The basic summary is that a guy says the word "nigger" on a TV game show and becomes the laughing stock of the whole town.  The guy's son is embarrassed at his father's stupid behavior, so he apologizes to his black friend for his father's stupidity, and that he understands why black people hate the word "nigger" (because it is offensive).  The black guy says that his friend doesn't get it and that white people can never understand the power of the n-word.

I'm a Youth Rights-promoting libertarian and there are certain words that, even now, at 21, offend me down to the bone, things like "minor" and "underage" are disgusting words too, used to discriminate against a certain group of people (young people).  I hated being called those things when I was young because I felt discriminated by people.  I was the "nigger" of my time as a youngin', so I think in a way I do kind of empathize with black people with the whole "n-word is forbidden to use" thing because I was discriminated because of something out of their control.

So my questions to you:

Do you think no white person can ever understand how it feels for a black person to be called a nigger?

Do you feel discriminated against (you young people) by older people?

And what do you think the message of the episode was?  That white people can never understand the power of the word "nigger?"

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Wir müssen das Bestehen unserer Leute
und eine Zukunft für weiße Kinder sichern.

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Did you just liken being called underage to being called a nigger?

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Yep.

Um, I really don't mind being called underage....because I am underage? I mean, I don't think 16 year olds should have the same responsibilities as a 21 year old, so I really don't have an issue with it.

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How's Yore Wordplay: A Contest

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Did you just liken being called underage to being called a nigger?

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They're not exactly the same, but they are similar.  Being called underage had a big impact on me when I was younger; even though I was physically younger, I was still mentally more mature so I didn't like being called a name that made me feel inferior which is also what "nigger" does.  Both words can make people feel inferior because of something out of the control.  Do you get what I'm coming from?

I'm getting the vibe that no one is going to agree with me at this point.  I'm really surprised by this though.

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Wir müssen das Bestehen unserer Leute
und eine Zukunft für weiße Kinder sichern.

Nigger, however, is different. It's not a legal technicality, it's a racial slur.

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faut souffrir pour etre belle
♥ [27/12/08]
be the change you wish to see in the world

Yes.

It was all for comedy and using something current in the news.  They're trying to make money.  I dont care about the rest.

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|Myspace|

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Being called underage is nothing like being called a nigger. It's saying you are not yet able to do certain things due to your age. It's not racist or anything like that. It's a fact. You are under the required age to do certain things.

Nigger, however, is different. It's not a legal technicality, it's a racial slur.

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In the past, you were not the required race to do certain things.  How does that differ from today's situation with young people?

It's not racist, but it is a loaded word with implications of unimportance.  And don't forget that "colored" used to be a legal technicality as well, but that doesn't mean it didn't offend people back then.  Any discrimination based on factors you don't control is wrong; why do all the intelligent 16-year-olds have to face collective punishment when it's their peers who are making all young people look bad.

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Wir müssen das Bestehen unserer Leute
und eine Zukunft für weiße Kinder sichern.

I know race used to play a huge factor, but you can't compare that to age. It's not similar in any way.

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faut souffrir pour etre belle
♥ [27/12/08]
be the change you wish to see in the world

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It's not discrimination. If you're sixteen, you're not an adult yet. You're too young to vote or whatever. It's not about being discriminated against, it's about not being old enough. There's a difference.

I know race used to play a huge factor, but you can't compare that to age. It's not similar in any way.

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Uh, how could you not call it discrimination?  People are losing their civil rights and people like you (and many young people) have pretty much given up trying anything.  The reason why NYRA is not very known because so many kids have been told that they are basically worth enough.

It's exactly the same as racial laws before the 1960s.

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Wir müssen das Bestehen unserer Leute
und eine Zukunft für weiße Kinder sichern.

It's not a loss of civil rights, the reason there is an age of when you become an adult is because the majority of people under that age are NOT mature enough to have the right to vote (and other adult responsibilities).

It's not a matter of discrimination, it's a matter of age and maturity, and the fact that those who are "underage" are not capable of adult responsibility in 99% of cases.

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faut souffrir pour etre belle
♥ [27/12/08]
be the change you wish to see in the world

Honestly, I've always said that there are much better measures than age.  The problem is that parents whose kids didn't become independent earlier would end up resenting their kids, and "adults" who aren't as mature as a typical twelve-year-old would have very little incentive for supporting those measures. (Not to mention that most adults are stupider than some twelve-year-olds)

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http://www.golivewire.com/forums/peer-yatapys-support-a.html

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People who are what, 14, should not have the rights to vote or whatever

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It is discrimination. m-w: "to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit". The favor here is the right to vote, and the basis is the individual's age. If "maturity"(retarded word) tests were given to determine ability to vote, I would consider that individual merit. But age isn't merit.

You may call it logical discrimination, but it still is discrimination.

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http://www.golivewire.com/forums/peer-iasaoi-support-a.html

Being "underage" isn't discrimination. There needs to be laws surrounding certain things, and just because you happen to be considered a "minor" with regards to a certain law, it doesn't mean your being discriminated against as a person.

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faut souffrir pour etre belle
♥ [27/12/08]
be the change you wish to see in the world