when it comes to 'roids.

[geek tragedy]

36. aye Papi! nt

[mythology]

102. Seattle leads the NFL in failed drug tests

Thus it's hard to find somebody with more glass to break.

Sherman acted like a classless piece of trash. I've never called him a thug. I do find it amusing that his response to be rightfully chastised for his behavior to do nothing but accuse others of being worse.

If he had issued an actual apology this wouldn't still be an issue. But he lacked the moral and ethical conviction to do so.

[NM_Birder]

153. One thing we cann ALL agree on..........

Not having to endure the Romo and/or Brady superbowl slobberfest love affair by the announcers is a blessing we can all enjoy.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

210. I think Manning gets a ton of slobber

On CBS, Nantz can't stop talking about his three favorite things in life, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Tiger Woods. It's unbearable.

I guess I don't notice the Joe Suck love for Romo as much because I avoid watching the overrated Cowboys play when I have Sunday Ticket.

But trust me, I am pleased as punch The Dick Cheney of pro football, Belicheat will not be stalking the sidelines this year. Who knows what that piece of shit has planned next, probably to draft Hannibal Lector if he's available to replace a true THUG like Hernandez.

[NM_Birder]

211. lets see....where is that "like" thingy ;)

I ignore the Broncos out of principle, the Peyton love affair is every bit as bad.

careful, calling that Thug Hernandez....a Thug,......... gets you called a racist in some posts. Calling a douchebag,...a douchebag,..... got me called a sexist,.......

NE Patriots new quarterback: George Zimmerman firing from the shotgun, for the long bomb.... never mind that's just wrong

[geek tragedy]

13. Your post would have a shred of honesty to it if Mauer had ever

been referred to as a 'thug'

But:

https://www.google.com/#q=%22joe+mauer+is+a+thug%22&safe=active

compare:

https://www.google.com/#q=%22richard+sherman+is+a+thug%22&safe=active

So, get outta here with your defense of racist slurs

[joeybee12]

14. Naturally, you misread everything and call names...

Haven't gotten tired of doing that?

[geek tragedy]

19. To sit there and claim that people get called 'thug' because of steroids is bullshit.

They get called 'thug' for steroids if they have dreads and dark skin.

Roger Clemens was a thug if ever one played baseball, and one of the worst steroid cheaters in the history of sports.

Did he get called 'thug?' No.

Lance Armstrong? nope

Rafael Palmeiro? nope.

[joeybee12]

23. I only hid one person so far in my 10+ years at DU

Now there's two. Good fucking bye and good riddance.

[bettyellen]

65. Ha ha, I'd hide anyone who handed me my ass on a plate too.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

91. You forgot to answer the question:

Let me repeat it for you.

Roger Clemens was a thug if ever one played baseball, and one of the worst steroid cheaters in the history of sports.

Did he get called 'thug?' No.

Lance Armstrong? nope

Rafael Palmeiro? nope.

Hide away.

[geek tragedy]

99. I guess that's easier than addressing the point nt

[secondvariety]

84. You're right about Clemens.

Worst human being to ever play sports and not end up in prison.

[geek tragedy]

94. Well, Bill Romanowski . . . nt

[NM_Birder]

159. lol.......

kidding a little here,... but would simply calling Lance Armstrong a douchebag make me sexist ?

[geek tragedy]

161. Douchebag is a tough one for me.

I recognize that it's gendered and ergo problematic.

On the other hand, it's almost essential--it captures so many guys so perfectly. "asshole" and "jerk" just don't capture it quite as well.

[NM_Birder]

166. lol....again

totally agree, "asshole" and "jerk" too tame....Christ I'm an asshole and a jerk now and then....all humans are occasionally.

Lance Armstrong....... what a Colostomy Bag....it fits, better than douchebag, just doesn't have the same speech rythum humor.


lol....just funning......take care.

[Upton]

16. I believe you're thinking of Ryan Braun..

[joeybee12]

20. You're right...changed...nt

[wilt the stilt]

55. if he took anything it was adearall

which does not build muscles. It is a drug people take for ADHD and if anything it makes you thinner. My son takes it for his ADHD and it is not a steroid.

[dilby]

9. Let me preface this with I love Richard Sherman.

I am not a Seahawks fan but I am a huge fan of Richard Sherman. The first time I heard about this kid was 2 years ago and he was being just as arrogant as ever so I read up about this kid and his story blew me away. And I thought, if anyone had the right to talk smack like that it was him. Anyways onto the Thug=N-word. I don't think that is the case, some people might use it like that but I think a majority of people use the word thug to reference a bully. Also he gets called a thug in his latest commercial so he should have said something about thug=n-word when Beats Audio made money using it.

[nomorenomore08]

58. Some may use it more innocuously. But for a lot of white Americans, they know exactly what they're

doing when they call someone - nearly always a younger black man - a "thug." Hell, some went so far as to call Trayvon Martin - a good student with no criminal record and also, if we're being honest, almost certainly a victim of manslaughter or second-degree murder - a "thug" and "budding criminal" who (according to their pasty white asses) was better off dead.

Hell, look at nearly any news article these days dealing with the bad behavior of someone who happens to be black. Rather than saying okay, assholes come in all colors, commenters inevitably zero in on the skin color of the offender, calling him/her a thug and worse. There are even those who go so far as to invoke lynching and/or ethnic cleansing, sometimes adding a "joke" about reducing the welfare rolls in the process.

