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Dark n Stormy Knight

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12. That would be a reasonable objection if the author claimed the word "thug" was racist simply

Reply to DavidDvorkin (Reply #10)

Wed Jan 22, 2014, 11:59 PM

Jan 2014

because it came into English from somewhere other than Europe.

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The Racist Origins of the term “Thug”. [View all] Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 OP

Tupac wasn't exactly fleeing from the term XemaSab Jan 2014 #1

About that... Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #5

And what about the machine gun? XemaSab Jan 2014 #9

Oh, now I see what you're trying to do. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #14

"50 Niggaz" Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #19

Here's my problem with Tupac: XemaSab Jan 2014 #40

All of this has traveled so far over your head. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #58

You don't know anything about me XemaSab Jan 2014 #61

It's called reappropriation. Maybe you should do a little light reading on it. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #83

Once again with the ad hominem Shivering Jemmy Jan 2014 #65

Here's where thugging leads: XemaSab Jan 2014 #81

You forgot to include the link to the article. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #2

Dammit. I hate when I do that! Link added. Thanks for the heads up. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #3

You're welcome. Happens to all of us. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #4

I think this isn't quite correct. It wasn't particularly "British colonialists" the thuggee El_Johns Jan 2014 #6

So then, it's not quite complete. But clearly the writer was just focusing on how the word came Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #7

I think the author's linking the British use of the word under colonialism to current use is kind El_Johns Jan 2014 #39

They never try to back up their claim that the British used it as a racial term muriel_volestrangler Jan 2014 #80

Oh brother. Skip Intro Jan 2014 #8

I don't know, maybe as far detached from specificity as your response. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #11

maybe what matters is currently useage Niceguy1 Jan 2014 #31

It *is* about usage. But it's not about what *you* hear. It's nice for you that you don't Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #34

and some choose to hear Niceguy1 Jan 2014 #48

No, the claim doesn't make it so. Nevertheless, it is so. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #53

there is racism... Niceguy1 Jan 2014 #57

Fairly simple concept. Inkfreak Jan 2014 #68

the constantly offended Niceguy1 Jan 2014 #69

This makes about as much sense as saying that "pundit" is racist DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #10

That would be a reasonable objection if the author claimed the word "thug" was racist simply Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #12

I grew up hearing "thug" used to refer to dangerous white men DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #13

What is it that you just don't see? And, surely you don't believe that that of which you are unaware Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #15

It does refer to dangerous men (and women), of any race. Skip Intro Jan 2014 #16

Why would you think the incident needs deflecting from? morningfog Jan 2014 #18

You'd have to ask the one deflecting the attetion. n/t Skip Intro Jan 2014 #20

I am. morningfog Jan 2014 #21

Or so you think. n/t Skip Intro Jan 2014 #23

It seems your knowledge of modern cultural history is rather limited sammythecat Jan 2014 #72

The word thug *can* be used to describe any dangerous man or women. In fact, any word, *can* be Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #28

I use it to describe Zimpig JustAnotherGen Jan 2014 #64

I've always kind of suspected that algebra is racist. Orrex Jan 2014 #71

the word boondocks comes from the Filipino tagalog word bundoks which means mountains Douglas Carpenter Jan 2014 #17

Yeah, kind of in the same way that the etymology of "whore" refers to girl? Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #24

I have no idea what you are talking about. Douglas Carpenter Jan 2014 #25

Of course any word *can* be used in *any* way. But the current discussion is about the fact that Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #38

It may be used in a racist way today (though I don't think so). But that has nothing to do El_Johns Jan 2014 #41

Are you using Raymond Chandler's 1950's books to support your claim about usage in the Indian Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #44

Yes, because it demonstrates that there is no such straight line between British usage during El_Johns Jan 2014 #46

Defending the article like it's gold? Where do you get that? In fact, please note that this is my Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #47

This message was self-deleted by its author El_Johns Jan 2014 #50

It's tricky, that one. Lizzie Poppet Jan 2014 #78

Richard Sherman sure seems to think it's racist. He made the comment that no one liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #22

Wellllll, what does he know? I mean, some dudes here on DU never heard that shit, so Sherman's Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #33

"NHL Video: 50 Biggest Thugs in Hockey History | Bleacher Report" Comrade Grumpy Jan 2014 #84

Surly George Zimmerman is the quintessential thug? (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #26

Yet I'd wager that Trayvon Martin was called a thug about a thousand times as often as Zimmy was. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #29

I actually get more hits for Zimmerman. El_Johns Jan 2014 #42

If you examine the results for Zimmerman thug, a large number of them are people responding to those Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #43

I'm not going to argue about something so meaningless. The fact is that thug has been widely El_Johns Jan 2014 #45

Oh. I see. Your argument doesn't hold water, so suddenly the discussion is meaningless. Riiiiihgt. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #49

It wasn't an "argument". The number of hits a phrase gets on the internet is essentially meaning- El_Johns Jan 2014 #52

No shit, Sherlock! That's what I was telling you. YOU're the one who posted your pointless search Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #55

That reminds me... killbotfactory Jan 2014 #27

Ha! That was awesome! I can't wait to check out some of his other ones. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #30

and just why is the media concentrating on Sherman and Derrick Coleman is getting no liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #32

Most news outlets cater to the lowest instincts of the human race. Sadly, that's what sells. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #35

See also "barbarian", "philistine" n/t Silent3 Jan 2014 #36

I've already seen them. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #37

K&R This & the frequent use of the term by authoritarians to describe union members is why I am a Thug. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2014 #51

The thuggees were a specific Indian cult that went in for murdering people, not just any Indians. Donald Ian Rankin Jan 2014 #54

What's your point? Does the article say thuggees went in for murdering just any Indians? Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #56

Yes, but people also call white men, and sometimes women, thugs. Donald Ian Rankin Jan 2014 #59

Sure, any word CAN be used in a racist way. We're talking about this particular word that IS Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #60

Yes dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #62

Does this mean "union thugs" refers only to non-white members of a union? n/t Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #63

Although I had never looked up the word left is right Jan 2014 #66

thug is a good word, and I'll keep using it when I think it fits quinnox Jan 2014 #67

When I was young in the 80s, I recognized the word "thug" as being about gollygee Jan 2014 #70

That's pretty close to my experience with the term Orrex Jan 2014 #73

I agree. nt laundry_queen Jan 2014 #75

Yeah, I remember how often the "thug" word was used to Blue_Tires Jan 2014 #74

Well, it appears to be shifting to a race-based term, but MineralMan Jan 2014 #76

Joh Kerry used the word ''thug" to describe Assad, A 'Thug And Murderer' Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #77

There's no whining in football. Sherman is the badass bully on the block. Just ask him. Baclava Jan 2014 #79

So I guess "rethuglican" won't be seen at DU again huh? n/t cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #82