no kidding, people say offensive things on xbox live. That seems supremely news worthy in every respect. They also say the word “fag,” about every 10 seconds. From a personal perspective i think the most offensive part of the article was that the author described people as sounding white. in terms of protecting the youth, halo is a rated M game, which theoretically can not be purchased by anyone under 18, unless a parent does, in which case there are a great deal of parenting issues that need to be addressed. The reason why this is not a big deal is that xbox live members represent a cross section of the American public, yes there will be a lot of dumbasses, but that is why you have the option to mute them. If you don’t ant to hear anything that offends your sensabilities, perhaps the life of a recluse would be more fitting. I wholly support the right of every retarded 18 year old to say whatever he wants, especially on a service they pay to use. I also apologize if my writing makes me sound white and 18-22, there doesnt seem to be an emoticon to show my race.

Uuuh . . . . I just happen to be one of those “white men” . . . you know what Lerone? Why don’t you guys stop using the “N” word? Ever listen to your rap music?

And where do you get off calling me white? That’s almost as racist as we all know Barack Obama is (at least as bad as his rev.). You will refer to me as an Anglo-Irish-German-French American, and I won’t take anything else or I’ll get mad at you.

Why don’t you stop being a victim and take responsibility for your life? You just might find that you overcome other people’s stupidity through your exceptionalism.

Model your life after Bill Cosby, Denzel Washington or Clerance Thomas . . . try to ignore morons like Micheal Irvine, PDiddy, and Al Sharpton.

Jonathan, grow up bro. The guy is making a valid point, young white kids have gotten the impression that its socially acceptable for them to use the “n word” and that simply isn’t the case. While I agree that they get that idea from popular hip-hop artists, that doesn’t diminish the fact that its still not right.

I don’t really place the blame on the rappers, its not their fault that white America eats up their music. Well, maybe it is since they market it toward a teenage middle-class audience, which in this country is primarily white. But, the problem doesn’t lie in the music or the influences on these kids, the problem lies with the kids themselves.

Instead of forging their own identity these teenagers are stealing another culture and trying to pass it off as their own. And, let’s be honest here, no matter how much rap you listen to, how hip-hop you dress, or how hip your lingo is, at the end of the day you’re still white.

Nothing will ever change the fact that we were born goofy and white and will die goofy and white. The only thing these people are doing by throwing around the “n word” is making themselves look like utter fools. Black people don’t find it acceptable or cool, and neither do white adults for that matter.

It’s childish, immature, and irresponsible. Period. End of story.

What? Only twice? If I’m playing I’d hear it at least five times per 6 minute match.

Let’s play devil’s advocate here. Why is the use of the n word more noteworthy than terms like ***? Why does it seem more socially acceptable to use derogatory terms toward one group than the other?

The n-word has a very recent, and pronounced history of mass violence and intimidation, which I think is why African Americans respond to it with such vigor.

Nevertheless, you’re absolutely right Jazz, it shouldn’t be socially acceptable to use any hate fueled speech, regardless of whom its aimed towards.

With regards to XBOX Live, my first reaction would be – are these users so immature that they derive pleasure from unnecessarily offending complete strangers? Then I think about its demographic and I suppose the answer is ‘yes’.

Come on guys. If I were a target demograph, I would not be surprised when I got on Xbox live and people made fun of me. I’m sure if I were a homosexual and I got on and talked like a woman, that people would make fun of me. I’m sure that if I were chineese and I got on Xbox live, that people would make fun of my mistaking “R’s” for “L’s”.

The thing is, DON’T BE A VICTIM. Don’t go through life looking for how you will be offended next! Cause if you do, I promise you will be offended a whole lot.

As for this whole N-word ****, and it having “negative connotations of violence” .. . sure . . maybe if you say it to a black man who is 60+ years. . . but all the others don’t know much violence from that word – unless you’re talking about black on black violence.

I think the fact that the majority of gamers say what society has deemed bad and/or offensive words shows that gamers are the dregs of society. With thousands upon thousands of words to chose from, gamers utilize only a few crass words. Think about how common you are to use that kind of offensive language.F-in cool Sh–. The ultimate example of conformity, not individuality.
- The non-profane gamer

My 13 year old plays Halo3 live, when his stepfather is on with him, and he “gets” it because hello, I’ve brainwashed him to “get” it. I can’t speak for what he says when we’re not around but he’s been taught that if he ever dares to let slip with certain words, he better be braced for the results.

Go ahead, I dare any of you to throw out ****** to any black guy (or chick) equal to your size and see what kind of violence comes back to you. I’ll even buy popcorn and pull up a chair.

why do black men and women always cry about ***//er…they use it more than i say hi, *** this and *** that……didnt any one hear of reverse discrimination

why are black people in general always bit/hing about saying nigg/er…slavery been over for years now…get over it……didnt the last slave die years ago???? if we dint have slavery they would not be hear…they would all be in africa.

My previous comment was better

Bob,

While your spelling and grammar make you seem far less educated than I’m sure you are, you make a valid point. The author is making an incredibly informal, and stereotypical observation (which he refers to as “informal” and “Stereotypical”) in saying that certain people sound white.

But two points:

First, he never says that it’s OK for black people to use the word. He only states that there is still a lingering discussion as to whether or not it’s appropriate – which is true. The point he made immediately following is that there is no such discussion as to if it’s appropriate for whites, as it’s generally accepted that the word as used by whites is offensive.

Second, do you really think that there aren’t a significant number of young white men who think it’s appropriate? I haven’t played a video game since “Frogger”, nevertheless based on his account, as well as the prior comments, I’m inclined to believe that XBOX Live is a bastion of young men of all races, saying offensive things.