So don't try to tell me "thug" is just an innocent descriptor. That won't fly with anybody who's paying attention.

[delta17]

222. Yeah, it's become a code word.

It's even more obvious when they say "urban thugs." That said, I don't think just using the word alone makes someone racist. But like other people have said, Sherman hasn't done anything violent throughout his career. He has said a lot of controversial things, yeah.

Another funny thing is that "thuggish" behavior has been celebrated in sports for generations. Ty Cobb was notorious for spiking players, getting in fights and being a racist asshole. According to lots of fans, that makes him old school or passionate. Conrad Dobler admitted to punching guys on the field. These guys are always called hard nosed.

I think Sherman made the mistake of not leaving it on the field. Andre Johnson punched Courtland Finnegan on national TV, but he is a quiet, humble guy, so no one cared. People seem to care more about what players say than what they do.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

86. The fact that he shuts them out soon after the "thug" talk begins should tell you something!

And that something is not that he's OK with the word, but that he's OK with showing he's not happy with that word being applied to him.

[dilby]

160. But he obviously did not think it equalled the n-word.

If they would have used the n-word in that commercial instead of thug do you think he would have just shut them out, do you think he would have even done the commercial?

[cilla4progress]

130. I love this!

Huge Seahawks fan (Washingtonian). Been watching him all season. He often shakes hands, butt pats, helmet taps, or otherwise congratulates - graciously - opponents when covering them. I think he loves the sport and is on the well-deserved ride of his young life right now.

I think Crabtree's diss kinda broke his heart, when he was on a super-high at the end of that nail-biter of a game.

Alls I gotta say:

WORK IT RICHARD, MY MAN! GO 'HAWKS!!!!

[cilla4progress]

140. Like I said...

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-01-23/richard-sherman-michael-crabtree-audio-video-super-bowl-48-seattle-seahawks

"Helluva game."

Those were Sherm's offending words that cause Crabtree to hit him in the face after that season-saving play!!!

[dilby]

162. Thanks for sharing that.

Shows you the type of person Crabtree is and I think Richard was justified.

[ladjf]

11. There is nothing racial about the word "thug".

The definition is "1.brutal person: somebody, especially a criminal, who is brutal and violent"

[geek tragedy]

15. Just like there's nothing racial about 'shiftless welfare queen' nt

[Cali_Democrat]

17. tehehehe

[Cali_Democrat]

25. Also...

Can anyone point to a way in which Sherman has been brutal, violent and/or criminal?

I don't think he's ever been in trouble with the law. So why are people branding him a thug?

[ladjf]

31. The word "thug" is at least 700 years old and has been used all around the world.

If there are people currently "morphing" the meaning thug to be synonymous with the "N" word, then for them the meaning is intended to be racist. But, for the remaining 99+ per cent of the World's population, it isn't yet a racists term.

[geek tragedy]

34. How long have the words "lazy" and "welfare" been around?

Richard Sherman is smart enough to know that some words take on a code meaning beyond their dictionary definitions.

Note, by the way, that calling Sherman a 'thug' is nonsensical on its face since he is not a violent, brutal person.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

83. To the majority of the world's population, since they don't speak English, it doesn't mean anything.

The word certainly is morphing into a racist term, thanks to the racists. I hate when words are co-opted as this one has been, but that doesn't change the fact that it happens, as it has happened for the word thug. You may not mean it that way, but if you say it to a black male, don't be surprised if he takes it that way.

[ladjf]

114. The word thug is basically the same in all languages. It was derived from a nomadic tribe called

"Thugs". nt

[R B Garr]

118. Very well said! When I read the headline to this thread, Sherman's comments really resonated

"Thug" has been co-opted as you stated, and I can see it now as being racially tinged. Great post.

[Sgent]

169. More than that

probably close to 25% of the world knows the word as part of their primary language (its originally a Hindi word that migrated to English in the 19th century).

[Igel]

93. Not in English.

In English it's a bit over 200 years old. Etymology.com says from Hindi, which matches what I learned a long time ago.

Yes, it was originally ethnic--and pertained to S. Asians. Quickly lost that part of its meaning.

I know a lot of people who use it. Most often not about young black males.

A lot of the debate is contextual. A few years ago "arrogant" was used of Obama, and it was immediately decried here as only possibly meaning "uppity" and therefore a racism term (with no disagreement allowed). Nonetheless, it's used in the OP.

[geek tragedy]

133. the word 'thug' was used more often on Monday on television than it had been

on any other day in the past three years.

625 times.

Not over a violent crime. Or threat of violence.

It got used that many times because a black guy said something that pissed white people off.

It would be equally difficult explaining how Sherman is not arrogant and explaining how he is a thug.

[whathehell]

187. Agreed. n/t

[GeorgeGist]

52. Or dog whistle.

[Are_grits_groceries]

67. Oh yes there is.

Context is everything.
Many people know they better not address him by the N word or some obvious choice. So they use the word thug.

He is like Deion Sanders, but he's taking a different route. Deion was flamboyant and a braggart. It was calculated to bring him attention and it worked. He could back it up with his play too.

Sherman is too smart not to be very aware of the image he presents. He has a completely different side that is admirable. I would vote for him if he ran for office. He wouldn't be bullied and he would learn quickly how to work the system to get his issues to the forefront.

He and Gabrielle Reece, the volleyball player, were both at Florida State at the same time. Sports Illustrated recounted a conversation they had about image. That was what it was about. Projecting an image that would bring attention.

[Drahthaardogs]

68. Sanders was so afraid of contact it was a joke

He was waaaaay overhyped. Give me Champ Bailey or Wodson anytime over Sanders.

[Are_grits_groceries]

70. He may not have been as great as he was made out to be,

but he was a very good player. He could cover people and that's the major requirement for a cornerback. Hitting isn't the first asset I would want. It would be up there, but coverage would be the key.

In addition, he was a great kick returner. That added to his aura.

[Drahthaardogs]

77. Being a sure tackler is very important for a cornerback

Sanders was a brilliant return man though, I will give you that

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

88. So, gay didn't mean homosexual until the dictionary added that definition?

[geek tragedy]

207. people who call President Obama "a typical Chicago Democratic thug" are racist

rightwing trolls. If you don't want to be accused of being a racist rightwing troll, don't act like a racist rightwing troll.

That is straight-up Limbaugh-style race-baiting and dogwhistling.

[arely staircase]

26. I really like and respect sherman (go hawks) but disagree on this point. at least to a degree

It may be a substitute for some. But when I think thug, especially NFL thug, I think Incognito.

[geek tragedy]

38. that's because Incognito is an actual thug.

Violent, uncivilized, etc.

[arely staircase]

41. no shit nt

And a racist one too.

[Eleanors38]

117. I use "thug" to describe a violent criminal. nt

[alarimer]

27. How about "asshole"?

Or unsportsmanlike jerk.

Because he is all of those and more.

Just a complete asshole. Then again, so is almost everyone else who plays professional sports. Arrogant, selfish assholes.

But maybe they need to be? Of course conduct like that is generally celebrated these days. Just look at reality television. Or the news. Or politics.

Nobody is a good sport anymore, winning or losing. Almost no one is gracious in defeat. They sulk or they throw things (water bottles, helmets, gloves, etc.) Behavior that should earn a benching and would have in days gone by. But because these are professional athletes, we accept almost any kind of assholish behavior.

[geek tragedy]

30. That's perfectly fair.

That moment anyways could certainly be described as extreme assholishness.

[arely staircase]

45. I would go with immature

He has said as much himself.

[geek tragedy]

46. Yeah, he earned a lot of legit criticism on that. nt

[arely staircase]

48. but that said

And I don't buy the whole "oh its just NFL culture" argument when someone like Incognito uses it to excuse racism and death threats. But I agree with those who say "stick a microphone in a 24 year old NFL defensive back right after he just made the play that is sending his team to the Super Bowl, don't act srprised if he is a little jacked up." Sherman made no racist, homophobic, or otherwise bullying threats in that "interview". The stuff he said was not much different than Ali's taunting of rivals.

[RiffRandell]

185. No, it's really not.

He picked Stanford for academics, and realizes how hard it is for inner-city kids to compete education-wise.

Sherman, who will earn a base salary of $550,000 this season, has used that stature to pursue his greatest off-field passion: Preaching the importance of education to inner-city kids and providing materials and supplies for impoverished schools. A summertime softball game organized by his foundation, Blanket Coverage, raised $40,000 for the cause.

“I feel obligated to make (the inner city) a better place,” he said. “We shouldn’t ever leave a kid behind. But it’s hard for them to take the SATs when the textbooks they’re using were made in 2000. How can they compete?”

Every human being can be an asshole, not just athletes. Hell, I see it every day on DU.

Link: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20140120/seattle-seahawks-richard-sherman-from-compton-to-stanford-to-49ers-enemy

[geek tragedy]

195. I didn't say I agree. I have a very strong personal approval of this guy overall.

That incident was really unfortunate though. But it's a peccadillo.

[wilt the stilt]

61. so why don't you complain about Crabtree

who started it all 6 month's ago at a charity function and probably has talked trash all game.

[RiffRandell]

192. Exactly! nt

[RiffRandell]

191. Nice Broad Brush of athletes.

If you were the one who got picked last in Dodge Ball in junior high...sorry.

My son doesn't like the jocks at school, and he wasn't that great a baseball player...but won the championship 2 times for his teams.

And as a sports fan, I find your post insulting.

[Upton]

29. Sherman is just using this as a way to deflect attention

away from his antics which even John Madden has called 'embarrassing'

I feel real bad for him...

[geek tragedy]

32. Yeah, he should just sit there and take the racist slurs.

Even after apologizing and walking it back, every white racist in the country should have license to use that kind of hate speech against him

[Upton]

35. I don't consider it to be a racial slur..

seen plenty of whites referred to as thugs. Sherman is just playing the media and you're following right along.

[geek tragedy]

37. Well, I guess if some white people don't consider it a slur

that settles it. After all, what would a black guy know about coded racial slurs?

And, btw, other than poormouthing Michael Crabtree's skills and accurately describing himself as the best cornerback in football, what did he do that would qualify him as a 'thug?'

[Upton]

43. You'll have to ask someone who called him that..

and sorry, but Richard Sherman is hardly my go to guy when looking to ferret out coded racial slurs. Give me a break.

[geek tragedy]

44. why is he not qualified to speak on racial slurs?

He grew up in Compton, has experienced life in a multitude of socio-economic settings, and has a communications degree from Stanford.

[Upton]

50. I'm well aware of where he went to school..

Condi Rice is teaching at Stanford now and is a visible supporter of the football program. Do you take her word as gospel too?

