I have a 3 day ban over on Reddit for saying (n word, then homophobic f word). I wasn’t implying anyone was inferior. Reddit lacks a rule expressly saying I can’t use slurs in any context, although they have racism and homophobia banned. Was I being racist and homophobic just by mentioning the word?
Here is the context: I said on /r/monkeyspaw: "Granted. Your username is now “/u/nf.” uncensored. In response to
“I wish I was able to change my username on reddit.”
Yes, you have zero reason to say those words ever. Unless you’re being a bigot. You deserve that ban.
Hmmm. Gonna go out on a limb with this one and say they can be dropped when pointing out the absolute nastiness of bigots.
I’ve been known to shock-drop the n-bomb when snidely retorting “Yaah, he (the relative and his friends) is incapable of seeing black folks as anything other than shiftless, lazy ni–ers…” which made everyone in the room stop and the person I was talking about STFU, because I said the honest part out loud that the entire family had heard often enough, but didin’t have the courage to challenge.
Needless to say, I don’t hang with that side of the family much anymore, and esp. not since relative in question was vaccinated with “the blood of Jesus” during Covid and caught it and died.
Oh well.
Nope, still doesn’t need to be said. Absolutely zero reason
That is one opinion. You are welcome to it.
It’s the only that matters. Anyone who uses that word is a bigot, and that’s a fact, not an opinion.
That is also your opinion.
Nope, facts only. Thanks for letting everyone know you’re a racist sack of shit though.
LOL! You win the internet kid.
Don’t you feel special?
CW: metalinguistic usage of slurs. Also, bear in mind I’m not black, I’m just some random nobody.
Unless you’re using a slur metalinguistically¹, or quoting someone who used it², you probably won’t be able to erase its negative associations; they’re there by default, you’d need to actively erase/contradict them.
And that’s not what you did. In fact, your comment only works because of that negative connotation; note how silly it would sound like, if you said instead something like “Granted. Your username is now /u/bananapotato”, or “/u/ninjapiratezombierobot”, or whatever.
It would be different, for example, if you were using the word ⟨nigger⟩³ as African-American Vernacular English speakers do; because then the meaning being conveyed is not “a black person, implied to be inferior to other people”; it’s more like “mate, bro, chap”, specially in a positive context.
Same deal with the words ⟨fag⟩ — I don’t think it should be treated as a slur if you’re clearly referring to a cigarette.
So. While I typically criticise Reddit moderation (from mods and admins) as insane, and coming from people and systems with the reading comprehension of a green potato, in this specific case, I think they acted correctly.
Just my two cents.
- Language being used to talk about language; e.g. if I say “the word «orange» replaced «yellowred»”, I’m using the word “orange” metalinguistically.
- Even then it gets tricky, as you need to ensure your quoting doesn’t endorse what the negative connotations in the quote.
- This is an example of metalinguistic usage. I’m talking about the word.
You seem to be expecting sympathy from lemmy because you’re upset that reddit isn’t 4chan.
Just as cringe as the first time I saw you post this. Congrats on being a homophobic racist.
Dude. Why? Is it just a lack of creativity, that you can’t think of anything better to say? This is like complaining that you can’t swear in front of children. Do you really need to? Is it that hard to just…not?
If your intent wasn’t racist I wouldn’t claim you are. However, you gotta read the room man. And when the room is the entirety of Reddit it’s best to snuff out a joke like this before it hits the web you know? I don’t really know anyone that this would land well with.
I have, however, known a few people who have faced similar confusion as you are now. They ended up being neurodivergent, and it was hard for them to comprehend that even with clean intentions, some things shouldn’t be said. Please don’t take this as an insult or me being accusatory of you, I just think it might be worth looking into based on the little information I’m working with here.
I live in New York and new yorkers swear like drunken sailors. F-bombs every other word and the n-word gets slung around in every sentence, especially by black people. It’s baffling to me that this should be a problem in a country that supposedly respects free speech. People act like they have the right to not be offended and they don’t. There is no safe space in the Constitution, and yes our free speech applies online.
I’ve seen some people claim that free speech doesn’t apply on servers like reddit because they are privately owned. So Constitutional rights don’t extend to private property? Does that mean I can own slaves as long as I shackle them inside my house and can never escape? Because the 13th amendment wouldn’t apply inside my house? The bill of rights applies everywhere, including privately owned servers. No one has the right to be protected from offensive speech.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution ostensibly is there to prevent the government from stifling your right to free speech.
Any private entity can restrict your action in/on their property… Which websites are.
They’re NOT the government.
Their house, their rules.
I’ve seen some people claim that free speech doesn’t apply on servers like reddit because they are privately owned. So Constitutional rights don’t extend to private property?
Not when you don’t have a right to be on said property. If you come in my house using language I don’t approve of, I will ask u to leave and you will :)
I would refute most of the other arguments you made, but full of logical fallacies. Would take too long. Genuinely curious though: how old are you?
I don’t care. I’m gay.
I’ve never met a gay person that cares if people say it if it’s not in a homophobic way. (In real life)
And honestly for the N word, I hear white people say it fairly often with their black friends in mixed company. No one seems to get their feelings hurt or bat an eye.
Internet isn’t real life tho. Slurs can be used in an inoffensive way but you only can do it in the right context. You couldn’t do that at the post office, in a work meeting, with strangers on the street, you surely couldn’t to that on a public thread on the internet
…you surely couldn’t to that on a public thread on the internet…
Well, you can… but you’ll also face consequences… which OP did.
at least it was a temp ban. I don’t think a 3 day ban is too heavy handed.
Just curious-- how might that have played out better for you?
Similarly, what could the FV (or Reddit) have given you, after you declared yourself like that?Is it possibly in the realm of a failing of ours…?