But for a moment, lets assume you’re right. Even in that case it would make Wilson guilty of stereotyping (which he admits to), not racism. The two words have very different meanings.

Slavery really wasn’t all that long ago…What do you call it when people are segregated throughout their whole lives in EVERYTHING and can’t even vote?

What do you call it when people aren’t allowed to own their own land and must sharecrop in order to survive?

What do you call it when people can’t live in certain neighborhoods and are told that they can’t be within some city limits after sunset just because of the color of their skin?

What do you call it when people try to end this type of oppression?

You call it the Civil Rights Movement.

We’ve all seen the old footage of firehouses and dogs put on mostly black people trying to exercise their right to vote, or sit at a lunch counter, or ride in the front of the bus, or go to the same school as the whites. That is called trying to end slavery and oppression.

Blacks were called ******. They were lynched and terrorized in their own country because they were considered only ******. The police, judges, doctors, lawyers, teachers, ordinary citizens and White Citizens Councils did nothing because they considered blacks only ****** and not fellow countrymen.

In fact, doctors and scientists infected black men with syphilis in the infamous Tuskeegee experiment and didn’t treat them because they were only considered ****** (this wasn’t the only medical experiment on blacks of its kind). And on and on and on. That is why black people get ****** when whites are still using the word ******.

Because of its negative history, there are some black people (including myself) that don’t like when some blacks use the word ***** to reclaim it.

Yes, Damien, you’re right. If America didn’t bring black people here in slave ships then we wouldn’t have become such a large minority in the American population. What exactly is your point?

Oh wait, you don’t have one. Why are you even alive?

Okay – I had no idea that this site would block the word n*i*g*g*e*r or even n*i*g*g*a.

But it kind of proves my point about what kind of words those are. Why would anyone want to call a complete stranger a n*i*g*g*e*r?

I am baffled about them blocking the word p*i*s*s*e*d, though.

Well, to be fair, I’ve taught my children to call everyone who uses the word n****r a tool.

i heard alot of ******* hill billies say it on live..

First and foremost I would like to say that I am appalled by the word “n****r” and any of it’s uses. I am against anyone (anglo-americans, asian-americans, hispanic-americans, african-americans… etc.) using this kind of language as a tag for anyone of any ethnic background. However, I find it rediculous that the NAACP has ANY say in what is “okay” and “not okay” for any one group to say to another. There is this thing in America called “Freedom of Speech”.

That said, if you choose to excersize this freedom, people should be aware of the consequenses of their actions. As for people using XBOX Live and other such forums, that is a matter of common decency. People using this kind of language are cowards who want to sound tough because it’s a place of fantasy where they can be tough without getting hurt in the real world. There is no logical or excusable reason for anyone to use this language. They can just get away with it there.

As for teaching your children to call someone names based on the language they use. It is never appropriate to teach your children to call anyone names for any reason. The only thing we need to teach our children on this topic is tolerance, decency and common courtesy toward our peers.

That’s my two Lincolns.

OK. After reading through all the differerent arguments, i have this to say. Coming from over the pond, and when i say that i do mean the ocean for some who don’t get it( i have used that before and confused the hell out of some of the good folks of the usa). At the end of the day its a word, ok its not a nice word some find it offensive, but some do use it as a term of endearment.
The reason the middle of the road white teenage kids grabs onto any other type of culture or heritage is that they don’t have any of their own( now this is where you all turn round and say ok let’s hear this !) historically the whites are all colonials so their heritage lies in other countries( starting with the vikings who discovered america first, then the English no matter what some people say) until the end of the civil war and the declaration of independence( please correct me if this is the wrong declaration) was signed, it was technically some English and colonials fighting some more English.
But i digress, the white kids of today walk around not knowing what their roots are because they don’t know their historical roots as it were, they walk around grabbing onto culture and trying to reinvent it, like their trying to re-invent the wheel only they think it will look even better square!! ( if anyone remembers vanilla ice or snow you’ll know what i’m talking about)
Thing is its not just happening in your country, its happening everywhere there’s a mix of races. Cultures will collide, intermingle with each other. It will take time, to sort itself out and work well together. it will seem as though, when some people seem to make a difference other people detract and knock it backwards, but there will be a time when everyone will get along (even if it is just by ignoring England after what they said to canada about their cousin sheryl at jamaica’s wedding). It would be niave of me to say i’ll see it in my lifetime but i hope it will some day then we wouldn’t be having debates over words said online.

funny thing is i don’t even have an x-box lol

Just thought i’d put in my two cents…i got a few things to point one.

Internet arguements are totally pointless,someone else here ssaid that its people trying to sound tough and thats dead right. You will not change anything on xbox live because it is a place of complete anonyimity, you have no reputation to protect therefore no inhibition.

As to the word, Nig***, and F**, or my personal favorite Sand N***** which has become very popular since 9/11(i myself am an arab/latino) none obviously are really acceptable, but as towards the the use i myself am not offended anymore. I use any and all of the above when gaming with my friends and they with me. We dont use them in a public forum or where others who may be offended can hear. But the main reason behind it is this.

who cares? and why should i care if they do? so what if people are offended honestly, you think racial issues matter? you think this crap matters? while you’re arguing with some redneck hickbumpkin over this crap our goverment is still screwing the poor no matter what race out of our rights… this shit is a sideshow.
So ima go on disrecting my peers, my countrymen and everyone else racially,sexually and in general till all ya’ll stop crying wise up and look at how politics really works