Comment by freshdonut
4 years ago
> is like saying you know black people and that somehow it affords you some privilege others do not possess.
Of course it does. Interacting with black people (or any race) affords you insight into their life experiences, struggles, worldview etc...
Of course sociological discourse is highly subjective but this attitude on HN that anecdotal data has no value whatsoever is silly. Do you seriously expect every fact of every people to be published in some infallible academic journal?
Was alluding to the common argument of "I can say the N word, I know black people" spiel. You've missed my point, I suspect on purpose.
Just knowing someone of a particular demographic doesn't mean you're entitled to generalize about them. That's not how discourse works.
Based on a fairly cursory examination, the "N-word" ban is largely enforced by white people and using it is likely to get them more riled up than black folk.
So simultaneously I can imagine how black people wouldn't care and why that doesn't matter. The word isn't banned because blacks have delicate eardrums, it is banned because white people are showing respect.