[geek tragedy]

71. Condi Rice is not part of this discussion nt

[RC]

129. She is now.

[geek tragedy]

131. only as an attempt at distraction from someone trying to whitesplain

why we don't need to listen to a black person when they object to a slur

[RC]

136. How is 'whitesplain' not being racist?

Or does it depend on the view of the person using it?

[geek tragedy]

138. whitesplain:

The act of a caucasian person explaining to audiences of color the true nature of racism;

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whitesplain

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/whitesplain

a combining form extracted from mansplain, and meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, from the perspective of the group one identifies with,” as in ladysplain; whitesplain : racism being whitesplained to a person of color.

In this case, white people saying straight up that we don't need to listen to black people when they object to a words as coded racism. Because, of course, white people know best on that subject.

[RC]

141. I know what it means.

But you have a tendency to twist things to what you want them to mean. Your own OP for an example.

[geek tragedy]

143. as I said, white guys who whine about political correctness have zero

credibility in my opinion on racist/sexist speech. Certainly they don't rebut someone like Sherman, who has infinitely more credibliity on the subject.

[RC]

145. You are saying in effect that only non white guys have credibility when it comes to

political correctness?

Good to know. I'd still like to know how you are not being racist here.

[geek tragedy]

149. no, white guys who actually make an attempt to listen to the voices

of women and people of color have something of value to add.

Those who whine about political correctness do not make that attempt.

For example, Rush Limbaugh's repeated reference to President Obama as a 'street thug.' According to the anti-PC crusaders, nope no racism there.

Just like all the rightwing racist gunhumpers calling Trayvon Martin a 'thug.' According to the anti-PC champions, no racism there.


No credibility.

[RC]

152. Then why do I get the feeling that you are whining about me not conforming to your idea

of political correctness?

[geek tragedy]

157. Not whining, just observing that you equate listening to black people

on racism when you disagree with them to political correctness.

you disagree with them, therefore their perspective, their life experience with racism, doesn't count, after all, you're white so you know best

[cinnabonbon]

156. I totally agree with what you say here.

[SolutionisSolidarity]

33. Having watched it firsthand, I thought either Crabtree must have said something awful,

or that Sherman must be a jackass. I don't see how "thug" would be appropriate; it's not like he stabbed someone on the field.

[marlakay]

49. Sherman says in article he wrote

That Crabtree did something or said something bad to him last spring in Arizona, he started it and they have been sparring ever since.

He wouldn't say what it was, said to ask Crabtree.

[Upton]

64. The only one corroborating that story is Sherman's brother..

on the other hand..

But a source who was at the Fitzgerald charity event—and who has no familial or professional relationship to Sherman or Crabtree—witnessed part of what happened and said it looked more like it was the other way around.

"The handshake part is legit," the source said, "but it was Sherman who tried to start the fight with Crabtree. I remember 'cause Sherman kept getting in his face and Crabtree was just laughing about it."

http://www.nj.com/super-bowl/index.ssf/2014/01/source_actually_richard_sherman_tried_to_fight_michael_crabtree_at_charity_event.html

[ZombieHorde]

39. I think the article makes some good points,

but loaded racial terms can be difficult to keep up with. These terms seem to be changing from time to time, and if this isn't something you live around, you're going to miss a lot of it.

[geek tragedy]

40. some of it isn't conscious.

But, the extraordinary usage of the word in the aftermath of his interview--the most EVER in broadcasting--seems to point in one pretty clear direction.

[Jenoch]

42. I was unaware of any specifics

about Sherman until his last game. I was not aware of his background. I do not think of him as a thug. He is a jackass however.

[bettyellen]

47. People here say slurs are abstract idea, and it puts white men in a disadvantaged position...

if they aren't allowed to use the words "n*****s" and "b****es" with impunity. I hear this all the time here.

[nomorenomore08]

63. How does having to adjust one's vocabulary "disadvantage" anyone? That is completely absurd.

They must think of life as a zero-sum game where, the less they get to insult others, the more others get to insult them. Or something like that...

[hrmjustin]

203. Thanks for playing and enjoy your pizza. edit below.

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Why do you think. It was clearly a troll.

[William769]

204. Honored the 30 minutes or less.

[hrmjustin]

209. For the second troll I would say why do you think?

[bettyellen]

69. the rationalization is that it is divisive to give African Americans or women "special privileges"

as in, not being denigrated by white men.
There are claims it is divisive to NOT let asshole racists run amok and spew hatred in GD right now. Lovely.

[nomorenomore08]

105. Same old catering to the right wing. It's nothing new, and it never works.

[redqueen]

178. 'Special privileges'... such a rightwing whine. nt

[bettyellen]

183. but you hear it from people here, and they argue how anyone can judge the word is used a slur...

as if they are too stupid to be able to tell the difference. And would thus prefer to give the KKK the benefit of the doubt. And then label it as an intellectual argument- when they cannot discern how words are being used better than a five year old can? I don't think so.

[Kurska]

51. This far too true far too often

If a white person is loud, boisterous and cocky they are only considered a thug if they are also dumb and violent.

For a black person it seems like you'll always be a thug if you're loud, boisterous and cocky.

Def a double standard

[Alamuti Lotus]

53. how often do you and I agree on anything?

I think this is #3, but you are quite right on this. I became very annoyed, very quickly watching the idiotic attacks on Sherman lately, precisely due to the hypocritical and hyperbolic nature of them.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

59. He's right. Trayvon was called that...even after he was shot and killed.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

60. Chris Christie is beloved partly because he talks shit; he's rude, arrogant, and a "straight talker"

But a football player who is emotional and passionate at the end of a high-energy, high-stakes play-off game is called the N-Word, a monkey, and all kinds of racial epitaphs, even though he holds a Masters from Stanford and was a straight-A student in high school.

