Fellow Badgers... About that half the n-word thing by Santorum...

[HereSince1628]

Do people in your part of the state use that anymore?
Are people where you live put-off by it?

I haven't gotten out much in years, and when I do, I'm talking to hospital staff,
clerks at the grocery store, Home Depot or Fleet-Farm.

I just don't notice that word getting used much and it's my impression most folks in Wisconsin
would deem Santorum's us of it to be a glimpse at a flaw in his character.

[hayrow1]

1. Trust me, you live too sheltered a life. In Northeastern Wisconsin, from my communications,

the word is common among those aged over 40 when they speak frankly.

[HereSince1628]

3. Yes, well, that's why I was asking. n/t

[Poiuyt]

7. I rarely hear it in Appleton (and I'm well over 40)

Perhaps it's because my conservative friends know I won't put up with it.

[HereSince1628]

10. Since language is acquired I have no doubt age is a factor

in the use of many words, but I honestly thought the n-word was identified and accepted as vulgar and pretty much wrung out of use in Wisconsin.

Apparently, a consequence of my lack of exposure to the real Wisconsin.

[Scuba]

2. I hear it way too often. Racism is alive and well in Wisconsin.

[HereSince1628]

4. In any particular circumstance?

Is this out on the loading dock on smoke breaks or over the fence with neighbors or in the front room with the BIL???

Just wondering what brings it up?

[Scuba]

5. One that stands out was in reference to a member of the Packer's defensive backfield....

... who had been showboating on an interception return. "That f.....g n....r." This from a gas station clerk waiting on me.

As an old white guy, I think a lot of racist believe I will agree with them. I usually give them just enough rope to hang themselves, then mention that my wife's black.

[mzteris]

6. I heard it at the mall today,

my son said, I hear that word all the time - shaking his head.

Unfortunately, the people we heard saying it were black. And my son is black. We discussed how incongruous and self-defaming it is to use that word. He won't use it. Won't let his friends use it (without getting flack from him).

It really really pisses me off to hear the word, period. But I can't for the life of me understand why the AA community uses it so freely. One of the biggest arguments I had as an HR manager was with one of my AA employees that HE COULD NOT USE THAT WORD! in the workplace.

[Goblinmonger]

13. It's called reclamation.

It is taking a word of oppression and using it in-group and not letting those out-group use it as a means to attain power. Many groups do this. Think of the words queer, fag, bitch to name just a few.

It's not too dissimilar to being able to call your good friend an asshole but not being happy if someone else just randomly did the same thing.

[mzteris]

14. I think it just gives whites the excuse

They can use it with impunity.

Gawd help the person who calls my son that regardless of what color they are. He won't tolerate it. No one should.

An old black panther espoused these same feelings, btw.

[Goblinmonger]

15. Public Enemy didn't like it either.

My degrees are in communication, so I understand the process. I realize all don't like it, but it makes sense as a way to get power back.

[Homer12]

8. I agree Bigotry inside, but mostly outside Milwaukee

Is very alive and well.

JS posters if anything prove that on their responses.

[sybylla]

9. I've never heard it used in polite company.

I rarely hear it in not so polite company. (And that includes the large group of redneck hunters and northwoods folk I hang out with - the kind most in this state would expect to use it regularly.)

Sadly, I have heard it used.

Heard it knocking doors for Obama in '08. Do you argue with someone who say, "guess I'm voting for the nigger"?

OTOH, I have heard elderly people, in polite company use the word "darkie" before. I think it was probably more common here (not Milwaukee) at the turn of the last century and still remains in use by those older generations of people still with us. Totally embarrasses me when I hear my family say it, though I haven't ever heard any derogatory tone associated with it. It seems to be a descriptor - like black.

[HereSince1628]

11. I guess it's a matter of where and how you spend your time

and, thankfully, I'm spending my time in places where I don't hear any of those anymore.

[Big Tent]

12. Wisconsin

Obama is going to win Wisconsin big, maybe a little smaller than last time because the Obama campaign will not have to be here in full force. I would say their are certainly some racists in Wisconsin, but they are pretty much everywhere if you look at the Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Map. For the state as a whole regardless of geography, I would say Wisconsin has a proud history of being one of the most progressive states in the country when it comes to race. In Wisconsin we have an intolerance for racism.