Who gives a crap who says what to who on the field? these are adult men competing against each other. And eliminating this word is absolutely targeting black players. just like throwing penalty flags/fines for end zone celebrations, which was primarily a black thing. Are they eliminating vulgarity altogether? Doubt it. So why single out a specific word? ***** or p***y get tossed around too i'm sure. Gay slurs as well. Yet they want to ban the one word that's typically black-exclusive? Yea ok...
Actually I give a crap. And yes, I am white. The very fact that some people find it insulting is enough to ban the word. As well as ***** and p**y. Or gay this, or gay that. These people need to grow up and show some respect for the game and other players -- and I guess refs as well have been subjected to that. Me, I am taking that information from someone that I think knows what he is talking about.
And how about the word cracker. I hear that word more often where I live. Cracker. Never even heard the word before I moved to the south. Actually have never heard the word ****** in 10 years of living in the south, but cracker, yes. Both words are insulting and regardless of your thoughts, you should keep your mouth closed. I should say when I lived in a certain state - not to name it - I was insulted on many occasions. Got the "damn Yankee", and signs on bumper stickers that said "raise the price of oil and freeze a Yankee". Had one guy come right up to me and insulted me. OK, whatever. I was stunned by it, and something I never forgot. I grew up in Southern California as a kid -- what I am a "damn Yankee". OK, deal with it. I got a little taste of "racism" and did not like it one bit. But obviously to a lesser degree than people that face other people that are racist. I have zero tolerance for that. The point being, between friends you can joke around and make any statement you want. But NOT on a football field.
So I agree with you to a certain extent, change the rule so it includes other negative comments as well. Will give you that. A football game is not a place to throw insults around, and "stir" the pot.. It is just that simple. And to also consider that blacks would want the continued usage of this word. We all are just people, and to me the mix of people in this country make for a great country. I really like the ethic mix - adds to our culture in a very positive way. I live in a very "vanilla" neighborhood, and it is one of the things I dislike the most. I like the ethnic mix, always will and hope some day to find myself in a neighborhood that gives me that.
Liked this description at the Urban Dictionary
The term ****** is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. The senses labeled Extremely Disparaging and Offensive represent meanings that are deeply insulting and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. It is so profoundly offensive that a euphemism has developed for those occasions when the word itself must be discussed, as in court or in a newspaper editorial: “the n-word.”
Despite this, the sense referring to a “black person” is sometimes used among African Americans in a neutral or familiar way. The sense referring to other victims of prejudice, especially when used descriptively, as to denounce that prejudice, is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the ******s of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments —but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.