I love the USA.

[wilt the stilt]

62. Why is no one complaining about Larry Bird

probably the greatest trash talker of all time or was Kevin McHale called a thug for clotheslining Kurt Rambis. I'm waiting all you sports fans.

[AlbertCat]

66. "What's the definition of a thug really?"

A devotee of Kali who strangles and then robs their victims (thugee), usually travelers. Being that India is on the subcontinent, I'm not sure how dark their skin was.

[a kennedy]

72. Did anyone listen to Reggie Miller on the Dan Patrick show today???

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 08:58 AM - Edit history (1)

TNT analyst Reggie Miller says he had no problem with Richard Sherman’s comments after the NFC Conference Championship Game. He thinks that the reaction might have been different if Erin Andrews hadn’t been doing the interview.

http://www.danpatrick.com/2014/01/22/reggie-miller-sticks-up-for-richard-sherman/

[geek tragedy]

75. Heh, it would have been hypocritical in the extreme for Reggie to say otherwise.

[FSogol]

76. I doubt I'd blame Andrews, she expected to get an interview with a player happy with winning the

big game, instead she got a nonsensical rant.

[geek tragedy]

98. She didn't do anything wrong, but people's reaction to a black guy with dreads going

off will differ if he's standing next to a nice-looking white woman. Had he said that when asked by Tom Jackson or Howie Long, maybe a different gut reaction in some people.

[R B Garr]

115. I tend to agree with this. Erin Andrews' grimace during the interview was so

unprofessional and uncalled for. I can't recall an interview with an athlete after any game where the reporter came off so negatively. And the question she asked about who was talking about Sherman sounded really unprepared and whiny. I agree with Miller's description of Andrews as the Golden Girl -- she seemed to be making that moment more about her than about what she was there to report.

Interestingly, the next day I read her account of what she was thinking during the interview and she explained some of her reaction, but I think she could have handled that whole situation and her question with much more professionalism and I don't think it would have been as dramatized as it is now.

[FSogol]

73. The proper word for Sherman was "poor sportsman."

He made a great play and won the game. He has every right to celebrate. Instead of celebrating, he slapped Crabtree on the ass and taunted him. Crabtree shoved him and got a penalty. Sherman then acted like the victim and has been doing it ever since. Stanford educated or not he missed the lessons on Sportsmanship. There are definite double standards on race in this country even in professional sports. Sherman is not an example of it.

[geek tragedy]

78. You had me until the end.

In what dictionary is "poor sport" a definition of 'thug?'

[FSogol]

79. I didn't call him a thug. Thug is the wrong word, poor sportsman is the proper term. n/t

[geek tragedy]

82. I guess maybe we're talking past each other.

He's not claiming he's getting criticized because he's black. He was objecting to the racial tinge of some of the commentary.

The word 'thug' was very prominent in that.
e
http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-word-thug-was-uttered-625-times-on-tv-yesterday-1506098319

The word "thug" has been used so many times by the same sort of people about the same sort of thing that it's no longer even accurate to call it code—it's really more of a shorthand. It means a black guy who makes white folks a little more uncomfortable than they prefer. On Sunday night, Richard Sherman made a lot of people uncomfortable. Then on Monday, people said thug on TV more often than on any other day in the past three years.

The numbers here come from iQ Media1, and they're based on every closed caption that ran in every market in the country over the past three years. As you can see above, Monday was more "thug"-heavy than any day in the past few years. iQ Media says 625 "thug"s across all markets, while competing service TVEyes says 524 so far today, but just 269 yesterday. Both have today and yesterday as massive spikes. ESPN, to its credit, appears to be on the hook for just two "thugs" all of yesterday. CBS was the overall leader by iQ's count, but that number is slightly inflated because of a mention on the national broadcast of the creatively bereft ratings graveyard Intelligence, which went out to a bunch of local affiliates.

Maybe 1 or 2 or ten times he can shrug that off. But is a black man really supposed to keep his mouth shut after 625 times--just on television. Not counting talk radio or ,ewww, Twitter.

[kwassa]

90. "Talking trash" is a time-honored tradition in pro sports.

Seattle is especially good at it, in an article I read prior to this game. The object is to upset your opponent enough that they will commit a penalty or mistake of some other kind. I think this type of comment is also meant to send a message to the next team they are to play.

[FSogol]

92. Time honored? Sorry, that's one of the problems with pro sports.

As for sending a message to Denver, Sherman put himself and teammates into a media circus. Hardly the way to prepare for a big game.

[kwassa]

97. It is part of the psych-up and psych-out of Denver.

Sherman has also praised Denver mightily.

[geek tragedy]

96. Sherman doesn' think he can get into Manning's head.

It'll be execution, not mind games, that determines the winner.

[kwassa]

100. oh, I agree with that. Manning has ice water in his veins.

They are both great players in completely different ways.

[Aldo Leopold]

74. This Sherman lad strikes me as a very intelligent young man.

I really enjoy listening to him speak and reading interviews with him.

Not at all a fan of the Seahawks, but I do like this guy.

[sulphurdunn]

85. I agree with Sherman, but

he should still do grass drills for it until he begs for death. Go Seattle!

