Mashadar wrote:I think there's a difference between "politically incorrect" and the n-word.
The only difference between 'nigger' (when not specifically used to address a black person with reference to their ethnicity) and 'asshole', 'motherfucker', 'cocksucker' and similar strong general insults is that political correctness has made the former so taboo you cannot even mention the word when discussing the word itself anymore. Last I checked - and again, this could be a change in moderation policy - insults do not get removed on this forum, let alone get people banned, with only the occasional exception for posts that exist only to insult another poster and which do not contribute anything (which sadly does not get enforced consistently).
I'm not one to use the N-word outside of a linguistical context myself (or when discussing the pointlessness of taboos), but it would be nice to have some clarity here. Is the use of politically incorrect words that get mainstream condemnation now considered 'hate speech' as per forum rule 4? (And if so, would the same apply if someone called something 'gay' or called someone a 'fag', both of which used to be common on the internet until relatively recently?) Or are direct insults to posters now something to be avoided? Neither used to be against the rules previously as far as I'm aware.
Also,
Mashadar wrote:But that word is clearly always insulting.
This isn't true; for instance, saying 'my nigger' tends to be a positive phrase indicating familiarity or affection in crude contexts. It's often (but not always) spelled 'nigga' when used as such, though. (Compare with 'motherfucker' also mentioned above, which is generally insulting but can be used as praise for boldness, e.g. a 'badass motherfucker'.)