[marble falls]

87. Absolutely true. Thug is code.

[Boom Sound 416]

89. I don't think the reaction would be that different to the term arrogant ass

[TheKentuckian]

95. I tend to agree, all the rebs were calling Travon Martin a thug too.

That is how they refer to any black person observing at a polling site.

Now, I do grant that they also use the term when they describe union activists as well but that goes back to a time when they could get away with more off color descriptors for blacks and I think it just carried over.

[AAO]

101. I'm glad he said that. I've felt the same thing.

[klook]

103. Sherman's the new Jim Mora

That's what I thought when I saw it. He didn't come across as "thuggish" at all.

Now here's a guy who does come across as thuggish:


I know what you mean, though, and I agree. I particularly hear it about the NBA. I've had people say to me, "I enjoy college hoops, but I can't watch the NBA -- too many thugs." I always call them on it: "Oh, you mean, there aren't enough white guys in the NBA?" This generally results in a flustered response and a hasty change of subject.

[caraher]

104. Wyatt Cenac had a similar observation

I saw Cenac doing standup Saturday night, and he discussed the similar (same coach on one side, in fact!) Rangers-Devils line brawl in the context of our supposedly "post-racial" society. The way he put it was, the worst thing you get as a hockey player is the equivalent of courtside seats (the penalty box), while if you even just stand up as a bench player in the NBA if there's a scuffle you're sent off to the locker room.

There's a lot of speaking in code out there...

[RandySF]

106. Sherman has a 4.2 GPA and is working on a Masters at Stanford.

It was an unfortunate moment for him because that meltdown was the only time many people ever saw him in public. Professional athletes are human, but like politicians, they are always "on" and one mistake can tag you for the rest of your career.

[Inkfreak]

108. Glad I just called him an ass then.

Because that's how he acted. He may be correct in describing some peoples intent tho. I still didn't like what I saw.

[d_b]

109. he's right

it happens on fox news all the time. or visit cnn or yahoo comment section. black=thug to those assholes.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

110. About the history of the word as a racial slur:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4375143

[Skittles]

111. he is correct

and I have yet to even see his rant

[pnwmom]

112. No, he isn't. When I say Gov. Thug, I am not calling him the N-word.

And, in context, everyone understands who I mean.

[geek tragedy]

125. that's because Christie threatened and bullied and intimidated.

that is thuggish behavior.

What did Richard Sherman do besides poor-mouthing an opponent he's had an ongoing feud with, and bragging about his abilities?

[pnwmom]

180. I don't know who Sherman is. I'm responding to his general claim

that thug means the n word.

[geek tragedy]

189. it does mean the N-word in some contexts.

When applied to Bashir al Assad or a member of the Aryan Brotherhood? Not racist.

When Limbaugh calls President Obama a 'street thug'--indisputably racist.

[Arcanetrance]

113. I think people are blowing Sherman out of proportion

I played football from pee wee to a year in college when I hurt my knee. There's a lot of talking that goes on during a game adrenaline and nerves are high as hell. Add to that making a play to end the game to send your team to the superbowl and to put icing on it that play happened against a division rival. I would be more surprised if he kept his cool.

[Iggo]

120. He ain't wrong.

[Number23]

121. I don't know Richard Sherman from a can of beans

But on this he is absolutely BANG ON. And NO ONE with an inch of decency or common sense would even try to deny it.

K&R

[Jamaal510]

228. He is a cornerback

for the Seattle Seahawks.

[Blue_Tires]

124. kick for truth...

[DinahMoeHum]

126. Wow, a well-known trash-talker complaining about being called a thug???

Tough shit, asshole. You reap what you sow.

Stanford education, my ass. Nobody who didn't know you would've known that by the way you behaved during and after the game.
Their first impression of you isn't a pretty one right now. But that's your problem, not theirs.

[geek tragedy]

127. so, using racist code words is okay with you if the

guy is a trash talker?

[DinahMoeHum]

128. It's HIS problem if he thinks it's racist.

I don't. The word has applied to people in all colors and religions.

[geek tragedy]

132. OFFS. it's a black person's fault if they're offended by

blatant racist codespeak?

[DinahMoeHum]

181. Hey, I'm not getting into a "pissing contest with you.

You've just gotten "Ignored".

[ForgoTheConsequence]

227. Seems to be a popular belief here.

This whole ordeal has exposed a lot of racists. "It's the black mans fault for being offended"

[RC]

134. Horse Pucky.

More Word Police trying to put another good, reputable word into disrepute on DU, by assigning a meaning it does not have.

thug ( thŭg) n. 1. A cutthroat or ruffian; a hoodlum. 2. One of a band of professional assassins formerly active in northern India. [Hindi Úhag perhaps from Sanskrit sthaga¡/ a cheat from sthagati, sthagayati he conceals; See (s)teg- in Indo-European Roots.] thug “ger·y n. thug “gish adj.


1. (n.) A person, often hired, who terrorizes or assaults others:
· ruffian
· goon (informal)
· gorilla (informal)
· gunsel (slang)
· hood (slang)
· hoodlum
· hooligan
· plug-ugly (slang)
· torpedo (slang)
· yob (British, slang)
· yobbo (British, slang)
2. (n.) A person who behaves in a disorderly or destructive fashion:
· rowdy
· hooligan
· larrikin (chiefly Australian)
· punk
· roughneck
· ruffian
· tough
· yob (British, slang)
· delinquent
· hoodlum
· vandal
· yahoo

[geek tragedy]

135. The word is not the problem, the racists' use of it is.

You see, and maybe you missed this point, Richard Sherman is NOT a thug according to the definition you posted.

Not. Even. Close.

So, what lead a bunch of white people to call him a thug? The fact that he was a black guy who pissed them off.

Unless you have another explanation.

[RC]

137. I think you are seeing racism where little or none exists.

More attempted flame bait. Not every difference involving people of differing skin color involves racism.

[geek tragedy]

139. I think I'll trust what black people say as opposed to white guys

who love to rail against 'political correctness' since the latter group is almost always wrong.

[RC]

142. I'd like to see this poll you took or saw.

[geek tragedy]

144. never in my life have I encountered a white guy who simultaneously whined

about political correctness and at the same time was able to empathize with women and people of color on racism and sexism and make an attempt to see things from their perspective.

Honestly, I've never seen them try

[RC]

151. Then you do not know many Liberals.

And you do not know me.

I have posted several times that I taught my kids to try to see things from the other persons view point. They did not have to agree, just try to understand where the other person was coming from.
Now, how could I have done that, if I could not do the same myself? Maybe you should make an effort.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101683395#post3

[geek tragedy]

154. parents many times employ the "do as I say not as a I do" approach nt

[RC]

155. I don't. I taught my kids by example.

[geek tragedy]

158. you better not let them read your posts here. nt

[RC]

164. Why not? Being tolerant does not mean being submissive.

[geek tragedy]

165. you're very tolerant of women and black people so long as they agree with

you and avoid saying stuff that makes you uncomfortable

[RC]

168. Stop projecting and don't put your words on my mouth.

I see women, men, Blacks, who ever, people in general, as people. Doesn't much matter.
It is their personality, their demeanor that counts. That is all that most of us have to go by here on DU.

[ladjf]

231. Slang reassignments of word definitions come a go, particularly among people with

limited vocabularies. My guess is that within forty or fifty years from now, almost no one will believe that the words "thug" and "n" are synonymous.

[RC]

232. No one believes they're synonymous now and never were.

And my vocabulary is not that limited. The two words are only synonymous by wanta-be PC word police here on DU.

[ladjf]

234. Perhaps I've misunderstood this entire thread.

The original point was that Mr. Sherman said the when a black person was called a "thug" , it was code for the "N" word.
When I commented that I didn't think his statement was true, several posters pointed out my ignorance of the code usage for the "N"word.

You say "No one believes they're synonymous now and never were". Do you mean that Mr. Sherman didn't mean what he said about the words? My statement simply meant that if there are a number of people who now believe that "thug" has a specific
racial meaning, that will be a temporary condition ,likely to disappear over time.

I regret that I posted on this thread in the first place. I personally don't care how people adapt language to suit their personal
values.

[RC]

236. Look who posted the OP for your answer.

It was meant to be flame bait. Try Googleing the two words to see if you can find a connection. Doubtful that you can.

[ladjf]

239. Thanks. I know that I had never heard that "thug" was code for some racial slur. nt

[bluedigger]

148. Not a fan of Sherman, but he's right on this.

Language is not a fixed development, but is adapted over time to suit the needs of its' users. Dictionaries be damned, context and usage clearly support his assertion.

[NM_Birder]

163. That fucking "Thug" Govenor Ahaaaaanold......

Nah, that dog won't hunt, he's a douchebag but to white to be a thug.

[flamingdem]

190. I hope his team wins so that the game

will be a tad more interesting.

[icymist]

167. I see what you mean, especially after watching the video showing the sequence of events:

Watch the video at the link below and see that Richard Sherman was extending his hand in a gesture of sportsmanship, only to get shoved in the face by Crabtree:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/23/richard-sherman-micd--up-michael-crabtree_n_4640849.html

Now when the interview happened, almost directly after this incident, everyone is all up and up that this black man would be so cocky and 'in your face' belligerent after being treated this way. Does anyone try and see what really happened? No. The yells of 'thug' ring loud. It's almost as if everyone was expecting Mr. Sherman to be saying, "Ahs am so gratefuls that y'all lets me play footsball. Mister shoves me in the face for sayin' that we plays a good game, but that Okay! Ahs glad to be allows to play." Is that what everybody wants this black man to say after being shoved in the face by the sore loser? So he loses his cool while his adrenalin is still pumping hard through his veins when a reporter shoves a microphone in his face almost right after this. Wouldn't you?

[Orsino]

173. Well, it's also the way we characterize Chris Christie.

Context is all.

[geek tragedy]

174. yes, because Christie is a bully who relies on intimidation and threats and blackmail nt

[Orsino]

176. Not exactly a counterpoint to Sherman's assertion, I guess.

It seems to come down to who's characterizing whom.

[geek tragedy]

177. The word 'thug' was used on television 625 times on Monday--moreso

than on any other day in the past three years.

Runner-up was when Kerry was quoted as describing Bashir al Assad as a thug.

Why? Because a lot of white people didn't like a black guy's attitude. Now, there's nothing racist about not liking what he did in that interview, but describing him as a thug is pretty obvious dogwhistling.

[Packerowner740]

184. Put your dog whistle away

You're just manufacturing crap in your mind that isn't really there. I live in west Texas, we don't have many African Americans here where I live but we sure do have our share of thugs.

[geek tragedy]

196. so, when Rush Limbaugh calls Barack Obama a 'street thug' and when the Ted Nugent

crowd called Trayvon Martin a "thug" your position is that it's not racial dogwhistling?

[Packerowner740]

205. So you take everything some right wing idiot says to mean EVERYONE sees it the same way?

OK

[geek tragedy]

206. no, the point is that context matters.

and when a black guy is called a thug because white people didn't like his attitude, that's most likely racism, especially when said black guy is definitely NOT a thug

[redqueen]

188. Just wanted to say thank you for your posts in this thread. nt

[geek tragedy]

194. thanks, doing my best to be civil nt

[joeglow3]

193. I think he IS a thug

In my mind, a thug is someone who is incapable of rational conflict resolution skills.

Example: We were at my 10 year old son's basketball game last Saturday. There was a mom behind us going nuts about missed calls, fouls, etc. At one point she was screaming for a 3 second call. My 65 year old mother turned her head about 120% to look at the lady, mostly out of genuine surprise that this behavior was going on. The lady's immediate reaction was to rudely shout "what are you looking at?" My exact comment to my mother was to call her a thug.

Ohh, and she was white.

[geek tragedy]

198. "someone who is incapable of rational conflict resolution skills"

so, you made up your own definition and applied it to Sherman, even though your make-believe definition still doesn't apply to him.

Because a rant does not mean a person is incapable of being rational. In fact, if you watch his discussion of how he prepares for games, he's extremely rational.

[cinnabonbon]

201. Thug IS used more about black kids

So I think he's just telling the truth.

[Glassunion]

212. It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.

I'm having a hard time trying to keep up. How many words have the European Americans decided are racist and should no longer be used?

It was easier back in my youth. I could tell a racist by the language they used towards me. But now there are just so many words and phrases we label as racist, I cannot keep up. I had a guy the other day that I think (if I have an updated Compendium of Racist Words 12th Edition) was probably the Grand Unicorn (or whatever they call themselves) of the Klan, who was so incredibly racist towards me. Either that or he just wanted directions to a BBQ restaurant. I could not really tell.

So now that the "T" word has been added to the ever growing list of racist words. What word will be used to describe someone who is the Webster's Dictionary definition of a "T" word? Or would one have to hop on the euphemism treadmill with a long and drawn out barrage of adjectives to avoid saying the "T" word?

[geek tragedy]

213. please do not obfuscate. when white people call a black man a thug not because he is a thug

but because they do not like his attitude, thinking him too arrogant etc, they are being racist.

If they call him a thug because he hit a little old lady over the head to mug her, they are not being racist.

does this make sense to you?

[Glassunion]

214. So am I being racist when I call a white republican a "T" word

Because I don't appriciate his smug attitude and arrogance?

[geek tragedy]

216. Do you agree that Rush Limbaugh is totally not being racist

when he refers to President Obama as a "street thug" and that the NRA extremists were totally not being racist when they called Trayvon Martin a 'thug.'

Do you dispute that 'lazy welfare bums" and "shiftless welfare queens" are racial dogwhistles?

And, to answer your question, white people do not get called 'thugs' because other white people think they're too egotistical.

[Glassunion]

218. Rush is racist, so no matter what words he uses, there is a racist undertone.

but that does not suddenly make the word racist. If Rush called Obama a basket of peaches, it would not suddenly make the term racist. The words are what they are defined. The meaning comes behind the user.

In and of itself the word is not racist and is not the new "N" word.

He was acting with thuggish behavior. He was picking a fight, and taunting another person at a moment where they were most upset. He did it to a point where it brought out a physical response. Knowing the backstory, and the outcome if I were in Sherman's shoes, I'd have probably acted the same way.

But a bunch of 9'ers fans upset that he not only killed their chance at a Super Bowl, but then rubbed it in their face and tried to pick a fight, calling him a thug is not racist. That is of course unless all 9'ers fans are racist.

To Sherman's comment about hockey... There was actually a hockey movie where the main character was nicknamed "The Thug". Just sayin'

[Egnever]

215. Nope your just a thug.

You made that pretty clear at the end of the game last week.

[geek tragedy]

217. what act of excessive violence and brutality did Mr. Sherman commit such that

it would earn him the designation of 'thug?'

Or is just the fact you don't like his attitude?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

230. I'm sure that "thug" knows the difference between your and you're.

Unlike you. After all, that "thug" has a graduate degree from Stanford.

[Bonobo]

219. So all the times we use "thug" when it refers to non-black people is what?

I remember using the term "thug" referring specifically to the types of hockey players that were not great skaters or shooters but were there to do body checks and be enforcers.

Sherman is too young to remember hockey in the 70's like I do, but that's what we called them.

Nothing racial about it IMO.

Clark Gillies, he was a thug.

[geek tragedy]

220. this isn't that complicated

those hockey guys were violent brutes

thugs

Richard Sherman is not perfect, but that's not him.

All dog whistles are sometimes not bigoted. Lazy, welfare, dual loyalty, etc.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

229. If you defend calling black men "thugs"....

You probably also believe Rick Santorum said "blah people".


This white privilege is oozing all over this thread.

[CBGLuthier]

233. I started noticing the THUG meme a few months ago.

Time after time the word was used to describe people of one race in particular. It is the new "urban." All the silly-ass white people in the world can deny it but nowadays a lot of people are saying thug because of the word they know they can not say.

[gollygee]

235. It wasn't, but it is now

It used to be about 1930s Chicago gangsters, and strongmen who supported organized crime heads, that kind of thing. But the word isn't really used that way anymore. It's used to describe African American men, especially young men. I agree with him. It's turned into an ugly stereotype.